Natural language translation of an SQL query

• US 5,924,089 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Levine, Jonathan Michael, Li, Kester, Mocek, Darryl Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,139
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/5, 707/1, 364/419, 364/419.01, 364/419.08, 364/275.4, 364/283.3, 364/974.6, 345/326, 345/359, 704/1, 704/4, 704/9, 395/701
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24522 Translation of natural language queries to structured queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture which provides for the display of database management information on a computer in a user-friendly way to minimize errors and maximize database usership. The invention displays a window in a graphical user interface on a computer display. The window allows the user to enter database tables, fields, and database commands selected from a displayed menu. The window also displays a natural language translation of the current status of the database command, allowing the user to see, in real time, the scope of the request and the databases affected.

Claims

1. A computerized method of displaying database management system information comprising a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a window on a display device coupled to a computer;

(b) accepting at least one user-selected database command selected from the window into the computer using a user input device coupled to the computer;

(c) interpreting the user-selected database commands to produce a natural language translation of the user-selected database commands;

(d) presenting the natural language translation of the user-selected database commands to the user in the window on the display device; and

(e) processing the user-selected database command to perform a database operation requested by the user-selected command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the window comprises a natural translation list box and at least one box selected from the group comprising a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, and a search string edit box; and

the user selected database command is selected from the group comprising a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

3. The method of 1, wherein:

the window includes a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, a search string edit box, and a natural translation list box; and

the user-selected database command comprises a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of displaying a window on the data display device comprises the steps of:

presenting a database table box comprising a list of the plurality of database tables to the user on the display device;

accepting one or more user-selected database tables from the user input device;

presenting the user-selected database tables and associated database fields to the user on the display device;

accepting one or more user-selected database table join relationships between the presented database tables to define joined database tables; and

generating a window comprising a database table box having a list of the joined database tables, a database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box comprising a list of available relational conditional operators, a search string edit box, and a natural translation box.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the window is used to enter an initial user selectable search criteria, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a second window used to enter a second user selectable search criteria on the data display device, the second window comprising a second database table box, a second associated database field box, the relational condition box, a second search string edit box, a plurality of logical condition radio buttons defining available logical condition operators, and the natural translation box;

accepting a user-selected logical conditional operator describing a logical relationship between the initial user selectable search criteria and the second user selectable search criteria;

accepting a second user-selected database table from the second database table box, a second associated database field from the second associated database field box, a second user-defined search parameter selected from the second search parameter edit box, a second user selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box; and

generating the user-selected database command from the user selected database field, the second user-selected database field, the user-selected conditional operator, the second user-selected conditional operator, the user-defined search parameter, and the second user-defined search parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of providing an error message in a dialog box on the display device if no logical conditional operator is selected.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the logical condition operator is selected from the group comprising an "or" and an "and."

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the user defined search string comprises search parameters and logical relationships between the search parameters.

9. An apparatus for displaying database management information, comprising a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a computer, comprising a processor and a memory storing the database tables;

(b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a window on a display coupled to the computer;

(c) means, performed by the computer for accepting at least one user-selected database command selected from the window into the computer using a user input device coupled to the computer;

(d) means, performed by the computer, for interpreting the user-selected database commands to produce a natural language translation of the user-selected database commands;

(e) means, performed by the computer, for presenting a natural language translation of the user-selected database commands to the user in the window on the display; and

(f) means, performed by the computer, for processing the user-selected database command to perform a database operation requested by the user-selected command.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein

the window comprises a natural translation list box and at least one box selected from the group comprising a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, and a search string edit box;

and

the user selected database command is selected from the group comprising a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the window includes a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, a search string edit box, and a natural translation list box; and

the user-selected database command comprises a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for displaying the window on the display device comprises:

means, performed by the computer, for presenting a database table box comprising a list of the plurality of database tables to the user on the display device;

means, performed by the computer, for accepting one or more user-selected database tables from the user input device;

means, performed by the computer, for presenting the user-selected database tables and associated database fields to the user on the display device;

means, performed by the computer, for accepting one or more user-selected database table join relationships between the presented database tables to define joined database tables; and

means, performed by the computer, for generating a window comprising a database table box, having a list of the joined database tables, a database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, comprising a list of available conditional operators, a search string edit box, and a natural translation box.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the window is used to enter an initial user selectable search criteria, further comprising:

means, performed by the computer for presenting a second window used to enter a second user selectable search criteria on the data display device, the second window comprising a second database table box, a second associated database field box, the relational condition box, a second search string edit box, a plurality of logical condition radio buttons defining available logical condition operators, and the natural translation box;

means, performed by the computer, for accepting a user-selected logical conditional operator describing a logical relationship between the initial user selectable search criteria and the second user selectable search criteria;

means, performed by the computer, for accepting a second user-selected database table from the second database table box, a second associated database field from the second associated database field box, a second user-defined search parameter selected from the second search parameter edit box, a second user selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box; and

means, performed by the computer, for generating the user-selected database command from the user selected database field, the second user-selected database field, the user-selected conditional operator, the second user-selected conditional operator, the user-defined search parameter, and the second user-defined search parameter.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means, performed by the computer, for providing an error message in a dialog box on the display devices if no logical conditional operator is selected.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the logical condition operator is selected from the group comprising an "or" and an "and."

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the user-defined search string comprises search parameters and a logical relationship between the search parameters.

17. A program storage device, readable by a computer having a processor, and a memory storing a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying database management system information on the display, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a window on the display device coupled to the computer;

(b) accepting at least one user-selected database command selected from the window into the computer using a user input device coupled to the computer;

(c) interpreting the user-selected database commands to produce a natural language translation of the user-selected database commands; and

(d) presenting the natural language translation of the user-selected database commands to the user in the window on the display device; and

(e) processing the user-selected database command to perform a database operation requested by the user-selected command.

18. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein:

the window comprises a natural translation list box and at least one box selected from a group comprising a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, and a search string edit box; and

the user selected database command is selected from a group comprising a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

19. The program storage device of claim 17, wherein:

the window includes a database table box having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box, a search string edit box, and a natural translation list box; and

the user-selected database command comprises a user-selected database table selected from the database table box, a user-selected database field selected from the database field box, a user-defined search string entered into the search parameter edit box, and a user-selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box, the relational condition defining a selected relationship between the database data in the user-selected database field and the user-defined search string.

20. The program storage device of claim 19, wherein the method step of displaying a window on the data display device comprises the steps of:

presenting a database table box comprising a list of the plurality of database tables to the user on the display device;

accepting one or more user-selected database tables from the user input device;

presenting the user-selected database tables and associated database fields to the user on the display device;

accepting one or more user-selected database table join relationships between the presented database tables to define joined database tables; and

generating a window comprising a database table box having a list of the joined database tables, a database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a relational condition box comprising a list of available relational conditional operators, a search string edit box, and a natural translation box.

21. The program storage device of claim 19, wherein the window is used to enter an initial user selectable search criteria, wherein the method steps further comprise the steps of:

presenting a second window used to enter a second user selectable search criteria on the data display device, the second window comprising a second database table box, a second associated database field box, the relational condition box, a second search string edit box, a plurality of logical condition radio buttons defining available logical condition operators, and the natural translation box;

accepting a user-selected logical conditional operator describing a logical relationship between the initial user selectable search criteria and the second user selectable search criteria;

accepting a second user-selected database table from the second database table box, a second associated database field from the second associated database field box, a second user-defined search parameter selected from the second search parameter edit box, a second user selected relational conditional operator selected from the relational condition box; and

generating the user-selected database command from the user selected database field, the second user-selected database field, the user-selected conditional operator, the second user-selected conditional operator, the user-defined search parameter, and the second user-defined search parameter.

22. The program storage device of claim 21, wherein the method steps further comprise the step of providing an error message in a dialog box on the display device if no logical conditional operator is selected.

23. The program storage device of claim 21, wherein the logical condition operator is selected from the group comprising an "or" and an "and."

24. The program storage device of claim 19, wherein the user defined search string comprises search parameters and logical relationships between the search parameters.