System and method for using web-based applications to validate data with validation functions

• US 20050005163A1
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirkpatrick, Mark A., Lopez, Mauricio, Strohmeyer, John A., Bass, Michael S., Morrow, Darin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Clients using standard software protocols may access stored validation functions in order to perform validation functions on data via a number of methods including Internet applications, a Java RMI server, a CORBA gateway server and graphical screen interphase applications. The system allows for the efficient performance of validation services on data based on dynamically-maintained, centrally-stored validation functions.

Claims

1. A client-server computer system for use with web-based applications comprising:

a computer system running one or more web browsers capable of processing web forms;

a web server capable of processing Java code and web-based forms;

a storage mechanism coupled to said computer system, wherein said web server is used for validating data with information compiled from said storage mechanism; and

validation rules stored in said storage mechanism.

2. A client-server computer system according to claim 1, wherein said web server further comprises an application for compiling at least one Java page using validation rules from said storage schema.

3. A client-server computer system according to claim 1, wherein the web server calls a plurality of Java servlet methods including getValidationSet(String ApplicationName, String Application Version, String Application User) method and doValidation(String tag, String value) method.

4. A client-server computer system according to claim 2, wherein Java servlet methods are compiled into byte code files when the web server is started.

5. A client-server computer system according to claim 4, wherein the web server calls a plurality of Java servlet methods including getValidationSet(String ApplicationName, String Application Version, String Application User) method.

6. A client-server computer system according to claim 5, wherein the web server calls a Java servlet method doValidation(String tag, String value).

7. A client-server computer system according to claim 2, wherein said validation rules comprise at least three main views of hierarchical organized functions.

8. A client-server computer system according to claim 7, comprising a storage schema in the format of an Oracle database.

9. A client-server computer system according to claim 7, wherein said validation rules are represented in the form of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.

10. A client-server computer system according to claim 3, further comprising an Oracle database and a table-based system of rules organized into three hierarchically organized views.

11. A client-server computer system according to claim 3, wherein said storage schema is represented by Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and includes three hierarchically organized views.

12. A web server system comprising:

at least one web application;

means for performing validation service on data submitted by said at least one web application;

means for processing web forms;

means for storing and retrieving a plurality of validation rules for performing said validation service; and

means for compiling validation rules into said at least one web application in order to perform said validation service.

13. A web server system according to claim 12, comprising means for updating validation rules compiled in said at least one web application.

14. A web server system according to claim 12, wherein said means for storing and retrieving validation rules comprises an Oracle database.

15. A web server system according to claim 12, wherein said validation rules are stored in a schema in the form of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.

16. A web server system according to claim 14, wherein said Oracle database contains a table-based system of rules organized into at least three hierarchically organized views.

17. A web server system according to claim 13, further comprising a schema in the form of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and a table-based system of validation rules organized into at least three hierarchically-organized views.

18. A web server system according to claim 14, wherein said Oracle database stores validation functions stored as hierarchically organized views that are dynamically updateable by an external administrator.

19. A web server system according to claim 15, wherein said storage schema represented by Lightweight Directory Access Protocol represents validation functions stored as hierarchically-organized views that are dynamically updateable by an external administrator.

20. A web server system according to claim 12, comprising means for compiling Java servlet methods.

21. A web server system according to claim 20, comprising means to initiate a recompile of a web server in order to load validation rules.

22. A computer-readable medium with instructions executable by a processor for providing a validation application service for web-based applications, the medium comprising instructions to:

couple a service request from a data device to a web server, the request including data to be validated;

generate a service session instruction, the service session instruction based at least in part on the service request;

send the service session instruction to one or more web servers, the service session instruction corresponding to one or more data validation requests from said customer data device;

compile at least one Java Server Page based on stored validation rules in a database; and

send a validation service response to the data device, wherein the validation service response is based on the service request.

23. A method of providing validation data service with a web-based computer system comprising the steps of:

calling at least one Java server page from a web application;

compiling said at least one Java server page at a web server;

retrieving a plurality of validation rules from a centralized storage mass coupled to said web server;

validating data from said web application in accordance with said validation rules.

24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of updating said validation rules by recompiling at least one Java server page.

25. A method according to claim 23, comprising the step of calling a Java servlet method getValidation set.

26. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of loading at least portion of said validation rules into objects.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of said Java server page directing JavaScript functions in accordance with said validation rules.

28. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of periodically recompiling at least one Java server page.

29. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the steps of deleting class files and recompiling at least one Java server page.

30. A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of loading updated validation rules.

31. A method for validating data with a web server system, the method comprising:

a step for sending a data validation service request from a web user;

a step for generating a validation service instruction, the service instruction based at least in part on the validation service request from said web user;

a step for compiling a Java server page containing Java files into class files;

a step for reading data validation information from a data schema;

a step for configuring the data validation information in the memory of a running program;

a step for directing a JavaScript function in order to execute validation a function in accordance with the information read from said data schema.

32. A method according to claim 31, further comprising a step of a Java server page directing JavaScript functions in accordance with said validation information.

33. A method according to claim 31, further comprising a step of recompiling at least one Java server page with updated validation information in a periodic fashion.

34. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the steps of deleting at least a portion of the class files and recompiling at least one Java server page.

35. A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of loading updated validation information in the memory of the program.