System and method for generating automatic user interface for arbitrarily complex or large databases

摘要

A software system automatically and dynamically generates a fully functional user interface (UI) based upon, and connected directly to, an underlying data model (as instantiated within a relational database management system (RDBMS)). The UI derives from an automated interrogation of the RDBMS, and comprises all mode displays (e.g., browse, search, edit, add) for all tables, and a full complement of mechanisms—integrated directly into the mode displays—for representing, navigating, and managing relationships across tables, regardless of the complexity of the underlying RDBMS schema. It utilizes a hierarchical “context stack” for suspending the working state of a particular table while “drilling down” to work with related-table information and return relevant changes to the base table. The embodiment further provides methods to enhance and extend the internal representation of table structures, constraints, relationships, and—special requirements (“business rules”) for improved revelation of the schema structure through external interrogation.

主权项

1. A method for managing state within an end-user interface for working with the data within a relational database, the end-user interface operating under control of a processor, the relational database comprising a plurality of tables, constraints and relationships and also operating under control of a processor, said method comprising providing a hierarchical context stack for suspending the working state of a primary table within the relational database while drilling-down across a relationship to work with related information in a subordinate table within the relational database, wherein the relational database may be any arbitrary relational database, and said method is effective regardless of the size or complexity of the database, wherein said method is applied recursively, so that the working state of the subordinate table is suspended while drilling-down across a further relationship to work with related information in a further-subordinated table, wherein said method further comprises imposing (as necessary) within the hierarchical context stack a constraining working context on the further-subordinated table, so as to reveal and enforce any relational interdependency between the subordinate and further-subordinated tables.