Patent ID: 7085757

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for building queries, comprising: providing a logical model to logically describe the physical fields, the logical model comprising logical fields corresponding to respective physical fields, wherein as least some of the logical fields are selectable as logical result fields in an abstract queries; providing a graphical user interface allowing user selection and arrangement of logical result fields selected from the logical model; receiving user input specifying a selection and a location, in the graphical user interface, of a first logical result field; receiving user input specifying a selection and a location, in the graphical user interface, of a second logical result field, wherein the first and second logical result fields have a relative geometric relationship as displayed in the graphical user interface and define at least a portion of an abstract query; and transforming the abstract query into an executable query containing at least one combinatorial statement containing representations of the first and second logical result fields, the at least one combinatorial statement being generated as a result of the relative geometric relationship.