Specifying and applying rules to data

Abstract

Validation rules are specified for validating data included in fields of elements of a dataset. Cells are rendered in a two-dimensional grid that includes: one or more subsets of the cells extending in a direction along a first axis, each associated with a respective field, and multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along a second axis, one or more of the subsets associated with a respective validation rule. Validation rules are applied to at least one element based on user input received from at least some of the cells. Some cells, associated with a field and a validation rule, can each include: an input element for receiving input determining whether or not the associated validation rule is applied to the associated field, and/or an indicator for indicating feedback associated with a validation result based on applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field.

1 . A computing system for specifying a plurality of validation rules for validating data included in a plurality of fields of each element of a plurality of elements of a dataset, the computing system including:
 a user interface module configured to render a plurality of cells arranged in a multi-dimensional interface having a first axis and a second axis, the multi-dimensional interface including
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective field of the plurality of fields, and 
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective validation rule of the plurality of validation rules; and 
   a processing module, including at least one processor, configured to apply selected validation rules to data in selected fields of at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells;   wherein, for at least a first subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a first validation rule for which no configuration is needed, each cell in the first subset includes an input element for receiving a confirmation input that confirms whether or not the first validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell; and   wherein, for at least a second subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a second validation rule for which configuration is needed, each cell in the second subset includes an input element for receiving a configuration input that both (1) configures second validation rule for the field associated with that cell, and (2) confirms whether or not, by the presence or absence of that configuration input, the second validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein applying selected validation rules to data included in a first field of a first element includes:
 determining any selected validation rules associated with cells from a subset of cells extending in the direction along the first axis associated with the first field of the first element, based on any input received in the input elements of the cells; and   determining validation results for the data included in the first field of the first element based on the selected validation rules.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis are rows of cells. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis are columns of cells. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 20  wherein one or more of the validation rules when evaluated yield a validation result of set of at least two validation results, the validation results including a result of valid and a result of invalid. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the indicator for indicating feedback included in at least some of the cells is configured to apply shading to a cell if the validation result is a result of invalid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the input element for that cell is further configured to determine a correctness of a configuration input received in that input element. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the at least some cells associated with a field and a validation rule each include a second indicator for displaying a result of determining a correctness of the configuration input. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the indicator for indicating feedback includes a numeric indicator which is configured to display a number of invalid results, the number of invalid results determined by applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field for all of the elements of the dataset. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the dataset includes one or more tables of a database and the elements of the dataset include database records. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the validation rules are user defined. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the validation rules are predefined. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface includes a first cell associated with a first validation rule and a second cell associated with a second validation rule, the second validation rule different from the first validation rule. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface includes a subset of cells that include an input element for receiving a value to replace an existing value in a corresponding field in response to a result of invalid for one of the validation rules applied to the existing value. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface includes a subset of cells that include an input element for receiving an excluded value, such that the excluded value appearing in a corresponding field results in preventing validation rules from being applied to the excluded value. 
     
     
         17 . A computing system for specifying a plurality of validation rules for validating data included in a plurality of fields of each element of a plurality of elements of a dataset, the computing system including:
 means for rendering a plurality of cells arranged in a multi-dimensional interface having a first axis and a second axis, the multi-dimensional interface including
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective field of the plurality of fields, and 
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective validation rule of the plurality of validation rules; and 
   means for applying selected validation rules to data in selected fields of at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells;   wherein, for at least a first subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a first validation rule for which no configuration is needed, each cell in the first subset includes an input element for receiving a confirmation input that confirms whether or not the first validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell; and   wherein, for at least a second subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a second validation rule for which configuration is needed, each cell in the second subset includes an input element for receiving a configuration input that both (1) configures second validation rule for the field associated with that cell, and (2) confirms whether or not, by the presence or absence of that configuration input, the second validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell.   
     
     
         18 . A method for specifying a plurality of validation rules for validating data included in a plurality of fields of each element of a plurality of elements of a dataset, the method including:
 rendering, by a user interface module, a plurality of cells arranged in a multi-dimensional interface having a first axis and a second axis, the multi-dimensional interface including
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective field of the plurality of fields, and 
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective validation rule of the plurality of validation rules; and 
   applying, by at least one processor, selected validation rules to data in selected fields of at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells;   wherein, for at least a first subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a first validation rule for which no configuration is needed, each cell in the first subset includes an input element for receiving a confirmation input that confirms whether or not the first validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell; and   wherein, for at least a second subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a second validation rule for which configuration is needed, each cell in the second subset includes an input element for receiving a configuration input that both (1) configures second validation rule for the field associated with that cell, and (2) confirms whether or not, by the presence or absence of that configuration input, the second validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell.   
     
     
         19 . A computer program, stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, for specifying a plurality of validation rules for validating data included in a plurality of fields of each element of a plurality of elements of a dataset, the computer program including instructions for causing a computer system to:
 render a plurality of cells arranged in a multi-dimensional interface having a first axis and a second axis, the multi-dimensional interface including
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the first axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective field of the plurality of fields, and 
 multiple subsets of the cells extending in a direction along the second axis of the multi-dimensional interface, each associated with a respective validation rule of the plurality of validation rules; and 
   apply selected validation rules to data in selected fields of at least one element of the dataset based on user input received from at least some of the cells;   wherein, for at least a first subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a first validation rule for which no configuration is needed, each cell in the first subset includes an input element for receiving a confirmation input that confirms whether or not the first validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell; and   wherein, for at least a second subset of the multiple subsets of the cells extending in the direction along the second axis, associated with a second validation rule for which configuration is needed, each cell in the second subset includes an input element for receiving a configuration input that both (1) configures second validation rule for the field associated with that cell, and (2) confirms whether or not, by the presence or absence of that configuration input, the second validation rule is to be applied to data in the field associated with that cell.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least some cells, associated with a field and a validation rule, each include:
 the input element for that cell, and 
 an indicator for indicating feedback associated with a validation result based on applying the associated validation rule to data included in the associated field of the element. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multi-dimensional interface is a two-dimensional grid.