Database programs for handheld devices

A method of providing a handheld device with access to a database, said method comprising:

• receiving a request from a handheld device to access a database capable of having one or more records stored therein;
• forwarding said request to a remote interface of a database program, wherein said database program is capable of accessing said one or more records in said database;
• determining, by said remote interface of said database program, whether said request should be granted to said handheld device;
• automatically determining, by said remote interface of said database program, based on said request, one or more functions that should be made available on said handheld device, without requiring further input, when said determining determines that said request should be granted, wherein said one or more functions represent one or more operations that can be requested by said handheld device to be performed on said database;
• causing to display a representation of said one or more functions on said handheld device;
• receiving a user selection that selects one of said one or more displayed functions;
• accessing, by said remote interface, said database to obtain data stored in said database which is associated with said user selection, in response to said user selection;
• determining whether said accessed data should be converted between a first and a second format, wherein said first format is associated with presentation of data on said handheld device and said second format is associated with data stored in said database;
• converting, by said remote interface, said data between said first and second format when said determining determines that said data should be converted;
• and
• displaying information relating to said database on said handheld device.

A computer readable medium including computer program code for a database system, said database system comprising:

• computer program code for a database capable of having one or more records stored therein;
• computer program code for a database program capable of accessing said database;
• and
• computer program code for a remote interface for said database program capable of communicating with a handheld device and said database program, thereby allowing said handheld device to access said database;
• wherein said database system is capable of:
• receiving a request from a handheld device to access a database capable of having one or more records stored therein;
• forwarding said request to said remote interface of said database program, wherein said database program is capable of accessing said one or more records in said database;
• determining whether said request should be granted to said hand held device;
• automatically determining, based on said request, one or more functions to be made available on said handheld device, without requiring further input, when said determining determines that said request should be granted, wherein said one or more functions represent one or more operations that can be requested by said handheld device to be performed on said database;
• forwarding a representation of said one or more functions for displaying on said handheld device;
• receiving a user selection that selects one of said one or more displayed functions;
• obtaining data stored in said database which is associated with said user selection in response to said user selection;
• determining whether said obtained data should be converted between a first and a second format, wherein said first format is associated with presentation of data on said handheld device and said second format is associated with data stored in said database;
• and
• converting said obtained data between said first and second format when said determining determines that said data should be converted.

A system for accessing a database from local and remote computing devices, said system comprising:

• a database capable of storing records of data;
• a database application utilizing said database, said database application having a first graphical user interface designed for use on a local computing device;
• and
• an interface conversion unit coupled to said database application, said interface conversion unit operating to produce a second graphical user interface designed for use on said remote computing device, said second graphical user interface being based on the first graphical user interface, and providing at least a subset of said first graphical user interface;
• and
• wherein said interface conversion unit is further capable of:
• receiving a request from said remote computing device to access a database capable of having one or more records stored therein;
• determining whether said request should be granted to said remote computing device;
• automatically determining one or more functions that should be made available on said remote computing device without requiring further input when said determining determines that said request should be granted, wherein said one or more functions represent one or more operations that can be requested by said remote computing device to be performed on said database;
• forwarding a representation of said one or more functions for displaying on said remote computing device;
• receiving a user selection that selects one of said one or more displayed functions;
• obtaining data stored in said database which is associated with said user selection in response to said user selection;
• determining whether said obtained data should be converted between a first and a second format, wherein said first format is associated with presentation of data on said remote computing device and said second format is associated with data stored in said database;
• and
• converting data between said first and second format when said determining determines that said obtained data should be converted.