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US 7,584,200 B2Granted
Graphical database navigator with relation level control
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorMichael Donald Pfeifer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Graphical maps of databases and related objects within a database have benefits for a database administrator. Instead of displaying all objects related to a node of interest, a user can select what maximum relation level to use to locate related objects. The mapping software starts at the initial node, or objects, and locates only those related objects that are within the maximum relation level as specified by the user. Only these located objects are displayed thereby producing a clearer and more concise map.
Claims22
A method for graphically mapping objects in a database comprising the steps of:
- identifying an object of focus within the database;
- locating a set of related objects satisfying a maximum relation level and excluding from the set of related objects those objects that are related to the object of focus but that are beyond the maximum relation level;
- and
- graphically mapping the set of related objects, including generating a display of a database map in which the related objects in the set of related objects are included in the display while related objects that are beyond the maximum relation level are excluded from the display,
- wherein the object of focus is related to first and second related objects,
- wherein the first related object is within the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus,
- wherein the second related object is beyond the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus, and
- wherein generating the display of the database map includes including the first related object in the display but excluding the second related object from the display.
5 more elements
A method for graphically mapping objects in a database comprising the steps of:
- a) identifying an object of focus within the database;
- b) iteratively identifying a set of related objects which are within a relation level of one relative to one or more previously identified objects;
- c) repeating step b) for a predetermined number of times associated with a maximum number of relation levels;
- and
- d) graphically mapping the identified related objects in a database map, including generating a display of the database map in which the identified related objects are included in the display, wherein at least one related object that is beyond the maximum number of relation levels is excluded from the database map,
- wherein the one or more previously identified objects is related to first and second related objects,
- wherein the first related object is within the maximum number of relation levels relative to the one or more previously identified objects,
- wherein the second related object is beyond the maximum number of relation levels relative to the one or more previously identified objects, and
- wherein the at least one related object that is beyond the maximum number of relation levels includes the second related object.
6 more elements
An apparatus for graphically displaying database objects, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
- a memory coupled with the at least one processor;
- and
- a program code residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the program code configured to:
- identify an object of focus within the database;
- locate a set of related objects satisfying a maximum relation level and exclude from the set of related objects those objects that are related to the object of focus but that are beyond the maximum relation level;
- and
- graphically map the set of related objects, including generating a display of a database map in which the related objects in the set of related objects are included in the display while related objects that are beyond the maximum relation level are excluded from the display,
- wherein the object of focus is related to first and second related objects,
- wherein the first related object is within the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus,
- wherein the second related object is beyond the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus, and
- wherein generating the display of the database map includes including the first related object in the display but excluding the second related object from the display.
9 more elements
A program product for graphically mapping database objects, comprising:
- program code configured upon execution thereof to:
- identify an object of focus within the database;
- locate a set of related objects satisfying a maximum relation level and exclude from the set of related objects those objects that are related to the object of focus but that are beyond the maximum relation level;
- and
- graphically map the set of related objects, including generating a display of a database map in which the related objects in the set of related objects are included in the display while related objects that are beyond the maximum relation level are excluded from the display,
- wherein the object of focus is related to first and second related objects,
- wherein the first related object is within the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus,
- wherein the second related object is beyond the maximum relation level relative to the object of focus, and
- wherein generating the display of the database map includes including the first related object in the display but excluding the second related object from the display;
- and
- a recordable computer readable medium bearing the program code.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.