Relational database access system using semantically dynamic objects

• US 6,578,027 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Liautaud, Bernard, Cambot, Jean-Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US09/812,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 709/218, 709/227, 705/26, 345/751
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• 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

Abstract

A relational database access system and method provides a new data representation and a query technique which allows information system end users to access (query) relational databases without knowing the relational structure or the structure query language (SQL). The present system utilizes semantically dynamic objects.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a database, the method comprising

storing a database of information including a first data;

associating a plurality of different words with the first data;

providing access to the first data to a plurality of users, wherein at least two different users have different views of the first data in the database, and each view is associated with one of the plurality of different words.

2. A computer-readable medium including instructions for querying a database, the database including first data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the computer-readable medium comprising

one or more instructions for associating a first word with the first data;

one or more instructions for associating a second word with the first data;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the first user input device to indicate that the first user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the second user input device to indicate that the second user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the second user.

3. A computer-readable medium for querying a database, the database including first and second data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the computer-readable medium comprising

one or more instructions for associating a first word with the first data;

one or more instructions for associating the first word with the second data;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the first user input device to accept a query using the first word in a first context and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the second user input device to accept a query using the first word in a second context and, in response, providing the second data to the second user.

4. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising instructions for querying a database, the database including first data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the computer data signal comprising

one or more instructions for associating a first word with the first data;

one or more instructions for associating a second word with the first data;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the first user input device to indicate that the first user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the second user input device to indicate that the second user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the second user.

5. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising instructions for querying a database, the database including first and second data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the computer data signal comprising

one or more instructions for associating a first word with the first data;

one or more instructions for associating the first word with the second data;

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the first user input device to accept a query using the first word in a first context and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

one or more instructions for accepting signals from the second user input device to accept a query using the first word in a second context and, in response, providing the second data to the second user.