Database access system, method of accessing a database, and method of designing a database access system

• US 7,685,127 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Gauweiler, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIMBLIN, ROBERT M
• Application Number:
  US10/455,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707 8- 10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method for accessing a database is provided. The method includes creating in a design environment a file that defines a metadata. The metadata relates at least one business object and at least one query. The method also includes communicating the file to a mobile device, storing the file on the mobile device, and transforming the file into a binary structure at an initial run of a computer application running on the mobile device. The binary structure is adapted to be read by the computer application. The method also includes recording the binary structure in a memory of the mobile device. A method for providing database access for a plurality of files with a limited number of database access channels is provided. A method for is provided for accessing a database in a computing environment for a plurality of recordsets. Each of the plurality of recordsets is associated with a database access channel for fetching records of the plurality of recordsets from the database upon occurrence of a preselected event. A method of fetching data for a plurality of active file from a database having a limited number of database connections is provided. A computer readable medium is provided which stores instructions executable by a computer. The instructions include a method for providing database access for a plurality of files with a limited number of database access channels. A device for accessing a database is provided. A system for updating a database access program is provided.

Claims

1. A method of accessing a database comprising:

receiving a plurality of database queries from a user at a mobile device;

for each of the plurality of database queries, assigning one of a limited number of wireless channels for wirelessly accessing a remote database to retrieve records corresponding to results of the database query;

for each of the plurality of database queries, retrieving a portion of the records corresponding to the results of the database query from the remote database over the assigned wireless channel and storing the retrieved portion of the records in a buffer memory of the mobile device;

pausing wireless database access of each of the plurality of database queries before all the database records corresponding to each database query have been retrieved from the remote database to the wireless device, wherein the pausing occurs upon retrieving enough records to fill a predetermined portion of a user interface display of the mobile device;

after the pausing of the wireless database access of each of the plurality of database queries, receiving a request to initiate a new database query;

in response to the request, and upon determining that all of the limited number of wireless channels have been assigned prior to the request, sequentially accessing a predetermined number of the remaining database records corresponding to each of the plurality of database queries until all of the corresponding database records of one of the database queries has been accessed; and

reassigning the wireless channel assigned to the completed database query to the new database query for wirelessly accessing database records from the remote database corresponding to the new database query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the buffer memory of the mobile device is partitioned into a plurality of separate portions, each portion configured to hold retrieved records for a respectively different single one of the plurality of database queries.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each buffer memory portion holds complete copies of each record retrieved for the respective database query.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one buffer memory portion holds a pointer to another buffer memory portion instead of a complete copy a record retrieved for the respective database query associated with the at least one buffer memory portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records is a single record.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records includes a plurality of records.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a processor configured to execute program instructions to perform the receiving the plurality of database queries, the assigning the limited number of wireless channels, the retrieving the portion of the records corresponding to the results of the database queries, the pausing the wireless database access of each of the plurality of database queries, the receiving a request to initiate a new database query, the sequentially accessing the predetermined number of the remaining database records corresponding to each of the plurality of database queries, and the reassigning the wireless channel to the new database query.

2. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by a computer, the instructions causing the computer to implement a method of accessing a database, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of database queries from a user at a mobile device;

for each of the plurality of database queries, assigning one of a limited number of wireless channels for wirelessly accessing a remote database to retrieve records corresponding to results of the database query;

for each of the plurality of database queries, retrieving a portion of the records corresponding to the results of the database query from the remote database over the assigned wireless channel and storing the retrieved portion of the records in a buffer memory of the mobile device;

pausing wireless database access of each of the plurality of database queries before all the database records corresponding to each database query have been retrieved from the remote database to the wireless device, wherein the pausing occurs upon retrieving enough records to fill a predetermined portion of a user interface display of the mobile device;

after the pausing of the wireless database access of each of the plurality of database queries, receiving a request to initiate a new database query;

in response to the request, and upon determining that all of the limited number of wireless channels have been assigned prior to the request, sequentially accessing a predetermined number of the remaining database records corresponding to each of the plurality of database queries until all of the corresponding database records of one of the database queries has been accessed; and

reassigning the wireless channel assigned to the completed database query to the new database query for wirelessly accessing database records from the remote database corresponding to the new database query.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the buffer memory of the mobile device is partitioned into a plurality of separate portions, each portion configured to hold retrieved records for a respectively different single one of the plurality of database queries.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each buffer memory partition holds complete copies of each record retrieved for the respective database query.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein at least one buffer memory portion holds a pointer to another buffer memory portion instead of a complete copy a record retrieved for the respective database query associated with the at least one buffer memory portion.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records is a single record.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records includes a plurality of records.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the mobile device includes a processor configured to execute the instructions.

15. A method of accessing a database, comprising:

receiving a plurality of database queries from a user at a mobile device;

for each of the plurality of database queries, exclusively assigning one of a limited number of wireless channels for wirelessly accessing a remote database to retrieve records corresponding to results of the database query;

for each of the plurality of database queries, retrieving only a portion of the records corresponding to the results of the database query from the remote database over the exclusively assigned wireless channel and storing the retrieved portion of the records in a buffer memory of the mobile device;

for each of the plurality of database queries, maintaining the exclusive assignment of the wireless channel after retrieving the portion of the records and before beginning to retrieve the remaining records corresponding to the results of the database query, wherein the remaining records are only retrieved in response to a user input at the mobile device to display at least part of the remaining records on a user interface display of the mobile device;

after the retrieving the portion of the database records corresponding to the results of each of the plurality of database queries, and before receiving the user input to display the at least a part of the remaining records, receiving a request to initiate a new database query;

in response to the request, and upon determining that all of the limited number of wireless channels have been exclusively assigned prior to the request, sequentially accessing a predetermined number of the remaining database records corresponding to each of the plurality of database queries until all of the corresponding database records of one of the database queries has been accessed; and

reassigning the wireless channel assigned to the completed database query to the new database query for wirelessly accessing database records from the remote database corresponding to the new database query.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the buffer memory of the mobile device is partitioned into a plurality of separate portions, each portion configured to hold retrieved records for a respectively different single one of the plurality of database queries.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each buffer memory portion holds complete copies of each record retrieved for the respective database query.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one buffer memory portion holds a pointer to another buffer memory portion instead of a complete copy a record retrieved for the respective database query associated with the at least one buffer memory portion.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records is a single record.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sequentially accessed predetermined number of records includes a plurality of records.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile device includes a processor configured to execute program instructions to perform the receiving the plurality of database queries, the assigning the limited number of wireless channels, the retrieving the portion of the records corresponding to the results of the database queries, the maintaining the exclusive assignment of the wireless channels to the plurality of database queries, the receiving a request to initiate a new database query, the sequentially accessing the predetermined number of the remaining database records corresponding to each of the plurality of database queries, and the reassigning the wireless channel to the new database query.