Data retrieval method and apparatus with multiple source capability

• US 5,802,511 A
• Filed: 02/01/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Timeline Incorporated
• Inventors: Yarnall, David F., Babcock, Donald K., Kouchi, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US08/593,118
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 395/601, 395/616, 395/478, 395/707.1, 375/600, 364/200, 707/2, 707/5, 707/6, 707/10, 707/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

Generation of output or reports on information contained in a data source which may be any of two or more types of source data, in a standardized or uniform manner is provided. A plurality of drivers are provided specific to different types of source data which include programming for identifying structural or other characteristics of the various data sources, e.g. for use in defining a new database. Preferably the new database is configured to permit highly flexible and/or rapid output or reporting or is otherwise optimized for reporting purposes. In one embodiment, the present invention includes conversion of one or more data sources into one or more uniform databases, preferably generating one or more key categories for organizing the data, optionally generating category groupings or rollups and additional data or optional references. In one embodiment, one or more databases are created which have a degree of uniformity of structure, even though they may be based on two or more different data sources which may have very different structures. The different data sources are automatically analyzed and this analysis can be used to identify and/or create categories of data for use in organizing the data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, the method comprising:

a first step for providing a first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver being configured for use in connection with said second data source;

a second step for using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about the data structure of said first data source without the need for human analysis of the first data source by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

using first information to define a structure for a first database different from said data sources wherein said first database did not exist before said step for using said first driver to automatically obtain first information.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

using said first driver to store at least some information from said first data source into said first database.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first database is enhanced with respect to said first data source.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first driver includes programming code which is callable by a main procedure and wherein said method is extensible for accommodation of said second data source by providing and calling a second driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said second data source in the absence of said second driver being configured for use in connection with said first data source, and in the absence of substantial modification of said main procedure.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method is flexible to permit accessing any readable data source by providing a driver configured for use with such readable data source, without the need to modify said first driver.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein following said step of using said first driver to store at least some information, said first database includes at least one record which stores information obtained from at least two different records of said first data source.

18. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first information about the data structure includes information from stored queries in said first data source.

19. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first data source stores accounting information and wherein said information about the data structure of said first data source includes an identification of account parts.

6. A computer-implemented method usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least one of said first and second data sources configured to generate at least a first output, the method comprising:

providing a first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver being configured for use in connection with said second data source providing a second driver, different from said first driver, containing programming code configured for use in connection with said second data source in the absence of said second driver being configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information about the data structure of said first and second data sources, respectively by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

using said first and second information to define a structure for a first database different from said first and second data sources wherein said first database did not exist before said step for using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information;

using said first and second drivers to store at least some information from said first and second data sources into said first database.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

generating at least a first report based on the information in said first database.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first report is enhanced with respect to said first output.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein each driver includes program instructions for performing a plurality of functions.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plurality of functions includes at least one function selected from among:

selecting directories where said data sources are located;

searching directories for data files;

displaying data to be input or updated;

loading general information from said data sources;

loading data definitions from said data sources;

creating database tables configured for storing at least some information from said data sources;

saving general information obtained from said data sources;

saving data definitions from said data sources;

loading data definitions codes into said first database;

loading rollup information into said first database; and

loading data from said data sources into said first database.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first database is optimized for speed of data output.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first database is optimized for flexibility of data output.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first database includes a plurality of category tables, at least one detail table and at least one entry table.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 6, further comprising updating said first database using less than all information in said first and second data sources, wherein said step of updating is performed after said step of using said first and second drivers to store at least some information from said first and second data source into said first database.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 20, wherein said step of updating uses at least some of said first and second information.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 20 further comprising repeating said updating on a regular basis wherein data in said first and second data sources are synchronized with data in said first database.

14. Apparatus usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least one of said first and second data sources configured to generate at least a first output, the apparatus comprising a computer coupled to said first and second data sources and programmed for:

providing a first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver being configured for use in connection with said second data source;

providing a second driver, different from said first driver, containing programming code configured for use in connection with said second data source in the absence of said second driver being configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information about the data structure of said first and second data sources, respectively by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

using said first and second information to define a structure for a first database wherein said first database did not exist before using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information;

using said first and second drivers to store at least some information from said first and second data sources into said first database.

15. Apparatus usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, the apparatus comprising:

a first driver means containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver means being configured for use in connection with said second data source;

a second driver means, different from said first driver means, containing programming code configured for use in connection with said second data source in the absence of said second driver means being configured for use in connection with said first data source;

means for using said first and second driver means to obtain first and second information about the data structure of said first and second data sources, respectively by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

means for using said first and second information to define a structure for a first database wherein said first database did not exist before using said first and second driver means to obtain first and second information;

means for using said first and second driver means to store at least some information from said first and second data sources into said first database.

16. A computer-readable medium, having stored therein a computer program usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least one of said first and second data sources configured to generate at least a first output, the computer program comprising instructions for:

providing a first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver being configured for use in connection with said second data source;

providing a second driver, different from said first driver, containing programming code configured for use in connection with said second data source in the absence of said second driver being configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information about the data structure of said first and second data sources, respectively by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

using said first and second information to define a structure for a first database wherein said first database did not exist before using said first and second drivers to obtain first and second information;

using said first and second drivers to store at least some information from said first and second data sources into said first database.