Methods and systems for providing benchmark information under controlled access

• US 20050119861A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Wefers, Marcus, Bukary, Roman
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An electronic data structure comprises benchmark information and an authorizing section for access to said benchmark information. A method processes and stores data objects by means of one or more processes running in a computer system having one or more of the electronic data structures. A request for benchmark information is received from a second party, the request including identification information of the second party. The benchmark information is analyzed to determine whether it contains in its electronic data structures and whether the authorizing section of the electronic data structure includes the identification information. Based on the determination, the benchmark information is presented to the second party.

Claims

1. An electronic data structure comprising:

benchmark information;

an authorizing section for accessing the benchmark information comprising one or more entries selected from the group consisting of description of an entity, a start authorized access date, an end authorized access date, a description field, a check-sum block, a default identifier, and an authorized content.

2. The electronic data structure of claim 1, wherein the electronic data structure is a file having a format readable by a SGML-based language.

3. The electronic data structure of claim 1, wherein the electronic data structure file is an XML or HTML file.

4. A method for processing benchmark information by means of an electronic data structure by means of one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising:

receiving a request for benchmark information from a second party, the request including an identification information of said second party;

comparing, whether the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and whether the identification information is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

when the comparison indicates that the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, presenting the benchmark information to the second party.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

updating a resource or database with benchmark information, whereby the resource or data base resides outside the control of the first and/or the second party.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting benchmark information, which is stored in a resource or database; and

writing the selected benchmark information into a second electronic data structure for presentation to the second party.

7. The method of claim 4,

wherein the benchmark information is presented by electronic means.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

sending the electronic data structure using a HTTP, streaming, or FTP protocol.

11. A computer system for processing benchmark information by means of an electronic data structure and by means of one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising:

memory having program instructions;

input means for entering data;

storage means for storing data; and

a processor responsive to the program instructions of;

receiving a request for a benchmark information from a second party, said request including an identification information of said second party;

comparing, whether the benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structures and whether the identification information is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

when the comparison indicates that the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, presenting the benchmark information to the second party.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for updating a resource or database with benchmark information, whereby the resource or data base resides outside the control of the first and/or the second party.

13. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for selecting a benchmark information, which is stored in a resource or database, and writing the selected benchmark information into a further electronic data structure for presentation to the second party.

14. The computer system of claim 11,

wherein the benchmark information is presented by electronic means.

15. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

16. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

17. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions for sending the electronic data structure by using a HTTP, streaming, or FTP protocol.

18. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for processing benchmark information by means of an electronic data structure and by means of one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising instructions of:

receiving a request for a benchmark information from a second party, said request including an identification information of said second party;

comparing, whether the benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structures and whether the identification information is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

when the comparison indicates that the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, presenting the benchmark information to the second party.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for updating a resource or database with benchmark information, whereby the resource or data base resides outside the control of the first and/or the second party.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for selecting a benchmark information, which is stored in a resource or database, and writing the selected benchmark information into a second electronic data structure for presentation to the second party.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18,

wherein the benchmark information is presented by electronic means.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

instructions for sending the electronic data structure by using a HTTP, streaming, or FTP protocol.

25. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave comprising:

code for processing benchmark information by means of an electronic data structure and by means of one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, said code comprising instructions of;

receiving a request for a benchmark information from a second party, said request including an identification information of said second party;

comparing, whether the benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structures and whether the identification information is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

when the comparison indicates that the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, presenting the benchmark information to the second party.

26. The data signal of claim 25, further comprising:

code for updating a resource or database with benchmark information, whereby the resource or data base resides outside the control of the first and/or the second party.

27. The data signal of claim 25, further comprising:

code for selecting a benchmark information, which is stored in a resource or database, and writing the selected benchmark information into a further electronic data structure for presentation to the second party.

28. A computer program comprising program instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request for benchmark information from a second party, the request including an identification information of said second party;

comparing, whether the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and whether the identification information is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

when the comparison indicates that the benchmark information is contained in the electronic data structures and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, presenting the benchmark information to the second party.