Graphical user interface to build event-based dynamic searches or queries using event profiles

• US 20030169284A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dettinger, Richard Dean, Tenner, Jeffrey Wayne, Johnson, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

The present invention generally provides methods, systems and articles of manufacture for programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface comprises (i) a region for displaying conditions of a user-defined query; and (ii) a graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of the query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true.

Claims

1. A method of programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries, comprising:

providing graphical user interface content which defines a graphical user interface, comprising;

(i) a region for displaying conditions of a user-defined query; and

(ii) a graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of the query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second condition defined by the event profile comprises at least one of a comparison operation and a logical operator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first condition and the second condition each comprise at least one comparison operation and wherein the conditions of the user-defined query are connected by logical operators.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the event profile to the first condition comprises ANDing the first condition with the second condition defined by the event profile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises one or more screens for allowing a user to define the first condition and one or more screens for allowing the user to define the event profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the event profile is a user-defined persistent entity.

7. A method of programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries, comprising:

(a) generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by a GUI-based program, defines a first graphical user interface screen comprising a first graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of a user-defined query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true;

(b) in response to a user event activating the first graphical element, generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by the GUI-based program, defines a second graphical user interface screen displaying predefined event profiles available for user selection; and

(c) in response to a user selection of the event profile from the second graphical user interface screen, generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by the GUI-based program, defines a third graphical user interface screen displaying the query including at least the first condition and the second condition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second condition defined by the event profile comprises at least one of a comparison operation and a logical operator.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first condition and the second condition each comprise at least one comparison operation and wherein the conditions of the user-defined query are connected by logical operators.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the event profile to the first condition comprises ANDing the first condition with the second condition defined by the event profile.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises one or more screens for allowing a user to define the first condition and one or more screens for allowing the user to define the event profile.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising executing the query in response to a user selection of a second graphical element defined in the third graphical user interface screen.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the second condition defined by the event profile comprises at least one of a comparison operation and a logical operator.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the graphical element is a button.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first condition and the second condition each comprise at least one comparison operation and wherein the conditions of the user-defined query are connected by logical operators.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein applying the event profile to the first condition comprises ANDing the first condition with the second condition defined by the event profile.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises one or more screens for allowing a user to define the first condition and one or more screens for allowing the user to define the event profile.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the event profile is a user-defined persistent entity.

13. A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs an operation of programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries, the operation comprising:

providing graphical user interface content which defines a graphical user interface, comprising;

(i) a region for displaying conditions of a user-defined query; and

(ii) a graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of the query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true.

20. A computer-readable medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs an operation of programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries, the operation comprising:

(a) generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by a GUI-based program, defines a first graphical user interface screen comprising a first graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of a user-defined query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true;

(b) in response to a user event activating the first graphical element, generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by the GUI-based program, defines a second graphical user interface screen displaying predefined event profiles available for user selection; and

(c) in response to a user selection of the event profile from the second graphical user interface screen, generating graphical user interface (GUI) content which, when processed by the GUI-based program, defines a third graphical user interface screen displaying the query including at least the first condition and the second condition.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second condition defined by the event profile comprises at least one of a comparison operation and a logical operator.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the first condition and the second condition each comprise at least one comparison operation and wherein the conditions of the user-defined query are connected by logical operators.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein applying the event profile to the first condition comprises ANDing the first condition with the second condition defined by the event profile.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises one or more screens for allowing a user to define the first condition and one or more screens for allowing the user to define the event profile.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising executing the query in response to a user selection of a second graphical element defined in the third graphical user interface screen.

26. A computer, comprising:

a memory containing at least an application; and

a processor communicably connected to the memory and which, when executing the application, performs an operation of programmatically providing a user interface for creating queries, the operation comprising;

providing graphical user interface content which defines a graphical user interface, comprising;

(i) a region for displaying conditions of a user-defined query; and

(ii) a graphical element for initiating a process of applying an event profile to a first condition of the query, whereby results returned by execution of the query are restricted to those for which the first condition and a second condition defined by the event profile are contemporaneously true.