Method and system for displaying related information from a database

Abstract

A technique for displaying information from related tables of a database in different display windows on a display screen associated with a computer system is disclosed. The different display windows are interlinked such that a selection of one or more entries in one of the display windows causes the other of the display windows to distinguishably and orderly display those entries that are related to the selection. A graphical user interface (GUI) in which a main screen is produced having the interlinked display windows is also disclosed.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation application of prior application Ser. No. 08 / 732,705 filed on Oct. 18, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,926,806 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0002]A 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.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates to a computer system having a database and, more particularly, to a method and system for displaying related information from a database to a computer system user.[0005]2. Description of the Related Art[0006]Application programs conventionally operate to present data to users in windows on a computer screen. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a technique for displaying information from related tables of a database in different display windows on a display system. The different display windows are interlinked such that a selection of one or more entries in one of the display windows causes the other display windows to visually distinguish the related entries. The invention provides a graphical user interface for displaying data on a computer screen in a more efficient and effective way, making it easier for users to review related information.

Problems solved by technology

However, the manual generation of queries is not only burdensome but also typically restricted to particular tables of the database.

Therefore, the need to use separate queries is very detrimental to one's ability to retrieve and view related information across different tables in the database.

Although conventional operations will return to the user the records (e.g., invoices) that meet these limitations, there is no way of obtaining or simultaneously displaying the other information (e.g., product and customer information) from the database (namely in other tables) that is related to the invoices identified without having to specifically request the information using these conventional operations.

According to these conventional techniques, the user is not able to readily retrieve the desired related information on products or customers for the identified invoices because such information is not in the invoice category.

These deficiencies makes it very difficult or impossible to retrieve and display the desired related information.

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