Facilitating client-side data-management for web-based applications

• US 7,890,487 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Palay, Andrew J., Tsao, Michael H., Hess, Duane S., Prince, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Merilyn P
• Application Number:
  US11/807,620
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 7 1- 3, 7 1/0, 710/41, 77 1- 3, 77/10, 771/041, 707 1- 3, 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/706, 707/712, 707/769, 707/792, 707/802, 707/805
• US Class Current: 707/706
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

A database engine embedded within a browser implements a system that facilitates managing client-side data for web-based applications. During operation, the system receives a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at the browser. The system then retrieves a web-page associated with the URL. Next, the system executes a script associated with the web-page. While executing this script, the system receives a request to open a database. In response to this request, the system uses the database engine to open a database associated with the web-page, wherein the database engine is embedded in the browser. The system then uses the database engine to execute database commands.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating client-side data management for web-based applications, the method comprising:

receiving a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at a browser hosted on a client machine;

retrieving a web page associated with the URL;

executing a script associated with the web page;

receiving a request to open a database connection;

in response to the request, using a database engine that is embedded in the browser to open the database connection to a database on the client machine that is associated with the web page;

retrieving a database command from the web page; and

using, at the browser, a binding interface associated with the database engine to execute the database command on the database, wherein the binding interface provides script commands which are bound to database commands associated with the database engine embedded in the browser.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to create the database;

in response to the request, creating the database; and

associating the database with the web page.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to open the database includes a database identifier, and wherein the method further comprises using the database engine to open a database which is associated with the database identifier and the web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the database command involves receiving a script command that is bound to the database command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is associated with a domain which hosts the web page.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a web-based application, which is associated with the domain, includes the script that enables the web-based application to access the database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein access to the database is limited to the web-based application.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending a result from execution of the database command to the web-based application which facilitates the web-based application to modify the web page based on the result.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein a second web-based application which is associated with the domain can access the database.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the database command on the database can involve:

accessing the database using a second browser;

accessing the database using multiple tabs associated with the browser;

accessing the database using multiple threads associated with the browser; and

accessing the database using multiple processes associated with the browser.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating client-side data management for web-based applications, the method comprising:

receiving a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at a browser hosted on a client machine;

retrieving a web page associated with the URL;

executing a script associated with the web page;

receiving a request to open a database connection;

in response to the request, using a database engine that is embedded in the browser to open the database connection to a database on the client machine associated with the web page;

retrieving a database command from the web page; and

using, at the browser, a binding interface associated with the database engine to execute the database command on the database, wherein the binding interface provides script commands which are bound to database commands associated with the database engine embedded in the browser.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to create the database;

in response to the request, creating the database; and

associating the database with the web page.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the request to open the database includes a database identifier, and wherein the method further comprises using the database engine to open a database which is associated with the database identifier and the web page.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein receiving the database command involves receiving a script command that is bound to the database command.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the database is associated with a domain which hosts the web page.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a web-based application, which is associated with the domain, includes the script that enables the web-based application to access the database.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein access to the database is limited to the web-based application.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises sending a result from execution of the database command to the web-based application which facilitates the web-based application to modify the web page based on the result.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a second web-based application associated with the domain can access the database.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein executing the database command on the database can involve:

accessing the database using a second browser;

accessing the database using multiple tabs associated with the browser;

accessing the database using multiple threads associated with the browser; and

accessing the database using multiple processes associated with the browser.

21. An apparatus that facilitates client-side data management for web-based applications, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory;

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) at a browser hosted on a client machine, wherein the receiving mechanism is further configured to receive a request to open a database connection;

a page-retrieval mechanism configured to retrieve a web page associated with the URL;

a script-execution mechanism configured to execute a script associated with the web page;

a database engine that is embedded in the browser and configured to open the database connection to a database on the client machine that is associated with the web page in response to the request;

a command-retrieval mechanism configured to retrieve a database command from the web page; and

a database-execution mechanism that is embedded in the browser and configured to use a binding interface associated with the database engine to execute the database command on the database, wherein the binding interface provides script commands which are bound to database commands associated with the database engine embedded in the browser.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the receiving mechanism is further configured to receive a request to create a database, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a creation mechanism configured to create the database; and

an association mechanism configured to associate the database with the web page.