Method, system and computer program for identification of data and translation of data between storage locations

• US 7,243,158 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Gutchigian
• Original Assignee: Thomas Gutchigian
• Inventors: Gutchigian, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US10/353,363
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 709/236, 707/200, 707/201, 710/100
• US Class Current: 709/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method for configuration of a data lens for use in translation of information between first information located in a first information storage location and stored in a first information format and a second information stored in a second information storage location and stored in a second information format, comprising the steps of determining the creator of the first information; determining the nature of said first information; determining the first information storage location; and determining a manner of recognizing items and elements in the first information. A method for translating information between first information in a first data format in a first data storage location and information in a second data storage format in a second data storage location includes identifying changed information in the first information, and using iterative techniques to determine if a corresponding qualifier may be identified. Additional qualifiers may be added as a result of identifying matching items in the two storage locations.

Claims

1. A method for translating first information, comprising first items, each of said first items having first elements, located in a first information storage location and stored in a first information format, with second information, comprising second items, each of said second items having second elements, located in a second information storage location and stored in a second information format, comprising the steps of:

providing a first data lens associated with said first information;

providing a second data lens associated with a second information;

identifying each first item that has changed relative to historical information for said first item;

identifying a first element associated with each of the identified changed first items;

for each of said identified first elements, determining whether a qualifier is associated with said element and identifying said associated qualifier;

the associated qualifier being a component of the first data lens that maps the element between the first information format and a universal data format;

for each of said identified first elements not associated with a qualifier, inquiring whether a qualifier should be added, and adding to said first data lens a qualifier associated with said identified first element upon receipt of an affirmative response;

wherein said inquiring step comprises either prompting a user for input or employing a rules table; and

for each of said identified first elements associated with a qualifier, translating the first element into said second information format.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying deleted items among said identified changed first items, determining whether said second information storage location contains a second item corresponding to said deleted first item, and, if deleted second items corresponding to said deleted first item are identified, deleting said identified second items.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of identifying new items, and, for each identified new item, adding a corresponding second item.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of prompting a user to determine if an element is to be translated.

5. A system for translating first information, comprising first items, each of said first items having first elements, located in a first information storage location and stored in a first information format, with second information, comprising second items, each of said second items having second elements, located in a second information storage location and stored in a second information format, comprising:

first data lens associated with said first information;

second data lens means associated with a second information;

means for identifying each first item that has changed relative to historical information for said first item;

means for identifying a first element associated with each of the identified changed first items;

means for each of said identified first elements, determining whether a qualifier is associated with said element and identifying said associated qualifier;

the associated qualifier being a component of the first data lens means that maps the element between the first information format and a universal data format;

means for inquiring, as to each of said identified first elements not associated with a qualifier, whether a qualifier should be added wherein said means for inquiring comprises either prompting a user for input or employing a rules table;

means for adding to said first data lens means a qualifier associated with said identified first element upon receipt of an affirmative response; and

means for translating, as to each of said identified first elements associated with a qualifier, the first element into said second information format.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

means for identifying deleted items among said identified changed first items, means for determining whether said second information storage location contains a second item corresponding to said deleted first item, and, means for deleting said identified second items if deleted second items corresponding to said deleted first item are identified.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for identifying new items, and, means for, as to each identified new item, adding a corresponding second item.

8. The system of claim 5, further comprising means for prompting a user to determine if an element is to be translated.

9. A machine readable storage device tangibly embodying a series of instructions for translating first information, comprising a first items, each of said first items having first elements, located in a first information storage location and stored in a first information format, with second information, comprising second items, each of said second items having second elements, located in a second information storage location and stored in a second information format, the instructions being executable by a machine to perform a series of steps, the steps comprising:

providing a first data lens associated with said first information;

providing a second data lens associated with a second information;

identifying each first item that has changed relative to historical information for said first item;

identifying a first element associated with each of the identified changed first items;

for each of said identified first elements, determining whether a qualifier is associated with said element and identifying said associated qualifier;

the associated qualifier being a component of the first data lens that maps the element between the first information format and a universal data format;

for each of said identified first elements not associated with a qualifier, inquiring whether a qualifier should be added, and adding to said first data lens a qualifier associated with said identified first element upon receipt of an affirmative response;

wherein said inquiring step comprises either prompting a user for input or employing a rules table; and

for each of said identified first elements associated with a qualifier, translating the first element into said second information format.

10. The machine readable storage device of claim 9, further comprising instructions which when executed on a processor cause the processor to execute the steps of:

identifying deleted items among said identified changed first items, determining whether said second information storage location contains a second item corresponding to said deleted rust item, and, if deleted second items corresponding to said deleted first item are identified, deleting said identified second items.

11. The machine readable storage device of claim 9, further comprising instructions which when executed on a processor cause the processor to execute the steps of identifying new items, and, for each identified new item, adding a corresponding second item.

12. The machine readable storage device of claim 9, further comprising instructions which when executed on a processor cause the processor to execute the step of prompting a user to determine if an element is to be translated.