Relational database access system using semantically dynamic objects

• US 6,247,008 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Liautaud, Bernard, Cambot, Jean-Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US08/699,740
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 395/601-604, 395/611, 395/614, 395/615, 395/201, 395/925, 707/1-4, 707/100, 707/5, 707/103, 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A relational database access system and method provides a new data representation and a query technique which allows information system end users to access (query) relational databases without knowing the relational structure or the structure query language (SQL). The present invention utilizes semantically dynamic objects.

Claims

1. A method for querying a database, the database including first and second data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the method comprising

associating a first word with the first data;

associating the first word with the second data;

accepting signals from the first user input device to accept a query using the first word in a first context and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

accepting signals from the second user input device to accept a query using the first word in a second context and, in response, providing the second data to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second data are of different types.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first word is “

customer,”

the methof further comprising

the step of accepting signals from the first user including the substep of providing a person'"'"'s phone number to the first user; and

the step of accepting signals from the second user including the substep of providing a company name to the second user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first user is a salesperson and wherein the second user is a financial officer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second data are of different types.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising

wherein the first and second data returned in response to the user queries using the first word vary in response to the user'"'"'s geographic area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first word is “

customers,”

wherein the first user is associated with a first geographic region, wherein the second user is associated with a second geographic regions, the method further comprising

the step of accepting signals from the first user including the substep of providing first data associated with the first geographic region; and

the step of accepting signals from the second user including the substep of providing second data associated with the second geographic region.

8. A method for querying a database, the database including first data, the database coupled to first and second user input devices operated by first and second human users, the method comprising

associating a first word with the first data;

associating a second word with the first data;

accepting signals from the first user input device to indicate that the first user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the first user; and

accepting signals from the second user input device to indicate that the second user desires to access the first data and, in response, providing the first data to the second user.