EP0490625A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Graphic definition of range in the selection of data from a database field
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1991-12-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for interfacing a human user to an indexed field of data from a database. The invention is particularly directed to the definition of a BETWEEN argument in a database query. A ruler (9) is linearly related to the data in the field (7). Individually movable tacks (11, 12) are positioned along the ruler to define the boundaries of a range in direct correspondence to a range of data from within the field. Dialog blocks (19, 20) are provided for alphanumeric entry and readout of tack location data. In a preferred form, the ruler also provides control blocks which are individually related to the tacks and are suitable to increment or decrement the tack values as relates to the data in the field.
Inventors
- 👤 Shih-Gong Li
- 👤 Bruce Allan Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/242; G06F16/2428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A system for interfacing between a user and data stored in a database, comprising: means for linearly depicting on a graphical display a grouping of data from the database; means for specifying a range from within the grouping of data; and means for graphically depicting the specified range referenced to the means for depicting the grouping of data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system recited in Claim 1, further comprising a graphical means for selectively varying the specified range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system recited in Claim 2, wherein the means for selectively varying the specified range comprises means for incrementing and for decrementing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system recited in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the means for specifying includes alphanumeric entry means for specifying the range.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
19 words
The system recited in any preceding Claim, wherein the grouping of data is a field from a relational database.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
38 words
The system recited in any preceding Claim, wherein the means for linearly depicting a grouping of data is a ruler bar, and the means for graphically depicting the specified range includes boundary markers referenced to the ruler bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system recited in Claim 6, wherein the means for specifying a range selects a closest value when varied in response to a translation of a boundary marker.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of interfacing a human user to data in a database, comprising the steps of: graphically depicting on a workstation display a linear grouping of data present in the database; specifying by graphically defined boundary markers a range within the linear grouping of data; relating the graphically defined boundary markers to data within the linear grouping of data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method recited in Claim 8, further comprising: modifying the range by repositioning the boundary markers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in Claim 8 or 9, wherein the step of specifying creates a proportional relationship between the locations of the graphically depicted boundary markers and the grouping of data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method recited in Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the database is relational.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of generating data defining a range condition for use in accessing a database, comprising accessing the database to extract a grouping of data from within a field of the database, generating and displaying a linear graphical image, generating and displaying marker images positioned in relation to said linear image to graphically represent a range within the linear image, and automatically generating data defining a range condition for accessing the database based on the graphically represented range and the extracted data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 further comprising determining explicit values using the graphically represented range and the extracted data, and displaying the explicit values corresponding to the graphically represented range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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