ARTICLE · 03 FEBRUARY 2005

Only Narrowing Amendments Operate to Preclude Equivalent

McDermott Will & Emery

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To compose a proper inquiry, a user must understand the structure and content of the relational database as well as the complex syntax of the specific query language. These complexities generally prevent laypersons from drafting queries in query languages.

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To compose a proper inquiry, a user must understand the structure and content of the relational database as well as the complex syntax of the specific query language. These complexities generally prevent laypersons from drafting queries in query languages. Business Objects, S.A. v. MicroStrategy, Inc., Case No. 04-1009 (Fed. Cir., Jan. 6, 2005).

The patent claims a method that allows users to query a relational database without knowing a query language or understanding the structure of the relational database. The method employs a "manager" (a skilled human operator who defines the business objects with knowledge of the database) that sets the parameters to allow lay users to retrieve information from a relational database. The manager achieves this objective by creating a new "universe" (a user-friendly representation of the contents of a relational database that is relevant to the lay users). After the manager has created a universe, lay users may work with common language to query

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