US6016488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for constructing queries
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1998-11-04
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Granted: 2000-01-18
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Expires: 2018-11-04
Abstract
Abstract These and other objects, which will be apparent as the invention is more fully described, are provided by a method and system for constructing queries which make changes to an entire set of data stored in a database. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a user selects one or more tables from which to construct a query. Next, the system stores a list box for each selected table. Each list box is displayed on a user interface including a query window which includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The user selects one or more columns from the list boxes and drags the selected columns into a QBE grid located in the lower portion of the query window. The QBE grid provides a graphical representation of the query requested by the user. When the user invokes the query, the system determines the query type and performs appropriate action on the selected column from the selected tables.
Inventors
- 👤 Adam Bosworth
- 👤 Ross A. Hunter
- 👤 David J. Habib
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/242; G06F16/2428; G06F16/2423; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method in a computer system for visually indicating joining a first table with a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising: displaying on the display device the field names of the fields of the first table; displaying on the display device the field names of the fields of the second table; receiving from a user a selection of a displayed field name of the first table and of a displayed field name of the second table, the selection indicating that the first table and the second table are to be joined by the fields with the selected field names; and displaying on the display device a join indicator between the selected field names to indicate that the tables are to be joined by the fields of the selected field names wherein the displaying of the field names displays the field names in a scrollable list box.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method in a computer system for visually indicating joining a first table with a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising: displaying on the display device the field names of the fields of the first table; displaying on the display device the field names of the fields of the second table; receiving from a user a selection of a displayed field name of the first table and of a displayed field name of the second table, the selection indicating that the first table and the second table are to be joined by the fields with the selected field names; and displaying on the display device a join indicator between the selected field names to indicate that the tables are to be joined by the fields of the selected field names wherein the displaying of the field names displays the field names in a scrollable list box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein when the displayed field names are scrolled, the join indicator is also scrolled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein when the selected field name is scrolled so that it is no longer visible, the join indicator is positioned at one end of the scrollable list box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the join indicator is a line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, including receiving a selection of the join indicator and, in response, displaying information relevant to the join.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
152 words
A method in a computer system for visually representing a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising: displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box; displaying the field names of the second table in a list box; displaying a join indicator between the displayed first join field name of the first table and the displayed second join field name of the second table; and when scrolling the displayed list box of the first table, adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the displayed first join field name of the first table.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
A method in a computer system for visually representing a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system having a display device, the method comprising: displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box; displaying the field names of the second table in a list box; displaying a join indicator between the displayed first join field name of the first table and the displayed second join field name of the second table; and when scrolling the displayed list box of the first table, adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the displayed first join field name of the first table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the list box of the first table has ends and where the adjusting of the displayed join indicator includes when the displayed first join field name scrolls off an end of the list box, positioning the displayed join indicator to indicate the end of the list box that the join field name scrolled off.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the join has characteristics and including in response to selecting the displayed join indicator, displaying the characteristics of the join.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the displaying of the characteristics includes displaying a property of the join.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8, including the modifying by a user of one of the displayed characteristics of the join.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the join indicator is a line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer system for visually representing a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system comprising: a display device; means for displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box on the display device; means for displaying the field names of the second table in a scrollable list box on the display device; means for displaying a join indicator on the display device between the first join field name of the first table and the second join field name of the second table; means for scrolling a displayed list box; and means for adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the join field name corresponding to the table for the list box being scrolled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer system for visually representing a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system comprising: a display device; means for displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box on the display device; means for displaying the field names of the second table in a scrollable list box on the display device; means for displaying a join indicator on the display device between the first join field name of the first table and the second join field name of the second table; means for scrolling a displayed list box; and means for adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the join field name corresponding to the table for the list box being scrolled.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
148 words
A system-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to visually indicate joining a first table with a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, by: displaying the field names of the fields of the first table; displaying the field names of the fields of the second table; receiving from a user a selection of a displayed field name of the first table and of a displayed field name of the second table, the selection indicating that the first table and the second table are to be joined by the field of the selected field names; and p1 displaying a line between the selected field names to indicate that the tables are to be joined by the fields of the selected field names wherein the displaying of the field names displays the field names in a scrollable list box.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
148 words
A system-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to visually indicate joining a first table with a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, by: displaying the field names of the fields of the first table; displaying the field names of the fields of the second table; receiving from a user a selection of a displayed field name of the first table and of a displayed field name of the second table, the selection indicating that the first table and the second table are to be joined by the field of the selected field names; and p1 displaying a line between the selected field names to indicate that the tables are to be joined by the fields of the selected field names wherein the displaying of the field names displays the field names in a scrollable list box.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein when the displayed field names are scrolled, the join indicator is also scrolled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein when the selected field name is scrolled so that it is no longer visible, the join indicator is positioned at one end of the scrollable list box.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 13, including receiving a selection of the join indicator and, in response, displaying information relevant to the join.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to visually represent a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system having a display device, by: displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box; displaying the field names of the second table in a list box; displaying a join indicator between the displayed first join field name of the first table and the displayed second join field name of the second table; and when scrolling the displayed list box of the first table, adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the displayed first join field name of the first table.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer system to visually represent a join between a first table and a second table, each table having a plurality of fields, each field having a field name, the first table being joined to the second table by a first join field of the first table and a second join field of the second table, the computer system having a display device, by: displaying the field names of the first table in a scrollable list box; displaying the field names of the second table in a list box; displaying a join indicator between the displayed first join field name of the first table and the displayed second join field name of the second table; and when scrolling the displayed list box of the first table, adjusting the displayed join indicator in accordance with the scrolling of the displayed first join field name of the first table.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the list box of the first table has ends and wherein the adjusting of the displayed join indicator includes when the displayed first join field name scrolls off an end of the list box, positioning the displayed join indicator to indicate the end of the list box that the join field name scrolled off.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the join has characteristics and including in response to selecting the displayed join indicator, displaying the characteristics of the join.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the displaying of the characteristics includes displaying a property of the join.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17, including the modifying by a user of one of the displayed characteristics of the join.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the join indicator is a line.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |