Method and structure for maintaining and utilizing a lookup value associated with a stored database value
First Claim
1. A computer operable method for maintaining display parameters associated with a lookup column of a database table comprising the steps of:
- receiving user input indicative of at least one display parameter which identifies at least one alternate value associated with a lookup field of said lookup column of said database table;
storing said at least one display parameter in a data dictionary associated with said database table;
retrieving, responsive to access to said lookup column of said database, said display parameter from said data dictionary; and
applying said retrieved display parameter to present data corresponding to said lookup column of said database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and associated data structures for generating, maintaining, and applying "display parameters" as a portion of lookup information associated with a column in a database table. Display parameters provides for the display and retrieval of alternate values in place of the data stored in the associated column. Use of such alternate values permit the application database designer to provide more meaningful presentation of data to a user while permitting the storage of corresponding data to be optimized for storage or performance criteria. The display parameters are a portion of the lookup information associated with a column of a database table and are stored in the data dictionary of the application database. Storing the display parameters in the data dictionary permits all access to the associated column data to automatically utilize the alternate values for any data display or retrieval without further design considerations unique to the particular database access. The display parameters may comprise a static table consisting of rows (or a list) of entries. Each includes at least one alternate value for the stored value. A plurality of columns may be provided in each row to provide other alternate values useful by other column data access operations. The display parameters may alternatively comprise a second table identification and an associated query command. The second table is joined with the first table (containing the lookup associated column) by a relation. The associated query command is applied to the join to extract a table of alternate values used in accessing the associated column.
101 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A computer operable method for maintaining display parameters associated with a lookup column of a database table comprising the steps of:
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receiving user input indicative of at least one display parameter which identifies at least one alternate value associated with a lookup field of said lookup column of said database table; storing said at least one display parameter in a data dictionary associated with said database table; retrieving, responsive to access to said lookup column of said database, said display parameter from said data dictionary; and applying said retrieved display parameter to present data corresponding to said lookup column of said database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer operable method for maintaining display parameters associated with a lookup column of a database table comprising the steps of:
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receiving user input indicative of parameters associated with a lookup field of said lookup column of said database table; generating said display parameters from said parameters, said display parameters identify at least one alternate value for said lookup field of said lookup column; storing said display parameters in a data dictionary associated with said database table; retrieving said display parameters in response to a user request to access said lookup column of said database table; and utilizing said alternate value to present data in said lookup column in response to said user request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer operable method for presenting at least one alternate value associated with data stored in a column of a database table comprising the steps of:
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retrieving, in response to a user query that accesses said data of said column of said database table, display parameters associated with said column of said database table, said display parameters includes a list of entries each including at least one alternate display value to be associated with said column of said database table; determining, from said display parameters, at least one alternate value associated with said data stored in said column of said database table; and presenting a result of said user query wherein said at least one alternate value is presented to the requesting user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program or instructions executable by the computer to perform the method steps maintaining display parameters associated with a lookup column of a database table, said method steps comprising:
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receiving user input indicative of at least one display parameter which identifies at least one alternate value associated with a lookup field of said lookup column of said database table; storing said at least one display parameter in a data dictionary associated with said database table; retrieving, responsive to access to said lookup column of said database, said display parameter from said data dictionary; and applying said retrieved display parameter to present data corresponding to said lookup column of said database. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program or instructions executable by the computer to perform the method steps for maintaining display parameters which identify parameters used in the display of alternate values associated with a lookup column of a database table, said method steps comprising:
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receiving user input indicative of parameters associated with a lookup field of said lookup column of said database table; generating said display parameters from said parameters, said display parameters identify at least one alternate value for said lookup field of said lookup column; storing said display parameters in a data dictionary associated with said database table; retrieving said display parameters in response to a user request to access said lookup column of said database table; and utilizing said alternate value to present data in said lookup column in response to said user request. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program or instructions executable by the computer to perform the method steps for presenting at least one alternate value associated with data stored in a column of a database table, said method steps comprising:
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retrieving, in response to a user query that accesses said data of said column of said database table, display parameters associated with said column of said database table, said display parameters includes a list of entries each including at least one alternate display value to be associated with said column of said database table; determining, from said display parameters, at least one alternate value associated with said data stored in said column of said database table; and presenting a result of said user query wherein said at least one alternate value is presented to the requesting user. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification