Abstract:
A method and apparatus are herein described for a browser-based, database-access engine. Access to and modification of database data and schema are made available to a user remotely through a network, such as the Internet. The system is configured to interpret special tags embedded within HTML encoded web pages. The special tags may be configured to be interpreted into SQL in order to communicate with an SQL compliant database, or the special tags may be configured to be interpreted to any other database language. The special tags may also be configured to embed and/or introduce logic into HTML encoded web pages. The system may coordinate the functioning of a browser application, web server, and database all on one computing machine or each may be located on different computing machines connected by the Internet at opposite sides of the globe. Advantages of the present invention include the capability for remote database management and the ability to maintain and modify a web site from any remote Internet-connected location. Thus, the system makes a simple Browser application connected to the Internet a convenient database management tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Related Applications 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/199,850, filed on Apr. 26, 2000, directed to a BROWSER-BASED, DATABASE-ACCESS ENGINE APPARATUS AND METHOD, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     2. The Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to computer software and, more particularly, to novel systems and methods for accessing databases through computer networks including without limitation local area networks, wide area networks, and global networks. 
     3. The Background Art 
     Databases are very useful and powerful. Likewise, database management systems and engines for accessing databases abound. Unfortunately, many database management systems require a cadre of management information systems personnel and often programmers and computer gurus to make the data useful and available to users. Of course, these human resources do not come without a cost. In some cases, users may need training to work with database query languages or graphical user interfaces. In effect, without the correct skilled personnel or necessary expertise, data becomes virtually useless to the users thereof. 
     Moreover, coordination and synchronization of data often keep data physically close to one or several homes or repositories. This necessitates the often undesirable condition that database experts be located physically near these few homes or repositories in order to perform maintenance and troubleshooting. This reality alone can cause a certain degree of inflexibility and inconvenience. 
     Online databases, such as those that are accessible in a wide variety over the Internet, are becoming increasingly common. With a few short keystrokes, immense amounts of information from all over the globe are accessible by the common individual. The emerging Internet is resulting in many time-saving advances making data available from virtually anywhere. However, while access to the data in these databases may be common, the ability to actually manage and manipulate the schema of such databases over networks, such as the Internet, is not. At present, the ability to manage and manipulate the data of a database, including the end user data and the schema of a database, through a network, such as the Internet, is very limited. 
     What is needed is a way for users to have access and control of the data, including the end user data and the schema of a database, irrespective of the type or origin of the database, through a network, such as the Internet. 
     What is further needed is a seamless and transparent way for users to manipulate the data, and even the schema of a database in a system that does not require a high level of expertise or training. 
     It would be an advance in the art to enable users to perform the foregoing functions remotely, such as through the Internet, with a common software package, such as a standard browser application. Such a system would allows users to view and modify the data and schema of a database on opposite ends of the globe if desired or needed. In addition, such a system would eliminate the necessity to load specialized database management software onto the computer or terminal of a user. 
     Moreover, it would be a further advance in the art to provide a system capable of recognizing and functioning with a wide variety of different databases in a manner that would be transparent to a user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method to remotely access and modify the data and schema of a database, through a network such as the Internet, using nothing more than a simple browser application. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a method whereby embedded coding within HTML web pages may be interpreted into SQL commands for communicating with any SQL compliant database. 
     It is a further object to provide all the utility of a typical database through a web-based interface. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an efficient method for maintaining and updating web sites using the utility of a database. 
     It is yet a further object of the invention to enable programming logic to be actually embedded within the code of a web page. 
     It is also an object to provide a manner whereby information is dynamically updated on a web page corresponding to changes in data in a database. 
     It is a further object to increase the flexibility of a database by allowing a browser, web-server, and database to be located on a single computer or on computers at opposite ends of the globe, if needed or desired. 
     Consistent with the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a method and apparatus are disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a computer having a browser, having a communication link established with a web server, and making a request thereto. The web server, upon receiving the request, may then forward the request to the service module of the present invention. The service module may be located on the same computer as the web server, or be hosted by an application server, in certain embodiments. 
     According to the level of access afforded to a user, a user may have the ability to view data from the database or, if more authority is granted, a user may actually have the ability to modify the data or schema of a database. In effect, a user may be able to manage a database remotely, using nothing more than a simple browser application. The database may be located on a server located remotely from the web server, connected by the Internet, or may be located on the same computer as the web server. In another embodiment, a browser, web server, service module, and database may all be hosted on the same computer. 
     The service module of the present invention may be configured to translate requests made to a web server into a database language necessary for communication with a database. In certain embodiments, the service module may be configured to communicate with any SQL compliant database. 
     Once a request is made to the service module and authority is granted to a user, the service module may then retrieve or change information contained within a database. Such information may include data, tables, forms, queries, reports, web pages, user profiles, or other data. In certain embodiments, web pages may be stored at one location in a database while data stored at another location may supply content to the web pages. Thus, the present invention provides an efficient apparatus and method for maintaining and updating web sites by dynamically retrieving data each time a web page is called by a browser. 
     In addition to retrieving data, the service module may also parse any data retrieved from the database and execute any logic found therein. Special tags may be included within the HTML coding of web pages, which may not be recognized by a typical browser, but may be understood by the service module of the present invention and may be used to execute instructions. For example, conditional statements may be included to forward a user to distinct web pages depending on the input entered by a user. Alternatively, an instruction programmed within the source code of a web page may be executed to actually retrieve data from a database to be inserted into the web page. 
     Once the data is retrieved and any logic found therein is executed, the result may be subsequently forwarded to the web server and on to the browser for viewing by a user. Thus, the service module may effectively act as an interface between a web server and a database. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of one architecture for a hardware suite suitable for implementing an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating various possible implementations of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the service module, startup configuration data, and database records contained within memory in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of various functions performed by the service module of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of database records accessed by the service module of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the flow of communication performed by the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is flow chart showing the sequence of steps performed by the present invention when an anonymous request is made; and 
     FIG. 8 is flow chart showing the sequence of steps performed by the present invention when a secure request is made. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in FIGS. 1 through 8, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but it is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     The presently preferred embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will, of course, appreciate that various modifications to the details illustrated in the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 1-8 may easily be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, the following description is intended only as an example, and simply illustrates one presently preferred embodiment consistent with the invention as claimed herein. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, an apparatus  10  may include a node  11  (client  11 , computer  11 ) containing a processor  12  or CPU  12 . The CPU  12  may be operably connected to a memory device  14 . A memory device  14  may include one or more devices such as a hard drive  16  or non-volatile storage device  16 , a read-only memory  18  (ROM), and a random-access (and usually volatile) memory  20  (RAM). 
     The apparatus  10  may include an input device  22  for receiving inputs from a user or another device. Similarly, an output device  24  may be provided within the node  11 , or accessible within the apparatus  10 . A network card  26  (interface card) or port  28  may be provided for connecting to outside devices, such as the network  30 . 
     Internally, a bus  32  (system bus  32 ) may operably interconnect the processor  12 , memory devices  14 , input devices  22 , output devices  24 , network card  26  and port  28 . The bus  32  may be thought of as a data carrier. As such, the bus  32  may be embodied in numerous configurations. Wire, fiber optic line, wireless electromagnetic communications by visible light, infrared, and radio frequencies may likewise be implemented as appropriate for the bus  32  and the network  30 . 
     Input devices  22  may include one or more physical embodiments. For example, a keyboard  34  may be used for interaction with the user, as may a mouse  36 . A touch screen  38 , a telephone  39 , or simply a telephone line  39 , may be used for communication with other devices, with a user, or the like. 
     Similarly, a scanner  40  may be used to receive graphical inputs which may or may not be translated to other character formats. A hard drive  41  or other memory device  14  may be used as an input device whether resident within the node  11  or some other node  52  (e.g.,  52   a ,  52   b , etc.) on the network  30 , or from another network  50 . 
     Output devices  24  may likewise include one or more physical hardware units. For example, in general, the port  28  may be used to accept inputs and send outputs from the node  11 . Nevertheless, a monitor  42  may provide outputs to a user for feedback during a process, or for assisting two-way communication between the processor  12  and a user. A printer  44  or a hard drive  46  may be used for outputting information as output devices  24 . 
     In general, a network  30  to which a node  11  connects may, in turn, be connected through a router  48  to another network  50 . In general, two nodes  11 ,  52  may be on a network  30 , adjoining networks  30 ,  50 , or may be separated by multiple routers  48  and multiple networks  50  as individual nodes  11 , 52  on an internetwork. The individual nodes  52  may have various communication capabilities. 
     In certain embodiments, a minimum of logical capability may be available in any node  52 . Note that any of the individual nodes  52  may be referred to, as may all together, as a node  52  or nodes  52 . 
     A network  30  may include one or more servers  54 . Servers may be used to manage, store, communicate, transfer, access, update, and the like, any number of files for a network  30 . Typically, a server  54  may be accessed by all nodes  11 ,  52  on a network  30 . Nevertheless, other special functions, including communications, applications, and the like may be implemented by an individual server  54  or multiple servers  54 . 
     In general, a node  11  may need to communicate over a network  30  with a server  54 , a router  48 , or nodes  52 . Similarly, a node  11  may need to communicate over another network ( 50 ) in an internetwork connection with some remote node  52 . Likewise, individual components of the apparatus  10  may need to communicate data with one another. A communication link may exist, in general, between any pair of devices or components. 
     By the expression “nodes”  52  is meant any one or all of the nodes  48 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  11 . Thus, any one of the nodes  52  may include any or all of the component parts illustrated in the node  11 . The node  60  hosts the software and data structures required for providing directory services to the nodes  52  in the network  30  and may do so for other nodes  52  in other networks  50 . The node  60  may typically be a server  54  in a network. However, it may be installed in any node  52 . A node  52  may typically include a network card  26  for connecting to the network  30 , a processor  12  for processing software commands, a memory device  20  for operational memory as well as a non-volatile storage device  16  such as a hard drive  16 . Typically, an input device  22  and an output device  24  are provided for user interaction with the node  60 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, while continuing to refer to FIG. 1, in general, any number of workstation nodes  58 ,  62  may exist in a network  30 , within some practical limit. Any network  30 ,  50  may be part of, and connect to the Internet  76 . In certain embodiments a user may be connected to the Internet  76  through an Internet service provider  74   a . The user  72  may be any computer system, such as system  11  in FIG. 1, having a browser  86   a . The user  72  may be configured to communicate with a web server  68   a  that is configured to provide web pages that are stored in the memory of the web server  68   a  and are viewable by a user  72 . A service module  64   a  may also be located in the memory of the web server by  68   a  and may comprise executable and operational data structures configured to be processed in the processor of the web server  68   a.    
     When a request for a web page is made by a browser  86   a  to a web server  68   a , the service module  64   a  may be configured to retrieve the web page data from a location in a database  80   a  on a remotely located database server, such as server  78   a.    
     In addition, the service module  64   a  may actually process programming embedded within the HTML coding of web pages located on the database server  78   a . The programming may comprise executable logic that may dynamically retrieve data within another location in the database  80   a  to provide content to the web page. Such-executable logic may be coded in a language understandable by the service module  64   a  of the present invention. The logic may be embedded within special tags contained in the HTML-encoded page. These special tags are typically configured to be ignored by the typical browser, but these special tags configured to be understood and executed by the service module  64   a  of the present invention. 
     In certain instances, the executable logic may comprise conditional statements that may be executed in response to user input. For example, coding may be included within a web page to process conditional “if” statements, such as when receiving a password from a user. In this example, if a user types the incorrect password, the coding within the web page may be configured to deny a user access and/or may forward the user to another specific web page. Additionally, input by a user through the browser  86   a  may be processed by the service module  64   a  to modify the data and/or even the schema of the database  80   a.    
     Thus, in the depicted configuration, a user  72 , web server  68   a , and database server  78   a , may be connected to the Internet  76  to function in accordance with the invention while being physically located at geographically distant locations around the Earth. 
     In reality, a user need not be a single user  72 , but may actually be any user connected to the Internet  76 , such as a plurality of users  70   a-c  connected by a local area network (LAN)  86 . Any user  70   c , such as users  70   a ,  70   b ,  70   c , and  72 , having a browser  86   b , such as browsers  86   a ,  86   b , and  86   c , with Internet access may access the web server  68   a  and the database  80   a.    
     In another embodiment, the service module  64   b  may actually be located on an ASP (application service provider) server  66 . Therefore, a web server  68   b  may forward a request to a service module  64   b  located on ASP server  66 . In turn, the service module  64   b  may retrieve or modify data and/or schema in a database  80   a  on a server  78   a . In the depicted embodiment, the application server  66  may be configured to provide to a plurality of businesses or individuals the services of the service module  64   b . Thus, in the depicted configuration, any need to install the service module  64   b  on one or more web server(s) may be avoided. 
     In certain embodiments, the service module  64   c , database  80   b , and browser  86   c  may all be located on a computer of a single user  70   d.    
     In another embodiment, a service module  64   d  and database  80   c  may both be located on the web server  68   c  and may be accessed by any user  72  and/or group of users  70   a-c  connected to the Internet. 
     In yet another embodiment, a service module  64   e  may be located on an enterprise server  84  connected to a database server  78   b . A plurality of workstations  82   a ,  82   b , each having thereon a browser  84   d  and each in operable communication with the enterprise server  84 , may access the database server  78   b  through the server  84 . 
     Thus, the foregoing descriptions illustrate the versatility of the present invention and the various embodiments in which it may be implemented. The present invention as illustrated may be employed according to needs of a particular user or users. Hence, the data, including end user data and schema, of a remotely located database may be modified with the only client software being a simple browser application. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, a memory device  14  in a computer  11 , which computer  11  may be disposed in any of the configurations discussed in connection with FIG. 2, may include a service module  64  comprising a table management module  90 , a forms management module  92 , a query management module  94 , a report management module  96 , a web management module  98 , a user management module  99 , and other modules  100 . A memory device  14  may also store startup and configuration data  102  used to initiate the service module  64 . Additionally, a memory device  14  may actually store a database  80 , which may comprise records or tables populated with data. 
     Typically, a database stores information within some type of a schema, such as records or tables. A table management module  90 , therefore, may be used in accordance with the present invention to manage the schema, typically embodied as tables, of one or more databases(s). Such tables will be explained in further detail in the description of FIG.  4 . The table management module  90  may enable a user and/or several users to alter the schema or structure of a database, if desired. 
     Forms provide a convenient and graphical way for a user to populate a database with data. Data entry may be simplified by providing a user with graphical boxes or areas where data may be input. Consequently, a forms management module  92  may be included with the present invention to design and manage forms to be used for data input. 
     One of the major advantages of databases is the ability to search the data contained therein according to specific criteria. Such searches may also be called queries and represent the communication that occurs between a database engine and a database. Most databases typically use a standard query language. The present invention may include a query management module  94  to manage any queries of a database. 
     It also may be useful for a user of a database to be able to process reports of the data contained within a database. Such reports may allow a user to compare, view, and analyze specific data within the database. Consequently, a report management module  98  may be included in the service module  64  to manage such database reports. 
     With the continued growth of the Internet, the ability to access the data, including without limitation end user data and database schema, of a database through the Internet is becoming an important feature to many users. A web management module  98  may be included with the present invention wherein web pages may be more easily managed. The web management module  98  may be used to create web pages whose content may be dynamically updated as data in the database changes. This ability to dynamically update the content of web pages may provide a tremendous time savings by eliminating much of the programming required to update content in static web pages. 
     A user management module  99  may also be included with the present invention to control users&#39; access to a database and to control the level of access granted thereto. For example, some users may be granted access only to view data, whereas other users may be granted privileges to access and modify not only the data of a database, but also the schema. The level of access and privileges may be customized according to the individual user. Such a feature may provide a needed level of security to control access to a database granted to some users while still providing an increased level of access to other users. 
     In addition, other modules  100  may be included in the service module  64  as needed to provide additional functions. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, A service module  64  of the present invention may include a table management module  90  providing the ability to alter the schema or structure of a database. For example, a user may be able to add  104 , edit  106 , or delete  108  tables according to the configuration required of a database. Likewise, a user may be able to list  110  existing tables within a database or view  112  the data contents of a table. Accordingly, other functions  114  or tools  114  that may provide a user the ability to modify, view, or work with tables in a database may be provided in the table management module  90  of the present invention. 
     In addition, the table management module  90  may allow a user to populate a table with data. For example, a user may add  116 , edit  118 , or delete  120  fields within each table. Likewise a user may list  122 , search  126 , or view  124  data within a table. Other tools  126  or functions  126  may also be provided as needed to work with the data in a database. 
     The forms management module  92  may be included within the service module  64  of the present invention to enable a user to design and work with forms. A user may choose to design a form or actually use the form to input data to a database. For example, a user may choose to add  128 , edit  130 , or delete  132  a form. In addition, a user may choose to list  134  existing forms or view  136  a particular form. Once a form is created, it may then be used  138  to add  120 , edit  118 , or delete  116  data. 
     Likewise, a query management module  94  may be included with the present invention to create and execute queries. A query may be added  128 , edited  130 , or deleted  132 . Likewise a query management module  94  may be used to list  146  queries or view a particular query  148 . Once a query is created, it may be executed  150  in order to search a database based on chosen criteria. 
     A report management module  96  may also be included in the service module  64  of the present invention to create and run reports. Like the previous modules discussed, reports may be added  152 , edited  154 , or deleted  156 . In addition, reports that have been created may be listed  158  or a particular report may be viewed  160 . Once a report has been created, it may be run  162  whereby the data is actually retrieved from a database to populate the report with data. 
     A web management module  98  may be included in the present invention to allow a user to create web pages. The present invention offers the advantage of allowing the design of web pages that may be dynamically updated, thus saving time that might be lost reprogramming static pages. Logic may be added within an HTML encoded web page that is understandable by the service module  64  that will actually retrieve the current data contents of a location in a database to provide content to a web page. Thus, a web page may be updated simply by changing the data in the database to which it refers. In addition programming logic may be embedded in the HTML coding that may be executed in accordance with the present invention. 
     The web management module  98  may provide a user the ability to add  164 , edit  166 , or delete  168  web pages. In addition a user may be able to list  170  existing web pages or view  172  a particular web page. Once a web page is created, it may be processed, upon viewing by a user, wherein data is retrieved from a database to provide web page content and any logic contained therein is executed. 
     The service module  64  may also include a user management module  99  provided to manage levels of access granted to users registered therein. In certain embodiments, any anonymous user may be allowed to view data, while only certain users may be granted the authority to actually alter the data or schema of a database. The user management module  99  may allow the adding  176  or deleting  180  of a user by a user with administrative authority. Likewise, a user profile may be edited  178  such as when changing the level of access or authority of a particular user. Additionally the module  99  may allow a user or administrator to view a list of registered users or view the profile of a particular user. 
     In certain embodiments, once a user is added, a user may actually gain access to a database by entering a particular user ID and password. 
     In addition to the modules illustrated in the foregoing description, the present invention may make use of other modules as additional functions are needed. Like the other modules, the criteria may be added, edited, deleted, listed, viewed, or processed in accordance with the invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, a database  80  contained in memory  14  may be comprised of a plurality of tables  190 ,  192 ,  194 . Some of the tables may contain data while other tables may contain schema  200  information or indices  202  of the other tables  190 ,  192 ,  194 . 
     For example, in one embodiment, a table  190  may contain web page templates  196 , while another table  192  may contain the content  198  or data  198  used in the web page templates  196 . Upon viewing a web page  196  contained within the table  190 , coding embedded with the web pages  196  may contain instructions to pull data  198  or content  198  from the table  192 . In HTML web page source code, which is typically coded with “special tags.” Such special tags may be used in accordance with the present invention to interact with executable and often embedded logic. Such logic may either be instructions to retrieve data as previously stated or may contain other executable instructions. 
     Users with proper authority may be able to alter the schema  200  of the database  80 , such alteration of the schema  200  may include adding, editing, or deleting any of the tables  190 ,  192 ,  194  or any other function that may alter the structure or architecture of the database. Since it may not be desirable that arbitrary users have access to alter the schema of the database, this privilege may be reserved for authorized users only. 
     In general, typical database systems that are presently accessible over the Internet may allow access to the data in a database  80 , but such database systems have no mechanism for allowing the modification of the schema  200  of a database  80  across the Internet using only a browser application. The ability to modify the schema  200  of a database  80  across the Internet using only a browser application is an advantage that is provided by the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart showing the flow of communication in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. A browser  86 , having a communication link established with a web server  68 , may make a request therefrom. This request may subsequently be forwarded to the service module  64  of the present invention. According to the level of access afforded to a user, a user may be granted the ability to view  206  or use  206  data from the database  80  or, if more authority is granted, a user may actually have the ability to design  204  or change  204  the data or schema of a database  80 . The service module  64  may translate the request from the web server  68  into any database language necessary for communication with the database. In certain embodiments, the service module  64  may be configured to communicate with any SQL compliant database. 
     Once the request is made to the service module  64  and authority is granted to a user, the service module  64  may then retrieve or change information contained within the database  80 . Such information may include data, tables, forms, queries, reports, web pages, user profiles, or other data. In addition to retrieving data, the service module  64  may also parse any data from the database  80  and execute any logic found therein. 
     Once the data is retrieved and any logic found therein is executed, a result may be subsequently determined by the service module  64 . Accordingly, the result may then be forwarded to the web server  68  and on to the browser  86  for viewing by a user. Thus, the service module  64  effectively acts as an interface between a web server  68  and a database  80 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a process is illustrated whereby an anonymous request  210  is received by a browser in accordance with the present invention. Upon receiving the request  210 , a browser and server establish a communication link  212 . Once the communication link is established, the server then forwards the request  214  to the service module  64  or application  64  of the present invention. 
     The application  64  or service module  64  may then process the request and return the result to the server  216 . Processing the request includes receiving a request to access data in a database from the server. Once the request is received, the requested data is then retrieved from the database. The service module  64  or application  64  may then parse any data retrieved and execute any logic found therein  222 , creating a result. The result is subsequently forwarded to the server. 
     Once the result is received by the server, the result may then be forwarded to the browser  226  where it may be displayed to a user  228 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, a flow chart is illustrated wherein a secure connection is requested by a client through a browser. As described in FIG. 7, a browser and server must first establish a communication link  212 . Once the communication link is established, the server may then forward the request  214  to the service module  64  or application  64 . 
     The application may then process the request and return the result to the server  216 . The steps for processing a secure request by the application  216  include, first, receiving the request to establish a secure connection  232 . The service module  64  or application  64  may then verify authentication information and send an authentication token to the browser  234 . The browser may then store the authentication token for later use  236 . Once the token is received, the service module  64  may then process the request by retrieving the data  220 , parsing the retrieved data and executing any logic in the data  222 , and forwarding the result to the server  224 . 
     Once the server receives the result, the result may then be forwarded to the browser  226  where the it may be displayed for a user  228 . In certain embodiments, once a secure connection is established, the browser may send the authentication token to the server with each following request. In certain embodiments, the authentication token may be a cookie placed on a user&#39;s computer. 
     From the above discussion, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides an effective browser-based database access engine that may be used across the Internet. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.