Graphical condition builder for facilitating database queries

• US 7,383,513 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gajendar, Uday N., Goldberg, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B.
• Application Number:
  US10/672,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 707/E17.016, 707/E17.03, 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 717/105, 715/763
• US Class Current: 715/763
• 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 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• 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 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A graphical condition builder is provided that presents a graphical representation of a search query. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder presents a graphical and numerical preview indicating the size of the expected query results set. In an embodiment, a graphical preview is provided that includes graphical preview portions having a shape suggestive of a funnel. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder supports formulating queries for both relational and multidimentional databases. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder displays a textual indication of the type of logical operation being performed. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder determines the type of logical operator to apply depending on the relative location of icons representing filter objects. In an embodiment, order dependent filters are available to the user. In an embodiment, the search query is represented by query steps, and multiple filter objects may be contained in each query step.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least

a first graphical preview indication that is a first visually distinct region, having a first starting width and a first ending width, the width of the first visually distinct region continuously narrowing or widening from the first starting width to the first ending width, the first visually distinct region being located in a proximity to a first icon representing a first filter, the first starting width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a first input dataset, and the first ending width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a first dataset after application of the first filter on the first input dataset;

wherein the first graphical preview indication is separate from the first icon; and

a second graphical preview indication that is a second visually distinct region, having a second starting width and a second ending width, the second visually distinct region being located in a proximity to a second icon representing a second filter, the second starting width located at the first ending width, the second starting width being equal to the first ending width, the second starting width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a second input dataset, the second input dataset being equal to the first dataset, the second ending width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a second dataset after application of the second filter on the second input dataset, the width of the second visually distinct region continuously narrowing or widening from the second starting width to the second ending width, the second visually distinct region being adjacent to and connected to the first visually distinct region;

wherein the second graphical preview indication is separate from the second icon.

10. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

2. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least;

a first icon representing a first filter associated with the search query, and

a second icon representing a second filter associated with the search query; and

the user interface including at least a set of logical operator buttons, wherein each button is associated with a distinct logical operator; and

in response to a selection of the first icon and second icon and a selection of a button from the set of logical operator buttons, applying the logical operator associated wit the selected button to a dataset of the first filter represented by the first icon and a dataset of the second filter represented by the second icon; and

a graphical preview indication that is a visually distinct region, having a starting width and an ending width, the width of the visually distinct region continuously narrowing or widening from the starting width to the ending width, the visually distinct region being located in a proximity to the first icon and second icon, the starting width having a width that is representative of an expected size of an input dataset, and the ending width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a dataset after application of the logical operator to the dataset of the first filter represented by the first icon and the dataset of the second filter represented by the second icon.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

if a Boolean OR operator is applied, the first icon is substantially vertically aligned with the second icon; and

if a Boolean AND operator is applied, the first icon is substantially horizontally aligned with the second icon.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

in response to the selection of the first icon and second icon and the selection of a button from the set of logical operator buttons, displaying a textual indication of a type of logical operator associated with the first icon and second icon.

11. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

12. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

13. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the logical operators associated with the set of logical operator buttons comprises;

a Boolean OR operator,

a Boolean AND operator, and

a logical NOT operator.

20. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 19.

5. A method comprising:

displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying graphical representations of a search query, wherein at least one or more portions of the search query are divided into one or more query steps represented in the graphical representation as tiled boxes, each of the one or more query steps corresponding to a portion of the search query, each of the one or more query steps including one or more attributes;

wherein each tiled box is able to be independently disabled without removing components of the one or more query steps associated with the tiled box from the graphical representation,

wherein the one or more query steps are a plurality of query steps that are arranged in an order, the order indicated by dataflow lines that connect one or more query steps to succeeding one or more query steps, and the order is alterable by dragging and dropping one or more query steps selected from the plurality of query steps to a new location in the graphical representation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the one or more query steps are arranged in an order according to a query flow; and

each query step is combined with other portions of the search query using Boolean logic.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the query steps are numbered according to an order in which the query steps are applied.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising creating within a query step a group icon representing a container for, and having contained within, a group of icons representing a group of filters associated with a portion of the search query.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising displaying a graphical representation of a search query for a multidimensional database.

14. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

15. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

16. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.

17. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 8.

18. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 9.

21. The method of claim 5 wherein dataflow lines indicate a Boolean operator being applied to the one or more query steps and the succeeding one or more query steps.

22. A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 21.