System and method for exporting formatted transactional data from a database system

• US 7,266,570 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Data Commercial Services Ltd. (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Commercial Services Ltd. (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ryan, Declan, Cahill, Des, Lyons, Mairead
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Wilson
• Application Number:
  US10/828,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20050240630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/100, 707/200
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/902 using more than one table in sequence, i.e. systems with three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/38 Payment protocols; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A database and data processing system for transactional and other data allows such data to be exported in various different formats as required by other systems. As an example, the exported data can be loaded into a business'"'"'s general ledger. Data can be exported in different formats, quite flexibly with easy setup of new and different export data formats for different systems.

Claims

1. A method for exporting data in a database into a format acceptable by another application, said method comprising:

inputting data into said data base including a plurality of line types, wherein said line types are included in an export format, and wherein each of said plurality of line types is associated with a plurality of export fields, each of said plurality of export fields representing a data field in said database;

processing at least some of said data to create an export format, and selectively including at least one of said plurality of line types into said export format; and

for each line type included in said export format, including at least one of said associated export fields into said export format, including providing field length and position for each included export field;

performing an export operation from said database, using said export format to define a format for data exported from said database.

2. The method of claim 1 further including:

performing said export operation from said database, using said export format to define said format for data exported from said database directly to a selected general ledger program.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of line types include restrictions affecting a sequential ordering of said plurality of line types included in said created export format.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of line types include mutually exclusive line types.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of line types include restrictions preventing inclusion a particular one of said plurality of line types in said created export format, if another different one of said plurality of line types is included in said created export format.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is credit card transaction data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one export fields includes an ability to accept global settings for certain properties, or have other settings for said certain properties that are different than said global settings.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of line types are selected from the group of File Header, Transaction Header, Transactions—

Top Line, Transactions—

Line Item, Tax Detail, Tax Summary, Opposite Entry Detail, Opposite Entry Summary, and File Trailer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Transactions—

Top Line, or a line type of Transactions—

Line Item.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Tax Detail, or a line type of Tax Summary.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said export format includes one or the other of either a line type of Opposite Entry Detail, or a line type of Opposite Entry Summary.

12. A system for processing data into a format acceptable by another application, said system comprising:

an export format, said export format defining a format for exporting data from a database, said export format including at least one line type, wherein each of said at least one line type being associated with a plurality of export fields, each of said plurality of export fields representing a reference to a data field in said database;

a user interface component, to provide a user with an ability to create and modify said export format, including the ability to selectively include said at least one line type into said export format, and for said included line type the ability to select at least one export field;

wherein said system uses said export format to export data from said database in a format defined by said included line type and said at least one selected export field.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said system performs an export operation from said database, using said export format to define said format for data exported from said database directly to a selected general ledger program.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one line type includes restrictions affecting a sequential ordering of said at least one line type included in said created export format.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one line type is more than one line type and includes mutually exclusive line types.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein said at least one line type includes restrictions preventing inclusion of a particular one of said at least one line type in said export format, if another different one of said at least one line type is included in said export format.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said data is credit card transaction data.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one export field includes an ability to accept global settings for certain properties, or have other settings for said certain properties that are different than said global settings.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said at least one line type is selected from the group of File Header, Transaction Header, Transactions—

Top Line, Transactions—

Line Item, Tax Detail, Tax Summary, Opposite Entry Detail, Opposite Entry Summary, and File Trailer.