Patent US5787418A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5787418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Find assistant for creating database queries
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-03
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Granted: 1998-07-28
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Expires: 2016-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture which provides for finding database management information on a computer in a simple, user-friendly way to minimize errors and maximize database usership. The invention displays a window containing a card metaphor in a graphical user interface on a computer display. The window allows the user to enter a find type and a find condition selected from a displayed menu. The window also displays a natural language description of the current status of the find request, allowing the user to see, in real time, the scope of the request and the databases affected.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Robert Hibbetts
- 👤 Kester Li
- 👤 Jonathan Michael Levine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/242; G06F16/2423; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A computerized method of finding information in a memory of a computer having a processor, data storage device, display device, and data input device, the computer processor running a database management system having a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a window containing a card metaphor on the display device; (b) accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition entered from the data input device; (c) interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; and (d) presenting the natural language description of the find request in the window on the display device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computerized method of finding information in a memory of a computer having a processor, data storage device, display device, and data input device, the computer processor running a database management system having a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a window containing a card metaphor on the display device; (b) accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition entered from the data input device; (c) interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; and (d) presenting the natural language description of the find request in the window on the display device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the card metaphor comprises a first card panel having a first radio button for creating a new find, a second radio button for editing an existing named find, and a list of find types.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the card metaphor comprises a second card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a list of relational conditions, and a find criteria edit box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the second card panel further comprises a condition box for displaying the natural language description of the find request.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the second card panel further comprises a first radio button for specifying an OR logical operator and a second radio button for specifying an AND logical operator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the card metaphor comprises a third card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, and a sort fields box showing a list of the associated database fields used as sort fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the card metaphor comprises a fourth card panel having a SQL entry field for accepting an SQL database query instruction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for finding information with a database management system having a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a computer, comprising a processor and a memory storing the database tables; (b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a window containing a card metaphor on a display coupled to the computer; (c) means, performed by the computer for accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition from a user input device into the computer; (d) means, performed by the computer, for interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; (e) means, performed by the computer, for presenting a natural language description of the find request to the user in the window on the display.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for finding information with a database management system having a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a computer, comprising a processor and a memory storing the database tables; (b) means, performed by the computer, for displaying a window containing a card metaphor on a display coupled to the computer; (c) means, performed by the computer for accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition from a user input device into the computer; (d) means, performed by the computer, for interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; (e) means, performed by the computer, for presenting a natural language description of the find request to the user in the window on the display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the card metaphor comprises a first card panel having a first radio button for creating a new find, a second radio button for editing an existing named find, and a list of find types.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the card metaphor comprises a second card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a list of relational conditions, and a find criteria edit box.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second card panel further comprises a condition box for displaying the natural language description of the find request.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second card panel further comprises a first radio button for specifying an OR logical operator and a second radio button for specifying an AND logical operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the card metaphor comprises a third card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, and a sort fields box showing a list of the associated database fields used as sort fields.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the card metaphor comprises a fourth card panel having a SQL entry field for accepting an SQL database query instruction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A program storage device, readable by a computer having a processor, data storage device, display device, data input device, and a memory storing a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of finding information in the memory of the computer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a window containing a card metaphor on the display device; (b) accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition entered from the data input device; (c) interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; and (d) presenting the natural language description of the find request in the window on the display device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
141 words
A program storage device, readable by a computer having a processor, data storage device, display device, data input device, and a memory storing a plurality of database tables each including a plurality of associated database fields having database data, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of finding information in the memory of the computer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying a window containing a card metaphor on the display device; (b) accepting, through the card metaphor, a find request comprising a find type and a find condition entered from the data input device; (c) interpreting the find type and find condition to generate a natural language description of the find request; and (d) presenting the natural language description of the find request in the window on the display device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The program storage device of claim 15, wherein the card metaphor comprises a first card panel having a first radio button for creating a new find, a second radio button for editing an existing named find, and a list of find types.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The program storage device of claim 16, wherein the card metaphor comprises a second card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, a list of relational conditions, and a find criteria edit box.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The program storage device of claim 17, wherein the second card panel further comprises a condition box for displaying the natural language description of the find request.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The program storage device of claim 17, wherein the second card panel further comprises a first radio button for specifying an OR logical operator and a second radio button for specifying an AND logical operator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
The program storage device of claim 17, wherein the card metaphor comprises a third card panel having a list of the database tables, an associated database field box having a list of the associated database fields, and a sort fields box showing a list of the associated database fields used as sort fields.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program storage device of claim 17, wherein the card metaphor comprises a fourth card panel having a SQL entry field for accepting an SQL database query instruction.
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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) | 2001-07-27 | 2002-01-26 | 2002-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-27 | 2006-01-26 | 2006-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-27 | 2010-01-26 | 2010-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |