Systems, methods, user interfaces and algorithms for performing database analysis and search of information involving structured and/or semi-structured data

Abstract

Implementations for searching and analyzing large, object-oriented data sets in an efficient manner involving innovative user interface features and/or search algorithm functionality are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a system may search for information and/or relationships based on specified search criteria and return results that may be displayed dynamically and further filtered or analyzed. Systems may involve object oriented database(s) and a software layer including a specialized user interface between the user and the database(s). The user interface may comprise various tools as well as predefined and configurable features that enable effective search of the data as well as display of search results that are configurable and readily managed to provide immediate and useful search results. The user interface may display the search results and various associated graphical representations and models, and/or provide tools enabling dynamic manipulation and display of search results or underlying object models, among other things.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more computer processors configured to execute software code to cause the computer system to:
 receive search criteria via a user interface comprising a custom object view, wherein:
 the search criteria are associated with a first object type, and 
 the custom object view is associated with a second object type different from the first object type; 
 
 search one or more databases based on the search criteria to identify at least a first data object of the first object type; 
 determine, based on a property value associated with the first data object, a second data object associated with the first data object, wherein the second data object is of the second object type; 
 determine one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object; and 
 update the user interface and the custom object view to be based on the second data object of the second object type, wherein the updated custom object view includes information indicative of the second data object, the first data object, and the one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first object type and the second object type are related to one another in an object model. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data object and the second data object are related to one another hierarchically such that the second data object is a root of the first data object in the one or more databases. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 3 , wherein the custom object view includes a selectable user interface element, the selection of which causes the one or more computer processors to execute software code to cause the computer system to:
 update the user interface to display a graphical depiction of the first data object, the second data object, and the one or more additional data objects as nodes in a graph, and connections between nodes based on relationships among the respective data objects.   
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computer processors are configured to execute software code to further cause the computer system to:
 determine second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object; and   update the user interface and the custom object view to further include information indicative of the second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object.   
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 by one or more computer processors configured to execute software code:
 receiving search criteria via a user interface comprising a custom object view, wherein:
 the search criteria are associated with a first object type, and 
 the custom object view is associated with a second object type different from the first object type; 
 
 searching one or more databases based on the search criteria to identify at least a first data object of the first object type; 
 determining, based on a property value associated with the first data object, a second data object associated with the first data object, wherein the second data object is of the second object type; 
 determining one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object; and 
 updating the user interface and the custom object view to be based on the second data object of the second object type, wherein the updated custom object view includes information indicative of the second data object, the first data object, and the one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object. 
   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the first object type and the second object type are related to one another in an object model. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein the first data object and the second data object are related to one another hierarchically such that the second data object is a root of the first data object in the one or more databases. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the custom object view includes a selectable user interface element, and wherein the method further comprises:
 by the one or more computer processors configured to execute software code:
 in response to selection of the selectable user interface element, updating the user interface to display a graphical depiction of the first data object, the second data object, and the one or more additional data objects as nodes in a graph, and connections between nodes based on relationships among the respective data objects. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 by the one or more computer processors configured to execute software code:
 determining second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object; and 
 updating the user interface and the custom object view to further include information indicative of the second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive search criteria via a user interface comprising a custom object view, wherein:
 the search criteria are associated with a first object type, and 
 the custom object view is associated with a second object type different from the first object type; 
   search one or more databases based on the search criteria to identify at least a first data object of the first object type;   determine, based on a property value associated with the first data object, a second data object associated with the first data object, wherein the second data object is of the second object type;   determine one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object; and   update the user interface and the custom object view to be based on the second data object of the second object type, wherein the updated custom object view includes information indicative of the second data object, the first data object, and the one or more additional data objects associated with the second data object.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the first object type and the second object type are related to one another in an object model. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the first data object and the second data object are related to one another hierarchically such that the second data object is a root of the first data object in the one or more databases. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the custom object view includes a selectable user interface element, the selection of which causes the one or more processors to:
 update the user interface to display a graphical depiction of the first data object, the second data object, and the one or more additional data objects as nodes in a graph, and connections between nodes based on relationships among the respective data objects.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are executable by one or more processors to further cause the one or more processors to:
 determine second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object; and   update the user interface and the custom object view to further include information indicative of the second one or more additional data objects associated with the first data object.