Displaying relevant abstract database elements

• US 7,836,071 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dettinger, Richard D., Kulack, Fred A., Glowacki, Janice R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehichioya; Fred I
• Application Number:
  US11/856,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/718, 707/769, 707/791, 707/999.003, 707/E17.014, 707/E17.062
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention enable users of an abstract database to use logical fields that are relevant to a given model entity. In one embodiment, a user may be presented with a query interface that includes relevant fields, and which may be used to compose abstract queries. In another embodiment, the query interface may include an initial query result, and may include relevant fields for model entities included in the initial query result. The query interface may be configured to enable a user to perform subsequent query operations using the included relevant fields.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying a collection of logical fields used to compose an abstract query, comprising:

identifying a selection of a model entity by use of one or more computer processors, wherein the model entity specifies a logical focus for the abstract query and wherein the model entity is defined by a database abstraction model as a set of database relations, wherein each relation specifies a first database structure and a second database structure of a physical database underlying the database abstraction model, and wherein the first database structure and the second database structure store data related to the model entity;

identifying the first database structure and second database structure referenced by each of the one or more relations in the definition of the model entity in the database abstraction model;

for each database structure referenced by the one or more relations, identifying one or more logical fields defined by the database abstraction model which reference a respective one of the database structures; and

outputting, for display in a query interface, the identified one or more of logical fields relevant to the selected model entity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first database structure and the second database structure of the underlying database comprise, respectively, a first database table and a second database table of a relational database.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each relation specifies at least a column of the first table and a corresponding column of the second table used to join records from the first and second database tables.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to displaying, to the user in the query interface display, the identified one or more of logical fields, removing at least one logical field from the identified logical fields, based on a user profile associated with the user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the query interface, a request to execute an abstract query composed from the identified logical fields;

executing the requested abstract query;

returning a set of query results to the query interface; and

displaying the set of query results to the user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying one or more logical fields is performed when the database abstraction model is initialized for use.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying one or more logical fields is performed each time the query interface is displayed for a given model entity.

8. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation, comprising:

identifying a selection of a model entity, wherein the model entity specifies a logical focus for the abstract query and wherein the model entity is defined by a database abstraction model as a set of database relations, wherein each relation specifies a first database structure and a second database structure of a physical database underlying the database abstraction model, and wherein the first database structure and the second database structure store data related to the model entity;

identifying the first database structure and second database structure referenced by each of the one or more relations in the definition of the model entity in the database abstraction model;

for each database structure referenced by the one or more relations, identifying one or more logical fields defined by the database abstraction model which reference a respective one of the database structures; and

outputting, for display in a query interface, the identified one or more of logical fields relevant to the selected model entity.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first database structure and the second database structure of the underlying database comprise, respectively, a first database table and a second database table of a relational database.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each relation specifies at least a column of the first table and a correspodning column of the second table used to join records from the first and second database tables.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, further comprising, prior to displaying, to the user in the query interface display, the identified one or more of logical fields, removing at least one logical field, from the identified logical fields, based on a user profile with the user.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operation further comprises:

receiving, from the query interface, a request to execute an abstract query composed from the identified logical fields;

executing the requested abstract query;

returning a set of query results to the query interface; and

displaying the set of query results to the user.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operation of identifying one or more logical fields is performed when the database abstraction model is initialized for use.

14. The computer-readable storage medium 8, wherein the operation of identifying one or more logical fields is performed each time the query interface is displayed for a given model entity.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory containing a program configured to perform an operation, comprising;

identifying a selection of a model entity, wherein the model entity specifies a logical focus for the abstract query and wherein the model entity is defined by a database abstraction model as a set of database relations, wherein each relation specifies a first database structure and a second database structure of a physical database underlying the database abstraction model, and wherein the first database structure and the second database structure store data related to the model entity;

identifying the first database structure and second database structure referenced by each of the one or more relations in the definition of the model entity in the database abstraction model;

for each database structure referenced by the one or more relations, identifying one or more logical fields defined by the database abstraction model which reference a respective one of the database structures; and

outputting, for display in a query interface, the identified one or more of logical fields relevant to the selected model entity.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first database structure and the second database structure of the underlying database comprise, respectively, a first database table and a second database table of a relational database.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each relation specifies at least a column of the first table and a correspodning column of the second table used to join records from the first and second database tables.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising, prior to displaying, to the user in the query interface display, the identified one or more of logical fields, removing at least one logical field, from the identified logical fields, based on an user profile associated with the user.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the operation further comprises:

receiving, from the query interface, a request to execute an abstract query composed from the identified logical fields;

executing the requested abstract query;

returning a set of query results to the query interface; and

displaying the set of query results to the user.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying one or more logical fields is performed when the database abstraction model is initialized for use.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying one or more logical fields is performed each time the query interface is displayed for a given model entity.