Simplified interface for relational database access using open database connectivity
First Claim
1. An open database connectivity (ODBC) compliant system for accessing data from a relational database, comprising:
- user input/output device for interacting with an ODBC compliant application tool accessible via a computer;
an ODBC interface;
an ODBC compliant template for simplifying access to complex data stored in said relational database, said template being accessible to said application tool via said ODBC interface for enabling user selection of attributes corresponding to a particular category, said attributes specifying information obtainable from data stored in said relational database and being selectable using said application tool;
said ODBC compliant template being responsive to selected attributes received from said application tool via said ODBC interface, for retrieving data from said relational database and forwarding said data to said application tool via said ODBC interface for use in generating an output;
wherein;
said ODBC compliant template is independent of said application tool, thereby enabling a user to access information from said relational database using any one of a plurality of different application tools; and
said template (i) directly accesses attributes selected via said application tool when the selected attributes are stored in the database or (ii) when the selected attributes are not stored in the database, enables complex attributes selected via said application tool to be calculated via selectively executable algorithms by obtaining data from said database that is required by said algorithms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface is provided to a relational database to provide simplified data access for users. A user input/output device interacts with an application tool accessible via a computer. A template accessible to the application tool via an API or native interface provides a selection of attributes corresponding to a particular category. The attributes specify information obtainable from data stored in the relational database and are selectable using the application tool. The template is responsive to attributes selected using the application tool, for retrieving data from the relational database and forwarding the data to the application tool via the API or native interface. The template is independent of the application tool, thereby enabling the user interface to access information from the relational database using any of a plurality of different application tools. Functions are also provided for use in calculating complex attributes from data contained in the database, where the complex attribute is not itself contained in the database.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An open database connectivity (ODBC) compliant system for accessing data from a relational database, comprising:
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user input/output device for interacting with an ODBC compliant application tool accessible via a computer; an ODBC interface; an ODBC compliant template for simplifying access to complex data stored in said relational database, said template being accessible to said application tool via said ODBC interface for enabling user selection of attributes corresponding to a particular category, said attributes specifying information obtainable from data stored in said relational database and being selectable using said application tool; said ODBC compliant template being responsive to selected attributes received from said application tool via said ODBC interface, for retrieving data from said relational database and forwarding said data to said application tool via said ODBC interface for use in generating an output; wherein; said ODBC compliant template is independent of said application tool, thereby enabling a user to access information from said relational database using any one of a plurality of different application tools; and said template (i) directly accesses attributes selected via said application tool when the selected attributes are stored in the database or (ii) when the selected attributes are not stored in the database, enables complex attributes selected via said application tool to be calculated via selectively executable algorithms by obtaining data from said database that is required by said algorithms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification