Search around visual queries

摘要

A method and apparatus for a data analysis system for analyzing data object collections is provided. The data analysis system includes one or more graphical user interfaces comprising various interface elements that enable users to create visual queries. A visual query is constructed as a graph representing a pattern of interest in a collection of data objects. A visual query may include one or more graph elements and property information associated with the specified graph elements. After a user has constructed a visual query, the system may transform the visual query into a query template. A query engine may then execute the query template to search a data object collection for data object results corresponding to the specified pattern. The search for instances of a specified pattern in a collection of data objects is referred herein to as a “search around.”

主权项

1. A method comprising:
displaying, via a graphical user interface, a graph comprising one or more graph nodes and one or more graph edges, receiving input selecting a particular graph edge of the one or more graph edges, wherein the particular graph edge links a first graph node representing a first data object type and a second graph node representing a second data object type; using one or more computing devices, in response to receiving the input selecting the particular graph edge of the one or more graph edges, generating a list of one or more selectable data object link types; wherein generating the list of the one or more selectable data object link types comprises: searching for all instances of a data object pattern in a stored data object collection, the data object pattern including a first data object of the first data object type, a second data object of the second data object type, and one or more data object pattern links; determining one or more data object link types of the one or more data object pattern links; and populating the list of the one or more selectable data object link types with the one or more data object link types of the one or more data object pattern links; causing displaying the list of one or more selectable data object link types wherein the one or more selectable data object link types correspond to the one or more data object link types of the one or more data object pattern links; receiving a selection of a particular data object link type of the one or more selectable data object link types; receiving input specifying an association between the particular graph edge and a link strength value; receiving input via the graphical user interface specifying an association between one or more of the one or more graph edges and an object intermediary; transforming the graph to display the first data object type, the second data object type, the particular data object link type, the object intermediary, and the link strength value; transforming the graph into a textual representation of the graph, based at least in part on the one or more of the one or more graph edges; wherein the textual representation of the graph comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file including one or more XML elements each representing data object types and data object links of one or more graph elements of the graph; causing execution, by a database server computer, of one or more database queries based on the textual representation of the graph.