Self-service database reporting systems and methods

Abstract

Users interactively create, customize, and execute reports on data stored in databases using only a web browser. The user can create, customize, and execute reports by selecting various report elements including, for example, data sources, fields, filters, labels, charts, dashboards, and the like. Advantageously, the present disclosure enables users to create the reports through an Internet connection, without any special software, such as web browser plug-ins, database applications, and the like, without knowledge of data access languages, such as SQL, and without direct access to a database server. The present disclosure can directly connect to a plurality of different database types through a virtual or physical network connection. It fully functions without requiring the creation of additional configuration items like catalogs, models or secondary schemas by a programmer or database administrator (DBA).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 connecting to a user over the Internet;   providing the user a Web-based graphical user interface for creating a customizable report based on data in an external database;   receiving input from the user based on operations in the Web-based graphical user interface, wherein the input defines the customizable report;   connecting to the external database over the Internet; and   creating the customizable report based on the data in the external database and responsive to the input from the user.   
     
     
         2 . A server, comprising:
 a network interface configured to connect to a user through a Web browser and to a database comprising one of a plurality of database types; and   a processor coupled to the network interface, wherein the processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions configured to:
 connect to the user over the Internet; 
 provide the user a Web-based graphical user interface for creating a customizable report based on data in the database; 
 receive input from the user based on operations in the Web-based graphical user interface, wherein the input defines the customizable report; 
 connect to the database over the Internet; and 
 create the customizable report based on the data in the database and responsive to the input from the user.