US6016394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for database application software creation requiring minimal programming
Assignee: Versata Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-17
•
Granted: 2000-01-18
•
Expires: 2017-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application from a description known as a dictionary interoperating with a universal software application. The dictionary contents customize the universal application into the target software application created from a high-level dialog between an application designer and a graphical application editor. The application editor provides an environment for editing and creating custom applications and automatically creates security partitioning of responsibilities and users, hierarchical menu structures, groupings of database data elements into efficient sets, database transactions and database partitioning without requiring programming in SQL language by an application designer. The computer stores the dictionary in a database for accessing by the universal application. The dictionary customizes the re-usable universal application for interaction with relational databases such as Oracle®, IBM® DB2, and Sybase®.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application from a universal software application, said target software application for use in interacting with an application database, said method comprising the steps of: a) facilitating a high-level dialog via an application editor to derive a description representing a customization of said universal software application into said target software application; b) storing said description of said target software application in a dictionary, said dictionary to be accessed by said universal software application; and c) invoking said dictionary by said universal software application upon execution of said target software application to customize said universal software application as said target software application.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application from a universal software application, said target software application for use in interacting with an application database, said method comprising the steps of: a) facilitating a high-level dialog via an application editor to derive a description representing a customization of said universal software application into said target software application; b) storing said description of said target software application in a dictionary, said dictionary to be accessed by said universal software application; and c) invoking said dictionary by said universal software application upon execution of said target software application to customize said universal software application as said target software application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of facilitating a high-level dialog comprise the steps of: a) uniquely identifying said target software application with a name; b) providing access security to said uniquely identified target software application; c) defining menus to navigate throughout said target software application to execute transactions; and d) defining said transactions to perform upon said application database within said target software application.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 2, wherein said providing access security step comprise the steps of: a) designating responsibilities in which to partition end-users of said target software application from accessing and executing portions of said target software application exclusive to their designated responsibility; b) identifying said end-users of said target software application; and c) associating said end-users of said target software application with at least one of said responsibilities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 2, wherein said defining transactions further comprise the step of creating sets of data from said application database on which said transactions operate, said sets forming a subset of data from said application database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of defining a logical application database according to a schema from which said sets are derived.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of mapping said logical application database to said application database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of defining said application database according to a schema when said application database is non-existent prior to creation of said target software application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 4, wherein said defining transactions step further comprise the steps of: a) defining views of data from said sets, said views to form a collection of said data within said sets to present to said end-user; b) defining frames from said views of data to display and arrange said data from said application database.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: a) defining a smart code table comprised of a constrained domain of valid values for said data from said database; and b) presenting in said frames from which said end-user may select said constrained domain of valid values.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database, said system comprising: a) an application editor to facilitate a high-level dialog to derive a description representing said target software application; b) a dictionary in the form of a database to store said description of said target software application for subsequent referencing during execution of said target software application; and c) a universal application comprised of re-usable modules and upon execution, said universal application to invoke said dictionary to customize said universal software application to become said target software application as described to said application editor.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
A system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database, said system comprising: a) an application editor to facilitate a high-level dialog to derive a description representing said target software application; b) a dictionary in the form of a database to store said description of said target software application for subsequent referencing during execution of said target software application; and c) a universal application comprised of re-usable modules and upon execution, said universal application to invoke said dictionary to customize said universal software application to become said target software application as described to said application editor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 10, wherein said application editor comprises: a) a module for uniquely identifying said target software application with a name; b) a module for providing access security to said uniquely identified target software application; c) a module for defining menus to navigate throughout said target software application to execute transactions; and d) a module for defining said transactions to perform upon said application database within said target software application.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 11, wherein said module for providing access security comprises: a) a module for designating responsibilities to partition end-users within said target software application from accessing and executing portions of said target software application exclusive to their designated responsibility; b) a module for identifying said end-users of said target software application; and c) a module for associating said end-users of said target software application with at least one of said responsibilities.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 11, wherein said module for defining said transactions further comprises a module for creating sets of data from said application database on which said transactions operate, said sets to form a subset of data from said application database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 13, wherein said application editor further comprises a module for defining a logical application database according to a schema from which said sets are derived.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 14, wherein said application editor further comprises a module for mapping said logical application database to said application database.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 15, wherein said application editor further comprises a module for defining said application database according to a schema when said application database is non-existent prior to creation of said target software application.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 13, wherein said module for defining transactions further comprises: a) a module for defining views of data from said sets, said views to form a collection of said data within said sets to present to said end-user; b) a module for defining frames from said views of data to display and arrange said data from said application database.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system for computer-assisted creation of a target software application for database management of an application database as recited in claim 17, wherein said application editor further comprises: a) a module for defining a smart code table comprised of a constrained domain of valid values for said data from said database; and b) a module for presenting in said frames from which said end-user may select said constrained domain of valid values.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer-readable medium for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application from a universal software application, said target software application for interacting with an application database, said computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) facilitating a high-level dialog via an application editor to derive a description representing a customization of said universal software application into said target software application; b) storing said description of said target software application in a dictionary, said dictionary to provide a database for invocation by said universal software application; and c) invoking said dictionary by said universal software application upon execution of said target software application to customize said universal software application as said target software application.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer-readable medium for computer-assisted database management software creation of a target software application from a universal software application, said target software application for interacting with an application database, said computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) facilitating a high-level dialog via an application editor to derive a description representing a customization of said universal software application into said target software application; b) storing said description of said target software application in a dictionary, said dictionary to provide a database for invocation by said universal software application; and c) invoking said dictionary by said universal software application upon execution of said target software application to customize said universal software application as said target software application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said computer-executable instructions for facilitating a high-level dialog further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) uniquely identifying said target software application with a name; b) providing access security to said uniquely identified target software application; c) defining menus to navigate throughout said target software application to execute transactions; and d) defining said transactions to perform upon said application database within said target software application.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20 wherein said computer-executable instructions for providing access security comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) designating responsibilities to partition end-users within said target software application from accessing and executing portions of said target software application exclusive to their designated responsibility; b) identifying said end-users of said target software application; and c) associating said end-users of said target software application with at least one of said responsibilities.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 20 wherein said computer-executable instructions for defining transactions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the step comprising creating sets of data from said application database on which said transactions operate, said sets to form a subset of data from said application database.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the step comprising defining a logical application database according to a schema from which said sets are derived.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 23 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the step comprising mapping said logical application database to said application database.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 24 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the step comprising defining said application database according to a schema when said application database is non-existent prior to creation of said target software application.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said computer-executable instructions for defining transactions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) defining views of data from said sets, said views to form a collection of said data within said sets to present to said end-user; b) defining frames from said views of data to display and arrange said data from said application database.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 26 wherein said computer-executable instructions further comprise computer-executable instructions for performing the steps comprising: a) defining a smart code table comprised of a constrained domain of valid values for said data from said database; and b) presenting in said frames from which said end-user may select said constrained domain of valid values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4528644A
Cited
US4827404A
Cited
US4831526A
Cited
US4949253A
Cited
US5038296A
Cited
US5485610A
Cited
US5586314A
Cited
US5437027A
Cited
US5381534A
Cited
US5423041A
Cited
US5566330A
Cited
US5381548A
Cited
US5485601A
Cited
US5830065A
Cited
US5495567A
Cited
US5353401A
Cited
US5504885A
Cited
US5819090A
Cited
US5615379A
Cited
US5819251A
Cited
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 |