Graphical interface for object-relational query builder

• US 6,353,830 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle Corporation
• Inventors: Gaunce, David Brennan, Yee, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US09/505,492
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-10, 707/101-104, 707/514-522, 207/1-206, 207/514-540
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for constructing a query for an object-relational database. This method displays at least part of a schema for the object-relational database to a user in a graphical representation. Next, the method allows the user to perform graphical manipulations on the schema. The method then generates a query based upon the schema and the graphical manipulations, and this query is sent to the object-relational database. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for processing an object-relational query for transmission from a client to an object-relational database server. This method receives the query at the client, and parses the query to determine which object-relational structures the query is attempting to access. The method then determines from data dictionary information, loaded from the object-relational database server and cached locally on the client, if the object-relational structures the query is attempting to access exist in the object-relational database server. If they do not exist, the method indicates an error condition. Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for displaying objects defined within an object-oriented programming system that are stored in a relational table structure. This method displays a table of objects, so that a first object in the table is represented by an identifier. The method next receives a command from a user to provide a more-detailed display of the first object. In response to this command, the method retrieves attributes of the first object from a data store, and displays an expanded representation of the first object by displaying the attributes.

Claims

1. A method for displaying objects defined within an object-oriented programming system that are stored in a relational table structure, comprising:

displaying a first table of object-relational data, so that a first object in the first table is represented by an identifier for the first object;

receiving a command from a user to provide a more-detailed display of the first object;

wherein the command is received from the user through a mouse, which allows the user to move a cursor about a graphical user interface in order to select an entry in the first table to be displayed in more detail;

retrieving attributes of the first object from a data store;

displaying an expanded representation of the first object by displaying the attributes of the first object; and

allowing the user to use the mouse to navigate into a second object nested within the first object by,

receiving a command from the user through the mouse to provide a more-detailed display of an attribute from the attributes of the first object, and

if the attribute represents the second object, retrieving attributes of the second object from the data store, and displaying an expanded representation of the second object by displaying the attributes of the second object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the expanded representation of the first object includes displaying the expanded representation of all entries in the first table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the attributes of the first object from the data store includes retrieving the attributes of the first object from an object table, the object table containing a collection of objects which can be referenced from other tables.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the attributes of the first object from the data store includes retrieving the attributes of the first object from the first table.

5. An apparatus for displaying objects defined within an object-oriented programming system that are stored in a relational table structure, comprising:

a computer system;

a display coupled to the computer system;

a mouse coupled to the computer system;

a user interface within the computer system that outputs a first table of object-relational data to the display, so that a first object in the first table is represented by an identifier for the first object;

a command receiving mechanism within the computer system that receives a command from a user to provide a more-detailed display of the first object;

wherein the command is received from the user through the mouse, which allows the user to move a cursor about a graphical user interface in order to select an entry in the first table to be displayed in more detail;

a data retrieval mechanism within the computer system that retrieves attributes of the first object from a data store; and

an expanded display mechanism within the user interface that outputs an expanded representation of the first object to the display by displaying the attributes of the first object

wherein the expanded display mechanism is configured to allow the user to use the mouse to navigate into a second object nested within the first object, wherein the expanded display mechanism is configured to,

receive a command from the user through the mouse to provide a more-detailed display of an attribute from the attributes of the first object, and

if the attribute represents the second object, to retrieve attributes of the second object from the data store, and display an expanded representation of the second object by displaying the attributes of the second object.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the expanded display mechanism is configured to display an expanded representation of all entries in the first table.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the attributes for the first object is located in an object table in the data store, the object table containing a collection of objects which can be referenced from other tables.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the attributes of the first object is located in the first table.

9. A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer perform a method for displaying objects defined within an object-oriented programming system that are stored in a relational table structure, comprising:

displaying a first table of object-relational data, so that a first object in the first table is represented by an identifier for the first object;

receiving a command from a user to provide a more-detailed display of the first object;

wherein the command is received from the user through a mouse, which allows the user to move a cursor about a graphical user interface in order to select an entry in the first table to be displayed in more detail;

retrieving attributes of the first object from a data store;

displaying an expanded representation of the first object by displaying the attributes of the first object; and

allowing the user to use the mouse to navigate into a second object nested within the first object by,

receiving a command from the user through the mouse to provide a more-detailed display of an attribute from the attributes of the first object, and

if the attribute represents the second object, retrieving the attributes of the second object from the data store, and displaying an expanded representation of the second object by displaying the attributes of the second object.