Generating a file with integral dynamic reports from queries to an external database

• US 8,983,894 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Software Group
• Original Assignee: Information Builders (iWay Software Company)
• Inventors: Cohen, Gerald D., Kotorov, Radoslav P., Lam, Vincent, Lenahan, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): KINSAUL, DANIEL W
• Application Number:
  US12/760,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20100211564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Records in databases or unstructured files are enriched with metadata and are indexed for retrieval by a search engine. In response to a search request, a graphical user interface (GUI) control based on the metadata associated with the search hits is constructed and displayed with the search results in a standard view. Selection of a metadata value via the GUI control filters the previously matched records down to those matching the value selected via the GUI control. The metadata in the search results is arranged in a tabular view which is embedded in the display of search results and rendered invisible until selected by the user. Reports can be constructed from an identifier each returned record set for presenting, analyzing and modifying the data, and for generating further reports.

Claims

1. A method of producing, on a user computer, a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report presenting the results of a query transmitted over a network to a structured database, said structured database having a plurality of data, comprising:

generating on a server computer, to which said user computer is connected over a network, a single browser readable computer file containing no other computer files for receiving said results of said query,

passing to said single browser readable computer file an analytic/interactive software engine comprising a computer program executable in a browser on any computer on which the browser is operable,

passing data comprising said results of said query to said single browser readable computer file wherein said data comprising said results of said query and the analytic/interactive software engine reside in the same file,

saving said single browser readable computer file on said user computer,

disconnecting said user computer from said network, and executing said computer program in said analytic/interactive engine on said user computer for manipulating said data comprising said results of said query while disconnected from said network, wherein said manipulating comprises one or more of the following,

performing a calculation on the data comprising said results of said query in one view the result of which is displayed in another view,

performing a calculation on the data comprising said results of said query in one view the result of which is displayed in another view as a sum of data displayed in said one view,

pivoting said data comprising said results of said query in the rows and columns of a table displayed in one view for display in another view,

filtering the data displayed in one view for display in another view of a subset of the data in said one view,

rolling up the data displayed in one view for display in another view of a subset of the rows of data in said one view,

nesting a subarray of the data displayed in one view in the display of data in another view, and/or

providing a control in one view which when actuated presents the data as scrolling in another view.

2. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 1 wherein said manipulating sorts the data comprising said results of said query in one view for display in another view.

3. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 1 further comprising passing to said file, over said network, a style sheet, and said manipulating formats the data displayed in one view for display in another view in a font, style or color different from the font, style or color in which said data is displayed in said one view.

4. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 1 further comprising providing a control in one view which when actuated emails a copy of said file to another user.

5. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 1 further comprising providing a control in one view which when actuated exports a copy of said file to an external computer program.

6. A method of enabling a user to manage, on a user computer, a dynamic report of the contents of an answer set of records received over a network by querying a database for matches between a search criterion and a key word search index of a population of records, after being disconnected from said network, comprising:

modifying each one of said records with metadata comprising the name of a tag and at least one value of said tag, each said name of a tag and each said corresponding value forming a tag-value pair, whereby said name of a tag and said at least one value of said tag are added to and made part of the content of said record,

performing a key word search by comparing the content of the index with said search criterion,

obtaining an answer set of records satisfying said search criterion,

generating on a server computer, to which said user computer is connected over said network, a single computer readable file, containing no other computer files, which can be displayed in a browser, said file including a dynamic report of data which is a function of said answer set of records, and an analytic/interactive engine comprising a computer program executable for manipulating said data while disconnected from said network without need for any application external to said analytic/interactive engine other than said browser, wherein said manipulating comprises one or more of the following,

performing a calculation on the data comprising said results of said query in one view the result of which is displayed in another view,

performing a calculation on the data comprising said results of said query in one view the result of which is displayed in another view as a sum of data displayed in said one view,

pivoting said data comprising said results of said query in the rows and columns of a table displayed in one view for display in another view,

filtering the data displayed in one view for display in another view of a subset of the data in said one view,

rolling up the data displayed in one view for display in another view of a subset of the rows of data in said one view,

nesting a subarray of the data displayed in one view in the display of data in another view, and/or

providing a control in one view which when actuated presents the data as scrolling in another view, and

saving said single computer readable file on said user computer.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising:

executing instructions in said analytic/interactive engine on said data for rendering one view of said tag-value pairs in a table with the tags shown as field names in said table and a value for each tag listed in a cell within said table, and displaying at least one control actuable by a user for transforming the display of said data into another view.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising generating a URL for each answer set of records,

adding to said URL the identity of an external set of records not included in said answer set of records, and

operating said analytic/interactive engine on said data which is a function of said answer set of records and data which is a function of said external set of records for including in said dynamic report information not contained in said answer set of records.

9. The method according to claim 6 further comprising displaying for each record in said answer set at least one link to a corresponding meta query,

causing said analytic/interactive engine to apply at least one of said meta queries to an external database by actuating its respective link, and

preparing a dynamic report which is a function of the contents of the records in said external database returned by said at least one of said meta queries.