Methods, apparatus, and data structures for annotating a database design schema and/or indexing annotations

• US 6,999,963 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2000
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McConnell, Christopher Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/563,900
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 6, 707100-1041, 704/9, 704/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24522 Translation of natural language queries to structured queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/288 Entity relationship models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/353 into predefined classes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90 Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
• 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 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

An authoring tool (or process) to facilitate the performance of an annotation function and an indexing function. The annotation function may generate informational annotations and word annotations to a database design schema (e.g., an entity-relationship diagram or “ERD”). The indexing function may analyze the words of the annotations by classifying the words in accordance with a concordance and dictionary, and assign a normalized weight to each word of each of the annotations based on the classification(s) of the word(s) of the annotation. A query translator (or query translation process) to (i) accept a natural language query from a user interface process, (ii) convert the natural language query to a formal command query (e.g., an SQL query) using the indexed annotations generated by the authoring tool and the database design schema, and (iii) present the formal command query to a database management process for interrogating the relational database.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for annotating a database design schema, the method comprising steps of:

a) accepting informational annotations on the database design schema;

b) accepting word annotations on the database design schema;

c) generating automatic word annotations on the database design schema;

d) classifying words of the automatic word annotations based on a concordance so that the words have an associated classification; and

e) assigning a normalized weight to words of each automatic word annotation, based on the classifications associated with the words.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the database design schema includes relations and entities represented by tables having rows and columns, and wherein the step of accepting informational annotations includes at least one step selected from a group of steps comprising (i) marking the tables of the database design schema to distinguish entity tables and property tables, (ii) attaching a value to a row, wherein the value indicates a likelihood that the row will be referenced, and (iii) attaching descriptive annotations to entity tables.

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the database design schema includes words related to tables, rows, and columns of a database, and wherein the step of accepting word annotations includes a step of annotating the words, of the database design schema, related to tables, rows, and columns of the database, with synonyms.

4. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the database design schema corresponds to a database having tables, rows, and columns, and wherein the step of generating automatic word annotations includes a step selected from a group of steps comprising (i) annotating a column with values found in rows of the column, (ii) annotating a table with values round in rows of the table, (iii) annotating a table with words the database uses to describe columns of the table, and (iv) annotating a table with words the database uses to describe rows of the table.

5. At least one machine readable medium storing processor-executable instructions, the processor-executable instructions for generating a list of indexed annotations to a database design schema, the processor-executable instructions capable of implementing a method comprising steps of:

a) accepting informational annotations on the database design schema;

b) accepting word annotations on the database design schema;

c) generating automatic word annotations on the database design schema;

d) classifying words of the automatic word annotations based on a concordance so that the words have an associated classification; and

e) assigning a normalized weight to words of each automatic word annotation, based on the classifications associated with the words.

6. At least one machine-readable medium storing a data structure, the data structure comprising:

a) an annotation including words and comprising at least one of an informational annotation, a word annotation, or an automatic word annotation; and

b) an object, the object

i) being associated with the annotation, and

ii) referencing a component of a database design schema;

wherein the annotation serves to annotate the component of the database design schema;

the annotation including normalized weights for the words, the normalized weights based on classifications associated with the words, the associated classifications based on a concordance.

7. The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the component of the database design schema referenced by the object is selected from a group of components comprising (i) a table, (ii) a row, (iii) a column, and (iv) a relationship.

8. The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the component of the database design schema is part of an entity-relationship diagram.

9. At least one machine-readable medium storing a data structure, the data structure comprising:

a) an annotation including words and comprising at least one of an informational annotation, a word annotation, or an automatic word annotation; and

b) an object, the object

i) being associated with the annotation, and

ii) referencing a type of at least one component of a database design schema;

wherein the annotation serves to annotate the type of at least one component of the database design schema;

the annotation including normalized weights for the words, the normalized weights based on classifications associated with the words, the associated classifications based on a concordance.

10. A system comprising:

first annotation means for accepting informational annotations on a database design schema;

second annotation means for accepting manual word annotations on the database design schema;

third annotation means for generating automatic word annotations on the database design schema;

classification means for classifying words of the automatic word annotations based on a concordance so that the words have an associated classification; and

assignment means for assigning a normalized weight to words of each automatic word annotation, based on the classifications associated with the words.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first annotation means is adapted to accept at least one of entity annotations, prior annotations, or description annotations.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second annotation means is adapted to accept the manual word annotations via a user interface.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the third annotation means is adapted to generate the automatic word annotations in accordance with a plurality of automated annotation rules.