Platform-independent universal data access system and method in a client-server environment

摘要

A data access system and method provides platform independent access from a client module to a variety of data sources stored in a variety of data formats on a variety of computer systems, including database sources and electronic mail sources. The system includes a desktop client module that is a Java applet that runs within a Java-compliant browser located on a client computer. The desktop client module provides access to any one of a plurality of data sources, each represented as a book on the client desktop. Access of the data associated with a book is implemented using a data access service application running on a server computer in communication with the desktop client. The data access service application includes a data source interface that stores metadata associated with each book. Accessed data is presented in a customized viewing format as specified by various views and forms associated with each book.