Methods to browse database query information

• US 7,447,687 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coates, Marlene L., Andersch, Christian, Saueressig, Guilherme
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean Bolte
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly; Anh
• Application Number:
  US10/144,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/5, 707/6, 707/10, 707100-1041, 707/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• 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 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer products that efficiently determine how columns, tables, and queries associated with a database are related to each other. The present invention enables a user to see at a glance in which queries certain columns and tables are used. The present invention may be implemented with a query miner module that includes a query browser module that improves browsing through queries and their components over the past. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an easy to use graphical interface showing the queries, tables, and columns in a tree structure. Further, the preferred embodiment of the present invention presents information about relationships and dimensions associated with a database and about columns, tables, and queries to the user without discernable lag time between the user'"'"'s request and the generated information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, said computer having a database having metadata, said computer having at least one query object directed to said database, said method generating a user-specific report, said method comprising:

executing said query object against said database by applying user-specific heuristics as rules to said metadata via said executing query object and applying a data-mining statistical tabulation against data in said database and said metadata and thereby collecting statistical information about said query object based on said user specific heuristics, wherein the user-specific heuristics are embodied in Structural Query Language (SQL) statements;

retrieving at least one view of said statistical information that satisfies said user-specific heuristics, wherein said at least one view includes one of a table view, a column view, and a query view, wherein said table view presents information about columns in a table and query objects that use said table, wherein said column view that presents information about query objects that use a column and tables used in each of said query objects that use said column, and wherein the query view presents information about columns and tables that are used in said query object;

rating said statistical information that satisfies said user-specific heuristics via said at least one view, wherein rating includes rating said query object according to a level of compliance with said heuristics; and

presenting said rated statistical information in said user-specific report.

2. The computer-inexperienced method of claim 1 further comprising presenting statistical tabulation about said statistical information.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising creating a final report document from said user-specific report.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising presenting said statistical information with formatting that enhances said statistical information.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising enabling a user to determine when said user-specific report is complete.