Database integrity in an internet e-commerce environment

• US 6,917,930 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amdocs Development Limited (Amdocs Ltd.), Amdocs Software Systems Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Amdocs Software Systems Limited (Amdocs Ltd.)
• Inventors: Brodale, Michelle M., Schuelke, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US09/717,520
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104.1, 709/203, 711/111, 711/112
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Method and apparatus for database management among linked computers are disclosed. Generally, data elements are selected and retrieved from databases in one or more linked database computers and placed into memory of a linked access computer. Inputs to the access computer are used to generate proposed changes to one or more of the retrieved data elements. Proposed changes are committed to corresponding database elements in the one or more linked database computers. Database elements so manipulated may be sub-elements of objects, objects, or classes of objects.

Claims

1. A method of database management comprising:

a. establishing a communication link among an access computer and one or more database computers;

b. running a browser on the access computer;

c. retrieving into a memory of the access computer selected data elements from a database stored in the one or more database computers;

d. receiving inputs into the access computer;

e. changing the retrieved data elements in the memory of the access computer;

f. iteratively repeating above steps c-e until the communication link between the access computer and the one or more database computers is terminated;

g. changing the selected data elements in the one or more database computers corresponding to the changes made to the retrieved data elements in the access computer; and

h. prompting the access computer to terminate the communication link from the one or more database computers wherein the access computer acts as a client computer.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving logical operations from the one or more database computers into the memory of the access computer.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein

changing the retrieved data elements in the memory of the access computer comprises performing logical operations.

4. A database management system comprising:

a. means for establishing a communication link among an access computer and one or more database computers;

b. means for running a browser on the access computer;

c. means for retrieving into a memory of the access computer, selected data elements from a database stored in the one or more database computers;

d. means for accepting inputs into the access computer;

e. means for changing the retrieved data elements in the memory of the access computer;

f. means for iteratively repeating above steps c-e until the communication link between the access computer and the one or more database computers is terminated; and

g. means for changing the selected data elements stored in the one or more database computers corresponding to the changes made to the retrieved data elements; and

h. means for prompting the access computer to terminate the communication link from the one or more database computers wherein the access computer acts as a client computer.

5. A database management system as in claim 4 wherein the selected data elements comprise objects.

6. A database management system as in claim 4 wherein the retrieved data elements in the memory of the access computer are changed by performing logical operations in the access computer.

7. A database management system as in claim 4 wherein the selected data elements comprise abstract classes.

8. A database management system of claim 4 further comprising:

means for retrieving logical operations from the one or more database computers into the memory of the access computer.