Supporting mobile database access through query by icons

In this paper, we present both the theoretical framework and a prototype of a query processing facility that supports the exploration and query of databases from a mobile computer through the manipulation of icons. Icons are particularly suitable for mobile computing since they can be manipulated without typing. The facility requires no special knowledge of the location or the content of the remote database nor understanding of the details of the database schema. Its iconic query language involves no path specification in composing a query. The query facility provides metaquery tools that assist in the formulation of complete queries in an incremental manner on the mobile computer and without involving access to the actual data in the remote database. By not requiring constant access and caching of the actual data, it is able to effectively cope with the inherent limitations in memory and battery life on the mobile computer, disconnections and restricted communication bandwidth, and the high monetary cost of wireless communication.Recommended by: Daniel Barbara, Ravi Jain and Narayanan Krishnakumar