System and method for brokering the allocation of an item of business property

• US 5,893,904 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harris, Bradly R., Cue, James B. II
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US08/663,961
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/7, 705/26, 705/28, 705/29, 395/228, 395/200.59
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system (10) for confirming authorization for the allocation of an item of business property is coupled to a business database (44) containing business data for the item. A translate module (30) receives allocation data (14) for the item and generates query data that represents a first portion of the allocation data (14). A query module (32) coupled to the translate module (30) generates a query using the query data for submission to the business database (44). A transaction database (34) coupled to the translate module (30) and the query module (32) stores at least a portion of the allocation data (14) and a query response received from the business database (44). A confirm module (100) accesses the query response and the stored allocation data (14) to confirm authorization for the allocation.

Claims

1. A system operating on at least one computer for brokering the allocation of an item of business property to a recipient, the system coupled to a business database containing business data identified with the item, comprising:

a translate module operable to receive allocation data for the item, the allocation data comprising a first portion comprising a recipient identifier and an item identifier, the allocation data comprising a second portion that comprises a submitter identifier, an authorizer identifier, and a unique transaction identifier for the item, the translate module further operable to generate query data for the item that represents the first portion of the allocation data;

a query module coupled to the translate module and operable to generate a query using the query data for submission to the business database;

a transaction database coupled to the translate module and operable to receive at least some of the allocation data from the translate module and to store the received allocation data in a record according to the unique transaction identifier for the item, the transaction database further operable to store a query response received from the business database in the record according to the unique transaction identifier for the item; and

a broker module coupled to the transaction database and operable to access the query response and the allocation data stored in the record to confirm authorization for the allocation of the item and, in response, to broker the allocation of the item to the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the allocation data is provided by a submitter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the allocation data comprises a recipient identifier and a plurality of item identifiers.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a routing system operable to route the first portion of the allocation data from a submitter to an authorizer.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a routing system operable to generate the second portion of the allocation data.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reconcile module operable to generate a delete signal identifying the business data that is identified with the item and is to be deleted from the business database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the broker module is operable to confirm the authorization for the allocation according to a value associated with the item in the business database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the query response specifies the value associated with the item in the business database.

9. A method operating on at least one computer for brokering the allocation of an item of business property to a recipient, comprising:

receiving allocation data for the item, the allocation data comprising a first portion comprising a recipient identifier and an item identifier, the allocation data comprising a second portion that comprises a submitter identifier, an authorizer identifier, and a unique transaction identifier for the item;

generating query data for the item that represents the first portion of the allocation data;

generating, using the query data, a query for submission to a business database having business data associated with the item;

receiving at least some of the allocation data from the translate module;

storing the received allocation data in a record according to the unique transaction identifier for the item;

receiving a query response from the business database;

storing the received query response in the record according to the unique transaction identifier for the item;

accessing the query response and the allocation data stored in the record;

confirming authorization for the allocation of the item in accordance with the accessed query response and allocation data; and

brokering the allocation of the item to the recipient.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the allocation data is provided by a submitter.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

routing the first portion of the allocation from a submitter to an authorizer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the allocation data comprises a recipient identifier and a plurality of item identifiers.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the authorization for the allocation is confirmed according to a value associated with the item in the business database.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of deleting the business data identified with the item from the business database.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the query response comprises a value associated with the item in the business database.

16. A method operating on at least one computer for confirming authorization for the allocation of an item of business property, comprising:

receiving a first portion of allocation data for the item from a submitter, the first portion comprising a recipient identifier and an item identifier;

routing the allocation data to an authorizer;

receiving a second portion of the allocation data for the item, the second portion comprising a submitter identifier, an authorizer identifier, and a unique transaction identifier for the item;

generating query data for the item that represents the first portion of the allocation data;

storing at least some of the second portion of the allocation data in a record according to the unique transaction identifier;

generating, using the query data, a query for submission to a business database having business data identified with the item;

receiving a query response from the business database;

storing the received query response in the record according to the unique transaction identifier;

accessing the query response and the allocation data stored in the record; and

confirming authorization for the allocation of the item in accordance with the accessed query response and allocation data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the allocation data comprises a recipient identifier and a plurality of item identifiers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a routing system generates the second portion of the allocation data.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of deleting the business data identified with the item from the business database.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the query response comprises a value associated with the item in the business database.