Apparatus and method for modification of a saved database query based on a change in the meaning of a query value over time

Abstract

An apparatus and method modify a saved query based on a change in a query value meaning that changes over time. In preferred embodiments a graphical query interface displays an option to adjust query values of a saved database query. A query adjustment mechanism then adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the change in the meaning of the query value since the query was created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic meaning as when the query was originally created. Preferred Embodiments allow the user to specify to adjust the query to the current date or to a specified date in the past.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 at least one processor;    a memory coupled to the at least one processor;    a database residing in the memory; and    a query adjustment mechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the query adjustment mechanism adjusting a time sensitive query based on a change in a query value that has occurred over a period of time.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the query adjustment mechanism is part of a graphical query interface that displays an option to time adjust the time sensitive query, and in response to a user selection, adjusting the time sensitive query based on a change in a query value that has occurred over a period of time.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the query is adjusted by adjusting a query value of the time sensitive query.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the query value is adjusted to the product of an original query value and the historical value returned by the query divided by a current value returned by the query.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the query is done regarding other query values in the query.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the query is done disregarding other query values in the query.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the time sensitive query is a stored query.  
   
   
       8 . A computer-implemented method for a user to modify a query to a database, the method comprising the steps of: 
 displaying an option to a user of the database to time adjust a query; and    in response to a user selection, modifying the query based on the change in a meaning of a query value over time.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the query is modified by adjusting the query value that has changed in meaning.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the query value is adjusted to the product of an original query value and the historical value returned by the query divided by a current value returned by the query.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the query is done regarding other query values in the query  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the query is done disregarding other query values in the query.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the time sensitive query is a stored query  
   
   
       14 . A program product comprising: 
 (A) a query adjustment mechanism that adjusts a time sensitive query based on a change in a query value that has occurred over a period of time; and    (B) computer-recordable signal bearing media bearing the graphical query interface.    
   
   
       15 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the query adjustment mechanism is part of a graphical query interface that displays an option to time adjust a time sensitive query, and in response to a user selection, adjusts the time sensitive query based on a change in a query value that has occurred over a period of time.  
   
   
       16 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the query is adjusted by adjusting a query value of the time sensitive query.  
   
   
       17 . The program product of  claim 16  wherein the query value is adjusted to the product of an original query value and the historical value returned by the query divided by a current value returned by the query.  
   
   
       18 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the query is done regarding other query values in the query.  
   
   
       19 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the query is done disregarding other query values in the query.  
   
   
       20 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the time sensitive query is a stored query.