Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods, articles of manufacture and systems for simplifying a query building process by limiting the number of fields presented to a user for building queries. The number of fields presented to the user may be limited by hiding one or more logical fields from the user based on usage characteristics. For example, a logical field that is rarely used or has not been used within a predetermined period of time may be hidden from the user. For some embodiments, a fallout manager may monitor the use of logical fields in building queries, update usage characteristics, and mark logical fields as hidden based on the usage characteristics. A graphical user interface may not present to a user logical fields that have been marked as hidden.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for providing natural language support for users running queries against a multilingual database. One embodiment comprises identifying one or more physical values defined by physical data in the multilingual database for a query result associated with an executed query. At least one translation function configured to transform at least a portion of the identified physical values defined in one or more different natural languages into alternative values defined in a selected language is executed. From each executed translation function, a data structure mapping at least a portion of the identified physical values to translated values defined in the selected language is identified and the translated values defining the alternative values defined in the selected language are retrieved from each identified data structure. The query result associated with the executed query including the alternative values defined in the selected language is output.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for helping users determine the “best” places to use and acquire inventory objects within a virtual environment, as well as to notify users of useful inventory items when an avatar is at a particular location in the virtual environment. An object index may be used to store data describing attributes of virtual objects, and a user index may be used to store data describing interactions users engage in with virtual objects.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for helping users determine the “best” places to use and acquire inventory objects within a virtual environment, as well as to notify users of useful inventory items when an avatar is at a particular location in the virtual environment. An object index may be used to store data describing attributes of virtual objects, and a user index may be used to store data describing interactions users engage in with virtual objects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to improve enforcement and compliance with publishing rules in an automated and provable manner. Prior to publication, documents may be processed using publishing rules (workflows) based on conceptual analysis of document content. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a content creation system configured to provide prompt feedback on content coverage. Such a system enables the creator of information to better understand what approval requirements apply to content they create and intend to publish, as the content is being created.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to improve enforcement and compliance with publishing rules in an automated and provable manner. Prior to publication, documents may be processed using publishing rules (workflows) based on conceptual analysis of document content. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a content creation system configured to provide prompt feedback on content coverage. Such a system enables the creator of information to better understand what approval requirements apply to content they create and intend to publish, as the content is being created.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to improve enforcement and compliance with publishing rules in an automated and provable manner. Prior to publication, documents may be processed using publishing rules (workflows) based on conceptual analysis of document content. Additionally, embodiments of the invention include a content creation system configured to provide prompt feedback on content coverage. Such a system enables the creator of information to better understand what approval requirements apply to content they create and intend to publish, as the content is being created.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods, articles of manufacture and systems for exposing, on a client device, fields of a data model representing an underlying database for use in building queries against the database. For some embodiments, the client device may be a device having limited resources, such as a handheld computing device. Therefore, rather than load and expose the entire data model on the client at once, a limited portion of the data model may be exposed on a client in a “just in time” (JIT) basis. The limited portion may be determined, for example, based on input received from a user and system parameters, such as the system memory and network bandwidth available to the client device.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for maintaining a data warehouse having a plurality of fields updated with data from one or more data sources. Rather than automatically update every field of data available in the warehouse, a limited subset of fields identified through their involvement in queries issued against the warehouse are updated. By limiting the fields that are updated, the network bandwidth required to transmit the updates to the data warehouse may be reduced. Further, by removing fields from the data warehouse that are not in use, the size of the data warehouse may be reduced.

Abstract: A system and article of manufacture for managing query results and, more particularly, for sorting data records contained in a query result obtained in response to execution of a query against a database. In one embodiment, the data records in the query result are sorted on the basis of related information which is retrieved from a corresponding data source. In another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a value variance which is determined for each of the data records in the query result. In still another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a requested value range coverage. In yet another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of suitability scores which are determined with respect to analysis routines which are configured for processing the query result.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods, articles of manufacture and systems for exposing, on a client device, fields of a data model representing an underlying database for use in building queries against the database. For some embodiments, the client device may be a device having limited resources, such as a handheld computing device. Therefore, rather than load and expose the entire data model on the client at once, a limited portion of the data model may be exposed on a client in a “just in time” (JIT) basis. The limited portion may be determined, for example, based on input received from a user and system parameters, such as the system memory and network bandwidth available to the client device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for temporarily disabling conditions in abstract queries. In one embodiment, a query interface is configured to present an abstract query, and to allow a user to select conditions of the abstract query to be temporarily disabled. By executing an abstract query having disabled conditions, the user may be able to determine the effect of individual changes to the abstract query without having to re-compose the abstract query after each change. The conditions to be disabled may be selected individually, by field, or by value. Each disabled element may be displayed with a visual indicator communicating that it is disabled. The user may then select specific disabled conditions to be re-enabled.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for temporarily disabling conditions in abstract queries. In one embodiment, a query interface is configured to present an abstract query, and to allow a user to select conditions of the abstract query to be temporarily disabled. By executing an abstract query having disabled conditions, the user may be able to determine the effect of individual changes to the abstract query without having to re-compose the abstract query after each change. The conditions to be disabled may be selected individually, by field, or by value. Each disabled element may be displayed with a visual indicator communicating that it is disabled. The user may then select specific disabled conditions to be re-enabled.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture for managing query results and, more particularly, for sorting data records contained in a query result obtained in response to execution of a query against a database. In one embodiment, the data records in the query result are sorted on the basis of related information which is retrieved from a corresponding data source. In another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a value variance which is determined for each of the data records in the query result. In still another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of a requested value range coverage. In yet another embodiment, the sorting is performed on the basis of suitability scores which are determined with respect to analysis routines which are configured for processing the query result.

Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for securing sensitive information involved in database transactions. Embodiments of the present invention selectively encrypt only portions of transactions involving sensitive data, thereby reducing or eliminating the processing overhead resulting from wastefully encrypting non-sensitive data. The sensitive data may be identified by a document. The document may be accessed by a requesting entity to determine which portions of a query should be encrypted prior to sending the query to a database server over a network. The document may also be accessed by a database server to determine which portions of query results should be encrypted prior to sending the query results to the requesting entity over the network.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for performing multiple request processing. Redundant instances of executing entities service requests in a time-delayed fashion, relative to one another. In this way, a user can be returned to an earlier state by switching to the execution flow of one of the other executing entities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a database administrator composing an abstract query with visibility to logical fields that are permitted for the delegated roles. In one embodiment, a query interface is configured to receive administrator selections of delegated roles (i.e., the user roles to be provided with access to the finished abstract query). The query interface may then present the administrator with logical fields that are permitted for each delegated role. Providing such information may enable the administrator to verify that all intended users will have access to the finished abstract query.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for composing and executing queries using filtered fields. In one embodiment, a query may be composed with compatible fields, meaning filtered fields that store related data of a particular data type. Such compatible fields may be combined into a single query condition, thus simplifying the composition and execution of the query. In one embodiment, fields may be identified as compatible based on metadata included in a database abstraction model.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for composing and executing queries using filtered fields. In one embodiment, a query may be composed with compatible fields, meaning filtered fields that store related data of a particular data type. Such compatible fields may be combined into a single query condition, thus simplifying the composition and execution of the query. In one embodiment, fields may be identified as compatible based on metadata included in a database abstraction model.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for selecting rule engines for processing abstract rules based on functionality and cost. In general, an abstract rule is analyzed to determine which functions are required to process the rule. The abstract rule is assigned to a rule engine by evaluating metadata describing the functions and costs of the rule engines. The abstract rule is then translated to the format required by the selected rule engine.