Patent · US Expired

System and method for browsing database schema information

US6571232B1 · kind B1 · utility

71Cited by
23References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 1, 1999
Grant dateMay 27, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 1, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99944
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A query object generator tool which generates interface definitions and code that implement a query object also generates a database schema access query object that retrieves the schema of an underlying database. Instead of retrieving data from the database, the database schema access query object retrieves “metadata”, including the names of tables and stored procedures in the database and their descriptions, from the database. The metadata is then displayed as part of a graphic user interface which is used to construct the SQL query implemented by the query object. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the database schema access object also verifies that an SQL query generated by a user is valid by submitting the query to the database engine of the underlying database. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the database schema access object contains methods which perform automatic mapping of “standard” SQL data types to vendor-specific data.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.