Data refinery: a direct manipulation user interface for data querying with integrated qualitative and quantitative graphical representations of query construction and query result presentation

• US 6,208,985 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caseventure LLC
• Original Assignee: Caseventure LLC
• Inventors: Krehel, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US08/891,306
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/102, 707/101
• US Class Current: 707/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A system, method, and user interface for a software product provides for an integrated user interface with both query construction and query result presentation graphically represented to the user in a common graphical space. The user can construct a query using graphical representations of refine operations, including filter and tag operations. The refine operation is executed upon a number of input records from a database. The refine operation selects or identifies a number of records that satisfy the user defined criteria of the operation. Graphical representations of input and output data for each operation are displayed, and sized so that the graphical size of the output representation relative to the graphical size of the input representation is approximately equal to the ratio of the number of output records to the number of input records. Multiple refine operations may be defined, so that the graphical representation of the output of one operation becomes the input of a subsequent operation. In this manner, there is provided a common visual metaphor for both query construction and query result presentation, enabling the user to both qualitatively and quantitatively assess query results in the context of the overall database data.

Claims

1. A graphical, computer implemented method of selecting data in a database of items, each item having a plurality of fields, the method comprising:

a) displaying a query construction area on a display device, the query construction area having;

a first area for graphically representing a first plurality of items prior to a refine operation;

a second area for graphically representing a second plurality of items selected by the refine operation, the second plurality of items being a subset of the first plurality of items; and

an icon bay for receiving a refine icon the refine operation, the icon bay displayed between the first and second areas in the query construction area;

b) displaying in the first area a first graphical representation of the first plurality of items;

c) receiving a refine icon into the icon bay from a user input, the refine icon representing at least one refine operation that selects items in the database;

d) executing the refine operation associated with the refine icon to select the second plurality of items; and

e) displaying in the second area a second graphical representation of the second plurality of items, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a filter icon into the icon bay from a user input with the input device comprises:

displaying a plurality of database items;

receiving a selection of a field of an item in the database, the field having a value;

receiving from the user a selection of a portion of the set of potential values for including in the filter;

receiving from the user a selection of whether the filter selects or eliminates items having a field with a value in the select portion;

generating a filter operation from the user selections; and

generating a filter icon and associating the filter icon with the generated filter operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the refine operation is a filter operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the refine operation is a tag operation that selectively identifies the second plurality of items within the first plurality of items.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a refine icon into the icon bay from a user input, the refine icon representing at least one refine operation that selects items in the database, further comprises:

displaying concurrently with the query construction area a list of the fields of the database items, and a list of values for a selected one of the fields;

receiving a user selection of at least one field and at least one value to define the refine operation;

receiving a user selection of the icon bay for receiving the refine operation;

instantiating a refine icon associated with the refine operation; and

displaying the instantiated refine icon in the icon bay.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a refine icon into the icon bay from a user input, the refine icon representing at least one refine operation that selects items in the database, further comprises:

displaying a plurality of previously defined and stored refine operations;

receiving a selection of one of the stored refine operations; and

instantiating a refine icon representing the selected refine operation; and

displaying the instantiated refine icon in the icon bay.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the query construction area is based on the visual metaphor of a pipe through which liquid flows, the refine operation graphically represented as an obstruction in the query construction area, the first plurality of items graphically represented as streams flowing into the obstruction, and the second plurality of items graphically represented as streams flowing out of the obstruction.

8. A graphical, computer implemented method of selecting data in a database of items, each item having a plurality of fields, the method comprising:

a) displaying a query construction area on a display device, the query construction area having a first refine area including;

a first area for graphically representing a first plurality of items prior to a first refine operation;

a second area for graphically representing a second plurality of items resulting from the first refine operation, the second plurality of items being a subset of the first plurality of items; and

a first icon bay for graphically representing a first refine icon representing the first refine operation, the first icon bay displayed between the first and second areas;

b) displaying a second refine area in the query construction area, the second refine area having;

a third area for graphically representing the second plurality of items prior to a second refine operation;

a fourth area for graphically representing a third plurality of items resulting from the second refine operation, the third plurality of items being a subset of the second plurality of items; and

a second icon bay for graphically representing a second refine icon representing the second refine operation, the second icon bay displayed between the third and fourth areas;

c) displaying in the first area a first graphical representation of the first plurality of items;

d) receiving a first refine icon into the first icon bay from a user input, the first refine icon representing a first refine operation that selects items in the database;

e) executing the first refine operation associated with the first refine icon to select the second plurality of items from the first plurality of items;

f) displaying in the second area a second graphical representation of the second plurality of items, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items;

g) displaying in the third area a third graphical representation of the second plurality of items;

h) receiving a second refine icon into the second icon bay from a user input, the second refine icon representing a second refine operation;

i) executing the second refine operation associated with the second refine icon to select the third plurality of items only from the second plurality of items; and

j) displaying in the fourth area a fourth graphical representation of the third plurality of items, the fourth graphical representation sized relative to the third graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the third plurality of items to the second plurality of items.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a user input to couple the second area to the third area;

resizing the third graphical representation to be a same size as the second graphical representation; and

resizing the fourth graphical representation relative to the third graphical representation so as to maintain the approximate proportion as to the ratio of the third plurality of items to the second plurality of items.

10. A graphical, computer implemented method of selecting data in a database of items, each item having a plurality of fields, the method comprising:

a) displaying a query construction area on a display device, the query construction area having a first filter area including;

a first area for graphically representing a first plurality of items prior to a first filter operation;

a second area for graphically representing a second plurality of items resulting from the first filter operation, the second plurality of items being a subset of the first plurality of items; and

a first icon bay for graphically receiving a first filter icon representing the first filter operation, the first icon bay displayed between the first and second areas;

b) displaying in the query construction area a first tag area on a display device simultaneously with the first filter area, the first tag area having;

a third area for graphically representing the second plurality of items prior to a first tag operation;

a fourth area for graphically representing a third plurality of items resulting from the first tag operation, the third plurality of items being a subset of the second plurality of items;

a second icon bay for graphically receiving a first tag icon representing the first tag operation, the second icon bay displayed between the third and fourth areas;

c) displaying in the first area a first graphical representation of the first plurality of items;

d) receiving a first filter icon into the first icon bay from a user input with the input device, the first filter icon representing a first filter operation that selects items in the database;

e) executing the first filter operation associated with the first filter icon to select the second plurality of items from the first plurality of items;

f) displaying in the second area a second graphical representation of the second plurality of items, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items;

g) displaying in the third area a third graphical representation of the second plurality of items;

h) receiving a first tag icon into the second icon bay from a user input with the input device, the first tag icon representing a first tag operation;

i) executing the first tag operation associated with the first tag icon to select the third plurality of items only from the second plurality of items; and

j) displaying in the fourth area a fourth graphical representation of the third plurality of items, the fourth graphical representation sized relative to the third graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the third plurality of items to the second plurality of items.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying a list of the plurality of items of the database; and

for each of the third plurality of items, graphically distinguishing the item from the remaining items.

12. A user interface for a computer system including a database of items and a display device, the user interface displayed on the display device and for selecting data in the database, the user interface comprising:

a query construction area including;

an input stream area for displaying a first graphical representation of a first plurality of items of the database, the first plurality of items being an input set to a filter operation;

a first output stream area for displaying a second graphical representation of a second plurality of items of the database, the second plurality of items being the output set of the filter operation, and being a subset of the first plurality of items, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items; and

at least one filter icon bay displayed between the input stream area and the first output stream area for receiving a filter icon, the filter icon associated with the filter operation that executes on the first plurality of items in the database to select the second plurality of items.

13. The user interface of claim 12, further comprising:

a first window, for defining at least one criterion for the filter operation, each criterion including a field, a value, and an operator, the first window concurrently displayed with the query construction area, and including;

a list of fields for items in the database;

a list of values of a selected one of the fields;

a list of operators; and

a control for selecting conjunction or disjunction between a first and a second criterion.

14. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the query construction area further comprises:

at least one tag icon bay displayed for receiving a tag icon, the tag icon associated with the tag operation that executes on the second plurality of items in the database to tag a third plurality of items matching criteria of the tag operation and to leave untagged a fourth plurality of items not matching criteria of the tag operation;

a second output stream area for displaying a third graphical representation of the third plurality of items, and a fourth graphical representation of the fourth plurality of items, the third graphical representation sized relative to the second graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the third plurality of items to the second plurality of items, and the fourth graphical representation sized relative to the second graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the fourth plurality of items to the second plurality of items; and

wherein the tag bay is displayed between the first output stream and the second output stream.

15. The user interface of claim 14, further comprising:

a first window, for displaying a status of the filter icon bay, and a status of the tag icon bay, each status selectively displaying each criterion of the filter operation or tag operation associated respectively with the filter icon bay or tag icon bay.

16. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the query construction area is based on the visual metaphor of a pipe through which liquid flows, the filter icon graphically represented as an obstruction in the query construction area, the first plurality of items graphically represented as streams flowing into the obstruction, and the second plurality of items graphically represented as streams flowing out of the obstruction.

17. A user interface for constructing query operations on a database and concurrently representing results from such query operations, each query operation operating upon input data from the database, and producing output data, the user interface comprising:

a query construction area based on the visual metaphor of a water pipe through which water flows;

a first graphical representation of a query operation as an obstruction in the query construction area;

a second graphical representation of input data to the query operation as streams flowing into the first graphical representation of the query operation; and

a third graphical representation of output data produced by the query operation as streams flowing out of the first graphical representation of the query operation.

18. The user interface of claim 17, wherein:

the third graphical representation of output data produced by a query operation has a graphical size that is proportional to the second graphical representation of input data to the query operation in approximately a ratio of a quantity of the output data to a quantity of the input data.

19. A user interface for a computer system including a database of items and a display device, the user interface displayed on the display device and for selecting data in the database, the user interface comprising:

a first area for displaying a first graphical representation of a first plurality of items in the database prior to a query being executed on the database;

a second area concurrently displayed with the first area for displaying a second graphical representation of a second plurality of items resulting from the query, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items;

a third area displayed between the first and second areas for receiving a third graphical representation of the query to be executed on the database.

20. The user interface of claim 19, wherein the third area comprises an icon bay for graphically receiving a query icon representing the query to be executed.

21. A computer implemented method of creating and graphically representing a query in a single user interface, the method comprising:

a) displaying a query construction area on a display device, the query construction area having;

a first area for displaying a first graphical representation of a first plurality of items in a database prior to a query being executed on the database;

a second area concurrently displayed with the first area for displaying a second graphical representation of a second plurality of items resulting from the query; and

a third area displayed between the first and second areas for receiving a third graphical representation of the query to be executed on the database;

b) displaying the first graphical representation of the first plurality of items;

b) receiving in the third area the third graphical representation of the query to be executed;

c) executing the query on the database; and

d) displaying concurrently with the first graphical representation the second graphical representation of the second plurality of items, the second graphical representation sized relative to the first graphical representation in approximate proportion as to a ratio of the second plurality of items to the first plurality of items.