WO2016075702A1

WO2016075702A1 - Automated and simplified development of database applications

Info

Publication number: WO2016075702A1
Application number: PCT/IN2015/000419
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arun Kumar
Original assignee: Arun Kumar
Priority date: 2014-11-13
Filing date: 2015-11-12
Publication date: 2016-05-19
Also published as: WO2016075702A4

Abstract

The present invention solves issues relating to the development of database applications, such as complex process of writing codes, time and resource involvement in updating and editing the applications and the process of correcting bugs and errors while re- writing the codes. The present invention discloses a tool for creating a design driven database application, wherein a set of menus, tables, fields, indexes, relations, business logic, reports etc. are definable. By developing an application with this tool, there is no need of writing separate codes for each client requirement.

Description

Automated and Simplified Development of Database Applications

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the development of computer database applications, and more particularly, to the automatic creation of computer database applications.

Background

Modern enterprise computer systems involve a large numbers of transactions. Each type of transaction requires a sophisticated user interface, and a complex relational database with recurring and ad hoc reporting capabilities. It is also necessary to deploy such applications over the internet or intranet environments and hence, it becomes essential for the application to employ a client-server architecture. As a result the application is developed in two parts with the first part comprising a server-side application developed and run on one or more "server" computers incorporating the database and providing "back-end" functions and a second part comprising one or more "client" applications providing individual user interfaces being executed on individual "client" computers that communicate with the "server" computers.

The complex nature of each application requires a large team for its development, maintenance and support. The difficulties associated with recruiting, managing, and retaining highly technical staff for this purpose and the uncertainties of managing large projects in complex and changing business environments make such applications expensive, highly risky, and often unsuccessful. Furthermore, as these applications become increasingly complex as they are improved and evolve, and require additional engineering, physical and economic resources to enhance, debug, and maintain. Even relatively simple or minor modifications require extensive understanding and re- testing of the modified application.

On the other hand, programming methodologies associated with application development have changed very little over the past three decades. Even though the marketplace is flooded with a variety of development tools and new programming languages, complex applications continue to require considerable development effort. Improvement in productivity is impeded by traditional paradigms related to traditional tasks such as tedious and time-consuming design document creation, low level design functions, manual testing and debugging of applications under development, and the error- prone nature of application correction and improvement.

Other deficiencies inherent in traditional complex application development result from variations in quality through all phases of development such as requirement definition, design ^'specification, programming, testing, and all related communications between customers, end users, designers, systems analysts, programmers, and testers. For example, application developers are often isolated or buffered by management or marketing from direct interaction with customers and therefore, may not fully appreciate or comprehend the design requirements as anticipated by the end-user. Also, when the development activity spans many months or years, as is often the case, design requirements may change as marketplace trends change the customer's business needs are forced to adapt to such changes. As a result the application soon becomes obsolete. Under current practice, whenever the application requires be updating or editing in any manner, the design needs to be re-written resulting in bugs and errors. The process of identifying mistakes and making corrections is both time and resource intensive, while at the same time difficult to manage for time and cost compliance. Such complex applications take a lot of time to complete. Forms are developed at different times or by different programmers which may not resemble uniformly, resulting in lack of consistency. Moreover, if a new concept needs to be included in the developed application, it is equivalent to developing the whole application anew. Summary

The above- mentioned problems and limitations are overcome by means of the present invention which provides a method of creating a client-server based database application, by creating one or more data-structures defining parameters of the man-machine interface requirements of the client system and parameters of the functional requirements of the server system, using said data structures to cause a universal database application to configure said client systems to implement the man-machine interface requirements based on said parameters and using said data structures to cause a universal database application to configure said server systems to perform functional requirements in accordance with the parameters. The data structures in the above method are created by assigning specific or default values to visual and functional parameter of man-machine interface element on the client systems, defining specific or default parameter values for each function required to be performed at the server systems and storing said specific and default values in a predefined format accepted by said universal database application.

The invention enables the development of client-server based database applications by providing a requirement definition tool for creating one or more data-structures containing a set of parameters defining the man-machine interface and functional requirements of the client system and a set of parameters and operation sequences defining the functional requirements of the server system and providing a universal database application capable of causing each said client system to provide the specified man-machine interface and perform the specified functions while at the same time causing each said server system to perform the specified functions of each server system.

In an embodiment, the invention comprises a system for creating a client-server database application comprising a design parameter specifier for creating one or more design data structures containing parameters defining man-machine interface requirements for client systems as well as functional requirements for server systems and a universal database application caused by said design data structures to configure said client systems and server systems to perform the functional and man-machine interface requirements of said database application at client systems as well as the functional requirements at the server systems.

Brief Description of Figures

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. Ιη the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. illustrates a flow diagram depicting a process for creating the database application according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

illustrates a block diagram of the system for creating a database application, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

illustrates an exemplary representation of the design, according to an embodiment of the invention.

illustrates an exemplary representation of user interface on client system for one table 'Account' according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following discussion provides a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which various embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. The aspects and embodiments are described in the general context of computer executable mechanisms such as routines executed by a general purpose computer e.g. a server or personal computer. The embodiments described herein can be practiced with other system configurations, including Internet appliances, hand held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, mini computers, mainframe computers and the like. The embodiments can be embodied in a special purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer executable mechanisms explained in detail below.

Exemplary embodiments now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

The specification may refer to "an", "one" or "some" embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes", "comprises", "including" and/or "comprising" when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. Furthermore, "connected" or "coupled" as used herein may include wirelessly connected or coupled. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The figures depict a simplified structure only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the structure may also comprise other functions and structures. It should be appreciated that the functions, structures, elements and the protocols used in communication are irrelevant to the present disclosure. Therefore, they need not be discussed in more detail here.

In addition, all logical units described and depicted in the figures include the software and/or hardware components required for the unit to function. Further, each unit may comprise within itself one or more components, which are implicitly understood. These components may be operatively coupled to each other and be configured to communicate with each other to perform the function of the said unit. The present invention relates to a tool for creating a design driven database application. A set of pre-defined menus, tables, fields, indexes, relations, business logic mechanism, reports etc. are created in the design parameter specifier. A back end database is created using one of the commonly used databases such as SQL, MySQL, Oracle etc. User inputs are captured by way of forms which are initially created for data entry. The formats of forms and reports thus generated are created only once, and they cover almost all types of data fields required by all possible database applications. By developing such an application, there is no requirement of writing separate codes for each client requirement.

Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram depicting a method 100 of creating a database application, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method comprises creating 102 one or more data-structures defining parameters of the man-machine interface requirements of the client system and parameters of the functional requirements of the server system. Said data structures are created by assigning specific or default values to visual and functional parameters of man- machine interface element on the client systems, defining specific or default parameter values for each object required at the server systems, and storing said specific or default values in a predefined format accepted by a universal database application. Further, the method comprises using 104 said data structures to cause the universal database application to configure said client systems to implement the man-machine interface requirements based on said parameters and using 106 said data structures to cause the universal database application to configure said server systems to perform functional requirements in accordance with said parameters. The step of using the universal database application is accomplished by applying selected parameters stored in said data structures to one or more predefined generic functions that cause said client system to provide the specified man-machine interface and applying selected parameters stored in said data structures to one or more predefined generic functions that cause said server system to perform the required actions. Said assignment of values to visual and functional parameters of man-machine interface elements comprises selecting desired man- machine interface elements and specifying one or more of appearance, location and grouping parameter values and choosing desired functions from a predefined set of functions applicable to one or more of said selected interface elements and defining values to associated parameters of said functions. The assignment of values to parameters of functions to be performed at server systems comprises choosing desired functions from a predefined set of functions and defining values to associated parameters of said functions. The generic functions that cause each client system to provide the specified man- machine interface include functions for causing client systems to create visual and non-visual man-machine interface elements in accordance with said specified parameter values and functions for causing client systems to provide desired operations on said created visual and non-visual man-machine interface elements in accordance with said specified parameter values. The generic functions that cause each said server system to perform the required actions comprise functions to create, read, update or delete fields, records, tables or databases. Figure 2 illustrates a system for creating a database application according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, a system for creating a client- server database application comprises of a design parameter specifier 202 for creating one or more design data structures 204 containing parameters defining man-machine interface requirements for client systems as well as functional requirements for server systems, and a universal database application 206 caused by said design data structures 204 to configure said client systems and server systems to perform the functional and man-machine interface requirements of said database application at client systems as well as the functional requirements at the server systems.

According to an embodiment of the invention, said design parameter specifier consists of a universal database application 206 for creating or updating one or more design data structures conforming to a predefined format appropriate for said universal database application, using parameter values provided for one or more design elements or functions selected from a predefined set of design elements and functions.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary representation of the design of a database application. As shown on the screenshot, there are 236 tables in total, and the table 'Account' has 26 fields. The table 'Account' has a column 'Tab' defining the order of forms for client man- machine interface. The Page tab has additional information about the table. As an optional embodiment, this table 'Account' can be assigned to multiple modules in the Module tab. Multiple indexes may be defined and relations may be defined as primary and foreign relations. The combo tab as shown defines the drop down box, where multiple columns are defined. Adjacent to the Combo tab, there is Key tab that defines behavior of different hot keys for table Account. Var Tab defines various events to take effect in Server side as informed by Client side to accommodate various kind of business logic and validations etc. There are options available for adding new tables, fields, indexes, relations, events etc.

Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary representation of user interface on client system form for one table 'Account' as defined in Figure 3. As shown, Each Module Name appears here as Main Menu in Top Bar. Each Table within a Module appears as part of sub menu in Side Bar. Form for Table 'Account' is displayed as current form chosen on client machine as man- machine interface. There are multiple Drop Down controls, e.g. Drop Down with columns Name, Id, and FinalAccount Nature defined in Combo Tab of Table Head above and Head Table defined is Primary to Table Account. The interface is so created that, in this example Field 'Area_Id' onwards are placed separately, by virtue of 'Additional' tab being mentioned.

Implementation of the present invention ensures that the developed database application is reliable owing to centralized definitions used to create database and application and therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure are highly interactive and efficient.

Advantages of the present invention are as herein described:

• An automatic table/index/relation creator is disclosed.

• Keyboard Navigation with keys Insert, Delete, Home, PgUp, UpArrow, Down Arrow, Pg Down, End. These keys brings even fresh data from the server. • The Continuity in record movement is maintained while scrolling down/up arrow without loading all records on client machine at once. Only most relevant few records are loaded in client machine from server machine governed by parameters.

• The function of 'Edit' and 'Insert' is within the grid itself. On starting to type in relevant field, we get some identifier e.g. L in Pointer position. The record is Auto Saved when the currently edited record is exited. · Another advantage is that the Horizontal Scroll bar is avoided by placing many controls on the page below the main grid. This page displays the contents of currently pointed record automatically. Intelligent Multiple Record selection system is developed for Multi Record Delete/Export. · Yet another advantage is that Dynamic Combo Boxes are created i.e. Drop Down Controls with Multi Column Grid based display.

• Any numbers of Sub Form buttons can be created automatically.

• Further, events are implemented dynamically for each control Enter/Exit and for each Record Before/After Update and On Delete etc.

· Undo feature is available for any and every control for any and every record on current grid by pressing a designated key e.g. Esc in this case

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product but not limited thereto. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, a software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a "circuit" or "module." Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

Claims

We claim:

A method of creating a client- server based database application, comprising the steps of:

- creating one or more data-structures defining parameters of the man- machine interface requirements of the client system and parameters of the functional requirements of the server system;

- using said data structures to cause a universal database application to configure said client systems to implement the man-machine interface requirements based on said parameters; and

- using said data structures to cause a universal database application to configure said server systems to perform functional requirements in accordance with said parameters.

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of creating said data structures comprises:

- assigning specific or default values to visual and functional parameter of man-machine interface element on the client systems;

- defining specific or default parameter values for each object required at the server systems; and

- storing said specific and default values in a predefined format accepted by said universal database application.

A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of using said universal database application comprises:

- applying selected parameters stored in said data structures to one or more predefined generic functions that cause said client system to provide the specified man-machine interface; and

- applying selected parameters stored in said data structures to one or more predefined generic functions that cause said server system to perform the required actions. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said assigning values to visual and functional parameters of man-machine interface elements comprises:

- selecting desired man-machine interface elements and specifying one or more of appearance, location and grouping parameter values; and

- choosing desired functions from a predefined set of functions applicable to one or more of said selected interface elements and defining values to associated parameters of said functions.

A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said assigning values to parameters of functions to be performed at server systems comprises choosing desired functions from a predefined set of functions and defining values to associated parameters of said functions.

A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said generic functions that cause each said client system to provide the specified man-machine interface comprise:

- functions for causing client systems to create visual and non-visual man-machine interface elements in accordance with said specified parameter values; and

- functions for causing client systems to provide desired operations on said created visual and non-visual man-machine interface elements in accordance with said specified parameter values.

A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said generic functions that cause each said server system to perform the required actions comprise functions to create, read, update or delete fields, records, tables or databases.

A method of enabling the development of client-server based database applications, comprising the steps of:

- providing a requirement definition tool for creating one or more data- structures containing a set of parameters defining the man-machine interface and functional requirements of the client system and a set of parameters and operation sequences defining the functional requirements of the server system; and

- providing a universal database application capable of causing each said client system to provide the specified man-machine interface and perform the specified functions while at the same time causing each said server system to perform the specified functions of each server system.

A system for creating a client-server database application comprising:

- a design parameter specifier for creating one or more design data structures . containing parameters defining man-machine interface requirements for client systems as well as functional requirements for server systems; and

- a universal database application caused by said design data structures to configure said client systems and server systems to perform the functional and man-machine interface requirements of said database application at client systems as well as the functional requirements at the server systems.

A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said design parameter specifier comprises a universal database application for creating or updating one or more design data structures conforming to a predefined format appropriate for said universal database application, using parameter values provided for one or more design elements or functions selected from a predefined set of design elements and functions.