User interface for database display

• US 7,483,880 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rossi, Robert, Swanson, Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz; Apu M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Hung D
• Application Number:
  US10/955,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/200, 707/5, 707/102, 707/201, 707/4, 345/440, 715/854, 705/3, 706/934
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A computer system may include a display and a user interface selection device. The computer system may display a first set of data associated with a first index of a data store in a first frame, and may receive a first selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a first item of the first set of data. In response to the first selection signal, the computer system may retrieve a second set of data from the data store associated with a second index of the data store, the second set of data being associated with the first item. The computer system may display the second set of data in a second frame distinct from the first frame.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a graphical user interface, a display, and a user interface selection device, a method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a first set of data associated with a first index of a hierarchical data store in a first frame;

(b) receiving a first selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a first item of the first set of data;

(c) in response to the first selection signal, retrieving a second set of data from the data store associated with a second index of the data store, the second set of data being associated with the first item, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the data store;

(d) displaying the second set of data in a second frame distinct from the first frame;

(e) receiving a second selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a second item of the second set of data;

(f) in response to the second selection signal, retrieving a third set of data from the data store associated with the second item and with a third index of the data store, wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the data store,

(g) displaying the third set of data in a third frame distinct from the first and second frames; and

(h) associating a first primacy with a position of the first frame and associating a second primacy with a position of the second frame, wherein the second frame is moved in its entirety before the first frame using the user interface selection device to pivot the displayed sets of data in the first and second frames, thereby reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection signal indicates a point and click of the user interface selection device proximate the first item.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the first frame with the second frame.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the second frame as a stackable container associated with the first frame.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a third selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device relatively moving the second frame before the first frame, and in response to the third selection signal, retrieving a fourth set of data associated with the second item and the first index, and displaying the fourth set of data in the first frame.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising in response to the third selection signal, increasing a primacy associated with the second frame and decreasing a primacy associated with the first frame.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a fifth selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a third item of the third set of data, receiving a sixth selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device relatively moving the third frame before the second frame, and in response to the sixth selection signal, retrieving a fifth set of data associated with the third item and the second index, and displaying the fifth set of data in the second frame.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sixth selection signal is indicative of the user interface selection device relatively moving the third frame before the first frame, and in response to the sixth selection signal, retrieving a sixth set of data associated with the third item and the first index, and displaying the sixth set of data in the first frame.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving an eighth selection signal indicative of the user interface device selecting an action to be taken with reference to the third item.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising in response to the eighth selection signal, initiating an external application to perform the selected action.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an event and automatically selecting an item in the second frame.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically relatively moving the second frame before the first frame.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a title bar of the first frame includes an index label of the first index.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a seventh selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a frame minimizer selector of the first frame, and in response to the seventh selection signal, decreasing a size of the first frame to exclude display of unselected items of the first set of data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing the size includes decreasing a vertical size of the first frame and maintaining a horizontal size of the first frame.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing the size includes displaying the title bar of the first frame and excludes display of items of the first set of data.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing the size includes replacing the first frame with a first frame icon at a relative position of the first frame.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first frame and the second frame are display frames compatible with Windows graphical user interface software.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the data store includes a hierarchical database, and the first index indicates a first tier of the hierarchical database, and the second index indicates a second tier of the hierarchical database lower than the first tier.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to the first selection signal, decreasing a size of the first frame.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the data store includes a multidimensional database, and the first index indicates a first dimension of the multidimensional database and the second index indicates a second dimension of the multidimensional database.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second primacy is less than the first primacy.

23. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) displaying in a first frame a first list of items associated with a first index of a multidimensional data store;

(b) receiving a first indication of a selection of a first item in the first list of items;

(c) in response to the first indication, displaying in a second frame a second list of items associated with a second index of the multidimensional data store and associated with the first item, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the multidimensional data store;

(d) receiving a second indication of a selection of a second item in the second list of items;

(e) in response to the second indication, displaying in a third frame a third list of items associated with a third index of the multidimensional data store and associated with the second item, wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the multidimensional data store; and

(f) associating a first primacy with a position of the first frame and associating a second primacy with a position of the second frame, wherein the second frame is moved in its entirety before the first frame using a user interface selection device to pivot the displayed lists of items in the first and second frames, thereby reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the second index is predetermined.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the second index is hierarchically at a lower level than the first index.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the second index is selected by a user.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, further comprising displaying the second frame as a stackable container associated with the first frame.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, further comprising receiving a third indication of relative movement of the second frame before the first frame, and in response to the third indication, retrieving a fourth set of data associated with the second item and the first index, and displaying the fourth set of data in the first frame.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising in response to the third indication, increasing a primacy associated with the second frame, and decreasing a primacy associated with the first frame.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, further comprising receiving a fifth indication of a selection of a third item of the third set of data, receiving a sixth indication of relative movement of the third frame before the second frame, and in response to the sixth indication, retrieving a fifth set of data associated with the third item and the second index, and displaying the fifth set of data in the second frame.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the sixth selection signal indication indicates relative movement of the third frame before the first frame, and in response to the sixth indication, retrieving a sixth set of data associated with the third item and the first index, and displaying the sixth set of data in the first frame.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 30, further comprising receiving an eighth indication of an action to be taken with reference to the third item.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the first frame and the second frame are display frames compatible with Windows graphical user interface software.

34. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable components comprising:

(a) a database component for storing a multidimensional data store including at least a first index, a second index, and a third index, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the multidimensional data store, and wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the multidimensional data store;

(b) a query engine component for retrieving a data set associated with at least one of the first index, the second index, and the third index of the multidimensional data store;

(c) a display component for displaying each retrieved data set in a distinct container, each container having a display position indicating a primacy of the retrieved data set, wherein the relative display positions of two or more containers are moved in their entirety using a user interface selection device to pivot the displayed data sets in each container, thereby reordering the primacy associated with the two or more containers; and

(d) a user component for receiving an indication of a selected item in a container having a first primacy, wherein the query engine component is capable of retrieving a data set associated with the third index in response to an indication of a selection received by the user component of an item in a container for a data set associated with the second index.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein each container is a frame including a title bar including a frame minimizer selector, and a scroll bar indicator.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 35, wherein each frame is a display frame compatible with Windows graphical user interface software.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein in response to the indication of a selected item, the user component modifies the data set in each container having a lesser primacy to be associated with the selected item and at least one of the first index and the second index.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein each container is a stackable container.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the user component is constructed to receive an indication of a change of primacy of a selected container.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the indication of a change of primacy includes an indication of the selected container being relatively moved before a container having a higher primacy.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein in response to the indication of a change of primacy, the user component modifies the data set in the selected container.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein in response to the indication of a change of primacy, the user component decreases the primacy of each container positioned after the selected container.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein in response to the indication of a change of primacy, the user component modifies the data set in each container having a decreased primacy.

44. A display device comprising:

a display having rendered thereon a query result for a query to a multidimensional database, the query result comprising;

(a) a first query result contained in a first frame, the first query result comprising at least a portion of a first dimension of the multidimensional database;

(b) a second query result in a second frame distinct from the first frame, the second query result comprising at least a portion of a second dimension of the multidimensional database, wherein the second dimension corresponds to a next tier down from the first dimension of the multidimensional database;

(c) a third query result in a third frame distinct from the first and second frames, the third query result comprising at least a portion of a third dimension of the multidimensional database, wherein the third dimension corresponds to a next tier down from the second dimension of the multidimensional database, wherein the third query result is displayed in response to a selection of an item in the second frame corresponding to the second query result,

wherein a position of the first frame indicates a first primacy associated with the first query result, and a position of the second frame indicates a second primacy associated with the second query result, wherein the relative positions of the first frame and the second frame are moved in their entirety using a user interface selection device to pivot the rendered first and second query results in the first and second frames, thereby reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy.

45. The display device of claim 44, wherein the second primacy is lower than the first primacy.

46. The display device of claim 44, wherein each item of the second query result satisfies a query parameter.

47. The display device of claim 46, wherein the query parameter is an item indicated in the first query result.

48. The display device of claim 46, wherein the query parameter is a constraint on items associated with the second dimension.

49. The display device of claim of claim 44, wherein each frame is compatible with Windows®

graphical user interface software.

50. The display device of claim 44, wherein each fame is a stackable container.

51. The display device of claim 44, wherein in response to a relative movement of the second frame before the first frame, the second query result is modified to remove any constraints indicated in the first frame.

52. The display device of claim 51, wherein response to the relative movement of the second frame, the first query result is modified to add any constraints indicated in the second frame.

53. A method including:

(a) displaying a first container containing a first set of data items in accordance with a first query including a first index of a database;

(b) associating a first primacy with a position of the first container;

(c) displaying a second container containing a second set of data items in accordance with a second query including a second index of the database, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the database;

(d) associating with a position of the second container a second primacy less than the first primacy;

(e) receiving a second indication of a selection of an item in the second set of data items;

(f) in response to the second indication, displaying a third container containing a third set of data items in accordance with a third query including a third index of the database, wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the database;

(g) receiving a first indication that the second container has moved in its entirety relatively before the first container;

(h) in response to the first indication, reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy so that the first primacy is less than the second primacy;

(i) in response to the first indication, pivoting the first and second sets of data about the second index; and

(j) displaying the pivoted first and second sets of data.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the second indication is received from a user interface selection device selecting the item.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the second indication is received from a user component detecting a predetermined event.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising, in response to the first indication, displaying in the first frame a fourth set of data items associated with the first index and the selected item.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising receiving a third indication that an action is desired associated with the selected item.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising in response to the third indication, displaying an action container associated with the second frame.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising in response to the third indication accessing an external application to provide the action.

60. The method of claim 53, further comprising generating the first query and the second query based upon a predetermined hierarchical relationship of the first index and the second index.

61. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) displaying in a first container a first list of items associated with a first index of a multidimensional database;

(b) associating a first primacy with a display position of the first container;

(c) displaying in a second container a second list of items associated with a second index of the multidimensional database, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the multidimensional database;

(d) associating a second primacy with a display position of the second container, the second primacy being less than the first primacy;

(e) receiving a second indication of a selection of an item in the second container, and in response to the second indication, displaying a third list of items in a third container being associated with a third index of the multidimensional database, wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the multidimensional database, wherein the third list of items in the third container is associated with a third primacy lower than the second primacy; and

(f) storing one or more values corresponding to the first primacy and the second primacy, wherein the relative display positions of the first container and the second container are moved in their entirety using a user interface selection device to pivot the displayed lists of items in the first and second containers, thereby reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy so that the first primacy is less than the second primacy.

62. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the first index and the second index are indicated by a user.

63. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein the first index and the second index are predetermined.

64. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, further comprising receiving a first indication that the second container has moved relatively before the first container, and in response to the first indication, associating the first primacy with the second container and associating the second primacy with the first container.

65. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, wherein each container is compatible with Windows graphical user interface software.

66. The computer readable storage medium of claim 61, further comprising receiving a third indication that the third container has moved relatively before a container having a higher primacy, and in response to the third indication, retrieving a list of data items for display in each container positioned after the third container.

67. The computer readable storage medium of claim 66, further comprising, in response to the third indication, associating a fourth primacy with the third container less than the third primacy, and decreasing a primacy associated with each container positioned below the third container.

68. The computer readable storage medium of claim 67, further comprising expanding the list of data items in the third container to exclude constraints indicated in containers having a lower primacy than the fourth primacy.

69. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a first set of data associated with a first index from a database in a first container;

(b) associating a first primacy with a position of the first container on the display;

(c) receiving a first selection signal indicative of the user interface selection device selecting a first item of the first set of data;

(d) in response to the first selection signal, retrieving a second set of data associated with a second index from the database, the second set of data being associated with the first item, wherein the second index corresponds to a next tier down from the first index of the database;

(e) displaying the second set of data in a second container distinct from the first container;

(f) receiving a second selection signal indicative of a selection of a second item of the second set of data, and in response to the second selection signal, displaying a fourth set of data in a third container being associated with a third index of the database, wherein the third index corresponds to a next tier down from the second index of the database;

(g) associating a second primacy with a position of the second container on the display, the second primacy being less than the first primacy, wherein the relative positions of the first container and the second container are moved in their entirety using the user interface selection device to pivot the displayed sets of data in the first and second containers, thereby reordering the first primacy in relation to the second primacy so that the first primacy is less than the second primacy.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein each of the first and second containers is a frame including a title bar and a scroll bar indicator.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the first set of data is associated with a first index of the database and the second set of data is associated with a second index of the database.

72. The method of claim 69, further comprising receiving a first indication that the second container has moved relatively before the first container, and in response to the first indication, associating the first primacy with the second container and associating the second primacy with the first container.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising expanding the second set of data to remove an indicated constraint associated with the first container.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising retrieving a list of data items for display in each container positioned after the third container.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising limiting the first set of data to include an indicated constraint associated with the second container.