Representation and processing of EDI mapping templates

• US 6,418,400 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xenos IP Partnership
• Original Assignee: Xml-Global Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Webber, David R. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US09/223,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 703/22, 705/1, 705/2, 705/27, 705/26, 707/4, 707/503, 709/246, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

An improved “code-free” method of describing EDI business information manipulation processes. Whereas currently EDI translation and message processing is characterized by complex programming methods, this use of a spreadsheet style metaphor enables EDI processing to be developed that can be used in an ad hoc and dynamic fashion. This matches the business requirements brought about by environments such as the Internet and Electronic Commerce. Also the method can be integrated directly into modern software tools such as Web Browser software, and used by people who are not intimately familiar with the exact details of EDI message syntax. Instead they utilize a familiar data representation in order to accomplish a complex task that otherwise would instead require highly skilled programming knowledge to perform.

Claims

1. A template mapping system comprising:

a computer system operating with data structured according to a protocol;

a communications means for accessing a local dataset from said computer system in said protocol;

a means for accessing a Web Server from said computer system; and

a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for creating a mapping template using said computer system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for creating said mapping template further comprises a means for replicating a trading partner'"'"'s data interactions by applying said mapping template to said local dataset.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said means for replicating a trading partner'"'"'s data interactions by applying said mapping template to said local dataset further comprises a means for retrieving said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template via said Web Server.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said means for creating said mapping template further comprises a means for constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for selecting a plurality of explicit database field elements or items from said local dataset as additions or replacements to said mapping template.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for selecting a plurality of explicit database field elements or items of said mapping template to be deleted.

7. A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for modifying a plurality of field attributes.

8. A system according to claim 4, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means for verifying and validating said mapping template.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for creating said mapping template further comprises a means for replicating a mapping template posted to a Global EDI Dictionary retrieved via a Web Server by applying said mapping template to said local dataset.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said means for creating said mapping template further comprises a means for constructing a local version of said mapping template retrieved from said Global EDI Dictionary by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said mapping template retrieved from said Global EDI Dictionary by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for selecting a plurality of explicit database field elements or items from said local dataset as additions or replacements to said mapping template.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said mapping template retrieved from said Global EDI Dictionary by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for selecting a plurality of explicit database field elements or items of said mapping template to be deleted.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said mapping template retrieved from said Global EDI Dictionary by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means, using a spreadsheet-style template interface, for modifying a plurality of field attributes.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein said means for constructing a local version of said mapping template retrieved from said Global EDI Dictionary by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset further comprises, a means for verifying and validating said mapping template.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating said mapping template further comprises means for defining index fields to control sequences of information processing.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for creating said mapping template further comprises means for referencing via look-up table a dataset for validation.

17. A method for creating a mapping template, comprising the steps of:

replicating a trading partner'"'"'s data interactions by applying said mapping template to a local dataset, wherein said replicating step further comprises the step of retrieving said trading partner'"'"'s data interactions via a Web Server using a spreadsheet-style template interface; and

constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of selecting, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of explicit database field elements or items from said local dataset as additions or replacements to said mapping template.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of defining index fields to control sequences of information processing.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of referencing via look-up table a dataset for validation.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of referencing via look-up table a data set for validation and transformation.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the means for creating said mapping template further comprises means for referencing via look-up table a dataset for validation and transformation.

23. The method according to claim 17, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of selecting, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of explicit dataset field elements or items of said mapping template to be deleted.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of modifying, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of field attributes.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of verifying and validating said mapping template.

26. A method for creating a mapping template, comprising the steps of:

replicating a Global EDI Dictionary mapping template by applying said mapping template to a local dataset, wherein said replicating step further comprises the step of retrieving said Global EDI Dictionary mapping template via a Web Server using a spreadsheet-style template interface; and

constructing a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of selecting, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of explicit database field elements or items from said local dataset as additions or replacements to said mapping template.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of selecting, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of explicit dataset field elements or items of said mapping template to be deleted.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of modifying, using the spreadsheet-style template interface, a plurality of field attributes.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein said constructing step further comprises the step of verifying and validating said mapping template.

31. A method for creating transformation information, comprising:

selecting field items for a mapping template from a local dataset associated with the mapping template using a spreadsheet-style template interface;

assigning mapping rules to the selected field items;

creating mapping rules for referencing look-up tables, which reference objects within the mapping template or reference objects stored in an external dataset; and

transforming referenced objects, according to the mapping template, into transformed information for transmission with the mapping template to a user for use by the user.

32. The method as in claim 31, further comprising selecting the mapping template from a set of stored mapping templates.

33. The method as in claim 32, further comprising modifying the selected mapping template for use in transforming objects.

34. The method as in claim 31, further comprising assigning links to process the objects referenced by mapping rules.

35. The method as in claim 31, further comprising storing the mapping template in a global EDI dictionary for reuse.

36. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored therein for creating a mapping template, wherein said computer readable instructions comprise:

means for enabling a computer to replicate a trading partner'"'"'s data interactions via a Web server using a spreadsheet-style template interface; and

means for enabling the computer to construct a local version of said trading partners mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

37. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored therein for creating a mapping template, wherein said computer readable instructions comprise:

means for enabling a computer to replicate processing of a mapping template retrieved from a Global EDI Dictionary by applying said mapping template to a local dataset, including retrieving said mapping template via a Web Server using a spreadsheet-style template interface; and

means for enabling the computer to construct a local version of said trading partner'"'"'s mapping template by changing a plurality of items in said mapping template to definitions from said local dataset.

38. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions for performing the steps comprising:

selecting field items for a mapping template from a local dataset associated with the mapping template using a spreadsheet-style template interface;

assigning mapping rules to the selected field items;

creating mapping rules for referencing look-up tables, which reference objects within the mapping template or reference objects stored in an external dataset; and

transforming referenced objects, according to the mapping template, into transformed information for transmission with the mapping template to a user for use by the user.