Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Patent
1998-03-25
2000-03-07
Alam, Hosain T.
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
709217, 345326, G06F 1730
Patent
active
060352981
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to accessing relational database systems from remote terminals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Distributed data access systems are known that require a central authority responsible for defining a rigid set of conventions, known as a global schema, to control the way in which data is structured and represented at the various sites that make up the system. The existence of the global schema restricts the autonomy of the local sites and results in rigidity and delay with regard to when and how data is stored and accessed.
A simple database system which may be accessed remotely is described in GB 1581136, which describes an information handling system and terminal apparatus. Information may be displayed as an index and selections may be made by operators by operation of a keypad to indicate which item of a displayed index is required.
The system effectively describes an arrangement of linked flat pages where a selection made on the top level page will result in a lower level page being supplied to a user.
The database structure of this type only allows pre-stored information to be supplied to users.
The present invention is directed towards the problem of accessing central relational database systems, where database specific commands are required to be activated in response to local selections. These types of commands may involve complex filtering combining and displaying commands so as to derive optimum benefit from relational databases containing a plurality of tables. In the aforesaid known system, no provision is made for activating commands of this type, given that all data supplied to users is predefined. Such an arrangement would therefore have serious limitations when access is to be provided to relational databases.
When users are given direct access to relational databases, highly sophisticated commands, usually defined using Standard Query Language (SQL) may be directed at the database. These may cause undesirable operations to be effected upon the database which may corrupt data or, more likely, may consume significant amounts of processing time as re-indexing operations are performed. It is therefore desirable to provide the power of relational database environments while at the same time providing a level of restriction upon the extent to which some users may be given access to certain procedural systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing output data from a database system in response to instructions from distributed user terminals, comprising steps of establishing a communications channel between a user terminal and said database system; supplying data from said database system to said connected user terminal to identify available relational data queries; returning data to said database system identifying a selected relational data query from said available selection; and implementing said selected query to produce output data from said database.
In a preferred embodiment, database specific instructions are defined in accordance with Standard Query Language (SQL) instructions and said SQL may be generated by the execution of a predefined script.
Preferably, a user interface environment is established in response to commands returned from the remote database and the remote database may supply indications of available quantifiable values.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, database apparatus are provided configured to produce output data in response to instructions from distributed user terminals, comprising means for establishing a communication channel with a user terminal; means for supplying data to said connected user terminal to identify available relational data queries; means for receiving data identifying a selected relational data query from said available selection; and means for implementing said selected query to produce output data.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the internat
REFERENCES:
patent: 5649186 (1997-07-01), Ferguson
patent: 5655116 (1997-08-01), Kirk et al.
patent: 5692181 (1997-11-01), Anand et al.
patent: 5737592 (1998-04-01), Nguyen et al.
patent: 5748188 (1998-05-01), Hu et al.
patent: 5761656 (1998-06-01), Ben-Shachar
Dunlop et al, "Providing Access to a Multimedia Archive Using the World Wide Web and an Object-Relational Database Management System", Database Management, Computing & Control Engineering Journal, Oct. 1996, pp. 221-226.
Singleton, "Wired on the Web", BYTE, Jan. 1996, pp. 77-78, 80.
Tanaka, "Adding Methods to Relational Database Constructs" 0730/3157/0000/0042/$01.00, 1991, IEEE.
Obraczka et al, "Internet Resource Discovery Services", Computer, 26 (1993) Sep., No. 9, Las Alamitos, CA, US, pp. 8-22.
Hahn, "Uniform Resource Loctors", EDPACS, Dec. 1995, pp. 8-13.
Lie, "World-Wide Web Technology" Proceedings, CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research, 1995 CERN School of Computing, Aug. 20-Sep.2, 1995.
Fisher, "Along the Infobahn" Data Warehouses, Third Quarter, 1996.
Computing & Control Engineering Journal, vol. 7, No. 5, Oct. 1996, pp. 221-226, Dunlop et al, "Providing Access to a Multimedia Archive Using the World Wide Web and an Object-Relational Database Management System".
BYTE, vol. 21, No. 1, Jan. 1, 1996, p. 77/78, Singleton, "Wired on the Web".
Computer, vol. 26, No. 9, Sep. 1, 1993, pp. 8-22, Obraczka et al, "Internet Resource Discovery Services".
"Link the Web with Your Relational Databases," Guiterrez, Dan D., Data Based Advisor, v13, n7, p94(2), Aug. 1994.
Alam Hosain T.
British Telecommunications public limited company
LandOfFree
Accessing plural independent databases having plural database sc does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Accessing plural independent databases having plural database sc, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Accessing plural independent databases having plural database sc will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-372431