System for viewing databases

• US 20050256852A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epicor Software Corporation (Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Aptos, Inc. (New York)
• Inventors: McNall, Kent S., Dernulling, Samuel G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method allows for dynamic, parameterized linking of database views or tables. The database tables are related in a parent-dependent relationship, with dependent tables being linked to parent tables through a parameter. When a new record in the parent table is scrolled to, dependent tables automatically run queries and return records with matching parameters. The parameters include field values. Several table views may be combined in a single database table set. Multiple dependent tables may be linked to an individual parent table in a parallel manner. Dependent tables may also be cascaded through intermediate parent tables, each table in the cascade acting as a dependent to its parent and acting as a parent table to its dependent table(s). Database table sets may be saved and may be transmitted, for example via email. Database table sets may provide multiple views of a single database, or may span multiple, related databases. Database table views may span multiple types of related databases.

Claims

1. A method for expressing related database information comprising:

displaying a first database query result;

automatically generating a second database query from at least one entry within the first database query result; and

expressing a second database query result corresponding to the second database query.

2. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes processing a result of the second database query to express data returned by the second database query.

3. The method for expressing related database information of claim 2:

wherein expressing a second database query result includes one selected from the group consisting of playing an audio file, playing a video file, displaying a still image, displaying a memo field, displaying a word processor document, displaying a spreadsheet, displaying a presentation, displaying an HTML document, displaying an XML document, and executing a script.

4. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes displaying at least a portion of at least one database record corresponding to the second database query result.

5. The method for expressing related database information of claim 4:

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one database record is a portion of the at least one database record that is automatically selected.

6. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a record within the first database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

7. The method for expressing related database information of claim 6 further comprising:

displaying a third database query result;

receiving a selection of a record within the third database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query further includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the third database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

8. The method for expressing related database information of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a new selection of a second record within the first database query result;

automatically generating a new second database query employing an indicator of the second selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the new second database query; and

expressing a new second database query result corresponding to the new second database query.

9. The method for expressing related database information of claim 1 wherein:

automatically generating a second database query includes running a defined linkage to the first database query result.

10. The method for expressing related database information of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving the defined linkage from user input.

11. The method for expressing related database information of claim 9 further comprising:

retrieving the defined linkage from a stored query set.

12. A computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information comprising:

displaying a first database query result;

automatically generating a second database query from at least one entry within the first database query result; and

expressing a second database query result corresponding to the second database query.

13. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes processing a result of the second database query to express data returned by the second database query.

14. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 13:

wherein expressing a second database query result includes one selected from the group consisting of playing an audio file, playing a video file, displaying a still image, displaying a memo field, displaying a word processor document, displaying a spreadsheet, displaying a presentation, displaying an HTML document, displaying an XML document, and executing a script.

15. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12:

wherein expressing the second database query result includes displaying at least a portion of at least one database record corresponding to the second database query result.

16. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 15:

wherein the at least a portion of the at least one database record is a portion of the at least one database record that is automatically selected.

17. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a record within the first database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

18. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 17 further comprising:

displaying a third database query result;

receiving a selection of a record within the third database query result; and

wherein automatically generating the second database query further includes employing an indicator of the selected record within the third database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the second database query.

19. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 17 further comprising:

receiving a new selection of a second record within the first database query result;

automatically generating a new second database query employing an indicator of the second selected record within the first database query result as a parameter in the automatic generation of the new second database query; and

expressing a new second database query result corresponding to the new second database query.

20. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12 wherein:

automatically generating a second database query includes running a defined linkage to the first database query result.

21. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving the defined linkage from user input.

22. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 20 further comprising:

retrieving the defined linkage from a stored query set.

23. The computer software product including computer-readable instructions for expressing related database information of claim 12:

wherein the computer readable instructions are on a computer-readable medium.

24. A method comprising:

establishing a first window having records of a database;

establishing a second window having records of a database; and

establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window.

25. The method of claim 24:

wherein establishing the first and second windows includes displaying the first and second windows.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

establishing a size of at least one of the first and second windows.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

establishing a location of at least one of the first and second windows.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database first record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database second record in the second window.

29. The method of claim 28:

wherein the at least one related database second record includes a plurality of records.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database third record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database fourth record in the second window.

31. The method of claim 24:

wherein the database records of the first window and the database records of the second window are records from first and second databases, respectively.

32. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

saving the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween as a database set.

33. The method of claim 32:

wherein parameters of the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween are saved as XML.

34. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

transmitting the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween as a database set.

35. The method of claim 34:

wherein the transmission includes attaching the database set to an email.

36. The method of claim 24:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a parameterized query statement in at least one of the first or second windows.

37. The method of claim 24:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a graphical interface indication of the dynamic linkage.

38. The method of claim 37:

wherein the graphical interface indication includes a drag-and-drop operation.

39. A computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases comprising:

establishing a first window having records of a database;

establishing a second window having records of a database; and

establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window.

40. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39:

wherein establishing the first and second windows includes displaying the first and second windows.

41. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 40 further comprising:

establishing a size of at least one of the first and second windows.

42. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 40 further comprising:

establishing a location of at least one of the first and second windows.

43. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 40 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database first record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database second record in the second window.

44. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 43:

wherein the at least one related database second record includes a plurality of records.

45. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 43 further comprising:

receiving a selection of a database third record in the first window; and

automatically displaying at least one related database fourth record in the second window.

46. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39:

herein the database records of the first window and the database records of the second window are records from first and second databases, respectively.

47. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39 further comprising:

saving the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween as a database set.

48. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 47:

wherein parameters of the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween are saved as XML.

49. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39 further comprising:

transmitting the established first and second windows and the dynamic relationship therebetween as a database set.

50. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 49:

wherein the transmission includes attaching the database set to an email.

51. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a parameterized query statement in at least one of the first or second windows.

52. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39:

wherein establishing a dynamic linkage between records in the first window and records in the second window includes receiving a graphical interface indication of the dynamic linkage.

53. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 52:

wherein the graphical interface indication includes a drag-and-drop operation.

54. The computer software product including computer readable instructions for viewing databases of claim 39:

wherein the computer readable instructions are on a computer-readable medium.