Method and System for Visual Query Construction and Representation
First Claim
1. A method of constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, comprising:
- defining a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table;
identifying the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and
creating a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships.
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Abstract
A method and system for visually constructing and displaying relational queries on a tabular interface. A query is a relational expression that defines how to extract and process data from a data source. A data source could be a relational database, or other sources where data can be extracted and converted to tables consisting of column. A query may be composed from other queries using relational operators such as join and union, potentially resulting in a complex intertwined tree-like structure. The invention provides methods of representing hierarchical query structure on a tabular interface using nested table structures, and steps for constructing and manipulating the structure using spatial relationships. Unique to this method is the ability to work with highly complex hierarchical tree-link structure using a simple two-dimensional table. Also unique to this method is the ability to change the hierarchical structure using relative spatial placement of the tables.
138 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, comprising:
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defining a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table; identifying the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and creating a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system of constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, comprising:
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means for defining a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table; means for identifying the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and means for creating a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:
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computer-readable program code that defines a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table; computer-readable program code that identifies the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and computer-readable program code that creates a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships.
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Specification