Data exchange tool

• US 20060074944A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: David Stark, Mary Stark
• Inventors: Stark, David, Stark, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 7,337,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The present invention may generally be thought of as a software reference tool that enables users to easily understand XML and other file types, including proprietary file types, and that provides the user the capability to map from one file type to another by using system templates that correspond to each file type. The data mapped from one file type to another has been pre-programmed or selected by the user to include only the data elements that are key to the transaction involved.

Claims

1. A data exchange software tool, comprising:

means for receiving an input data file of a first file type;

means for mapping the input data file to an input data map according to a first template and an element list, wherein said means for mapping includes means for user interactively defining a plurality of key elements in addition to pre-selected elements from said element list;

means for mapping the plurality of user interactively defined key elements and the pre-selected elements within said input data map to an output data map according to a second file template and element list; and

means for producing an output data file of a second file type from the data in said output data map.

4. The data exchange software tool of claim 1, wherein said means for user interactively defining a plurality of key elements in addition to pre-selected elements from said element list further includes means for user interactively defining the contents of each of said key elements.

7. The data exchange tool of claim 1, wherein said input data file and said output data file each comprise financial transaction data.

2. A data exchange software tool, comprising:

means for receiving an input data file of a first file type;

means for mapping at least a subset of the input data to an output data file, wherein the output data file is of a second file type different from said first file type, wherein said subset of the input data comprises a plurality of key elements and wherein said plurality of key elements comprises a portion of pre-selected key elements and a portion of key elements initially, interactively defined by a user of said tool upon receiving said input data file.

5. The data exchange software tool of claim 2, wherein said plurality of user interactively defined key elements further includes user interactively defined contents of each of said key elements.

8. The data exchange tool of claim 2, wherein said input data file and said output data file each comprise financial transaction data.

3. A method for exchanging data, comprising the steps of:

receiving an input data file of a first file type;

mapping at least a subset of the input data from the input data file to an output data file, wherein the output data file is of a second file type different from said first file type, wherein said subset of the input data comprises a plurality of key elements and wherein said plurality of key elements comprises a portion of pre-selected key elements and a portion of key elements initially, interactively defined by a user of said tool upon receiving said input data file.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of user interactively defined key elements further includes user interactively defined contents of each of said key elements.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein said input data file and said output data file each comprise financial transaction data.