Data retrieval method and apparatus with multiple source capability

• US 6,023,694 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Timeline Incorporated
• Inventors: Kouchi, David B., Yarnall, David, Babcock, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/106,538
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/3, 707/4
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

Generation of output or reports on information contained in a data source which may be any of two or more types of source data, in a standardized or uniform manner is provided. A plurality of drivers are provided specific to different types of source data which include programming for identifying structural or other characteristics of the various data sources, e.g. for use in defining a new database. Preferably the new database is configured to permit highly flexible and/or rapid output or reporting or is otherwise optimized for reporting purposes. In one embodiment, the present invention includes conversion of one or more data sources into one or more uniform databases, preferably generating one or more key categories for organizing the data, optionally generating category groupings or rollups and additional data or optional references. In one embodiment, one or more databases are created which have a degree of uniformity of structure, even though they may be based on two or more different data sources which may have very different structures. The different data sources are automatically analyzed and this analysis can be used to identify and/or create categories of data for use in organizing the database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising;

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source, wherein said first data source includes data identifiers in a first language;

using said first drivers to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

creating a database for storing at least some data from said first data source, said database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure;

wherein said database includes data identifiers in a second language, different from said first language.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said first and second languages is English.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said data identifiers are selected from the group consisting of field names, captions, labels, and titles.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

querying said database using at least a first term in said second language; and

automatically obtaining information from said first data source in response to said query, wherein said first term in said second language is absent from said first data source.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising;

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first drivers to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

creating at least first and second databases for storing at least some data from said first data source, at least one of said first and second databases having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure;

changing data in said second database to provide changed data; and

automatically writing-back said changed data from said second database to said first database.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5 wherein said step of automatically writing-back is performed periodically.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 5 wherein said step of automatically writing-back is performed in response to said step of changing data in said second database.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 5 wherein said step of automatically writing-back is performed when a request is made, in said first database, for information corresponding to information which has been changed in said second database.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising;

receiving instructions from a user including at least a first natural language term;

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source, wherein said first information is information needed to perform said instructions;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

providing a second driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a second data source, different from said first data source, and

using said second driver to automatically obtain second information from said second data source without the need for human analysis of the second data source, wherein said second information is information needed to perform said instructions, wherein corresponding information from said first and second data sources are provides in response to said instructions of said user.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising;

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first drivers to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

creating at least first and second databases for storing at least some data from said first data source, at least one of said first and second databases having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure;

inputting, at a first time, at least a first query for execution by said first database to produce a first query result;

storing said first query result;

inputting, at a second time, said first query; and

outputting said first query result, in response to said step of inputting said first query at said second time, and without executing said first query after said second time.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11, further comprising checking for changes in data before said step of outputting said first query result.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 12 wherein said step of storing said first query is performed only after said first query has been executed at least a predetermined number of times.

14. Apparatus usable in connection with accessing data stored in a first data source configured to generate at least a first output, said first data source having a first data source structure, the apparatus comprising a computer coupled to said first source and programmed for:

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in said first data source, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source, wherein said first data source includes data identifiers in a first language;

using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

creating a database for storing at least some data from said first data source, said database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure;

wherein said database includes data identifiers in a second language, different from said first language.

15. A computer-readable medium, having stored therein a computer program usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least one of said first and second data sources configured to generate at least a first output, the computer program comprising instructions for

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source, wherein said first data source includes data identifiers in a first language;

using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

creating a database for storing at least some data from said first data source, said database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure;

wherein said database includes data identifiers in a second language, different from said first language.

16. A computer-implemented method comprising;

providing a first driver which issues instructions for accessing data stored in a first data source, said first data source having a first data source structure, said first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source;

using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

storing at least some data from said first data source into a database different from said data source said database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure.

17. A method, as claimed in claim 16 wherein said step of using said first driver to automatically obtain first information from said first data source includes selecting information depending on the information available in said data source.

18. A method, as claimed in clam 16, further comprising obtaining user input and wherein said step of using said first driver to automatically obtain first information comprises using said user input in automatically obtaining said first information.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising;

providing a driver which issues instructions for accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least said first data source having a first data source structure, said driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source; and

using said driver to automatically obtain information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source by accessing content of information stored in said first data source;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

mapping at least some information in said data source to procedures which provide a corresponding item in a new database, said new database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure, wherein said information about the first data source structure leads to optimization of said new database in which information from said first database is to be stored.

20. A method, as claimed in claim 19, further comprising

soliciting input of information from a user to be used, at least partially, in determining the structure of said new database.

21. A method, as claimed in claim 20 wherein said step of soliciting includes displaying a dialog box.

22. A method, as claimed in claim 21 wherein said step of soliciting includes displaying a list of choices.

23. A computer-implemented method usable in connection with accessing data which may be stored in either of first and second different data sources, at least said first data source having a first data source structure, the method comprising:

a first step for providing a first driver containing program instructions configured for use in connection with said first data source in the absence of said first driver being configured for use in connection with said second data source;

a second step for using said first driver to automatically obtain first information about said first data source structure without the need for human analysis of the first data source by automatically accessing content of information stored in said first data source and mapping at least some information in said first data source to procedures which provide a corresponding item in a new database;

determining a structure for an object database from said first data source structure, wherein said structure for said object database is different from said first data source structure;

using said first information to define a structure for said new database different from said data sources, said new database having said structure determined in said step of determining a structure, wherein said new database did not exist before said step for using said first driver to automatically obtain first information.