Method for improving interactive-screen uploading of accounting data

• US 5,361,393 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prodigy Services Company
• Original Assignee: Prodigy Services Co.
• Inventors: Rossillo, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/827,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/650, 395/700
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Method for improving the process of uploading data from a terminal computer to a host computer with interactive, data receiving screens. The method features use of spreadsheet software to format data to be uploaded in a data source file. The data to be uploaded is laid out in single-row, multi-column form within the spreadsheet so that vivid, hard copy journals of the data may be created that facilitate examination of the data and memorializes its existence. Additionally, the data layout may be transformed and provided with additional information using the spreadsheet to create the data source file having a single-column, multi-row format suitable to facilitate entry of the data to the interactive screens for uploading. Additionally, the method features use of a management program that includes instruction for directing and coordinating the feeding of the data contained the source file to an interface program that enters the data in the predetermined fields of the interactive screens.

Claims

1. In a method for uploading data from a terminal computer to a host computer with the use of one or more interactive screens supported at the terminal computer by the host computer, the improvement comprising:

a. generating source file means including data elements to be uploaded from the terminal computer to the host computer;

b. formatting the source file means such that the data elements are arranged on individual file lines;

c. providing uploading program means including instructions for entering data representing prescribed keystrokes to predetermined fields of the interactive screens, the program means further including instructions for reading the source file means so that predetermined source file data elements may be entered to predetermined fields of the interactive screens, the uploading means being operable to facilitate the uploading of data elements from the terminal computer to the host computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the source file means is created with the use of a spreadsheet program means.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data elements constitute one or more data records to be uploaded from the terminal computer to the host computer, each data record including a predetermined number of data elements arranged in a single-row, multi-column array with use of the spreadsheet program means.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the source file formatting includes transforming the single-row, multi-column data element array for the data records to a multi-row, single-column array of data elements with use of the spreadsheet program means.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein predetermined information is combined with record information to be uploaded when the data source file is created.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the single-row, multi-column array of data elements constituting the one or more data records may be reproduced with the use of the spreadsheet program means to create a hard copy journal means of the data records to be uploaded to the host computer from the terminal computer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the uploading program means includes a management program means and an interface program means, the management program means including instructions compatible with the interface program means such that data representing predetermined keystroke identified by the management program means are entered to the interactive screens by the interface program means, the management program further including instructions compatible with the interface program means such that data elements are read from the data source file by the management program means and entered to predetermined fields of the interactive screens by the interface program means.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the management program means reads successive lines of the data source file as data elements are entered to the interactive screens.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the management program means includes instructions for determining whether the host computer has found data records sought to be uploaded in error.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the management program means includes instructions for segregating records sought to be uploaded which the host computer has indicated are in error.

11. In a method for uploading accounting data from a terminal computer to a host computer with the use of one or more interactive screens supported at the terminal computer by the host computer on which an accounting program is running, the improvement comprising:

a. generating source file means including data elements that constitute accounting records to be uploaded from the terminal computer to the host computer;

b. formatting the source file means with the use of spreadsheet program means such that the accounting record data elements are arranged on individual file lines;

c. providing uploading program means including a management program means and a interface program means, the uploading program means including instructions for entering data representing prescribed keystrokes to predetermined fields of the interactive screens, the program means further including instructions for reading the source file means so that predetermined source file data elements may be entered to predetermined fields of the interactive screens, the uploading means being operable to facilitate the uploading of data elements from the terminal computer to the host computer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the management program means includes instructions compatible with the interface program means such that data representing predetermined keystrokes identified by the management program means are entered to the interactive screens by the interface program means, the management program further including instructions compatible with the interface program means such that data elements are read from the data source file by the management program means and entered to predetermined fields of the interactive screens by the interface program means.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the data elements constitute the data records to be uploaded include a predetermined number of data elements arranged in a single-row, multi-column array, and wherein the data source file is generated by transforming the single-row, multi-column data element array for the data records to a multi-row, single-column array of data elements with use of the spreadsheet program means.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the management program means includes instructions for determining whether the host computer has found accounting data records sought to be uploaded are in error, and wherein the management program means includes instructions for segregating records sought to be uploaded which the host computer has indicated are in error.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the single-row, multi-column array of data elements constituting the one or more data records to be uploaded may be reproduced with the use of the spreadsheet program means to create a hard copy accounting journal that enables inspection of the records for errors before they are uploaded, and creation of a record audit trail.