System and method for the manipulation and display of structured data

• US 6,370,537 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Borland Software Corporation (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AltoWeb, Inc.
• Inventors: Gilbert, John, Kutay, Ali, Albek, Eliahu, Akin, Hakan, Akin, Cihan, Akin, Erhan
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/475,655
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and system for manipulating a data structure are described. In one embodiment, a data structure is accessed, the data structure comprising a number of nodes. A project is accessed, the project comprises one sub-structure, the sub-structure comprising a sub-set the nodes and a relationship defined between the nodes of the sub-set. In addition, a number of query results is created using the sub-structure and a data structure, and a layout and the number of query results are sent to a client.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

accessing said at least one data structure, said at least one data structure comprising a plurality of nodes;

accessing a collection of sub-structures, said at least one sub-structure of said collection comprising a sub-set of the plurality of nodes and at least one relationship defined between nodes of the sub-set;

creating a plurality of query results by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure; and

sending said plurality of query results and at least one layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure to a client.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

parsing said at least one data structure to obtain a spatial representation of the at least one data structure.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said spatial representation is a graph structure.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

mapping said nodes of the sub-set into said query results using said data associated with said at least one data structure.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said creating further comprises:

creating at least one facet using the nodes of the sub-set, the at least one layout structure, and the at least one relationship defined between the nodes.

6. A method of manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

receiving a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure and a plurality of query results created by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure from a server; and

displaying said plurality of query results and said at least one sub-structure using said layout information of said layout structure.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said displaying further comprises:

receiving said at least one sub-structure from said server, said at least one sub-structure comprising a sub-set of nodes of a plurality of nodes of said at least one data structure and at least one relationship defined between said nodes of said sub-set; and

displaying said at least one sub-structure within a structure display using said layout information.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said displaying further comprises:

receiving at least one facet associated with said at least one sub-structure;

mapping said at least one sub-structure into a three-dimensional representation using said at least one facet, the layout structure, and the plurality of query results; and

displaying said three-dimensional representation within a context display interactively linked to said structure display.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a sphere.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a cube.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said displaying further comprises:

receiving a content source for the at least one sub-structure; and

displaying the content source within a content display interactively linked to said context display.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

if the at least one sub-structure is accessed within the structure display, displaying said content source within said content display.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

if the three-dimensional representation is accessed within said context display, displaying said content source within said content display.

14. A system for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

means for accessing said at least one data structure, said at least one data structure comprising a plurality of nodes;

means for accessing a collection of sub-structures, said at least one sub-structure of said collection comprising a sub-set of the plurality of nodes and at least one relationship defined between nodes of the sub-set;

means for creating a plurality of query results by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure; and

means for sending said plurality of query results and at least one layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure to a client.

15. A system for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

means for receiving a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure and a plurality of query results created by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure from a server; and

means for displaying said plurality of query results and said at least one sub-structure using said layout information of said layout structure.

16. A system for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

a server configured to access said at least one data structure, said at least one data structure comprising a plurality of nodes, configured to access a collection of sub-structures, said at least one sub-structure of said collection comprising a sub-set of the plurality of nodes, configured to create a plurality of query results by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure, and configured to send said plurality of query results and at least one layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure to a client.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said server is further configured to parse said at least one data structure to obtain a spatial representation of the at least one data structure.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said spatial representation is a graph structure.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said server is further configured to map said nodes of the sub-set into said query results using said data associated with said at least one data structure.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said server is further configured to create at least one facet using the nodes of the sub-set, the at least one layout structure, and at least one relationship defined between a nodes of the sub-set.

21. A system for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

a client configured to receive a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure and a plurality of query results created by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure from a server, and to display said plurality of query results and said at least one sub-structure using said layout information of said layout structure.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said client is further configured to receive said at least one sub-structure from said server, said at least one sub-structure comprising a sub-set of nodes of a plurality of nodes of said at least one data structure and at least one relationship defined between said nodes of said sub-set, and configured to display said at least one sub-structure within a structure display using said layout information.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said client is further configured to receive at least one facet associated with said at least one sub-structure, configured to map said at least one sub-structure into a three-dimensional representation using said at least one facet, the layout structure, and the plurality of query results, and configured to display said three-dimensional representation within a context display interactively linked to said structure display.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a sphere.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said three-dimensional representation is a cube.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein said client is further configured to receive a content source for the at least one sub-structure, and to display the content source within a content display interactively linked to said context display.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said client is further configured to display said content source within said content display if the at least one sub-structure is accessed within the structure display.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said client is further configured to display said content source within said content display if the three-dimensional representation is accessed within said context display.

29. A computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed on a processor, perform a method for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

accessing said at least one data structure, said at least one data structure comprising a plurality of nodes;

accessing a collection of sub-structures, said at least one sub-structure of said collection comprising a sub-set of the plurality of nodes and at least one relationship defined between nodes of the sub-set;

creating a plurality of query results by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure; and

sending said plurality of query results and at least one layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure to a client.

30. The media of claim 29 further comprising:

parsing said at least one data structure to obtain a spatial representation of the at least one data structure.

31. The media of claim 29 further comprising:

mapping said nodes of the sub-set into said query results using said data associated with said at least one data structure.

32. The media of claim 29 wherein said creating further comprises:

creating at least one facet using the nodes of the sub-set, the at least one layout structure, and the at least one relationship defined between the nodes.

33. A computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed on a processor, perform a method for manipulating at least one sub-structure of at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

receiving a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one sub-structure and a plurality of query results created by querying said plurality of data sources using said at least one sub-structure and said at least one data structure from a server; and

displaying said plurality of query results and said at least one sub-structure using said layout information of said layout structure.

34. The media of claim 33 wherein said displaying further comprises:

receiving said at least one sub-structure from said server, said at least one sub-structure comprising a sub-set of nodes of a plurality of nodes of said at least one data structure and at least one relationship defined between said nodes of said sub-set; and

displaying said at least one sub-structure within a structure display using said layout information.

35. The media of claim 33 wherein said displaying further comprises:

receiving at least one facet associated with said at least one sub-structure;

mapping said at least one sub-structure into a three-dimensional representation using said at least one facet, the layout structure, and the plurality of query results; and

displaying said three-dimensional representation within a context display interactively linked to said structure display.

36. The media of claim 33 wherein displaying further comprises:

receiving a content source for the at least one sub-structure; and

displaying the content source within a content display interactively linked to said context display.

37. The media of claim 36 further comprising:

if the at least one sub-structure is accessed within the structure display, displaying said content source within said content display.

38. The media of claim 36 further comprising:

if the three-dimensional representation is accessed within said context display, displaying said content source within said content display.

39. A memory for storing data distributed across a plurality of data sources for access by an application program being executed on a data processing system, comprising:

a data structure stored in said memory, said data structure including information resident in a database used by said application program and including;

a plurality of projects used for the construction and display of a data structure, wherein each project includes

a project layout, and

a plurality of sub-structures, each of said plurality of sub-structures constructed from said data structure and comprising,

a data source identifier,

a relationship between nodes of the sub-structure, and

a content identifier.

40. A method for processing at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

retrieving said at least one data structure in response to a request from a client;

accessing said plurality of data sources to retrieve said data associated with said at least one data structure; and

transmitting said data and said at least one data structure to said client.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said accessing further comprises:

transmitting a query to said plurality of data sources, said query including a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one data structure on said client and a plurality of query result fields.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein said accessing further comprises:

receiving said data in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

performing a plurality of calculations on said data contained in said each query result field; and

assigning at least one logic field to said query based on said plurality of calculations.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein transmitting said query further comprises:

retrieving said layout information; and

mapping said layout information into said layout structure.

45. The method according to claim 40, wherein said at least one data structure further comprises at least one logic component for performing calculations on said data.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein said at least one logic component is a set of instructions executable on said at least one data structure.

47. The method according to claim 40, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a plurality of windows.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said at least one data structure to said client for display in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client for display in a context window of said plurality of windows using said layout structure, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said data associated with each data node of said plurality of data nodes to said client; and

transmitting user information related to retrieval of said data to said client.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said at least one data source and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

54. The method according to claim 48, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting a name of said at least one data structure to said client; and

transmitting a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client.

55. The method according to claim 40, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

56. The method according to claim 40, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

57. The method according to claim 40, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

58. The method according to claim 40, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

59. The method according to claim 40, wherein said processing further comprises transmitting said data in real time to said client.

60. A method for processing at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

receiving said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure from a server, in response to a request from a user; and

displaying said at least one data structure and said content information in a plurality of windows for said user.

61. The method according to claim 60, further comprising:

receiving said request from said user; and

transmitting said request to said server.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said at least one data structure in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure in a context window of said plurality of windows, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said content information associated with said at least one data structure in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying data contained in each data node of said plurality of data nodes; and

displaying user information related to retrieval of said data from said each data node of said plurality of data nodes.

66. The method according to claim 64, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said plurality of data sources and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

68. The method according to claim 62, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying a name of said at least one data structure; and

displaying a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

69. The method according to claim 60, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

70. The method according to claim 60, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

71. The method according to claim 60, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

72. The method according to claim 60, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

73. The method according to claim 60, wherein said at least one data structure and said content information are displayed in real time for said user.

74. A method for accessing data distributed across a plurality of disparate data sources, said method comprising:

retrieving a data structure, said data structure identifying a plurality of data items respectively located within said plurality of disparate data sources;

accessing said plurality of disparate data sources using said data structure to retrieve said plurality of data items; and

communicating said plurality of data items and said data structure to a client.

75. The method according to claim 74, wherein said accessing further comprises:

transmitting a query to said plurality of disparate data sources, said query including a layout structure and a plurality of query result fields, said layout structure containing layout information for displaying said data structure on said client.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein said accessing further comprises:

receiving one data item of said plurality of data items in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

77. The method according to claim 75, wherein transmitting said query further comprises:

retrieving said layout information; and

mapping said layout information into said layout structure.

78. The method according to claim 74, wherein said data structure further includes logic specifying at least one operation to be performed utilizing said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources, said method further comprising:

performing said at least one operation utilizing said plurality of data items to generate a result data item; and

communicating said result data item to said client.

79. The method according to claim 74, further comprising:

defining at least one relationship between said plurality of data items to obtain a context structure; and

communicating said context structure to said client.

80. The method according to claim 74, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating said data structure to said client for display in a structure window.

81. The method according to claim 80, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating a plurality of data nodes contained within said data structure to said client for display in a context window interactively linked to said structure window.

82. The method according to claim 81, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources to said client for display in a content window interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

83. A method for displaying data, said method comprising:

detecting user selection of a data item;

responsive to said user selection, identifying a data structure within which said data item is located; and

generating a display to be displayed on a display unit of a computer system, said display simultaneously presenting content of said data item in a content window, context of said data item in a context window interactively linked to said content window, and a view of at least one portion of said data structure in a structure window interactively linked to said content window and said context window.

84. The method according to claim 83, wherein said data structure is a hierarchical data structure, and said context of said data item further includes other data items located on a same hierarchical level of said data structure as said data item.

85. The method according to claim 84, wherein said at least one portion of said data structure further includes a branch of said hierarchical data structure which contains said data item.

86. The method according to claim 83, wherein said content is displayed in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) format.

87. The method according to claim 83, wherein said content is displayed in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

88. A system for processing at least one data structures which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said system comprising a server configured to retrieve said at least one data structure, to access said plurality of data sources to retrieve said data associated with said at least one data structure and to transmit said data and said at least one data structure to said client.

89. The system according to claim 88, wherein said server is further configured to transmit a query to said plurality of data sources, said query including a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one data structure on said client and a plurality of query result fields.

90. The system according to claim 89, wherein said server is further configured to receive said data in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

91. The system according to claim 90, wherein said server is further configured to perform a plurality of calculations on said data contained in said each query result field and to assign at least one logic field to said query based on said plurality of calculations.

92. The system according to claim 89, wherein said server is further configured to retrieve said layout information and to map said layout information into said layout structure.

93. The system according to claim 88, wherein said at least one data structure further comprises at least one logic component for performing calculations on said data.

94. The system according to claim 93, wherein said at least one logic component is a set of instructions executable on said at least one data structure.

95. The system according to claim 88, wherein said server is further configured to transmit said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a plurality of windows.

96. The system according to claim 95, wherein said server is further configured to transmit said at least one data structure to said client for display in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

97. The system according to claim 96, wherein said server is further configured to transmit a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client for display in a context window of said plurality of windows using said layout structure, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

98. The system according to claim 97, wherein said server is further configured to transmit said content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

99. The system according to claim 98, wherein said server is further configured to transmit said data associated with each data node of said plurality of data nodes to said client and to transmit user information related to retrieval of said data to said client.

100. The system according to claim 98, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

101. The system according to claim 100, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said at least one data source and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

102. The system according to claim 96, wherein said server is further configured to transmit a name of said at least one data structure to said client and to transmit a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client.

103. The system according to claim 88, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

104. The system according to claim 88, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

105. The system according to claim 88, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

106. The system according to claim 88, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

107. The system according to claim 88, wherein said server is further configured to transmit said data in real time to said client.

108. A system for processing at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said system comprising a client configured to receive said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure from a server, in response to a request from a user and to display said at least one data structure and said content information in a plurality of windows for said user.

109. The system according to claim 108, wherein said client is further configured to receive said request from said user and to transmit said request to said server.

110. The system according to claim 108, wherein said client is further configured to display said at least one data structure in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

111. The system according to claim 110, wherein said client is further configured to display a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure in a context window of said plurality of windows, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

112. The system according to claim 111, wherein said client is further configured to display said content information associated with said at least one data structure in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

113. The system according to claim 112, wherein said client is further configured to display data contained in each data node of said plurality of data nodes and to display user information related to retrieval of said data from said each data node of said plurality of data nodes.

114. The system according to claim 112, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

115. The system according to claim 114, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said plurality of data sources and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

116. The system according to claim 110, wherein said client is further configured to display a name of said at least one data structure and to display a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

117. The system according to claim 108, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

118. The system according to claim 108, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

119. The system according to claim 108, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

120. The system according to claim 108, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

121. The system according to claim 108, wherein said at least one data structure and said content information are displayed in real time for said user.

122. A system for accessing data distributed across a plurality of disparate data sources, said system comprising a server configured to retrieve a data structure, said data structure identifying a plurality of data items respectively located within said plurality of disparate data sources, to access said plurality of disparate data sources to retrieve said plurality of data items and to communicate said plurality of data items and said data structure to a client.

123. The system according to claim 122, said system comprising a server configured to transmit a query to said plurality of disparate data sources, said query including a layout structure and a plurality of query result fields, said layout structure containing layout information for displaying said data structure on said client.

124. The system according to claim 123, wherein said system comprising a server configured to receive one data item of said plurality of data items in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

125. The system according to claim 123, wherein said system comprising a server configured to retrieve said layout information and mapping said layout information into said layout structure.

126. The system according to claim 122, wherein said data structure further includes logic specifying at least one operation to be performed utilizing said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources, and server is further configured to perform said at least one operation utilizing said plurality of data items to generate a result data item and to communicate said result data item to said client.

127. The system according to claim 122, wherein said system comprising a server configured to define at least one relationship between said plurality of data items to obtain a context structure and to communicate said context structure to said client.

128. The system according to claim 122, wherein said system comprising a server configured to communicate said data structure to said client for display in a structure window.

129. The system according to claim 128, wherein said system comprising a server configured to communicate a plurality of data nodes contained within said data structure to said client for display in a context window interactively linked to said structure window.

130. The system according to claim 129, wherein said system comprising a server configured to communicate said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources to said client for display in a content window interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

131. A system for displaying data, said system comprising a client configured to detect user selection of a data item, responsive to said user selection, to identify a data structure within which said data item is located and to generate a display to be displayed on a display unit of a computer system, said display simultaneously presenting content of said data item in a content window, context of said data item in a context window interactively linked to said content window, and a view of at least one portion of said data structure in a structure window interactively linked to said content window and said context window.

132. The system according to claim 131, wherein said data structure is a hierarchical data structure, and said context of said data item further includes other data items located on a same hierarchical level of said data structure as said data item.

133. The system according to claim 132, wherein said at least one portion of said data structure further includes a branch of said hierarchical data structure which contains said data item.

134. The system according to claim 131, wherein said content is displayed in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) format.

135. The system according to claim 131, wherein said content is displayed in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

136. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause the system to perform a method for processing at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

retrieving said at least one data structure;

accessing said plurality of data sources to retrieve said data associated with said at least one data structure; and

transmitting said data and said at least one data structure to said client.

137. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said accessing further comprises:

transmitting a query to said plurality of data sources, said query including a layout structure containing layout information for displaying said at least one data structure on said client and a plurality of query result fields.

138. The computer readable medium according to claim 137, wherein said accessing further comprises:

receiving said data in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

139. The computer readable medium according to claim 138, wherein the method further comprises:

performing a plurality of calculations on said data contained in said each query result field; and

assigning at least one logic field to said query based on said plurality of calculations.

140. The computer readable medium according to claim 137, wherein transmitting said query further comprises:

retrieving said layout information; and

mapping said layout information into said layout structure.

141. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said at least one data structure further comprises at least one logic component for performing calculations on said data.

142. The computer readable medium according to claim 140, wherein said at least one logic component is a set of instructions executable on said at least one data structure.

143. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a plurality of windows.

144. The computer readable medium according to claim 143, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said at least one data structure to said client for display in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

145. The computer readable medium according to claim 144, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client for display in a context window of said plurality of windows using said layout structure, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

146. The computer readable medium according to claim 145, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said content information associated with said at least one data structure to said client for display in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

147. The computer readable medium according to claim 146, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said data associated with each data node of said plurality of data nodes to said client; and

transmitting user information related to retrieval of said data to said client.

148. The computer readable medium according to claim 146, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

149. The computer readable medium according to claim 148, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said at least one data source and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

150. The computer readable medium according to claim 144, wherein said transmitting further comprises:

transmitting a name of said at least one data structure to said client; and

transmitting a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure to said client.

151. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

152. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

153. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

154. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

155. The computer readable medium according to claim 136, wherein said processing further comprises transmitting said data in real time to said client.

156. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause the system to perform a method for processing at least one data structure, which identifies data distributed across a plurality of data sources, said method comprising:

receiving said at least one data structure and content information associated with said at least one data structure from a server, in response to a request from a user; and

displaying said at least one data structure and said content information in a plurality of windows for said user.

157. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving said request from said user; and

transmitting said request to said server.

158. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said at least one data structure in a structure window of said plurality of windows.

159. The computer readable medium according to claim 158, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure in a context window of said plurality of windows, said context window being interactively linked to said structure window.

160. The computer readable medium according to claim 159, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said content information associated with said at least one data structure in a content window of said plurality of windows, said content window being interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

161. The computer readable medium according to claim 160, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying data contained in each data node of said plurality of data nodes; and

displaying user information related to retrieval of said data from said each data node of said plurality of data nodes.

162. The computer readable medium according to claim 160, wherein said content window further comprises a three-dimensional frame including a plurality of bands, each band of said plurality of bands displaying content of a set of data nodes of said plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

163. The computer readable medium according to claim 162, wherein said each band of said plurality of bands represents a query to said plurality of data sources and includes a plurality of query result fields obtained from said query.

164. The computer readable medium according to claim 158, wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying a name of said at least one data structure; and

displaying a node name for each data node of a plurality of data nodes contained within said at least one data structure.

165. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said at least one data structure is a tree structure.

166. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said at least one data structure is a directional graph structure.

167. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said at least one data structure is a bi-directional graph structure.

168. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said at least one data structure is a graph structure having a plurality of directional relationships and a plurality of bi-directional relationships.

169. The computer readable medium according to claim 156, wherein said at least one data structure and said content information are displayed in real time for said user.

170. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause the system to perform a method comprising:

retrieving a data structure, said data structure identifying a plurality of data items respectively located within said plurality of disparate data sources;

accessing said plurality of disparate data sources to retrieve said plurality of data items; and

communicating said plurality of data items and said data structure to a client.

171. The computer readable medium according to claim 170, wherein said accessing further comprises:

transmitting a query to said plurality of disparate data sources, said query including a layout structure and a plurality of query result fields, said layout structure containing layout information for displaying said data structure on said client.

172. The computer readable medium according to claim 171, wherein said accessing further comprises:

receiving one data item of said plurality of data items in each query result field of said plurality of query result fields.

173. The computer readable medium- according to claim 171, wherein transmitting said query further comprises:

retrieving said layout information; and

mapping said layout information into said layout structure.

174. The computer readable medium according to claim 170, wherein said data structure further includes logic specifying at least one operation to be performed utilizing said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources, and wherein the method further comprises:

performing said at least one operation utilizing said plurality of data items to generate a result data item; and

communicating said result data item to said client.

175. The computer readable medium according to claim 170, wherein the method further comprises:

defining at least one relationship between said plurality of data items to obtain a context structure; and

communicating said context structure to said client.

176. The computer readable medium according to claim 170, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating said data structure to said client for display in a structure window.

177. The computer readable medium according to claim 176, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating a plurality of data nodes contained within said data structure to said client for display in a context window interactively linked to said structure window.

178. The computer readable medium according to claim 177, wherein said communicating further comprises:

communicating said plurality of data items retrieved from said plurality of disparate data sources to said client for display in a content window interactively linked to each of said structure window and said context window.

179. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, cause the system to perform a method comprising:

detecting user selection of a data item;

responsive to said user selection, identifying a data structure within which said data item is located; and

generating a display to be displayed on a display unit of a computer system, said display simultaneously presenting content of said data item in a content window, context of said data item in a context window interactively linked to said content window, and a view of at least one portion of said data structure in a structure window interactively linked to said content window and said context window.

180. The computer readable medium according to claim 179, wherein said data structure is a hierarchical data structure, and said context of said data item further includes other data items located on a same hierarchical level of said data structure as said data item.

181. The computer readable medium according to claim 180, wherein said at least one portion of said data structure further includes a branch of said hierarchical data structure which contains said data item.

182. The computer readable medium according to claim 179, wherein said content is displayed in Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) format.

183. The computer readable medium according to claim 179, wherein said content is displayed in Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.