Transaction method and system

• US 20030131009A1
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Frey, Leonard E., Houston, William M., Martin, James A. Jr., Zeggert, Debra L.
• Application Number:
  US10/040,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating

Abstract

Database transactions are performed involving multiple databases each having a processing agent. A transaction database is coupled to each of the multiple databases. A processing database agent writes a transaction document having a key and a detail to the transaction database. The processing agents periodically search the transaction database for a key and a detail to determine whether the agent should process the transaction. The agent then updates a record in its corresponding database based on the key and detail of the transaction. A wildcard character may be used in the key to indicate multiple documents in the respective processing database are affected by the transaction.

Claims

1. A method of processing transactions, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of processing databases each having a respective agent;

providing a transaction database;

writing one or more transactions, each having a key and a detail, from a first of said plurality of processing databases to said transaction database;

periodically searching, using a processing agent from a second of said plurality of processing databases, in said transaction database for a key and detail to determine whether said processing agent should process said one or more transactions; and

updating a record in said second of said plurality of processing databases, by using said key and detail.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction database is a messaging database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction database is a LOTUS NOTES database and said plurality of processing databases are adapted to read said LOTUS NOTES database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more transactions has a processor designation specifying which of said plurality of processing databases is affected by said each of said one or more transactions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said key includes a wildcard character.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring said one or more transactions from said transaction database to said second of said plurality of processing databases prior to said step of updating a record.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a status flag in said one or more transactions.

8. A system for processing transactions, comprising:

a plurality of processing databases each having a respective agent;

a transaction database;

means for periodically searching, using a processing agent from a second of said plurality of processing databases, in said transaction database for a key and detail to determine whether said processing agent should process said one or more transactions; and

means for updating a record in said second of said plurality of processing databases, by using said key and detail.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said transaction database is a messaging database.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said transaction database is a LOTUS NOTES database and said plurality of processing databases are adapted to read said LOTUS NOTES database.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein each of said one or more transactions has a processor designation specifying which of said plurality of processing databases is affected by said each of said one or more transactions.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said key includes a wildcard character.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for transferring said one or more transactions from said transaction database to said second of said plurality of processing databases.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said one or more transactions have a status flag.

15. A computer program product for instructing a computer processor to handle transactions, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instruction means for providing a plurality of processing databases each having a respective agent;

second program instruction means for providing a transaction database;

third program instruction means for writing one or more transactions, each having a key and a detail, from a first of said plurality of processing databases to said transaction database;

fourth program instruction means for periodically searching, using a processing agent from a second of said plurality of processing databases, in said transaction database for a key and detail to determine whether said processing agent should process said one or more transactions; and

fifth program instruction means for updating a record in said second of said plurality of processing databases, by using said key and detail; and

wherein

all said program instruction means are recorded on said medium.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein each of said one or more transactions has a processor designation specifying which of said plurality of processing databases is affected by said each of said one or more transactions.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said key includes a wildcard character.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising sixth program instruction means for transferring said one or more transactions from said transaction database to said second of said plurality of processing databases.

19. The computer program method of claim 15, further comprising sixth program instruction means for setting a status flag in said one or more transactions.