Method and apparatus for displaying data models and data-model instances

• US 7,904,478 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Jesse M., Yu, Jay J., Worley, Evan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US12/020,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20090193037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/288 Entity relationship models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and techniques for displaying data models and data-model instances. During operation, the system can use a model graph to represent the data model and an instance graph to represent the data-model instance. In the graph representation, a vertex can represent an entity or an entity instance, and an edge can represent a relationship or a relationship instance. The system can display the model graph and the instance graph, either separately or concurrently, thereby enabling the user to visually explore the data model and the data-model instance by exploring the associated graphs. The system can display paths in the graphs to the user, thereby enabling the user to visually explore how entities and entity instances are related to one another. The system can also enable a user to search for entities and relationships using various criteria.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a data model, the method comprising:

generating a model graph visualization to represent the data model and an instance graph visualization to represent an instance of the data model, wherein the data model includes entities which are related by relationships, wherein a vertex represents an entity in the model graph visualization or an entity instance in the instance graph visualization, and wherein an edge represents a relationship in the model graph visualization or a relationship instance in the instance graph visualization;

concurrently displaying the model graph visualization and the instance graph visualization to a user;

receiving a first request from the user to query a relationship between a first entity and a second entity in the data model, wherein the first request comprises selecting an edge in the displayed model graph visualization by the user;

in response to the received first request, determining, by using at least a computer, paths in the displayed instance graph visualization between a first vertex which represents a first entity instance and a second vertex which represents a second entity instance, wherein each determined path in the displayed instance graph visualization represents an alternating sequence of entity instances and relationship instances in the instance of the data model; and

highlighting the determined paths in the displayed instance graph visualization to the user for exploring how the first entity and the second entity are related to one another in the data model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying path expressions which are associated with the determined paths, wherein a path expression is an alternating sequence of entity names and relationship names.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising using the displayed path expressions to determine how to access an instance of the second entity by using an instance of the first entity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the entities in the data model are associated with tables in a relational database, and wherein the method further comprises using the displayed path expressions to determine a join statement in the relational database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request from the user to highlight entities whose names include a second search string;

determining entities in the data model whose names include the second search string; and

highlighting vertices in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined entities.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third request from the user to highlight relationships whose names include a third search string;

determining relationships in the data model whose names include the third search string; and

highlighting edges in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined relationships.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for displaying a data model, the method comprising:

generating a model graph visualization to represent the data model and an instance graph visualization to represent an instance of the data model, wherein the data model includes entities which are related by relationships, wherein a vertex represents an entity in the model graph visualization or an entity instance in the instance graph, and wherein an edge represents a relationship in the model graph visualization or a relationship instance in the instance graph visualization;

concurrently displaying the model graph visualization and the instance graph visualization to a user;

receiving a first request from the user to query a relationship between a first entity and a second entity in the data model, wherein the first request comprises selecting an edge in the displayed model graph visualization by the user;

in response to the received first request, determining paths in the displayed instance graph visualization between a first vertex which represents a first entity instance and a second vertex which represents a second entity instance, wherein each determined path in the displayed instance graph visualization represents an alternating sequence of entity instances and relationship instances in the instance of the data model; and

highlighting the determined paths in the displayed instance graph visualization to the user for exploring how the first entity and the second entity are related to one another in the data model.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises displaying path expressions which are associated with the determined paths, wherein a path expression is an alternating sequence of entity names and relationship names.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises using the displayed path expressions to determine how to access an instance of the second entity by using an instance of the first entity.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the entities in the data model are associated with tables in a relational database, and wherein the method further comprises using the displayed path expressions to determine a join statement in the relational database.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second request from the user to highlight entities whose names include a second search string;

determining entities in the data model whose names include the second search string; and

highlighting vertices in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined entities.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a third request from the user to highlight relationships whose names include a third search string;

determining relationships in the data model whose names include the third search string; and

highlighting edges in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined relationships.

13. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage device storing instructions executed by the computer system cause the computer system to perform a method for displaying a data model, the instructions comprising;

instructions for generating a model graph visualization to represent the data model and an instance graph visualization to represent an instance of the data model, wherein the data model includes entities which are related by relationships, wherein a vertex represents an entity in the model graph visualization or an entity instance in the instance graph visualization, and wherein an edge represents a relationship in the model graph visualization or a relationship instance in the instance graph visualization;

instructions for concurrently displaying the model graph visualization and the instance graph visualization to a user,

instructions for receiving a first request from the user to query a relationship between a first entity and a second entity in the data model, wherein the first request comprises selecting an edge in the displayed model graph visualization by the user;

instructions, in response to the received first request, for determining paths in the displayed instance graph visualization between a first vertex which represents a first entity instance and a second vertex which represents a second entity instance, wherein each determined path in the displayed instance graph visualization represents an alternating sequence of entity instances and relationship instances in the instance of the data model; and

instructions for displaying highlighting the determined paths in the displayed instance graph visualization to the user for exploring how the first entity and the second entity are related to one another in the data model.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for displaying path expressions which are associated with the determined paths, wherein a path expression is an alternating sequence of entity names and relationship names.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for using the determined path expressions to determine how to access an instance of the second entity by using an instance of the first entity.

16. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the entities in the data model are associated with tables in a relational database, and wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for using the displayed path expressions to determine a join statement in the relational database.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for receiving a second request from the user to highlight entities whose names include a second search string;

instructions for determining entities in the data model whose names include the second search string; and

instructions for highlighting vertices in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined entities.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprises:

instructions for receiving a third request from the user to highlight relationships whose names include a third search string;

instructions for determining relationships in the data model whose names include the third search string; and

instructions for highlighting edges in the displayed instance graph visualization which are associated with the determined relationships.

19. An apparatus for displaying a data model, comprising:

an inputting mechanism configured to receive a first request from a user to query the relationship of a first entity and a second entity are related to one another in the data model;

a processing mechanism configured to;

generate a model graph visualization to represent the data model and an instance graph visualization to represent an instance of the data model, wherein the data model includes entities which are related by relationships, wherein a vertex represents an entity in the model graph visualization or an entity instance in the instance graph visualization, and wherein an edge represents a relationship in the model graph visualization or a relationship instance in the instance graph visualization;

concurrently display the model graph visualization and the instance graph visualization to the user;

in response to the received first request, determine paths in the displayed instance graph visualization between a first vertex which represents a first entity instance and a second vertex which represents a second entity instance, wherein each determined path in the displayed instance graph visualization represents an alternating sequence of entity instances and relationship instances in the instance of the data model, and wherein the received first request comprises selecting an edge in the displayed model graph visualization by the user; and

highlight the determined paths in the displayed instance graph visualization to the user for exploring how the first entity and the second entity are related to one another in the data model.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a displaying mechanism is configured to display path expressions which are associated with the determined paths, wherein a path expression is an alternating sequence of entity names and relationship names.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing mechanism is configured to use the displayed path expressions to determine how to access an instance of the second entity by using an instance of the first entity.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the entities in the data model are associated with tables in a relational database, and wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for using the displayed path expressions to determine a join statement in the relational database.