Patent ID: 8140529

Claim:
A method for accessing a database on at least one database computer system, said method comprising the computer-executed steps of: automatically maintaining historical data concerning data requests for data contained in said database, said database having at least one database table, each database table of said database defined by a respective set of fields and containing a respective plurality of entries, each entry having respective data in the set of fields defining the respective database table; receiving a data request, said data request requesting data which is contained in a first subset of the set of fields defining a first database table of said database, said first subset containing at least one and fewer than all the fields of the set of fields defining said first database table; responsive to receiving said data request, automatically using said historical data to determine a second subset of the set of fields defining said first database table to be requested, said second subset containing fewer than all the fields defining said first database table, said second subset including said first subset and at least one field not included in said first subset; and responsive to said step of using said historical data to determine a second subset of fields, automatically issuing a request to said database for data in said second subset of fields.