Method and system for providing access to a database

• US 7,315,847 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hulu LLC (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hacigumus, Vahit H., Iyer, Balakrishna R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, THANH HA T
• Application Number:
  US10/280,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/100, 707/2, 707/1, 707/9
• US Class Current: 707/784
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and system for providing user-friendly access to a database are described. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a database server. There is at least one database coupled to the database server, wherein the database server enables access to the at least one database. A user-defined interface configured to have access to the at least one database, wherein the user-defined interface is customized to have functionality to suit specific needs of a user.

Claims

1. A database system, comprising:

a database server, wherein the database server is managed and maintained by one or more database application programmers;

at least one database coupled to the database server, wherein the database server enables access to the at least one database;

a database interface configured to provide queries for the database server and display information from the database server, the database interface associated with the database server and being managed and maintained by the one or more database application programmers; and

a user-defined visual user interface associated with a user and distinct from the database interface, and configured by the database interface to communicate with and have access to the at least one database via the database server as an alternative to the database interface for the user that is different from the database application programmers, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is created, managed, and customized by the user to have customized functionality to suit specific needs of the user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system, and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-defined visual user interface is associated with the user such that the user is an associated user, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the associated user and is connected to the at least one database when the associated user is identified to the database system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the functionality of the user-defined visual user interface can be modified by the user as changes to the interface are needed, and wherein a modification to the user-defined visual user interface can be accomplished by the user without authorization from the database application programmers.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the user previously designated the user-defined visual user interface to be presented and connected to the database when the user is identified.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the database interface is used to configure the user-defined visual user interface and associate the user with the user-defined visual user interface during an initial setup session, wherein the user-defined visual user interface can have access to the at least one database in subsequent sessions after the initial setup session without having to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the database system is a relational database system and the user-defined visual user interface is a relational database interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the user-defined visual user interface is one of a plurality of different user-defined visual user interfaces, each of the user interfaces being configured to have access to the at least one database and each of the user interfaces being associated with at least one of a plurality of users of the database system.

8. The database system of claim 1 wherein the customized functionality of the user-defined visual user interface includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to receive input used in accessing the at least one database.

9. The database system of claim 8 wherein the user-defined interface feature includes at least one displayed user-defined field operative to receive search criteria input used in a search for information stored in the at least one database.

10. The database system of claim 8 wherein the user-defined interface feature is created by the user and operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, wherein the user-defined query is enabled by the customized functionality and not restricted by the functionality provided by the database interface.

11. A database system comprising:

a database server, wherein the database server is managed and maintained by one or more database application programmers;

at least one database coupled to the database server, wherein the database server enables access to the at least one database;

a first interface configured to provide queries for the database server and display information from the database server, the first interface associated with the database server and being managed and maintained by the one or more database application programmers; and

a second interface associated with a user different from the database application programmers, wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database, wherein the second interface is distinct from the first interface and configured to communicate with the at least one database via the database server as an alternative to the first interface for the associated user, wherein the first interface is used to configure the second interface to have access to the at least one database, wherein the second interface is a user-defined visual user interface created, managed, and customized by the associated user to have customized functionality determined by the associated user to suit specific needs of the associated user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the first interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the associated user and is connected to the at least one database when the associated user is identified to the database system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the second interface is configured during an initial setup session, wherein the second interface can have access to the at least one database in subsequent sessions after the initial setup session without having to configure the second interface to have access to the at least one database.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the second interface can be modified as changes are needed and wherein a modification to the second interface can be accomplished without authorization from the database application programmers.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the first interface includes a field for receiving user information, wherein the user information associates the second interface with the at least one database, and for receiving a uniform resource locator that is used to locate the second interface and connect the second interface to the database system.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the database system is a relational database system and the first interface is a relational database interface.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the second interface is one of a plurality of different user-defined visual user interfaces available to the database system, each of the user interfaces being configured to have access to the at least one database and each of the user interfaces being associated with at least one of a plurality of users of the database system.

17. A computer-implemented method for providing access to a database system, the database system including at least one database, the computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

(a) configuring the database system to enable a user-defined visual user interface, associated with a user, to access the at least one database, wherein the database system includes a database server managed and maintained by one or more database application programmers and includes a database interface associated with the database server and distinct from the user-defined visual user interface for the user that is different from the database application programmers, wherein the database interface is associated with the database server, is managed and maintained by the one or more database application programmers, is configured to provide queries for the database server and display information from the database server and is used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database; and

(b) executing at least one instruction to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the least one database as an alternative to the database interface for the user that is different from the database application programmers, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is created, managed, and customized by the associated user to have customized functionality determined by the associated user to suit specific needs of the associated user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the associated user and is connected to the at least one database when the associated user is identified to the database system, and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the at least one user-defined interface feature is created by the user, wherein the user-defined interface feature is enabled by the customized functionality and not restricted by the functionality provided by the database interface.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the configuring step (a) is accomplished via a database interface during an initial setup session.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the connecting step (b) comprises the step of receiving user information to allow the user to log into the database system.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein the same user information used to log into the database system during the configuration step (a) is the same user information used to log into the database system during the connecting step (b).

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein the user information includes a user identification (ID) and password.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of querying the database system for list of tables.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of querying the database system for list of stored procedures.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of querying the database system for list of user-defined functions.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of sending more than one SQL query to the database system in one click.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of creating stored procedures.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of extending one or more built-in functions supplied by the database application programmers.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising the step of uploading data from a user'"'"'s computer to a user table.

30. A computer-implemented method for providing access to a database system, the database system including at least one database, the computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving user information associated with a user-defined visual user interface associated with a user and configured to communicate with the at least one database via a database server as an alternative for the user to a database interface, the database interface being distinct from the user-defined visual user interface, associated with the database server, providing queries for the database server, displaying information from the database server, and being used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is stored and is created, managed, and customized by the user that is different from one or more database application programmers who manage and maintain the database system and database interface and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface includes customized functionality that is stored and determined by the user to suit specific needs of the user, and wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system; and

(b) storing the user information and using the user information to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the at least one database.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 30 wherein the database system is a NetDB2 database system.

32. The computer-implemented method of claim 30 wherein the connecting step (b) comprises the step of creating an identification (ID) object from the user information.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32 wherein the ID object includes a session ID, wherein the session ID corresponds to a user database.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 33 wherein the session ID includes a browser ID and a user ID, wherein the browser ID is associated with the user-defined visual user interface and the user ID is associated with a user system.

35. A computer-readable storage medium including program instructions for connecting a user-defined visual user interface to at least one database, the program instructions when executed by a computer perform the following:

(a) configuring a database system to enable the user-defined visual user interface, associated with a user, to access the at least one database, wherein the database system includes a database server managed and maintained by one or more database application programmers and includes a database interface associated with the database server and distinct from the user-defined visual user interface for the user that is different from the database application programmers, wherein the database interface is associated with the database server, is managed and maintained by the one or more database application programmers, is configured to provide queries for the database server and display information from the database servers and is used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database; and

(b) executing at least one instruction to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the least one database as an alternative to the database interface for the user that is different from the database application programmers, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is created, managed, and customized by user to have customized functionality determined by the user to suit specific needs of the user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system, and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database.

36. A computer-readable storage medium including program instructions for connecting a user-defined visual user interface to at least one database, the program instructions when executed by a computer perform the following:

(a) receiving user information associated with a user-defined visual user interface associated with a user and configured to communicate with the at least one database via a database server as an alternative for the user to a database interface, the database interface being distinct from the user-defined visual user interface, associated with the database server, providing queries for the database server, displaying information from the database server, and being used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is stored and is created, managed, and customized by a user that is different from one or more database application programmers who manage and maintain the database system and database interface and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface includes customized functionality that is stored and determined by the user to suit specific needs of the user, and wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system; and

(b) storing the user information and using the user information to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the at least one database.

37. A computer-implemented method for providing a user-defined visual user interface used in a database system, the database system including a database server and at least one database, the database server enabling access to the at least one database, the computer-implemented method comprising:

(a) providing a field for entering user information, wherein the user information associates the user-defined visual user interface with the at least one database, the user-defined visual user interface being associated with a user; and

(b) storing and providing a uniform resource locator that is used to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the database system, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is configured to communicate with the at least one database via a database server as an alternative for the user to a database interface that is distinct from the user-defined visual user interface, is associated with the database server, provides queries for the database server, displays information from the database server, and is used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is created, managed, customized, and stored by the user who is different from database application programmers who manage and maintain the database server and database interface and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface includes customized functionality determined by the user to suit specific needs of the user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37 wherein the user-defined visual user interface is configured during an initial setup session, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface can have access to the at least one database in subsequent sessions after the initial setup session without having to configure the second interface to have access to the at least one database.

39. A computer readable storage medium including program instructions for providing a user-defined visual user interface used in a database system, the database system including a database server and at least one database, the database server enabling access to the at least one database, the program instructions when executed by a computer perform the following:

(a) providing a field for entering user information, wherein the user information associates the user-defined visual user interface with the at least one database, the user-defined visual user interface being associated with a user and

(b) storing and providing a uniform resource locator that is used to connect the user-defined visual user interface to the database system, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is configured to communicate with the at least one database via a database server as an alternative for the user to a database interface that is distinct from the user-defined visual user interface, is associated with the database server, provides queries for the database server, displays information from the database server, and is used to configure the user-defined visual user interface to have access to the at least one database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface is created, managed, customized, and stored by the user who is different from database application programmers who manage and maintain the database server and database interface and wherein the user does not manage and does not maintain the database, wherein the user-defined visual user interface includes customized functionality determined by the user to suit specific needs of the user, wherein the customized functionality is not restricted by functionality provided by the database interface and includes at least one user-defined interface feature operative to provide a user-defined query for the at least one database, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface is presented to the user and is connected to the at least one database when the user is identified to the database system.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39 wherein the user-defined visual user interface is configured during an initial setup session, and wherein the user-defined visual user interface can have access to the at least one database in subsequent sessions after the initial setup session without having to configure the second interface to have access to the at least one database.