Real-time database upload with real-time column mapping

• US 6,636,861 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: David J. Stack
• Inventors: Stack, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid Al
• Application Number:
  US09/772,674
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/204, 707/100, 707/200, 707/1-5, 705/26, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method of uploading and processing database files of varying file format and column ordering from a client machine to a server machine for storage in a centralized database having a predetermined file format and column ordering is provided. The method includes configuring a database information profile, which includes the file format and column ordering of the database file to be uploaded. Optionally a test upload is performed and upload feedback is received by the client machine. Upon a successful test upload, the database information profile and corresponding database file are uploaded to the server machine. The uploaded database file is parsed line-by-line and column-by-column and mapped into the centralized database in accordance with the fixed format and column ordering of the centralized database.

Claims

1. A method for uploading database files of varying format and data organization from a client computer to a server computer for storage within a centralized database having a predetermined fixed format and data organization, the method comprising:

configuring a database information profile for transfer to the server computer, said database information profile containing information on the format and data organization of the database file;

performing a test upload of the database information profile and the database file;

receiving success feedback in response to the test upload;

in response to the test upload feedback, one of (i) reconfiguring the database information profile to correct errors in the database information profile; and

(ii) transmitting the database information profile and the database file to the server computer for processing and storage within the centralized database.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the database information profile includes:

file format of the database file;

column ordering of the database file;

column definitions of the database file; and

database column manipulation settings for the database file.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

upon transmitting the database file to the server computer for processing and storage within the centralized database, receiving an upload feedback summary, said summary including data relating to at least one of (i) number of items within the database processed;

(ii) number of uploaded lines;

(iii) number of uploaded line syntax errors; and

(iv) upload and processing time statistics.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein upon successful transmission of the database file and the database information profile to the server computer, data within the database file is parsed and mapped into corresponding predetermined columns within the centralized database.

5. A database upload processing program for use in a computer system in which databases having various formats and data organization are uploaded from a peripheral computer to a server computer for storage in a centralized database having a fixed format and data organization, the upload processing program including:

means for receiving a database information profile from the peripheral computer, said database information profile containing information related to the format and data organization of the database to be uploaded;

means for performing a test upload of the database information profile and the database;

means for providing test upload feedback to the peripheral computer;

means for uploading the database information profile and the database to the server computer;

means for parsing data within the uploaded database; and

means for manipulating and mapping the parsed data into corresponding predetermined columns within the centralized database, said parsed data being organized according to the fixed format and data organization of the centralized database.