U.S. patent application number 11/366882 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for apparatus and method for modification of a saved database query based on a change in the meaning of a query value over time.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Richard Dean Dettinger, Daniel Paul Kolz, Kyong Jin Shim, Alan Benjamin Swanson, Marie Renee Wilkening.
Application Number | 20070208722 11/366882 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38472581 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070208722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dettinger; Richard Dean ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
Apparatus and method for modification of a saved database query
based on a change in the meaning of a query value over time
Abstract
An apparatus and method modify a saved query based on a change
in a query value meaning that changes over time. In preferred
embodiments a graphical query interface displays an option to
adjust query values of a saved database query. A query adjustment
mechanism then adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the
change in the meaning of the query value since the query was
created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic
meaning as when the query was originally created. Preferred
Embodiments allow the user to specify to adjust the query to the
current date or to a specified date in the past.
Inventors: |
Dettinger; Richard Dean;
(Rochester, MN) ; Kolz; Daniel Paul; (Rochester,
MN) ; Shim; Kyong Jin; (Minneapolis, MN) ;
Swanson; Alan Benjamin; (Pine Island, MN) ;
Wilkening; Marie Renee; (Medford, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARTIN & ASSOCIATES, LLC
P.O. BOX 548
CARTHAGE
MO
64836-0548
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
ARMONK
NY
|
Family ID: |
38472581 |
Appl. No.: |
11/366882 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 ;
707/999.004; 707/E17.066 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/3322
20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/004 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; a memory
coupled to the at least one processor; a database residing in the
memory; and a query adjustment mechanism residing in the memory and
executed by the at least one processor, the query adjustment
mechanism adjusting a time sensitive query based on a change in a
query value that has occurred over a period of time.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the query adjustment mechanism
is part of a graphical query interface that displays an option to
time adjust the time sensitive query, and in response to a user
selection, adjusting the time sensitive query based on a change in
a query value that has occurred over a period of time.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the query is adjusted by
adjusting a query value of the time sensitive query.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the query value is adjusted to
the product of an original query value and the historical value
returned by the query divided by a current value returned by the
query.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the query is done regarding
other query values in the query.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the query is done disregarding
other query values in the query.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the time sensitive query is a
stored query.
8. A computer-implemented method for a user to modify a query to a
database, the method comprising the steps of: displaying an option
to a user of the database to time adjust a query; and in response
to a user selection, modifying the query based on the change in a
meaning of a query value over time.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the query is modified by adjusting
the query value that has changed in meaning.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the query value is adjusted to
the product of an original query value and the historical value
returned by the query divided by a current value returned by the
query.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the query is done regarding
other query values in the query
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the query is done disregarding
other query values in the query.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the time sensitive query is a
stored query
14. A program product comprising: (A) a query adjustment mechanism
that adjusts a time sensitive query based on a change in a query
value that has occurred over a period of time; and (B)
computer-recordable signal bearing media bearing the graphical
query interface.
15. The program product of claim 14 wherein the query adjustment
mechanism is part of a graphical query interface that displays an
option to time adjust a time sensitive query, and in response to a
user selection, adjusts the time sensitive query based on a change
in a query value that has occurred over a period of time.
16. The program product of claim 14 wherein the query is adjusted
by adjusting a query value of the time sensitive query.
17. The program product of claim 16 wherein the query value is
adjusted to the product of an original query value and the
historical value returned by the query divided by a current value
returned by the query.
18. The program product of claim 14 wherein the query is done
regarding other query values in the query.
19. The program product of claim 14 wherein the query is done
disregarding other query values in the query.
20. The program product of claim 14 wherein the time sensitive
query is a stored query.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] This invention generally relates to computer database
systems, and more specifically relates to apparatus and methods for
modification of a saved query based on a change in the meaning of a
query value that changes with the passage of time.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Database systems have been developed that allow a computer
to store a large amount of information in a way that allows a user
to search for and retrieve specific information in the database.
For example, an insurance company may have a database that includes
all of its policy holders and their current account information,
including payment history, premium amount, policy number, policy
type, exclusions to coverage, etc. A database system allows the
insurance company to retrieve the account information for a single
policy holder among the thousands and perhaps millions of policy
holders in its database.
[0005] Retrieval of information from a database is typically done
using queries. A query usually specifies conditions that apply to
one or more columns of the database, and may specify relatively
complex logical operations on multiple columns. The database is
searched for records that satisfy the query, and those records that
satisfy the query are returned as the query result. A problem with
using queries to retrieve information from a database is that it
typically requires specialized knowledge of a query language, such
as Structured Query Language (SQL), as well as detailed knowledge
of the database and its relationships. User friendly query
interfaces are being developed to provide a graphical query
interface that allows a person that does not know SQL to construct
queries to a database. For example, IBM Corporation has developed
an object oriented framework known as a Data Discovery and Query
Builder (DDQB). This framework abstracts out the query layer from
the user and lets the user build queries using a graphical
interface.
[0006] Using a graphical query interface such as the DDQB, a user
can construct a query to extract desired information from the
database. The graphical query interface allows the user to store
the query for later use. However, after the passage of time, some
of the values used in the stored query may become outdated. So the
same query run in the future may not present the same relative
information to the user as was intended when the query was created
and saved. Parts of the query that have a time sensitive nature are
not taken into consideration for future use of the query.
[0007] Without a way to modify the saved query that has time
sensitive query values where the meaning of the query values change
over time, the computer database industry will continue to suffer
from the generation and storing of queries for future use that do
not remain useful as the meaning of the values change over
time.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0008] According to the preferred embodiments, an apparatus and
method modify a saved query based on a change in the meaning of a
query value that changes over time. In preferred embodiments a
graphical query interface displays an option to adjust query values
of a saved database query. A query adjustment mechanism then
adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the change in the
query value since the query was created such that the adjusted
query will have the same basic meaning as when the query was
originally created. Preferred embodiments allow the user to specify
to adjust the query to the current date or to a specified date in
the past.
[0009] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings,
where like designations denote like elements, and:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus in accordance with
the preferred embodiments;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a display of one sample screen in a known
graphical query interface;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a display of a sample screen in a known graphical
query interface that is displayed in response to the user selecting
the "Create a new query" link on the display in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a display of a sample screen in a known graphical
query interface that is displayed in response to the user selecting
the Add Condition button in the display of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a display of a sample screen in a known graphical
query interface that is displayed in response to the user selecting
the CurrentPrice button in the display of FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a display of a sample screen in a known graphical
query interface that is displayed once the user has selected the
"OK" button in the display of FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a display of a sample screen in a known graphical
query interface that is displayed in response to the user adding
other conditions in a similar manner as in the display of FIG. 2
through FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a display of a sample screen of a graphical query
interface according to preferred embodiments;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a display of a sample screen of a graphical query
interface according to preferred embodiments that is displayed once
the user has selected the "Time Adjust Query" button in the display
of FIG. 8;
[0020] FIG. 10 is a display of a sample screen of a graphical query
interface according to preferred embodiments that is displayed in
response to the user selecting the "CurrentPrice" button in FIG. 9;
and
[0021] FIG. 11 is a method flow diagram for a graphical query
interface according to preferred embodiments.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1.0 Overview
[0022] The present invention relates to database queries. For those
not familiar with databases or queries, this Overview section will
provide background information that will help to understand the
present invention.
Known Databases and Database Queries
[0023] There are many different types of databases known in the
art. The most common is known as a relational database (RDB), which
organizes data in tables that have rows that represent individual
entries or records in the database, and columns that define what is
stored in each entry or record.
[0024] To be useful, the data stored in databases must be able to
be efficiently retrieved. The most common way to retrieve data from
a database is to generate a database query. A database query is an
expression that is evaluated by a database manager. The expression
may contain one or more predicate expressions that are used to
retrieve data from a database. For example, lets assume there is a
database for a company that includes a table of employees, with
columns in the table that represent the employee's name, address,
phone number, gender, and salary. With data stored in this format,
a query could be formulated that would retrieve the records for all
female employees that have a salary greater than $40,000.
Similarly, a query could be formulated that would retrieve the
records for all employees that have a particular area code or
telephone prefix.
[0025] One popular way to define a query uses Structured Query
Language (SQL). SQL defines a syntax for generating and processing
queries that is independent of the actual structure and format of
the database. SQL is very powerful for those who have detailed
knowledge of SQL and who have detailed knowledge of the database
being queried. However, there are a growing number of circumstances
where people who do not have a detailed knowledge of SQL or the
database need to be able to query the database. As a result,
graphical query interfaces have been developed that help a user to
query a database even if the user does not know SQL and does not
know the detailed relationships in the database. For example, IBM
Corporation has developed an object oriented framework known as a
Data Discovery and Query Builder. This framework abstracts out the
query layer from the user and lets the user build queries using a
graphical interface. For example, medical researchers that perform
DNA mapping may need to access data in a very large database. A
graphical query interface could be defined that uses the Data
Discover and Query Builder framework that allows the researcher to
access information in the database without writing SQL queries and
without understanding many of the relationships in the
database.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, a display window 200 shows a graphical
query interface for a database called StocksDatabase. We assume for
this example that the user clicks on the "Create a new query" link.
In response, the display window 300 of FIG. 3 is displayed to the
user. Note that no conditions have been defined for the new query,
so the user clicks on the "Add Condition" button. In response, the
display window 400 of FIG. 4 is displayed to the user. We assume
for this example that the user selects the CurrentPrice Array by
clicking on the corresponding button, as shown in FIG. 4. In
response, the display window 500 is displayed to the user, allowing
the user to set a condition for the CurrentPrice. To set the
condition, the user is displayed the field "CurrentPrice" 510 and
allowed to set up the condition by selecting an operator 512 and a
value 514. In the illustrated example, the user selects the "<"
operator, types in "80" for the value 514. After the user then
clicks on the OK button in the display window 500 of FIG. 5, the
display window 600 of FIG. 6 is displayed to the user. Note that
the Conditions portion of the display window 600 now shows that the
user has created the condition "Current Price<80". We assume the
user now clicks on the Add Condition button, as shown in and adds
further conditions to the query to build the query as shown in FIG.
7
[0027] The query shown in FIG. 7 can be saved by the user for later
use. However, the query will not necessarily have the same meaning
to the user as the literal values of the query change over time.
For example, if at a later date the saved query shown in FIG. 7 is
executed, but the stock price has changed significantly in
comparison to the query value of 80, then the meaning of the query
as created by the user has been compromised. The described
embodiments below allow the user to autonomically adjust the query
values where the meaning of those query values change over
time.
2.0 Description of the Preferred Embodiments
[0028] The graphical query interface in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention provides a way to adjust the
query values where the meaning of the values change over time to
preserve the meaningfulness of a saved query.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system 100 is one suitable
implementation of an apparatus in accordance with the preferred
embodiments of the invention. Computer system 100 is an IBM eServer
iSeries computer system. However, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the mechanisms and apparatus of the present
invention apply equally to any computer system, regardless of
whether the computer system is a complicated multi-user computing
apparatus, a single user workstation, or an embedded control
system. As shown in FIG. 1, computer system 100 comprises a
processor 110, a main memory 120, a mass storage interface 130, a
display interface 140, and a network interface 150. These system
components are interconnected through the use of a system bus 160.
Mass storage interface 130 is used to connect mass storage devices,
such as a direct access storage device 155, to computer system 100.
One specific type of direct access storage device 155 is a readable
and writable CD RW drive, which may store data to and read data
from a CD RW 195.
[0030] Main memory 120 in accordance with the preferred embodiments
contains data 121, an operating system 122, a database 123, and a
graphical query interface 124. Data 121 represents any data that
serves as input to or output from any program in computer system
100. Operating system 122 is a multitasking operating system known
in the industry as i5/OS; however, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the spirit and scope of the present invention is
not limited to any one operating system. Database 123 is any
suitable database, whether currently known or developed in the
future. Database 123 preferably includes one or more tables.
Graphical query interface 124 provides an interface that helps the
user create and build a query that retains its value over time. The
graphical query interface 124 includes one or more time sensitive
queries 125 that are created by a user and have one or more time
adjusted query values 126. The graphical query interface 124 also
includes a query adjustment mechanism 127. This mechanism helps the
user to adjust the values of the time sensitive queries as
described further below.
[0031] Computer system 100 utilizes well known virtual addressing
mechanisms that allow the programs of computer system 100 to behave
as if they only have access to a large, single storage entity
instead of access to multiple, smaller storage entities such as
main memory 120 and DASD device 155. Therefore, while data 121,
operating system 122, database 123, and graphical query interface
124 are shown to reside in main memory 120, those skilled in the
art will recognize that these items are not necessarily all
completely contained in main memory 120 at the same time. It should
also be noted that the term "memory" is used herein to generically
refer to the entire virtual memory of computer system 100, and may
include the virtual memory of other computer systems coupled to
computer system 100.
[0032] Processor 110 may be constructed from one or more
microprocessors and/or integrated circuits. Processor 110 executes
program instructions stored in main memory 120. Main memory 120
stores programs and data that processor 110 may access. When
computer system 100 starts up, processor 110 initially executes the
program instructions that make up operating system 122. Operating
system 122 is a sophisticated program that manages the resources of
computer system 100. Some of these resources are processor 110,
main memory 120, mass storage interface 130, display interface 140,
network interface 150, and system bus 160.
[0033] Although computer system 100 is shown to contain only a
single processor and a single system bus, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that the present invention may be practiced using a
computer system that has multiple processors and/or multiple buses.
In addition, the interfaces that are used in the preferred
embodiment each include separate, fully programmed microprocessors
that are used to off-load compute-intensive processing from
processor 110. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the present invention applies equally to computer systems that
simply use I/O adapters to perform similar functions.
[0034] Display interface 140 is used to directly connect one or
more displays 165 to computer system 100. These displays 165, which
may be non-intelligent (i.e., dumb) terminals or fully programmable
workstations, are used to allow system administrators and users to
communicate with computer system 100. Note, however, that while
display interface 140 is provided to support communication with one
or more displays 165, computer system 100 does not necessarily
require a display 165, because all needed interaction with users
and other processes may occur via network interface 150.
[0035] Network interface 150 is used to connect other computer
systems and/or workstations (e.g., 175 in FIG. 1) to computer
system 100 across a network 170. The present invention applies
equally no matter how computer system 100 may be connected to other
computer systems and/or workstations, regardless of whether the
network connection 170 is made using present-day analog and/or
digital techniques or via some networking mechanism of the future.
In addition, many different network protocols can be used to
implement a network. These protocols are specialized computer
programs that allow computers to communicate across network 170.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is an
example of a suitable network protocol.
[0036] At this point, it is important to note that while the
present invention has been and will continue to be described in the
context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that the present invention is capable of being
distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that
the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular
type of computer-readable signal bearing media used to actually
carry out the distribution. Examples of suitable computer-readable
signal bearing media include: recordable type media such as floppy
disks and CD RW (e.g., 195 of FIG. 1), and transmission type media
such as digital and analog communications links. Note that the
preferred signal bearing media is tangible.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 8, additional details of the graphical
query interface 124 shown in FIG. 1 are described according to
preferred embodiments. The display window 800 represents a
graphical query interface 124 with the same query as described in
the above example with reference to FIGS. 2 through 7. In this
preferred embodiment, the graphical query interface 124 further
includes an option to time adjust a query. The user selects the
option to time adjust a query by clicking on the time adjust query
button 810 as shown. In response to the user's selection, the
graphical query interface 124 determines fields of time sensitive
queries 125 (FIG. 1) that can be adjusted and displays the window
900 as shown in FIG. 9. Fields that have values that can be
adjusted may include those query fields that have historical
information available in the database.
[0038] Again referring to FIG. 9, in the present example, the
current price 910 and the rating 920 are determined to be time
sensitive values that can be adjusted and are displayed in the
window 900. For this example, the user then selects the current
price 910 as shown and the graphical query interface 124 then
displays the window 1000 as shown in FIG. 10. The graphical query
interface 124 allows the user to adjust the selected query field
(CurrentPrice) to a given date 1010 or the current date 1020. If
the user selects the given date 1010, then the user is given the
option to enter a date (not shown) and then the query is modified
based on the change in the value to the entered date. If the user
selects adjust to current date 1020, then the query is modified
based on the change in the query value of the field "Current Price"
as described further below. In this example, the current price of
the stocks in the database are assumed to have changed in a
significant amount such that the original stored query as shown no
longer retains the same meaning as when it was created.
[0039] In preferred embodiments, when the query is modified based
on the change in a query value, it is the query value that is
adjusted to realize a modified query that provides a query with the
same basic meaning as when the query was originally created.
According to preferred embodiments, a query is modified by running
a query to get the historical data for the query and comparing that
historical data with the query value to determine a time adjusted
query value 126 (FIG. 1). For our example, the original query is
executed to gather historical data by running the query with the
date set to the time of the original query. In this Example, the
historical query would be as follows:
[0040] Select symbol, currentprice from StocksDatabase where
CurrentPrice<80 (1/1/2000) and rating>=4 and sector=tech
Next, a query would be executed to determine the current data for
the above query as follows:
[0041] Select symbol, currentprice from <StocksDatabase>
where symbol in (symbol list from the previous query)
[0042] The new value for the query is then determined by the
product of the original query value times the ratio of the current
data/historical data. A new query is then formulated with this new
query value by the query adjustment mechanism 127 (FIG. 1). In this
example, the original query value times the ratio of the current
data/historical data returns a query value of 62. The new query is
as follows:
[0043] Select symbol, currentprice from StocksDatabase where
CurrentPrice<62 (1/1/2000) and rating>=4 and sector=tech
[0044] When a query is modified according to the preferred
embodiments, the change in the query can be done with regard to
other query values or without regard to them. In the above example,
the query can be modified with regard to the stock rating or not
depending on the desired outcome. When the modification is done
with regard to the other query values, the other query values are
included in the query to gather historical data for comparison as
shown above. In contrast, when the modification is done without
regard to other query values, the other values are not included in
the query to gather historical data for the comparison.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 11, a method 1100 in accordance with the
preferred embodiments begins by displaying an option to the user to
time adjust database query values (step 1110). Upon selection of
the option in step 1110, the user is then presented with a
selection of query values that can be adjusted (step 1120). The
user then selects a database query value to adjust (step 1130) from
the query values in step 1120. The user is then presented with a
selection of the time frame for the database query value to be
adjusted (step 1140). The user then selects the time frame to
adjust the selected database query value (step 1150). The query is
then modified based on the change in the query value (step 1160)
depending on the time frame selected in step 1150. The method 1100
is then done.
[0046] As described above, an apparatus and method modify a saved
query based on a change in a query value that changes over time.
The query adjustment mechanism adjusts the value of the query to
compensate for the change in the query value since the query was
created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic
meaning as when the query was originally created. In this way, the
preferred embodiments overcome the staleness of saved queries in
the prior art so that generation and execution of queries remain
useful as the values of the query change over time.
[0047] One skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations
are possible within the scope of the present invention. Thus, while
the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that these and other changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. For example, while the preferred
embodiments have been shown with the query adjustment mechanism as
part of a graphical query interface, the claimed embodiments hereby
expressly include those embodiments where the query adjustment
mechanism is included in other software to provide the described
features.
* * * * *