Test strategy system and method for accounts held direct at-fund

• US 7,287,040 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liberty Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Nelson, Carla, King, Alana, Gray, Elizabeth, Counce, Debbie, Bolstad, Beth
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Yicun
• Application Number:
  US10/772,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20050086193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/6, 707/2, 707/101, 707/104.1, 345/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for a user to test and transfer data from a client'"'"'s database or network to a host'"'"'s database or network. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user acquires data information from a client. The user uses this information to generate a spreadsheet, and to populate the spreadsheet with assumed values based on the information received from the client. The spreadsheet is configured in a fashion such that it is consistent with the host'"'"'s database or network. The user requests and receives a test file from the client and uses a developed algorithm, generally in the form of a computer program, to reformat the file so that it is consistent with the host'"'"'s database configuration. The user determines the consistency between the reformatted file and the host'"'"'s database by comparing the reformatted file to the previously generated spreadsheet. Any inconsistencies identified alert the user that the file reformatting algorithm needs updating. When all the updates are complete and the reformatting algorithm has been deemed appropriate to carry out the data transformation function, the entire client database log is sent to the user in the form of an input file. The input file is duplicated to protect the original information and then reformatted using the updated algorithm. The reformatted file may then be uploaded to the host'"'"'s network or database so that the information contained may be used by others who access the database or network for information.

Claims

1. A method to facilitate transfer of data from a client database to a host database, comprising:

identifying a data field from the client database desired for the host database;

incorporating the data field in a spreadsheet;

populating at least a portion of the data field in the spreadsheet with test data values, wherein the test data values are formatted in accordance with format requirements of the data field;

developing an algorithm configured to reformat data associated with the data field from the client database and desired for the host database;

receiving a test file from the client database;

creating a reformatted test file from the test file using the algorithm;

comparing the reformatted test file to the spreadsheet;

identifying a change, wherein the change would substantially conform the reformatted test file to the spreadsheet;

creating an updated algorithm from the algorithm, the updated algorithm incorporating the change;

receiving an input file from the client database;

creating a reformatted input file by applying the updated algorithm to the input file; and

uploading the reformatted input file to the host database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying a data field includes receiving and analyzing a client record layout to identify a data field desired by a host.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the client record layout is received from a database clearinghouse.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the database clearinghouse further comprises receiving said client record layout from at least is one of a DST clearinghouse and a DAZL database clearinghouse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the test file is a 529 plan test file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of incorporating the data field includes at least one of:

a substep of determining an order to organize data fields in the spreadsheet;

a substep of determining data field headers from the data fields and populating at least a portion of the data field headers in the spreadsheet in the order; and

a substep of determining parameters for the data fields and formatting the data fields using the parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the substep of determining parameters for the data fields and formatting the data fields using the parameters includes formatting the data fields to include at least one of:

an alphabetical character, a numeric character, and an alpha-numeric character.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of populating includes:

generating test data in accordance with parameters of the data field, wherein the test data simulates data of the client database,

populating at least a portion of the test data into the spreadsheet, and

forwarding the spreadsheet to the client database for feedback regarding accuracy and organization of the spreadsheet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing includes substeps of:

comparing data fields from the reformatted test file to data fields from the spreadsheet;

comparing parameters from data fields from the reformatted test file to parameters from the data fields from the spreadsheet;

comparing data values from the data fields from the reformatted test file to data values from the data fields from the spreadsheet; and

identifying inconsistencies between the data values from the data fields from the reformatted test file and the data values from the data fields from the spreadsheet.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the substep of identifying inconsistencies includes:

identifying the inconsistencies by a visual comparison; and

identifying the inconsistencies by an automated comparison.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an input file includes copying at least a portion of the input file to create at least a portion of a duplicate input file.