Browser-based database-access engine apparatus and method

• US 6,460,041 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ServStor Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Inshift Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Lloyd, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Application Number:
  US09/843,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/3, 707/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• 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

A method and apparatus are herein described for a browser-based, database-access engine. Access to and modification of database data and schema are made available to a user remotely through a network, such as the Internet. The system is configured to interpret special tags embedded within HTML encoded web pages. The special tags may be configured to be interpreted into SQL in order to communicate with an SQL compliant database, or the special tags may be configured to be interpreted to any other database language. The special tags may also be configured to embed and/or introduce logic into HTML encoded web pages. The system may coordinate the functioning of a browser application, web server, and database all on one computing machine or each may be located on different computing machines connected by the Internet at opposite sides of the globe. Advantages of the present invention include the capability for remote database management and the ability to maintain and modify a web site from any remote Internet-connected location. Thus, the system makes a simple Browser application connected to the Internet a convenient database management tool.

Claims

1. An apparatus for using a database through a web-based interface, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to execute executable data structures; and

a memory device connected to the processor for storing the executable data structures and associated operational data structures, the executable and operational data structures comprising;

a database server configured to host a database comprising schema and records containing data;

a web server, comprising a file system and configured to receive requests for files from and publish selected files in response to a browser in operable communication therewith;

a service module configured to store and retrieve web page templates comprising source code, stored as first records in the database, and content corresponding to the web page templates, stored as second records, wherein the service module is further configured to execute embedded logic within the source code to enable the web page templates to be dynamically updated with the content; and

the service module further configured to publish the web page templates and corresponding content to at least one of the web server and the browser.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service module is further configured to directly view and modify the data and schema of the database in accordance with instructions received from the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the service module is configured to receive the instructions directly from the browser.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the service module is configured to receive the instructions from the browser through the web server.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the service module is further configured to provide user management of a plurality of users by providing each user an arbitrary level of access and control of the data and schema.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the service module interprets the embedded logic in the web pages into a database language for communicating with the database.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the service module is further configured to execute instructions within the source code to provide programming functions to the web pages.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the database is selected from the group consisting of a relational database and an object-oriented database.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service module is further configured to provide user management of a plurality of users by providing each user an arbitrary level of access and control of the data and schema.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the web pages comprise source code and the service module is further configured to execute embedded logic within the source code to enable the web pages to be dynamically updated with the content in the database.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the service module interprets the embedded logic in the web pages into a database language for communicating with the database.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the web pages comprise source code, and the service module is further configured to execute embedded logic within the source code to provide programming functions to the web pages.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the database is selected from the group consisting of a relational database and an object-oriented database.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service module is further configured to directly view and modify the data and schema of the database in accordance with instructions received from the user directly from the browser.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service module is further configured to directly view and modify the data and schema of the database in accordance with instructions received from the browser through the web server.

16. A method for viewing web pages stored in a database, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between a browser and a web server, wherein a user makes a request through the browser to the web server to view web pages located in a database;

forwarding the request from the web server for processing by a service module;

receiving, by the service module, the request from the web server;

retrieving, by the service module, the web page from the database corresponding to the request, the web page template comprising source code;

parsing, by the service module, the web page template and executing any logic found therein, the logic being effective to dynamically populate the web page template with content in the database;

forwarding the result from the service module to the web server; and

forwarding the result from the web server to the browser.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the database is selected from the group consisting of a relational database and an object-oriented database.

18. A method for manipulating the schema of a database through a web-based interface, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between a browser and a web server, wherein a user makes a request through the browser to the web server to manipulate the schema of a database;

forwarding the request from the web server for processing by a service module;

determining, by the service module, the level of access granted to the user;

permitting, by the service module, the user to modify the schema of the database corresponding to the level of access granted thereto;

receiving, by the service module, the request from the web server;

modifying, by the service module, the schema of the database corresponding to the request;

forwarding a result from the service module to the web server; and

forwarding the result from the web server to the browser.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the database is selected from the group consisting of a relational database and an object-oriented database.