Patent ID: 6993533

Claim:
A computer implemented method to provide linked first and second reports to a user, the second report being provided in response to the user's selection of an element of a first report, the method comprising the actions of: retrieve a first object that defines characteristics of the first report, the first object including a first query language instruction operable to retrieve a first data set from a database, the first query language instruction also including a linking instruction that specifies a linking relationship between at least a portion of the first data set and the second report, the first object further specifying a first report template to which the first data set is operable to be bound; retrieve the first data set in response to the first query language instruction; bind at least a portion of the first data set to the first report template; publish the first report; wait for the user to select an element of the first report; if the user selects an element of the first report, map the user's selection to a corresponding portion of the first data set; if the linking instruction specifies a linking relationship between the second report and the portion of the first data set corresponding to the user's selection, then retrieve a second object that defines characteristics of the second report, the second object including a second query language instruction operable to retrieve a second data set from said database or another database, the second object further specifying a second report template to which the second data set is operable to be bound; retrieve the second data set in response to the second query language instruction; bind the second data set to the second report template; and publish the second report.