Data importation and exportation for computing devices

• US 20040236796A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Sarangarajan, Raghunandan, Bhatt, Ankur
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems

Abstract

A system is disclosed that allows users of computing devices to control the copying of business information between computing systems and various computing environments. The system includes a method for accessing at least one data element from a source database of a source system. The at least one data element may represent a delta change in data existing in a first collection of data stored in the source database. The method includes copying the at least one data element to an export data file and transporting the export data file to a target system. Once transported, the method further includes displaying a user interface on the target system that identifies ones of the at least one data elements that exist in a second collection of data stored in the target database, prompting user selection of desired ones of the at least one data element to be copied in the target database, and copying selected one of the at least one data element to the target database in response to the prompt.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing at least one data element representing a delta data change from a source database of a source system, the delta data change existing in a first collection of data in the source database;

copying the at least one data element to an export data file;

transporting the export data file from the source system to a target system having a target database;

displaying, at the target system, a user interface that identifies ones of the at least one data element that exist in a second collection of data stored in the target database, to prompt a user selection of desired ones of the at least one data element to be copied in the target database; and

copying selected ones of the at least one data element to the target database.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein copying the at least one data element to the export data file comprises:

comparing the at least one data element to a data element stored in a reference export data file; and

storing the at least one data element to the export data file based on the comparison.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising copying a related data element from the source database to the export data file, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one data element represents a report and the related data element represents a graphical illustration of data in the report.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein copying selected ones of the at least one data element to the target database comprises copying a related data element from the export data file to the target database, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein copying to the target database comprises generating a restorable archive file using the ones of the at least one data element that exist in the second collection of data stored in the target database.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein generating the restorable archive file comprises using a related data element to the at least one data element, the related data element existing in the second collection of data stored in the target database.

8. A system comprising:

a computer network;

a source system coupled to the computer network, the source system storing a first collection of data in a source database;

a target system coupled to the computer network, the target system storing a second collection of data in a target database;

a service delivery device coupled to the network, the service delivery device including a processor and memory storing instructions that, in response to receiving a first type of request for access to a service, cause the processor to;

access at least one data element representing a delta data change from the source database of the source system, the delta data change existing in the first collection of data in the source database;

copy the at least one data element to an export data file; and

transport the export data file from the source system to the target system having the target database.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to copy a related data element from the source database to the export data file, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the first type of request, cause the processor to:

compare the at least one data element to a data element stored in a reference export data file; and

store the at least one data element to the export data file based on the comparison.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving a second type of request, cause the processor to:

display, at the target system, a user interface that identifies ones of the at least one data element that exist in the second collection of data stored in the target database, to prompt a user selection of desired ones of the at least one data element to be copied in the target database; and

copy selected ones of the at least one data element to the target database.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the second type of request, cause the processor to copy a related data element from the export data file to the target database, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the second type of request, cause the processor to generate a restorable archive file using the ones of the at least one data element that exist in the second collection of data stored in the target database.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the memory stores instructions that, in response to receiving the second type of request, cause the processor to generate the restorable archive file using the related data element to the at least one data element, the related data element existing in the second collection of data stored in the target database.

15. An article comprising a machine-readable medium storing machine-readable instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to:

access at least one data element representing delta data change from a source database of a source system, the delta data change existing in a first collection of data in the source database;

copy the at least one data element to an export data file;

transport the export data file from the source system to a target system storing a target database;

display, at the target system, a user interface that identifies ones of the at least one data element that exist in a second collection of data stored in the target database, to prompt a user selection of desired ones of the at least one data element to be copied in the target database; and

copy selected ones of the at least one data element to the target database.

16. The article of claim 15 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to

compare the at least one data element to a data element stored in a reference export data file;

and

store the at least one data element to the export data file based on the comparison.

17. The article of claim 15 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to copy a related data element from the source database to the export data file, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

18. The article of claim 15 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to copy a related data element from the export data file to the target database, the related data element relates to one of the at least one data element.

19. The article of claim 18 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to generate a restorable archive file using the ones of the at least one data element that exist in the second collection of data stored in the target database.

20. The article of claim 19 including instructions that, when applied to the machine, cause the machine to generate the restorable archive file using a related data element to the at least one data element, the related data element existing in the second collection of data stored in the target database.