Method of conforming input data to an output data structure and engine for accomplishing same
First Claim
1. In an electronic information processing system including a pre-existing core program, EDI protocol data and protocol processing instruction data, a method for conforming input data into an output data structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- ascertaining, by the pre-existing core program in said system, an EDI protocol to be utilized in the system based on characteristics of the input data;
selecting the EDI protocol data by the pre-existing core program, the EDI protocol data describing a syntax of the EDI protocol, the EDI protocol data including at least one data model;
selecting the protocol processing instruction data by the pre-existing core program, the protocol processing instruction data including at least one layer of elements, the protocol processing instruction data describing trading partner specific editing and validation logic;
initializing, in said system, the selected EDI protocol data related to the EDI protocol and protocol processing instruction data;
linking, in the system, the initialized EDI protocol data and the initialized protocol processing instruction data to the pre-existing core program to form a data management engine; and
converting, with the data management engine, the input data into the output data structure, the data management engine being. dynamically configured based on the EDI protocol data, the protocol processing instruction data and the core program.
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Abstract
A method for restructuring input data having a prespecified input data structure with a data management engine, such as a translation engine, which is dynamically configured by the input data to conform the input data to an output data structure. When the data management engine takes the form of a translation engine, capability exists to translate data to and from various electronic data interchange (EDI) formats. Because the data management engine is dynamically configured by the input data, the translation process is independent of the specific details of EDI protocol and capable of coordinating multiple data sources/destinations without requiring any recoding of the engine. Initially, data protocol utilized in the data interchange system is ascertained. Then, the protocol data related to the data protocol and protocol processing instruction data is initialized. Next, the initialized protocol data and the initialized protocol instruction processing data is linked to a core program which takes the form of a translator in the EDI system to form the translation engine. Finally, the input data is converted into an output data structure with the translation engine wherein the input data dynamically configures the translation engine.
105 Citations
13 Claims
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1. In an electronic information processing system including a pre-existing core program, EDI protocol data and protocol processing instruction data, a method for conforming input data into an output data structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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ascertaining, by the pre-existing core program in said system, an EDI protocol to be utilized in the system based on characteristics of the input data; selecting the EDI protocol data by the pre-existing core program, the EDI protocol data describing a syntax of the EDI protocol, the EDI protocol data including at least one data model; selecting the protocol processing instruction data by the pre-existing core program, the protocol processing instruction data including at least one layer of elements, the protocol processing instruction data describing trading partner specific editing and validation logic; initializing, in said system, the selected EDI protocol data related to the EDI protocol and protocol processing instruction data; linking, in the system, the initialized EDI protocol data and the initialized protocol processing instruction data to the pre-existing core program to form a data management engine; and converting, with the data management engine, the input data into the output data structure, the data management engine being. dynamically configured based on the EDI protocol data, the protocol processing instruction data and the core program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In an electronic information processing system including a core program, EDI protocol data including at least one data and protocol processing instruction data describing trading partner specific editing and validation data, an apparatus for conforming input data into an output data structure, the apparatus comprising:
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means for ascertaining, in said system, an EDI protocol to be utilized in the system; means for selecting the EDI protocol data by the pre-existing core program; means for selecting the protocol processing instruction data by the pre-existing core program; means for initializing, in said system, the selected EDI protocol data related to the EDI protocol and protocol processing instruction data; means for linking, in the system, the initialized EDI protocol data and the initialized protocol processing instruction data to the pre-existing core program to form a data management engine, the data management engine converting the input data into the output data structure, the data management engine being. dynamically configurable based on the EDI protocol data, the protocol processing instruction data and the core program.
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Specification