British Telecommunications Public Limited Company

British Telecommunications Corporation

Nick Giles

Simon Giles Thompson

Yang Li

Hamid Gharib

Thuc D Nguyen

Zhu Tan

Thuc Duong Nguyen

The present invention relates to the field of database technology, and to the automatic generation of search queries. The present invention provides a method of generating a database query, the method comprising: receiving a user selection of one of a number of predetermined generic database queries from a user; automatically identifying user specific data from user profile data corresponding to the user by applying the user profile data to a number of predetermined query statements associated with the selected generic query; automatically applying the user specific data to a number of user specific generator query statements in order to generate one or more user specific queries.

User specific database querying method and apparatus

An interactive workflow schedule optimizer arranged to enable a user to reconfigure an instantiated workflow for a task comprising a plurality of actions having a predetermined dependency relationship to each other. The optimizer comprises means to input one or more user-specified constraint conditions into the workflow schedule optimizer; means to regenerate a workflow dependent on user specified condition from the instantiated workflow, the regenerated workflow satisfying said one or more user-specified constraint conditions. The optimizer optimises the global utilisation of the resources required to fulfil the user request by processing in parallel the resource requirements of each of said plurality of actions required by the regenerated workflow.

Workflow scheduler

Controlled access is provided to a shared resourcesuch as an ontology (knowledge database) in order to maintain its quality without restraining the ability of users. . . to contribute to that resource. An edit and query functionis used to determine the validity and consistency of individual contributions. The results of these checks and the level of contribution made by individual users to the information resource is used to produce a rating for each user of the resource, which is stored (. . . ) for use in prioritise and manage future contributions to the resource, provide metadata on the resource and to prioritise access controlto the resource. When a new contribution is made by a user a threshold of approval can be set before it is accepted into the main database. This threshold is based on the sum of the ratings points of the original contributor and of users that give their assent to the inclusion of that contribution.

Access control to shared resources

Growing community of inventors

York, United Kingdom

Nick Giles