Method and system of updating address records utilizing a clientserver interface

• US 6,457,012 B1
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Jatkowski, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/872,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/101, 707/10, 707/104, 380/25, 379/201, 364/478.12, 364/478.14, 364/478.07, 235/462.24, 700/226, 709/217
• US Class Current: 707/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

The invention is a method and system of updating address data representative of a changed address. Updates are accomplished by initiating an address data request at a client system. The request is transmitted to an application host system where it is translated into a format readable by a master system comprising change of address files. The interface between the application host system and the master system includes a translation step. The translation step begins by creating a data map representative of the address data request. The created data map is compared against either a mailing list correction (MLC) scheme or a multi-line optical character reader (MLOCR) scheme to establish a second data map representative of the address request. The second data map is then transmitted via a SCSI interface to the master system for processing of the address request. The master system matches the address data request to records of address changes to determine whether a match exists. If a match occurs, then a record of the match is placed into an address data reply which is then transmitted back to the application host system where it is first translated and then transmitted back to the client for use in updating address files. The system is capable of printing one or more reports representative of the requests, replies, and/or statistics arising from the transactions.

Claims

1. A method of updating address data in a first data processing system comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating an address data request at said first data processing system;

(b) transmitting said address data request from said first data processing (system to an application host system;

(c) translating said address data request at said application host system into a format readable by a second data processing system;

(d) creating an interface between said application host system and said second data processing system wherein said interface allows passage of said translated address data request from said application host system to said second data processing system so that said translated address data request can be read and responded to by said second data processing system;

(e) matching said address data request to records of address changes that are resident in a first address database operatively connected with said second data processing system;

(f) determining whether a match exists between said address data request and an address record resident on said first address database and placing a result of said determination into an address data reply;

(g) transmitting said result from said second data processing system to said application host system;

(h) translating said result into a reply format capable of being read by said first data processing system;

(i) transmitting said reply format to said first data processing system; and

(j) updating a second address database operatively connected to said first data processing system by entering a new address extracted from said reply format if said result were a positive response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said translation step comprises the further steps of:

(a) creating a first data map of a first set of data representative of said address data request;

(b) comparing said first data map against a second set of data representative of a mailing list correction (MLC) or multi-line optical character reader format to establish a second data map representative of said address request; and

(c) transmitting said second data map to said second data processing system for processing of said address request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first data processing system prints a plurality of reports and wherein said plurality of reports are representative of a transaction comprising said request, and/or said reply, and/or a set of statistics derived from said transaction parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said address data request comprises a plurality of address data records and wherein each of said plurality of address data records are representative of a destination address.

5. A system of updating address records comprising:

(a) a first data processing system further comprising;

(i) data entry means for entering address data to a request for service;

(ii) first communication means for transmitting said request for service to a client server interface system and for receiving a reply to said service request from said client server interface system;

(iii) record update means for updating an address data record if said reply contains data indicating an address record change;

(b) a second data processing system comprising said client server interface system, wherein said second data processing system further comprises;

(i) second communication means for receiving said request from said first data processing system, for transmitting a reformatted request to an address retrieval system, for receiving said reply to said reformatted request from said address retrieval system, and for transmitting a reformatted reply to said first data processing system;

(ii) translation means for translating said request into said reformatted request capable of being understood by said address retrieval system;

(c) third data processing means comprising said address retrieval system;

(d) address correction means for reading said reformatted reply, determining if updated address data is contained within said reformatted reply, and correcting a listing of address records capable of being accessed by said first data processing means; and

(e) an address database for storing said listing of address records.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said address data is selected from among a plurality of address data records contained within a database resident in a memory.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said memory is co-located with said first data processing system.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said memory is located at a client server data processing system which is linked to said first data processing system by communication means for exchanging data between said first data processing system and said client server data processing system.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein said first data processing system further comprises a printer for printing one or more pre-determined reports wherein said one or more reports are representative of a transaction comprising said request, and/or said reply, and/or a set of statistics derived from said transaction parameters.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein said address retrieval system further comprises a postal service change of address database.