Method of providing data dictionary-driven web-based database applications

Abstract

A method for creating a web-based database application that is data dictionary driven is disclosed. A web site, containing various computer programs, data for a database application and a data dictionary describing both the structure of an application database and the requirements for the database application, creates web pages for facilitating the execution of a database application over the internet. The method comprises the steps of creating, updating and maintaining an on-line data dictionary, and creating and initially populating a database for the application. The various programs at the web site create web pages for the application, update the data dictionary and facilitate modification of the data structure for the application. The data dictionary may be initialized: from electronic data uploaded to the web site; from the data-dictionary records describing an existing web-based application; or directly by the user via a web interface. The resulting application allows the user to enter information, view information, select the records to be viewed, and make changes to the application such as form captions, fields displayed, colors used, database structure, and other contents of the data dictionary.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A method for providing a network-based database system comprising: 
 receiving at least information regarding the structure and/or organization of a plurality of data items relating to an application;    storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items;    building and/or updating and/or running said application based at least on said information regarding the structure and/or organization of the data items, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page; and    permitting a user to provide at least a portion of said data items by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of the data items on said non-static application page.    
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said plurality of data items is in a format selected from the group consisting of: a text file, a binary file, a comma-delimited file, a Microsoft Access file, a FoxPro file, a dBase file, a Paradox file, a SQL server file, an Oracle file, a database application file, a Microsoft Excel file, a spreadsheet file, an HTML file, a schema file for a relational database, and a word processor file.  
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said plurality of data items is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising permitting a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising transmitting said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       25 . A network-based database system comprising: 
 a network interface adapted to receive at least information regarding the structure and/or organization of a plurality of data items;    an engine for storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items; and    an engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application based at least on said information regarding the structure and/or organization of the data items, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page;    wherein said database system is adapted to permit a user to provide at least a portion of said data items by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser; and    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of the data items on said non-static application page.    
   
   
       26 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said plurality of data items is in a format selected from the group consisting of: a text file, a binary file, a comma-delimited file, a Microsoft Access file, a FoxPro file, a dBase file, a Paradox file, a SQL server file, an Oracle file, a database application file, a Microsoft Excel file, a spreadsheet file, an HTML file, a schema file for a relational database, and a word processor file.  
   
   
       27 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       28 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said plurality of data items is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       29 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said database system is further adapted to permit a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       30 . A system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said database system is further adapted to transmit said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       31 . A network-based database system comprising: 
 a network interface adapted to receive application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains both data items and information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items;    an engine for building and/or updating a data dictionary based, at least, on the data items of said application data received via said network interface;    an engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page; and    storage for said received application data, said data dictionary, and said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application employs information in said data dictionary and at least a portion of the data items of said application data to build and/or update and/or run said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    wherein said database system is adapted to permit a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       32 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of said application data is in a format selected from the group consisting of: a text file, a binary file, a comma-delimited file, a Microsoft Access file, a FoxPro file, a dBase file, a Paradox file, a SQL server file, an Oracle file, a database application file, a Microsoft Excel file, a spreadsheet file, an HTML file, a schema file for a relational database, and a word processor file.  
   
   
       33 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       34 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein at least a portion of said application data is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       35 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said database system is further adapted to permit a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       36 . A system as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said database system is further adapted to transmit said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       37 . A method for providing a network-based database system comprising: 
 receiving application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains both data items and information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items;    building and/or updating a data dictionary based, at least, on the data items of said application data; and    building and/or updating and/or running said application based on information in said data dictionary and at least a portion of the data items of said application data, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    further comprising permitting a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of said application data is in a format selected from the group consisting of: a text file, a binary file, a comma-delimited file, a Microsoft Access file, a FoxPro file, a dBase file, a Paradox file, a SQL server file, an Oracle file, a database application file, a Microsoft Excel file, a spreadsheet file, an HTML file, a schema file for a relational database, and a word processor file.  
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       40 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of said application data is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       41 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising permitting a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , further comprising transmitting said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       43 . A method for providing a network-based database system comprising: 
 receiving application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains data items and does not contain information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items;    determining and storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items of said application data; and    building and/or updating and/or running said application based on the determined structure and/or organization of the data items stored in said data dictionary and at least a portion of said data items, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    further comprising permitting a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       44 . A network-based database system comprising: 
 a network interface adapted to receive application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains data items and does not contain information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items;    an engine for determining and storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items of said application data received via said network interface;    an engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page; and    storage for said received application data and said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application employs said determined structure and/or organization of the data items stored in said data dictionary and at least a portion of the data items of said application data to build and/or update and/or run said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    wherein said database system is adapted to permit a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       45 . A method for providing a network-based database system comprising: 
 receiving application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains at least data items;    if said application data further contains structure and/or organization information of said data items, building and/or updating a data dictionary based on said application data and said structure and/or organization information of said items;    if said application data does not contain structure and/or organization information of said data items, building and/or updating a data dictionary by determining the structure and/or organization information of said data items of said application data;    building and/or updating and/or running said application based on information in said data dictionary and at least a portion of said application data, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    further comprising permitting a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       46 . A network-based database system comprising: 
 a network interface adapted to receive, via a network, application data relating to an application, wherein said application data contains at least data items;    an engine for building and/or updating a data dictionary based on structure and/or organization information of said data items received via said network interface;    an engine for building and/or updating a data dictionary by determining the structure and/or organization information of said data items of said application data, if said application data does not contain structure and/or organization information of said data items;    an engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page; and    storage for said received data items of said application data, said data dictionary, and said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application employs information in said data dictionary and at least a portion of said application data to build and/or update and/or run said at least one non-static application page;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of said data items on said non-static application page; and    wherein said database system is adapted to permit a user to provide at least a portion of said application data by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser.    
   
   
       47 . A method for permitting a user to create an application, said method comprising: 
 permitting a user to select an application template from among a plurality of application templates, each said application template prepopulated with information regarding the structure and/or organization of a plurality of data items relating to a respective application;    storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items corresponding to said selected application template; and    building and/or updating and/or running said application based on the structure and/or organization of the data items, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page; and    permitting a user to provide at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser;    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of the data items on said non-static application page.    
   
   
       48 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       49 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       50 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising permitting a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       51 . A method as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising transmitting said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       52 . A network-based application creation system comprising: 
 an engine for permitting a user to select an application template from among a plurality of application templates, each said application template prepopulated with information regarding the structure and/or organization of a plurality of data items relating to an application;    an engine for storing in a data dictionary the structure and/or organization of the data items corresponding to said selected application template; and    an engine for building and/or updating and/or running said application based on the structure and/or organization of the data items, wherein said application comprises at least one non-static application page;    wherein said database system is adapted to permit a user to provide at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: uploading, emailing, or providing a file on a network, creating an application from a template, entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a network-based computer application, and entering structure and/or organization information of the data items on a form in a web browser; and    wherein said data dictionary contains at least information regarding the presentation of the data items on said non-static application page.    
   
   
       53 . A system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein at least one said non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       54 . A system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein at least a portion of said data items and/or said information regarding the structure and/or organization of said data items is received via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       55 . A system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein said database system is further adapted to permit a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       56 . A system as claimed in  claim 52 , wherein said database system is further adapted to transmit said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       57 . A method for permitting a user to create an application comprising: 
 permitting a user to select an application template from among a plurality of application templates, each said application template comprising at least one non-static application page residing in an original location;    copying said at least one non-static application page from said original location to a new directory associated with the application; and    executing the copy of said at least non-static application page from said new directory.    
   
   
       58 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising creating a database for storing data items relating to the copy of said at least non-static application page.  
   
   
       59 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the copy of said at least one non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       60 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein said execution of the copy of said at least non-static application page is performed via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       61 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising permitting a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of the copy of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       62 . A method as claimed in  claim 57 , further comprising transmitting the copy of said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.  
   
   
       63 . A network-based application creation system comprising: 
 an engine for permitting a user to select an application template from among a plurality of application templates, each said application template comprising at least one non-static application page residing in an original location;    an engine for copying said at least one non-static application page from said original location to a new directory associated with the application; and    an engine for executing the copy of said at least one non-static application page from said new directory.    
   
   
       64 . A system as claimed in  claim 63 , further comprising an engine for creating a database for storing data items relating to the copy of said at least non-static application page.  
   
   
       65 . A method as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein the copy of said at least one non-static application page comprises and/or generates text and/or data in at least one format selected from the group consisting of: SGML, HTML, XML, programming code, Java, plain text, font data, color data, and graphic file data.  
   
   
       66 . A method as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein said execution of the copy of said at least non-static application page is performed via the Internet, a local area network, or a wide area network, and/or through a web browser or a network-based computer application.  
   
   
       67 . A method as claimed in  claim 63 , further comprising an engine for permitting a user using a web browser or a network-based computer application to effect the creation, modification, and/or deletion of the copy of said at least one non-static application page.  
   
   
       68 . A method as claimed in  claim 63 , further comprising an engine for transmitting the copy of said at least one non-static application page to an end user for display and/or download and/or execution.