Extensible database retrieval and viewing architecture

Details Extensible database retrieval and viewing architecture Extensible database retrieval and viewing architecture

1999-12-07

2001-06-05

Black, Thomas (Department: 2171)

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

Database design

Data structure types

C707S793000, C707S793000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243698

ABSTRACT:

RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application relates to, and incorporates by reference, the following applications:
“Data Descriptions in a Database System,” having the inventors Vladimir Gorelik, Craig R. Powers, John E. Zicker, and Nicholas F. Engelhardt, having Ser. No. 60/028,640, and filing date Oct. 18, 1996;
“Database Repository With Deferred Transactions,” having the inventors Craig R. Powers, Terris, J. Linenbach, Vladimir Gorelik, Tana C. Netsch, Robert E. Powers, and having Ser. No. 08/757,719, and filing date Nov. 26, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,754; and,
“Extensible Database Retrieval and Viewing Architecture,” having the inventors of Craig R. Powers, and Vladimir Gorelik having Ser. No. 60/028,725, and filing data Oct. 18, 1996.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Datamarts are types of software programs that allow users to aggregate, sort, sift, and manipulate data from a number of sources. These sources of data can be, for example, databases or internet web servers. Users describe the types of data they wish the datamarts to access, from which source, and how that data should be manipulated.
In some systems, the user defines a script for accessing the data in the data sources. The scripts typically include data access instructions. The interfaces for generating such scripts are usually text based and do not allow the user to visualize the flow of the data accesses and the manipulations on the data.
Therefore, what is needed is an improved data access description method and apparatus that more clearly shows the data being accessed and the types of operations being performed on that data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention includes an architecture for extending the data requesting and data viewing capabilities of a database system. In one embodiment, data from the database is requested and viewed using a plan. The plan defines the steps to perform to request and view the data. The extensible architecture allows for the relatively easy addition of new steps for use in the database retrieval and viewing system.
In one embodiment, each step includes executable code for accessing, manipulating and/or outputting data. Each step conforms to a predefined interface that allows the step to be used in a plan, manipulate data received from another step (if necessary), and output data to another step (if necessary). By generating steps that conform to the predefined interface, developers can extend the functionality of the data retrieval and viewing application. In one embodiment, the interface defines the type of step, the number of inputs and outputs to the steps, the type of record accessing characteristics are best used by the step, and whether the step uses the original records or copies of the records. Importantly, the interface does not need to define the actual data manipulation performed by the step. Therefore, the step's internal operations are independent of the operations performed by the application. This separation allows developers to generate powerful steps without having to modify the application to support the new steps.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5960214 (1999-09-01), Sharpe et al.
patent: 6038558 (2000-03-01), Powers et al.

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