Database Operations and Data Manipulation Using Search-On-The-Fly

Abstract

A method for searching for data among a plurality of disparate databases includes a processor: displaying an indication of contents of each of the plurality of disparate databases, comprising displaying a data field descriptor for one or more database fields of each of the plurality of disparate databases; receiving a search selection directed to one or more of the one or more database fields; returning a first search result comprising database entries matching the search selection; saving the first search result as a first temporary database; receiving a second search request directed to the first temporary database; returning a second search result comprising entries in the temporary database matching the further search request; and saving the second search result as a second temporary database.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for searching for data among a plurality of disparate databases, comprising:
 displaying an indication of contents of each of the plurality of disparate databases, comprising displaying a data field descriptor for one or more database fields of each of the plurality of disparate databases;   receiving a search selection directed to one or more of the one or more database fields;   returning a first search result comprising database entries matching the search selection;   saving the first search result as a first temporary database;   receiving a second search request directed to the first temporary database;   returning a second search result comprising entries in the temporary database matching the further search request; and   saving the second search result as a second temporary database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search result comprises database entries from at least two disparate databases, the method comprising:
 creating a merged search result by merging first search results from a first disparate database with subsequent search results from one or more additional disparate databases; and   displaying the merged search result as a third temporary database.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second search results comprise iconic representations of the database entries. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying each of the plurality of disparate databases and the temporary databases on the user interface as a solid of revolution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising displaying the database fields on the user interface as facets of solids of revolution. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising:
 executing a Boolean OR search operation by dragging a first solid of revolution over a second solid of revolution; and   executing a Boolean AND search operation by dragging the second solid of revolution over the first solid of revolution.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first and second solids of revolution include at least one facet having a common data field descriptor;   wherein the first solid of revolution includes N facets and the second solid of revolution includes M facets; and   wherein the Boolean OR operation produces a third solid of revolution having ((N+M)−1) facets, the method comprising:
 combining the data field entries of the facets having the common data field descriptor, and 
 displaying the third solid of revolution on the user interface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , comprising displaying the third solid of revolution with facets from the first solid of revolution in a first color, facets from the second solid of revolution in a second color, and combined facets in a third color. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first and second solids of revolution include P facets having a common data field descriptor;   wherein the first solid of revolution includes N facets and the second solid of revolution includes M facets;   wherein P<N and P<M; and   wherein the Boolean AND operation produces a third database list having P data fields, the method comprising:
 selecting the P facets having the common data field descriptor, and 
 displaying the third database list on the user interface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein P is greater than or equal to four, the method comprising displaying the third database list as a third solid of revolution. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 through the user interface, receiving rotation commands from a user;   rotating one or more of the solids of revolution; and   displaying rotated ones of the solids of revolutions on the user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising displaying the data fields as lists in flat displays on the user interface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising unfolding the solids of revolution to generate the flat displays. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each solid of revolution has four or more facets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising:
 displaying the first search result as a first solid of revolution having N facets; and   displaying the second search result as a second solid of revolution having N facets, wherein the second solid of revolution is smaller than the first solid of revolution.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising:
 displaying the first search result as a first solid of revolution having N facets; and   displaying the second search result as a second solid of revolution having N facets, wherein the second solid of revolution is larger than the first solid of revolution.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first search result comprises a dynamic pull down list, and wherein the first search result includes only those data fields for which at least one of the disparate databases contains the search selection. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing search-on-the-fly search and data manipulation instructions searching for data among a plurality of disparate databases, the instructions when executed by a processor, causing the processor to:
 display an indication of contents of each of the plurality of disparate databases, wherein the processor causes display of a data field descriptor for one or more database fields of each of the plurality of disparate databases;   receive a search selection directed to one or more of the one or more database fields;   return a first search result comprising database entries matching the search selection;   save the first search result as a first temporary database;   receive a second search request directed to the first temporary database;   return a second search result comprising entries in the temporary database matching the further search request; and   save the second search result as a second temporary database.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the search result comprises database entries from at least two disparate databases, and wherein the processor:
 creates a merged search result by merging first search results from a first disparate database with subsequent search results from one or more additional disparate databases; and   displays the merged search result as a third temporary database.