Dynamic query model and method

• US 6,581,054 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bogrett, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford
• Application Number:
  US09/364,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-5, 707/100, 707/101, 707/103-104, 707/513, 707/526, 707/530
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• 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: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• 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 method for generating database queries includes storing a predefined query model for querying a database. An accessible portion of the predefined query model is displayed to a user upon request. User edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model are received and used to generate a user-adapted query model. A query is then initiated based on the user-adapted query model.

Claims

1. A method for generating database queries, comprising:

storing, at a server, a predefined query model for querying a database;

displaying an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a user at a client;

receiving user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model;

generating a user-adapted query model at the client based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

initiating a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.

2. The method of claim 1, the act of displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model comprising displaying a graphical view of accessible data elements defining the predefined query model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical view of accessible data elements comprises accessible tables, columns in the tables, and joins between the tables.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model; and

determining the accessible portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying only the accessible portion of the predefined query model to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determining a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

concealing the protected portion of the predefined query model from display to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determining a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

prohibiting edits to the protected portion of the predefined query model by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises database table joins modified from the predefined query model.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises a database table absent from the predefined query model.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to edit the predefined query model; and

displaying to the user a graphical view of at least an accessible portion of data elements in the database.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating a database query based on the user-adapted query model; and

initiating the database query.

12. A method for generating database queries in a business intelligence portal, comprising:

storing on a server a predefined query model for querying a database;

downloading at least an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a client;

displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

receiving user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

generating a user-adapted query model at the client based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

initiating a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.

13. The method of claim 12, the act of displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model comprising displaying a graphical view of accessible data elements defining the predefined query model.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical view of accessible data elements comprises accessible tables, columns in the tables, and joins between the tables.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model; and

determining the accessible portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying only the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determining a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

concealing the protected portion of the predefined query model from display at the client.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determining a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

prohibiting edits to the protected portion of the predefined query model at the client.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises database table joins modified from the predefined query model.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises a database table absent from the predefined query model.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a request to edit the predefined query model at the client; and

displaying at the client a graphical view of at least an accessible portion of data elements in the database.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating at the server a database query based on the user-adapted query model; and

initiating the database query at the server.

23. A method for generating database queries in a business intelligence portal, comprising:

storing on a server a predefined query model for querying a database;

downloading at least an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a client;

displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

receiving user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

generating a user-adapted query model based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model;

initiating a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model;

downloading the predefined query model to the client;

generating the user-adapted query model at the client;

uploading the user-adapted query model to the server; and

initiating the query of the database at the server.

24. A system for generating database queries, comprising:

software operable to;

store on a server a predefined query model for querying a database;

display an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a user at a client;

receive user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model;

generate a user-adapted query model at the client based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

initiate a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.

25. The system of claim 24, the act of displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model comprising displaying a graphical a graphical view of accessible data elements defining the predefined query model.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the graphical view of accessible data elements comprises accessible tables, columns in the tables, and joins between the tables.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model; and

determine the accessible portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to display only the accessible portion of the predefined query model to the user.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determine a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

conceal the protected portion of the predefined query model from display to the user.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determine a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

prohibit edits to the protected portion of the predefined query model by the user.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises database table joins modified from the predefined query model.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises a database table absent from the predefined query model.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to:

receive a request from the user to edit the predefined query model; and

display to the user a graphical view of at least an accessible portion of data elements in the database.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to:

automatically generate a database query based on the user-adapted query model; and

initiate the database query.

35. A system for generating database queries in a business intelligence portal, comprising:

software operable to;

store on a server a predefined query model for querying a database;

download at least an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a client;

display the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

receive user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

generate a user-adapted query model based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

initiate a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

generate the user-adapted query model at the client;

upload the user-adapted query model to the server; and

initiate the query of the database at the server.

37. The system of claim 35, the act of displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model comprising the software displaying a graphical view of accessible data elements defining the predefined query model.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the graphical view of accessible data elements comprises accessible tables, columns in the tables, and joins between the tables.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model; and

determine the accessible portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to conceal the non-accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determine a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

conceal the protected portion of the predefined query model from display at the client.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

determine privileges of the user to the predefined query model;

determine a protected portion of the predefined query model based on the user'"'"'s privileges; and

prohibit edits to the protected portion of the predefined query model at the client.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises database table joins modified from the predefined query model.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein the user-adapted query model comprises a database table absent from the predefined query model.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

receive a request to edit the predefined query model at the client; and

display at the client a graphical view of at least an accessible portion of data elements in the database.

46. The system of claim 35, wherein the software is further operable to:

generate at the server a database query based on the user-adapted query model; and

initiate the database query at the server.

47. A system for generating database queries, comprising:

means for storing, at a server, a predefined query model for querying a database;

means for displaying an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a user at a client;

means for receiving user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model;

means for generating a user-adapted query model at the client based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

means for initiating a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.

48. A system for generating database queries in a business intelligence portal, comprising:

means for storing on a server a predefined query model for querying a database;

means for downloading at least an accessible portion of the predefined query model to a client;

means for displaying the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

means for receiving user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model at the client;

means for generating a user-adapted query model based on user edits to the accessible portion of the predefined query model; and

means for initiating a query of the database based on the user-adapted query model.