Dynamic generation of form pages for accessing a database

• US 7,827,478 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Topvue Defense, Inc. (Unison Software, Inc. (Virginia))
• Original Assignee: William Farr
• Inventors: Farr, William, Penrod, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): Ries; Laurie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackwell; James H
• Application Number:
  US11/222,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: 715/202, 715/206, 715/221, 715/222, 715/234, 715/738, 715/745, 715/760, 715/762, 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating dynamic form pages for accessing a database. An item model is stored in the database and defines attributes or characteristics of item types. The item model is separate from the actual data and from the data model. When a form page is requested, the page is dynamically generated by accessing the item model based on the requested form. The page is then displayed to the user. Data can be included in the page as necessary. Form pages can be generated on the fly and can automatically adapt to changes in the definition of the item model.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically generating forms to access a database that stores a plurality of data objects of different types, the method comprising:

receiving input from a user, wherein the input identifies an item type that is defined by an associated item model, wherein the database stores a plurality of item models each associated with a different item type and wherein each item model defines forms for the associated item type;

accessing the item model associated with the item type to generate a first form, wherein the item model is stored in the database separately from the data objects and wherein the item model defines what is included in the first form;

receiving second input from a user in the first form for accessing a database, the second input in the first form corresponding to an operation to be performed on at least one data object of the item type;

accessing the item model associated with the item type of data objects in the database based on the second input, the item model identifying a plurality of information associated with the item type, and the manner in which the plurality of information is displayed to the user;

dynamically generating a second form, wherein the plurality of information related to the item type is included in the second form according to the manner identified in the item model for the operation to be performed; and

displaying the second form to the user, the second form enabling access to the data objects of the item type in the database according to the operation to be performed.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein dynamically generating a second form further comprises accessing the item model associated with the item type identified from the second input.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein accessing the item model associated with the item type to generate a first form further comprises at least one of:

accessing item rules of the item model;

accessing item display fields of the item model;

accessing item buttons of the item model;

accessing item tabs of the item model;

accessing item rights of the item model, and

accessing item history of the item model.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising formulating or generating a database query based on additional input received into the second form.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising returning results of the database query, wherein the results are in an XML format.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein accessing the item model associated with the item type to of data objects in the database based on the second input further comprises at least one of:

selecting a form for item properties;

selecting a form for item edit;

selecting a form for item insert;

selecting a form for item delete;

selecting a form for item search;

selecting a form for item relate; and

selecting a form for item list.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein accessing the item model associated with the item type of data objects in the database based on the second input further comprises identifying a particular combination of rules, display fields, buttons, tabs, rights, and history to be included in the second form.

8. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1, the computer readable medium including one of RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, optical disk storage, or magnetic disk storage.

9. A method for dynamically generating a form to access a database, the method comprising:

accessing an item model associated with both a particular item type of data objects in the database and a particular form corresponding to an operation to be performed on at least one data object of the particular item type, wherein the item model is stored in the database with the data objects, wherein the data objects in the database are of multiple item types and wherein the particular item type is determined from user input;

identifying one or more of rules, display fields, buttons, tabs, rights, or history in the item model that are associated with the particular form and particular item type; and

dynamically generating the particular form using the one or more of rules, display fields, buttons, tabs, rights, or history included the item model, wherein changes to the item model are reflected in subsequent dynamic generations of the multiple forms associated with the item model including the particular form without having to recreate the particular form in response to the changes.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein accessing an item model associated with both a particular item type and on a particular form further comprises receiving the user input from a user that identifies the particular form.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein receiving the user input that identifies the particular form further comprises one or more of:

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item properties;

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item edit;

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item insert;

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item delete;

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item search;

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item relate; and

receiving input that identifies the particular form for item list.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising receiving additional input from a user into the first form.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising generating a database query based on the additional input.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising returning results to the database query in an XML format.

15. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein identifying one or more of rules, display fields, buttons, tabs, rights, or history in the item model that are associated the particular form further comprises at least one of:

accessing item rules to identify rules associated with the particular form;

accessing item display to identify display fields to be included in the first page;

accessing item buttons to identify buttons to be included in the first page;

accessing item tabs to be included in a tab view of the first page;

accessing item rights to establish a security of the first page, and accessing item history to capture item attribute changes of the first page.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising generating a second form based on input received from the user in the first form, wherein generating the second form further comprises accessing the item model.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising accessing actual data based on the definitions in the item model, wherein the actual data is included in the second form.

18. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein dynamically generating the particular form by accessing at least the item model and a data model.

19. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 9, the computer readable medium including one of RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, optical disk storage, or magnetic disk storage.

20. A method for dynamically generating form pages to access a database, the method comprising:

determining an item type that identifies a type for an item model, wherein the item model is saved in the database separately from actual data for objects of the item type, the item model identifying one or more fields associated with the item type, one or more actions associated with the item type, and the manner in which the one or more fields may be displayed to a user;

dynamically generating a first page based on the item type and defined by the item model;

displaying on a display the first page based on the item model using an item display that identifies the one or more fields to be displayed in the first page used to access a database, wherein the one or more fields are displayed in the first page according to the item model and wherein actual data is displayed alongside of the one or more fields, the actual data retrieved from an object that is separate from the item model; and

including item buttons that identify buttons to be displayed in the first page, wherein at least one item button causes the dynamic generation of a second page according to the one or more actions associated with the item type included in the item model, wherein the second page enables a query of the database according to an operation identified in the first page.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising an item rule that defines a behavior of the item type when displayed in the first page.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising item tabs that are displayed in a tab view of the first page, wherein each tab defined in the item tabs dynamically generates another page based on additional definitions included in least the item model.

23. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising item rights that provide security to data displayed in the first page.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the security included in the item rights is described in an XML format.

25. A method as defined in claim 20, further comprising item history that provides attribute change tracking in the first page.