Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-12
2001-08-07
Kulik, Paul V. (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272489
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to data retrieval, and deals more particularly with a method and apparatus for increasing usability of search facilities by retaining user-entered search criteria between searches. This retained information can be displayed in the visual search facility for subsequent searches, and can be re-used in those searches—regardless of any rearrangement of the data, change in field names or format, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Data processing and database access systems commonly provide search facilities with which a user can access and retrieve data. Typically, the user enters parameters to be used as search criteria into fields through a graphical user interface, where each parameter comprises a data descriptor (such as a field name) and a data value or pattern. The search facility then uses those parameters to create a Boolean expression, and that expression is used to find data that matches the specified criteria. A “pattern” in this context means any type of wildcard mechanism for representing a value. A typical example is use of the “*” character, to signify that any character (or possibly more than one character) appearing in the data will be considered a successful match for this criteria.
In modern search facilities, the user is not required to know, or to specify, detailed information about the underlying data (such as where the data is stored, the names and types of the fields, etc.). Instead, the search facility provides the user with a high-level interface for specifying the data values or patterns, and automatically aligns what the user has entered to the appropriate data storage. For example, the user may enter an account number (a data value) into a first search field, and some type of wild card (a search pattern) into a second search field. The search facility automatically handles any alignment of the account number that may be required before comparing the user's entry to the stored account numbers being searched, and also automatically performs any conversion required to compare the wild card to the appropriate field(s). However, these search facilities do not model the information in a way that is easy for the search user to process. The information presented tends to omit any user-specific structure and information, resulting in a cumbersome, tedious approach to the searching task.
Further, as a user performs various functions in the data processing system or database access system, he often will encounter a particular data field multiple times. Today, if the user wishes to reuse a previously-entered value or pattern in that data field for searching purposes, he must usually re-type the same value or pattern he used in the previous location (such as an earlier search window). Alternatively, the user may copy the previously-entered value or patten to the new location using Copy and Paste operations, whereby he first locates the earlier entry, then copies the value or pattern he entered there, returns to the new location, and pastes the copied data into that location. This latter approach, while it avoids the requirement to retype the information, requires a number of steps. For example, just to copy the previously-entered data, the user will typically have to use a pointing device such as a mouse, depress a selection button on the device, drag the device across the data, locate a pull-down menu having a Copy choice, and select that choice. It may take some time for the user to locate the previously-entered data, or to make his way back to the new location to perform the paste operation. The paste operation also requires a number of steps, such as placing the cursor in the desired field, locating a menu having a Paste choice, and selecting that choice. And, when there are multiple values or patterns the user would like to re-use, his task is even more difficult: copying from multiple fields is typically not allowed, so that the user has to perform the copy and paste operations separately for each different field. Both the manual retyping and the copy and paste alternative are inefficient, error prone, and tedious for the user. The time spent on this redundant data entry is time the user could better spend performing the function at hand.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and system of providing a visually integrated, easily navigable search facility that avoids these problems, resulting in a more intuitive and more efficient approach to searching. The proposed technique retains user-entered information from one search to another, for the duration of the user's current interaction with the data processing or database system. Further, the proposed technique automatically determines when that retained information can be re-used, and presents it to the user without requiring the user to request it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved visual model for entering and displaying search criteria, whereby the model is visually integrated and easily navigable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique whereby the search criteria entered by a user is retained from one search to another.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a technique whereby any applicable part of the retained search criteria is automatically made available for a subsequent search having common search criteria fields.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description and in the drawings which follow and, in part, will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention.
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as broadly described herein, the present invention provides a method, system, and computer-readable code for providing a visually oriented, easily navigable search facility. A visual model is displayed. A user of this search facility can enter search criteria into one or more fields of a search template (from a plurality of such search templates), using the visual model. These search criteria comprise zero or more data values, and zero or more data patterns. The entered criteria are used for searching, and are retained between searches. The retained criteria are copied into a subsequently-displayed search template if any of the fields matches that subsequent template. Further, default criteria may exist for any of the fields, where the default criteria comprises zero or more default data values and zero or more default data patterns. Each of these default criterion is displayed in the appropriate field, and the user may choose to replace one or more of the default criteria by entering different data. The search then further comprises using any default criteria that are not replaced. Preferably, the search further comprises using the copied criteria. Additionally, the facility may enable the user to override one or more of the copied criteria and retain the overridden criteria, and the search will further comprise using the overridden criteria. Optionally, the facility may enable the user to choose whether the overridden criteria are treated as local overrides or as global overrides, and/or may enable the user to clear the retained values. Prioritization may be done for a given search criterion which has either a default value or default pattern, and also a retained data value or a retained data pattern. Optionally, the visual model is initially displayed with a first search template from the plurality of search templates, wherein the first search template was accessed last by the user in a prior invocation of the search facility.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numbers denote the same element throughout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5428735 (1995-06-01), Kahl et al.
patent: 5813014 (1998-09-01), Gustman
patent: 5911138 (1999-06-01), Li et al.
Rauch Thyra L.
Redpath Sarah D.
Scanlon John L.
Schell David A.
Clay A. Bruce
Doubet Marcia L.
International Business Machines Corp.
Kulik Paul V.
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