How to Build Complex Database Searches Using Venn Diagrams
A method for searching databases by visually connecting Venn diagrams to represent complex logical relationships between different sets of data.
Original patent title: “Graphic user interface for database system”
A method for searching databases by visually connecting Venn diagrams to represent complex logical relationships between different sets of data. Granted to Individual in 1999 with 69 claims and 859 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to make database searching more intuitive by using visual icons that resemble Venn diagrams. Instead of typing complex code or SQL queries, a user selects specific regions within these circular icons to define how different data sets should overlap or exclude each other. The system then takes these visual selections and the lines connecting them to build a formal search query that a database can understand. For example, a user could drag or resize parts of a Venn diagram to tell the computer to find records that are in 'Set A' but not in 'Set B', and then link that result to another diagram to further narrow the search.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover text-based query languages like SQL or natural language processing.
- Does not cover search interfaces that rely solely on keyword input fields.
- Does not cover the underlying database storage or retrieval engine itself.
- Does not cover systems that do not use visual icons to represent set inclusion properties.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation lies in treating the graphical representation not just as a picture, but as a dynamic input method where gestures (like resizing or moving a circle) directly translate into logical parameters for a database query.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Visual query builders in business intelligence software
Advanced data filtering tools in research databases
Graphical interfaces for set-based data analysis
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent was filed in 1996, a time when database searching was almost exclusively the domain of experts writing code. It represents an early attempt to democratize data access by mapping abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT) to familiar geometric shapes. It is highly cited because it anticipated the need for visual query builders in the burgeoning era of web-based data exploration.
Filed
December 23, 1996
Granted
October 12, 1999
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The core concepts are foundational to modern business intelligence platforms like Tableau or Microsoft Power BI, which allow users to filter data sets visually. Many data analytics startups continue to refine these visual query paradigms to make complex data accessible to non-technical business users.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the shift toward visual data exploration, moving away from command-line interfaces. By providing a framework for visual logic, it helped pave the way for the user-friendly dashboarding tools that are now standard in enterprise software.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to make database searching more intuitive by using visual icons that resemble Venn diagrams. Instead of typing complex code or SQL queries, a user selects specific regions within these circular icons to define how different data sets should overlap or exclude each other. The system then takes these visual selections and the lines connecting them to build a formal search query that a database can understand. For example, a user could drag or resize parts of a Venn diagram to tell the computer to find records that are in 'Set A' but not in 'Set B', and then link that result to another diagram to further narrow the search.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in treating the graphical representation not just as a picture, but as a dynamic input method where gestures (like resizing or moving a circle) directly translate into logical parameters for a database query.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover text-based query languages like SQL or natural language processing.
- Does not cover search interfaces that rely solely on keyword input fields.
- Does not cover the underlying database storage or retrieval engine itself.
- Does not cover systems that do not use visual icons to represent set inclusion properties.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$115K – $369K
Midpoint $230K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
69 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Szabo, A. J. (1999). How to Build Complex Database Searches Using Venn Diagrams (U.S. Patent No. 5,966,126). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5966126/graphic-user-interface-for-database-system
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Build Complex Database Searches Using Venn Diagrams cover?
A method for searching databases by visually connecting Venn diagrams to represent complex logical relationships between different sets of data.
Who owns patent US 5966126?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1999.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 5966126 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 859 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent was filed in 1996, a time when database searching was almost exclusively the domain of experts writing code. It represents an early attempt to democratize data access by mapping abstract Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT) to familiar geometric shapes. It is highly cited because it anticipated the need for visual query builders in the burgeoning era of web-based data exploration.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover text-based query languages like SQL or natural language processing.
Same assignee
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