System and method for managing database information

{
  "publication_number": "US6493717B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "System and method for managing database information",
  "abstract": "A system and method is provided for managing database information to be presented in HTML format for retrieval and display by a Web browser. Database information is managed by responding to a user selection delivered by browser software by retrieving the contents of portions of a database and constructing an HTML-compatible presentation of the contents in accordance with definitions that hierarchically link the portions separately from any database-provided links between the portions.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method comprising: in accordance with a definition that hierarchically links portions of a database independently of any database-provided links between the portions, applying HTML-compatible form-based information delivered via browser software to update the contents of the portions.",
    "2. A method comprising: in accordance with a definition that hierarchically links portions of a database independently of any database-provided links between the portions, applying HTML-compatible form-based information delivered via browser software to update the contents of the portions.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to an HTTP request from the browser software, dynamically tracing an interrelated path between divergent data sources.",
    "4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining, from at least one argument supplied in the request, a currently active data source.",
    "5. The method of claim 4, wherein the currently active data source is identified with a node source.",
    "6. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining, from at least one argument supplied in the request, at least one record within a node source.",
    "7. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining, from at least one argument supplied in the request, an active record within a parent node data source.",
    "8. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determining, from at least one argument supplied in the request, a branch mode that limits the tracing.",
    "9. The method of claim 3, further comprising: recursively restoring each successively related ascending data source starting from an entry node.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: using metadata from each successively restored node to create each branch of the hierarchy.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: traversing a hierarchical path via a non-recursive node, the path being known prior to run-time and having a finite number of hierarchical relationships.",
    "12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: traversing a hierarchical path via a recursive node, the path being known only at run time and dependant on real-time data access and containing an undetermined number of hierarchical relationships.",
    "13. The method of claim 3, further comprising: restricting the path of a hierarchically linked set of data sources by ending at a selected location.",
    "14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: ending the tracing at a target data source located anywhere within the hierarchy.",
    "15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: based on an argument in the request, controlling the location of a branch in the path.",
    "16. The method of claim 15, wherein the argument indicates a node being branched upon.",
    "17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: based on an argument in the request, limiting a recursive data source containing itself as a parent data source, the argument representing the key of the active record being branched upon within the hierarchical path.",
    "18. The method of claim 3, further comprising: deriving a display from a set of hierarchically linked data sources and the corresponding data within in a predetermined universal format.",
    "19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: providing a set of predetermined HTML user interfaces for user database activities including search, navigation, and editing, the set being generated by reusable program procedures.",
    "20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: deriving a universal display procedure for multiple records of data of a data source from a single program routine, the display providing access to search, filter, navigation, list, export, and report features.",
    "21. The method of claim 18, further comprising: deriving a universal display procedure for a single record of data of a data source from a single program routine, the display providing access to detail and edit features.",
    "22. The method of claim 1, further comprising: applying a reusable HTML-based service to reduce resources consumed in providing a Web application that relies on the database.",
    "23. The method of claim 1, further comprising: using a pre-built application framework to interact with the database, the framework having reusable HTML components; and using the reusable HTML components in multiple applications for display and interaction; wherein each application has corresponding configuration settings that define an execution path to be taken at runtime, excepting custom event functions that extend the framework.",
    "24. The method of claim 1, further comprising: by a centralized definition data model for storing metadata, allowing extension of an application interacting with the database without changing an existing application structure; wherein the metadata is stored in a distributed arrangement and an update to the centralized data model provides a new feature in the distributed arrangement.",
    "25. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a configured hierarchical selection tool for selecting predefined values in data entry.",
    "26. Computer software, residing on a computer-readable storage medium, comprising a set of instructions for use in a computer system, the instructions causing the system to: in accordance with a definition that hierarchically links portions of a database independently of any database-provided links between the portions, apply HTML-compatible form-based information delivered via browser software to update the contents of the portions.",
    "27. A system comprising: an applier applying, in accordance with a definition that hierarchically links portions of a database independently of any database-provided links between the portions, HTML-compatible form-based information delivered via browser software to update the contents of the portions."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "A Source Code Appendix containing computer source code is attached and is incorporated herein. The Source Code Appendix comprises 261 frames on 3 sheets of microfiche.\n\nA portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.\n\nThe present invention relates to systems and methods for managing database information. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems and methods for managing database information to be presented in hypertext format.\n\nPresent day database systems are known to be used for storing information for many purposes. For example, retail stores use database systems to store inventory and pricing information, and airlines use these systems to store flight and passenger information. Information in a database system typically is stored in such a way that it may be readily retrieved and displayed on a computer display screen. The format in which it is displayed generally is determined by the application software running on a local computer. This application software interacts with the database system, which actually may be located across a computer network, to retrieve the pieces of information that are to be displayed on the display screen, and then appropriately composes the information so that it may be displayed in a desired way on the display screen.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 16/972",
    "Y10S 707/92",
    "Y10S 707/956",
    "Y10S 707/966",
    "Y10S 707/99934",
    "Y10S 707/99943"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 17/30"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Datafree Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Joseph R. Junkin"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1999-06-16",
  "publication_date": "2002-12-10",
  "grant_date": "2002-12-10",
  "priority_date": "1998-06-16",
  "application_number": "US-33410699-A",
  "family_id": "26780638",
  "cited_by_count": 162,
  "citations": [
    "US6233620B1",
    "US6230168B1",
    "US6185553B1",
    "US6182085B1"
  ]
}