Report generator for use within a lotus notes database system

Claim 2

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: providing computer program code capable of executing a Lotus Notes search of a plurality of user-selected searchable databases based on a single Lotus Notes query string; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 3

The computer-based method of claim 1 further comprising: displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; and generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names.

Claim 4

The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

Claim 5

The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen comprises displaying searchable database names and searchable field names stored in an initialization file saved in a computer-accessible memory, the initialization file comprising a list of searchable fields, a list of searchable databases, and a path to each searchable database.

Claim 6

The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen further comprises displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options within each searchable field category, and wherein generating a query string based on the user-selected searchable field names comprises generating a full text query string by: for each field category having user-selected field category options, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category to form an ORed option set for the field category; and ANDing each ORed option set.

Claim 7

The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases comprises instructing Lotus Notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

Claim 8

The computer-based method of claim 2 wherein displaying searchable database names and searchable field names further comprises displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options for each searchable field category, and further comprises: computing a data range for each field category to be displayed; wherein outputting the organized information further comprises outputting data computed by employing the data ranges.

Claim 9

The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the identified documents comprises saving the information in a random-access file in a computer-accessible memory.

Claim 10

The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises outputting the organized information according to a user-selected report format option.

Claim 11

The computer-based method of claim 9 further comprising: providing a user with a blank report template in which the user specifies fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; completing the report template by storing within the blank report template user-specified fields to include in a report and a user-specified arrangement for the fields within the report; and saving the completed report template as a saved report template.

Claim 12

The computer-based method of claim 10 further comprising: displaying an identifier for each saved report template; and receiving user selection among the saved report template identifiers; and wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises displaying the organized information according to the selected report template.

Claim 13

The computer-based method of claim 11 wherein displaying an identifier for each saved report template comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

Claim 14

The computer-based method of claim 1 wherein collecting information from the identified documents comprises collecting a retrieved information list comprising a user-specified list of fields of information to retrieve from each identified document, and wherein organizing the collected information comprises: assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and wherein outputting the organized information as a report further comprises retrieving, via the key pointers, the fields of information from each retrieved information list to include in the report, so as to display, based on the order of the sorted keys, the fields of information from each retrieved information list.

Claim 15

The computer-based method of claim 13 further comprising displaying a list of selectable report templates, each selectable report template having a name formed from a combination of a plurality of pre-defined acronyms, and wherein assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key comprises assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key based on the report template's name.

Claim 16

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields, the means capable of executing a Lotus Notes search of a plurality of user-selected databases based on a single Lotus Notes query string; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 17

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields, the means capable of executing a Lotus Notes search of a plurality of user-selected databases based on a single Lotus Notes query string; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 18

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise: means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name and location information; means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields for the named databases; means for directing the computer to display the user-provided database names and the user-provided searchable fields; means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed database names and the displayed searchable fields; and means for directing the computer to generate a query string based on the user-selected searchable fields.

Claim 19

The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name information and the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields comprises a lookup table.

Claim 20

The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to display user-provided database names and user-provided searchable fields comprises a graphical user interface.

Claim 21

The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields further comprises means for storing user-provided searchable field categories and user-provided searchable field category options within each user-provided searchable field category, and wherein the means for directing the computer to generate a query string comprises program code for generating a full text search by, for each field category having a user-selected field category option, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category so as to form an ORed option set for the field category, and ANDing each ORed option set.

Claim 22

The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the means for directing the computer to search a user-selected database comprises program code for instructing Lotus notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

Claim 23

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents comprises program code for saving the information in a random-access file in a memory.

Claim 24

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise: means for directing the computer to store a report template comprising a user-provided list of fields to include in a report; means for directing the computer to store an identifier for each report template; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each report template; and means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed report template identifiers; and wherein the means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises means for directing the computer to display the organized information according to the report template identified by the user-selected report template identifier.

Claim 25

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents comprises means for collecting a user-provided retrieved information list comprising a user-provided list of fields to retrieve from each identified document, and wherein means for directing the computer to organize the collected information comprises: means for directing the computer to assign each retrieved information list an identifying key; means for directing the computer to assign each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and means for directing the computer to sort the keys; and wherein the means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises means for directing the computer to retrieve, via the key pointers, information to be displayed, and to display the retrieved information based on the order of the sorted keys.

Claim 26

The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise: means for directing the computer to provide a user with a blank report template which the user completes by specifying fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; means for directing a computer to save a completed report template as a saved report template having an identifier; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each saved report template; and means for directing the computer to receive user-selection among the displayed report template identifiers, and wherein means for directing the computer to organize the collected information comprises: means for directing the computer to assign information collected from each document an identifying key; means for directing the computer to assign each key a pointer pointing to the information identified by the key; and means for directing the computer to sort the keys; and wherein means for directing the computer to display the organized information as a report comprises retrieving, via the key pointers, only the fields specified in the user-selected report template and displaying the retrieved fields in the order of the sorted keys and with the arrangement of the user-selected report template.

Claim 27

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying on a computer screen searchable database names and searchable field names stored in an initialization file saved in a computer-accessible memory, the initialization file comprising a list of searchable fields, a list of searchable databases, and a path to each searchable database; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 28

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying on a computer screen searchable database names and searchable field names stored in an initialization file saved in a computer-accessible memory, the initialization file comprising a list of searchable fields, a list of searchable databases, and a path to each searchable database; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 29

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options within each searchable field category; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names including generating a full text query string by: for each field category having user-selected field category options, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category to form an ORed option set for the field category; and ANDing each ORed option set; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 30

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options within each searchable field category; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names including generating a full text query string by: for each field category having user-selected field category options, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category to form an ORed option set for the field category; and ANDing each ORed option set; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 31

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options for each searchable field category, and computing a data range for each field category to be displayed; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report including outputting data computed by employing the data ranges.

Claim 32

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: displaying searchable database names and searchable field names on a computer screen including displaying searchable field categories and searchable field category options for each searchable field category, and computing a data range for each field category to be displayed; receiving a user-selection from among the searchable database names and the searchable field names; generating a Lotus Notes query string based on the user-selected searchable field names; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report including outputting data computed by employing the data ranges.

Claim 33

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: providing a user with a blank report template in which the user specifies fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; completing the report template by storing within the blank report template user-specified fields to include in a report and a user-specified arrangement for the fields within the report; saving the completed report template as a saved report template; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.

Claim 34

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: providing a user with a blank report template in which the user specifies fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; completing the report template by storing within the blank report template user-specified fields to include in a report and a user-specified arrangement for the fields within the report; saving the completed report template as a saved report template; executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.

Claim 35

The computer-based method of claim 28 further comprising: displaying an identifier for each saved report template; and receiving user selection among the saved report template identifiers; and wherein outputting the organized information as a report comprises displaying the organized information according to the selected report template.

Claim 36

The computer-based method of claim 29 wherein displaying an identifier for each saved report template comprises displaying a graphical user interface.

Claim 37

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents by collecting a retrieved information list comprising a user-specified list of fields of information to retrieve from each identified document; organizing at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, the fields of information from each retrieved information list to include in the report, so as to display, based on the order of the sorted keys, the fields of information from each retrieved information list.

Claim 38

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents by collecting a retrieved information list comprising a user-specified list of fields of information to retrieve from each identified document; organizing at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, the fields of information from each retrieved information list to include in the report, so as to display, based on the order of the sorted keys, the fields of information from each retrieved information list.

Claim 39

The computer-based method of claim 31 further comprising displaying a list of selectable report templates, each selectable report template having a name formed from a combination of a plurality of pre-defined acronyms, and wherein assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key comprises assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key based on the report template's name.

Claim 40

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name and location information; means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields for the named databases; means for directing the computer to display the user-provided database names and the user-provided searchable fields; means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed database names and the displayed searchable fields; means for directing the computer to generate a query string based on the user-selected searchable fields; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 41

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name and location information; means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields for the named databases; means for directing the computer to display the user-provided database names and the user-provided searchable fields; means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed database names and the displayed searchable fields; means for directing the computer to generate a query string based on the user-selected searchable fields; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 42

The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided database name information and the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields comprises a lookup table.

Claim 43

The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to display user-provided database names and user-provided searchable fields comprises a graphical user interface.

Claim 44

The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to store user-provided searchable fields further comprises means for storing user-provided searchable field categories and user-provided searchable field category options within each user-provided searchable field category, and wherein the means for directing the computer to generate a query string comprises program code for generating a full text search by, for each field category having a user-selected field category option, ORing each selected or NOT-selected field category option within the field category so as to form an ORed option set for the field category, and ANDing each ORed option set.

Claim 45

The computer program product of claim 33 wherein the means for directing the computer to search a user-selected database comprises program code for instructing Lotus notes to execute a full text search using the generated query string.

Claim 46

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to store a report template comprising a user-provided list of fields to include in a report; means for directing the computer to store an identifier for each report template; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each report template; means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed report template identifiers; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by displaying the organized information according to the report template identified by the user-selected report template identifier.

Claim 47

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to store a report template comprising a user-provided list of fields to include in a report; means for directing the computer to store an identifier for each report template; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each report template; means for directing the computer to receive user selection among the displayed report template identifiers; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by displaying the organized information according to the report template identified by the user-selected report template identifier.

Claim 48

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents by collecting a user-provided retrieved information list comprising a user-provided list of fields to retrieve from each identified document; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, information to be displayed, and displaying the retrieved information based on the order of the sorted keys.

Claim 49

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents by collecting a user-provided retrieved information list comprising a user-provided list of fields to retrieve from each identified document; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning each retrieved information list an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the retrieved information list identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, information to be displayed, and displaying the retrieved information based on the order of the sorted keys.

Claim 50

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to provide a user with a blank report template which the user completes by specifying fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; means for directing a computer to save a completed report template as a saved report template having an identifier; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each saved report template; means for directing the computer to receive user-selection among the displayed report template identifiers; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning information collected from each document an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the information identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, only the fields specified in the user-selected report template and displaying the retrieved fields in the order of the sorted keys and with the arrangement of the user-selected report template.

Claim 51

A computer program product for generating reports via a Lotus Notes application being executed on a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: a recording medium readable by a computer, the recording medium storing instructions executable by a computer executing a Lotus Notes application; the computer executable instructions comprising: means for directing the computer to provide a user with a blank report template which the user completes by specifying fields to include in a report and how each field is arranged within the report; means for directing a computer to save a completed report template as a saved report template having an identifier; means for directing the computer to display the identifier for each saved report template; means for directing the computer to receive user-selection among the displayed report template identifiers; means for directing a computer to search a user-selected database to identify documents containing one or more user-selected fields; means for directing the computer to collect information from the identified documents; means for directing the computer to organize at least a portion of the collected information by: assigning information collected from each document an identifying key; assigning each key a pointer pointing to the information identified by the key; and sorting the keys; and means for directing the computer to output at least a portion of the organized information as a report by retrieving, via the key pointers, only the fields specified in the user-selected report template and displaying the retrieved fields in the order of the sorted keys and with the arrangement of the user-selected report template.

Claim 52

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents by saving the information in a random-access file in a computer-accessible memory; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 53

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents by saving the information in a random-access file in a computer-accessible memory; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report.

Claim 54

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.

Claim 55

A computer-based method of enabling a user to generate, via Lotus Notes, a report from data contained in one or more databases stored on one or more computers, comprising: executing a Lotus Notes search of one or more user-selected searchable databases, to identify one or more documents containing user-selected searchable field names; collecting information from the one or more identified documents; organizing at least a portion of the collected information; and outputting at least a portion of the organized information as a report according to a user-selected report format option.