Database Abstraction Layer for Non-Programmer Data Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The creation and maintenance of databases are complex and require specialized knowledge, limiting the number of users who can benefit from their power, and traditional databases are difficult to interact with due to vendor-specific implementations and the need for programming skills to create custom client applications.
Innovation Solution
A database management system with a database abstraction layer that hides vendor-specific complexities, allowing end users to create, edit, and maintain databases and user interfaces without specialized knowledge, using a web access layer for easy data access and collaboration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional databases are used with vendor-specific implementations, then database functionality is provided, but the complexity increases and requires specialized knowledge to create and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a database abstraction layer as an intermediary between the user and the underlying database system. This abstraction layer handles vendor-specific implementation details and translates user-friendly database operations into the appropriate vendor-specific commands, thereby reducing the complexity perceived by the user while maintaining full database functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The database management system is designed to work with multiple different underlying database architectures through a single unified interface. The system provides universal database operations that can be performed regardless of the specific vendor or database type, making the system adaptable to various database implementations without requiring users to learn different interfaces.
2Ease of operation
If custom client applications are created to interact with databases, then meaningful user interaction is achieved, but programming skills are required and development time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables end users to create their own database applications without requiring programming skills. Users can define database tables, fields, and relationships through a graphical interface, and the system automatically generates the necessary client applications and web pages for data entry, browsing, and searching, making the system self-serve the needs of non-programming users.
Solution Approach 2:
The database management system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating client applications and web interfaces based on the database schema defined by the user. Instead of requiring users to manually create applications from scratch, the system pre-generates the necessary code and interfaces, significantly reducing development time and effort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If web pages are created to access database data, then web-based access is enabled, but web developer skills are required to format and display data
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to create web pages for database access without requiring web development skills. Users can specify the data they want to display and the format they prefer, and the system automatically generates the HTML pages and CSS styling, eliminating the need for users to write code while still producing professional-looking web interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses templates as copies of professionally designed web pages. Users can select from pre-defined templates that provide the necessary HTML structure and styling, or modify existing templates to suit their specific needs. This approach allows users to create web pages quickly without needing to design them from scratch, while still achieving the desired adaptability.
4Reliability
If specialized engineers create and maintain databases, then database functionality is optimized, but the number of qualified users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The database abstraction layer serves as an intermediary that translates simple user operations into complex database operations. This allows end users to perform powerful database tasks such as creating tables, defining relationships, and querying data without needing to understand the underlying complexity or vendor-specific syntax, thereby expanding the number of qualified users while maintaining reliable database functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of database interaction from low-level technical parameters (vendor-specific commands, data types, indexing) to high-level conceptual parameters (table names, field labels, search criteria). This parameter transformation allows users to work with databases using intuitive, business-oriented terminology while the system handles the technical complexities in the background.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for allowing end users to create a database and a user interface to interact with database data are provided. The database management system provides a database abstraction layer that hides the complexities of a database and vendor-specific implementation details from the end user, while still allowing the end user to perform powerful database tasks. The database management system allows an end user with little or no knowledge about databases to create, edit, and maintain a database without understanding the details behind the database. The database management system also provides a facility for the easy creation of web pages to access the database to provide features such as searching, data entry, and browsing data stored in the database.