TEST STRATEGY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCOUNTS HELD DIRECT AT-FUND

• US 20100325087A1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: King, Alana, Nelson, Carla, Bolstad, Beth, Gray, Elizabeth, Counce, Debbie
• Granted Patent: US 8,037,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/609
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• 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 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for a user to test and transfer data from a client'"'"'s database or network to a host'"'"'s database or network. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user acquires data information from a client. The user uses this information to generate a spreadsheet, and to populate the spreadsheet with assumed values based on the information received from the client. The spreadsheet is configured in a fashion such that it is consistent with the host'"'"'s database or network. The user requests and receives a test file from the client and uses a developed algorithm, generally in the form of a computer program, to reformat the file so that it is consistent with the host'"'"'s database configuration. The user determines the consistency between the reformatted file and the host'"'"'s database by comparing the reformatted file to the previously generated spreadsheet. Any inconsistencies identified alert the user that the file reformatting algorithm needs updating. When all the updates are complete and the reformatting algorithm has been deemed appropriate to carry out the data transformation function, the entire client database log is sent to the user in the form of an input file. The input file is duplicated to protect the original information and then reformatted using the updated algorithm. The reformatted file may then be uploaded to the host'"'"'s network or database so that the information contained may be used by others who access the database or network for information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a computer-based system for facilitating a transfer of data from a client database to a host database, at least one data field from said client database desired for said host database;

incorporating, by the computer-based system, said data field in a spreadsheet;

populating, by the computer-based system, at least a portion of said data field in said spreadsheet with assumed data values;

developing, by the computer-based system, an algorithm configured to reformat data associated with said data field from said client database and desired for said host database;

receiving, by the computer-based system, a test file from said client database;

creating, by the computer-based system, a reformatted test file with said test file using said algorithm;

comparing, by the computer-based system, said reformatted test file to said spreadsheet;

identifying, by the computer-based system, a change, wherein said change would substantially conform said reformatted test file to said spreadsheet;

creating, by the computer-based system, an updated algorithm from said algorithm which incorporates said at least one change;

receiving, by the computer-based system, an input file from said client database;

creating, by the computer-based system, a reformatted input file by applying said updated algorithm to said input file; and

,

uploading said reformatted input file to said host database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying data fields from said client database desired for said host database further comprises receiving and analyzing a client record layout to identify said data fields desired by a host.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving a client record layout further comprises receiving said client record layout from a database clearinghouse.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said receiving a client record layout further comprises receiving said client record layout from a database clearinghouse further comprises receiving said client record layout from at least one of DST and DAZL database clearinghouse.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving a test file from said client database further comprises receiving a 529 plan test file from said client database.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein incorporating said data fields in a spreadsheet further comprises at least one of determining an order to organize said data fields into said spreadsheet;

determining data field headers from said data fields and populating at least a portion of said data field headers into said spreadsheet in said order; and

determining parameters for said data fields and formatting said data fields using said parameters.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said determining parameters for said data fields and formatting said data fields using said parameters further comprises formatting said data fields to include at least one of an alphabetical, a numeric, or an alpha-numeric character.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein populating at least a portion of said data fields in said spreadsheet with assumed data values further comprises,

generating fictitious data in accordance with said parameters of said data fields, populating at least a portion of said fictitious data into said spreadsheet,

forwarding said spreadsheet to said client database for feedback regarding the accuracy and the organization of said spreadsheet.

9. The method in claim 1 wherein said comparing said reformatted test file to said spreadsheet further comprises,

comparing data fields from said reformatted test file to data fields from said spreadsheet,

comparing parameters from said data fields from said reformatted test file to parameters from said data fields from said spreadsheet,

comparing data values from said data fields from said reformatted test file to data values from said data fields from said spreadsheet,

identifying inconsistencies between said data values from said data fields from said reformatted test file to said data values from said data fields from said spreadsheet.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said identifying inconsistencies between said data values from said data fields from said reformatted test file to said data values from said data fields from said spreadsheet further comprises at least one of:

identifying said inconsistencies by a visual comparison, and,

dentifying said inconsistencies by an automated comparison.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving an input file from said client database further comprises copying at least a portion of said input file to create at least a portion of a duplicate input file to minimize the possibility of losing information from said input file.

12. A system to facilitate the transfer of data from a client database to a host database comprising,

a user to carry out the method steps on behalf of a host for a client;

a computer interface accessed by said user to facilitate the performance of said method steps;

a host database to accept the data information, transformed from said client database, wherein said client database further comprises a database clearinghouse containing data information from at least one Fund Family; and

,

a network to facilitate the transfer of data between said client and said host.

13. A system comprising:

a tangible, non-transitory memory communicating with a processor,

the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that facilitate transfer of data from a client database to a host database, that in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

identifying a data field from the client database desired for the host database;

incorporating the data field into a spreadsheet;

populating at least a portion of the data field in the spreadsheet with test data values;

reformatting data associated with the data field from the client database and desired for the host database;

creating a reformatted test file from the test file using an algorithm;

comparing the reformatted test file to the spreadsheet;

identifying a change;

creating an updated algorithm from the algorithm, the updated algorithm incorporating the change;

receiving a test file and an input file from the client database;

creating a reformatted input file by applying the updated algorithm to the input file; and

uploading the reformatted input file to the host database.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising receiving and analyzing a client record layout to identify a data field desired by a host.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the client record layout is received from a database clearinghouse.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the database clearinghouse further comprises receiving said client record layout from at least one of a DST clearinghouse and a DAZL database clearinghouse.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the test file is a 529 plan test file.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising determining an order to organize data fields in the spreadsheet, determine data field headers from the data fields and populate at least a portion of the data field headers in the spreadsheet in the order, determine parameters for the data fields, and format the data fields using the parameters.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising formatting the data fields to include at least one of:

an alphabetical character, a numeric character, and an alpha-numeric character.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising generating test data in accordance with parameters of the data field, wherein the test data simulates data of the client database, populate at least a portion of the test data into the spreadsheet, and forwarding the spreadsheet to the client database for feedback regarding accuracy and organization of the spreadsheet.

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising comparing data fields from the reformatted test file to data fields from the spreadsheet, comparing parameters from data fields from the reformatted test file to parameters from the data fields from the spreadsheet, comparing data values from the data fields from the reformatted test file to data values from the data fields from the spreadsheet, and identifying inconsistencies between the data values from the data fields from the reformatted test file and the data values from the data fields from the spreadsheet.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising identifying the inconsistencies by a visual comparison, and identify the inconsistencies by an automated comparison.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising copying at least a portion of the input file to create at least a portion of a duplicate input file.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the test data values are formatted in accordance with format requirements of the data field.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the change would substantially conform the reformatted test file to the spreadsheet.

26. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that facilitate transfer of data from a client database to a host database, that in response to execution by a computer-based system, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:

identifying a data field from the client database desired for the host database;

incorporating the data field into a spreadsheet;

populating at least a portion of the data field in the spreadsheet with test data values;

reformatting data associated with the data field from the client database and desired for the host database;

creating a reformatted test file from the test file using an algorithm;

comparing the reformatted test file to the spreadsheet;

identifying a change;

creating an updated algorithm from the algorithm, the updated algorithm incorporating the change;

receiving a test file and an input file from the client database;

creating a reformatted input file by applying the updated algorithm to the input file; and

uploading the reformatted input file to the host database.