Model entity operations in query results

A computer-readable medium containing a program, which when executed on a computer system performs an operation for accessing data stored in an underlying physical database, comprising:

• receiving a user request to perform a model entity operation that includes an indication of at least one instance of a model entity and a desired query operation, wherein the model entity is defined by a database abstraction model and defines the focus for a query operation, and wherein instances of the model entity are distinguished by an identifier in an underlying database;
• retrieving, in response to the request, a linking function configured to identify instances of the model entity that are related to the at least one instance of the model entity, according to a predefined relationship;
• and
• performing the model entity operation by:
• invoking the linking function to retrieve any related instances of the at least one instance of the model entity;
• executing the desired query operation against any retrieved instances of the model entity, and;
• returning instances of the model entity identified using the linking function that satisfy any conditions specified by the query operation.

A system, comprising,

• a physical database;
• a database abstraction model of the data stored in the physical database that defines (i) a plurality of logical fields that each specify an access method for accessing data in the physical database, (ii) a model entity that specifies an identifier in the physical database used to distinguish instances of the model entity, and (iii) at least one linking function configured to identify related instances of the model entity from an instance of the model entity input to the linking function;
• a runtime component configured to receive an abstract query composed from the plurality of logical fields, and in response, and further configured to generate and execute a resolved query of the underlying physical database, thereby retrieving an initial query result, and further configured to receive a request to perform a model entity operation for at least one instance of the model entity included in the initial query result, wherein the runtime component performs the model entity operation by executing the at least one linking function using the at least one instance of the model entity as input to the linking function;
• and
• a query building interface for composing the abstract query from the plurality of logical fields, wherein the interface is configured to display the initial query result to a user, and further configured to generate the request to perform a model entity operation.