Method for preventing improper correction of a database during an updating process

• US 6,725,243 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Snapp, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/384,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20030172064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 707/200, 707/203, 707/8, 707/201, 707/206, 707/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

Updating of information contained in a database is provided, in a more accurate manner, through the use of an update file as part of a coding engine. In particular, a database containing a plurality of data entries is provided to a coding engine. The coding engine will compare the data entries to a reference database. It will leave undisturbed those entries that match entries in the reference database. Entries in the database that do not match will be compared against information contained against an update file, with the update file reflecting events occurring after the last revision of the reference database. In one embodiment, the coding engine is utilized to update street address databases.

Claims

1. A method for updating information contained in a database comprising the steps of:

providing a first database containing a plurality of data entries;

providing a reference database containing a plurality of reference data entries;

providing an update file containing data that is supplemental to that contained in the reference database;

comparing the data entries in the first database to the reference data entries in the reference database;

identifying a suspect data entry among the data entries in the first database by locating one the data entry that does not match any of the reference data entries in the reference database;

comparing the suspect data entry to information contained in the update file;

in the event that the suspect data entry matches information contained in the update file, leaving the suspect data entry in the first database in an unchanged condition in the first database; and

in the event that the suspect data entry does not match information contained in the update file, one of deleting the suspect data entry from the first database and correcting the data entry in the first database to match the information in the update file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first database is an address database.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the data entries comprise a street name, a street suffix and a ZIP code.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the data entries further comprise at least one of a pre-directional address element and a post-directional address element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the update file further comprises the step of periodically updating the update file.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of periodically updating the update file further comprises the step of removing from the update file information that has an age in excess of a specified period of time.

7. A method for updating information contained in a database comprising the steps of:

providing a first database containing a plurality of data entries;

wherein the first database is an address database;

providing a reference database containing a plurality of reference data entries;

wherein the reference database is a coding engine;

providing an update file containing data that is supplemental to that contained in the reference database;

comparing the data entries in the first database to the reference data entries in the reference database;

identifying a suspect data entry among the data entries in the first database by locating one the data entry that does not match any of the reference data entries in the reference database;

comparing the suspect data entry to information contained in the update file;

in the event that the suspect data entry matches information contained in the update file, leaving the suspect data entry in the first database in an unchanged condition in the first database;

in the event that the suspect data entry does not match information contained in the update file, one of deleting the suspect data entry from the first database and correcting the data entry in the first database to match the information in the update file; and

periodically updating the update file;

wherein the step of periodically updating the update file further comprises the step of removing from the update file information that has an age in excess of a specified period of time.

8. A computer system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data coupled to a processor for executing the program instructions, and a data store for storing a first database, a reference database and an update file, and wherein the program instructions comprising program instructions for:

comparing data entries in the first database to reference data entries in the reference database;

identifying a suspect data entry among the data entries in the first database by locating one the data entry that does not match any of the reference data entries in the reference database;

comparing the suspect data entry to information contained in the update file;

in the event that the suspect data entry matches information contained in the update file, leaving the suspect data entry in the first database in an unchanged condition in the first database; and

in the event that the suspect data entry does not match information contained in the update file, one of deleting the suspect data entry from the first database and correcting the data entry in the first database to match the information in the update file.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first database is an address database.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the data entries comprise a street name, a street suffix and a ZIP code.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the data entries further comprise at least one of a pre-directional address element and a post-directional address element.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions for periodically updating the update file.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the program instructions for updating further comprise program instructions for removing from the update file information that has an age in excess of a specified period of time.

14. A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media for execution within a computer system that includes a memory for storing program instructions and data coupled to a processor for executing the program instructions, and a data store for storing a first database, a reference database and an update file, and wherein the program instructions comprising program instructions for:

comparing data entries in the first database to reference data entries in the reference database;

identifying a suspect data entry among the data entries in the first database by locating one the data entry that does not match any of the reference data entries in the reference database;

comparing the suspect data entry to information contained in the update file;

in the event that the suspect data entry matches information contained in the update file, leaving the suspect data entry in the first database in an unchanged condition in the first database; and

in the event that the suspect data entry does not match information contained in the update file, one of deleting the suspect data entry from the first database and correcting the data entry in the first database to match the information in the update file.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first database is an address database.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the data entries comprise a street name, a street suffix and a ZIP code.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the data entries further comprise at least one of a pre-directional address element and a post-directional address element.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions further comprise program instructions for periodically updating the update file.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the program instructions for updating further comprise program instructions for removing from the update file information that has an age in excess of a specified period of time.