Data entry using linked lists

• US 5,687,385 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BT Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: EPI LP
• Inventors: Janay, Gad
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Min, Donald
• Application Number:
  US08/457,260
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/601, 395/613, 395/616, 395/767
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting

Abstract

A technique for insuring the integrity of documents such as, for example, letters of credit, contracts, etc., wherein groups of possible entries are linked to one another. When an entry from a particular group is placed in a first field, it requires entry of an element from a particular other group in one or more other fields. By checking the entries in each field against entries in other fields, inconsistences are eliminated.

Claims

1. A method of entering information into a database and ensuring that a computer generated transaction based upon said information is properly generated, the method comprising the steps of:

entering information into a first field, said information being selected from a plurality of possibilities, the possibilities being classified into predetermined groups;

entering data into a second field, said data to be entered into said second field being selected from a list of valid values for said second field;

determining, based upon said information entered into said first field, whether said second field can accept one entry from said list or plural entries from said list; and

allowing, in response to said step of determining, either one or plural entries from said list to be entered into said second field depending upon a result of said step of determining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said list is displayed on a computer screen immediately subsequent to entry of said data into said first field.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said data entered into said first field and said data entered into said second field is verified only after said transaction is processed and stored by the computer.