Customizable two step mapping of extensible markup language data in an e-procurement system and method

• US 7,337,132 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Li, Yafeng, Viswanath, Sridatta
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/982,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,323 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 28, 705/37, 705/78, 705/1, 709/206, 709/203, 395/575, 395/500
• US Class Current: 705/26.81
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

In an electronic purchasing and procurement system having an Extensible Markup Language (XML) content transformation method and system. The XML content transformation system includes logic for identifying XML content from an external database and presenting XML content formatted in response to purchase requests from the users of the electronic purchasing and procurement system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the XML content transformation system receives an in-bound document containing XML content of a first XML data format. The XML content transformation system then maps the XML content of the first XML data format to an internal proprietary second XML data format using the tag information contained in the first XML data format. The second XML data format is subsequently transformed in a third XML data format suitable for delivery to the user in an out-bound documents.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer instruction code executable by the processor to implement an electronic purchasing system configured to implement;

mapping electronic purchase requisition content in a first data format processed internally to a second data format utilizing tags of said first data format to determine corresponding data objects;

accessing a database configured to store data descriptors describing electronic purchase requisition content, said database further configured to store data objects and attributes pertinent to said electronic purchase requisition content, wherein said tags of said first data format correspond to data objects and attributes in said database;

wherein said mapping comprises mapping the tags of said first data format to tags of said second data format to determine data objects and attributes in said database corresponding to content in said second format; and

in response to receiving a particular purchase request associated with a particular purchasing requisitioner, presenting translated content in a third format for delivery to said purchasing requisitioner, wherein said presenting comprises selectively retrieving one or more of said corresponding data objects and attributes according to one or more flags, wherein each said flag indicates whether or not a corresponding data object or attribute is to be presented in said translated content.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

providing specific markup language templates which, in combination with said electronic purchase requisition content, are translated into content for presentation to a particular purchasing requisitioner.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein said electronic purchasing system is extensible to include pre-defined data descriptors for the contents of said electronic purchasing requisition content.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

formatting the contents of said electronic purchase requisition content from said first format into said second format.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein said electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

using pre-defined tag information responsive to said second data format to retrieve associated data information describing the contents of said electronic purchase requisition content.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein said first data format of said electronic purchase requisition content is compliant with Extensible Markup Language (XML) content.

7. The computer system of claim 5, wherein said electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

mapping index information of said first data format into said tag information of said second data format.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein said XML content is compliant with the Open Buying on the Internet Standard.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said particular purchasing requisitioner is a wireless personal computer system.

8. The computer system of claim, wherein said presenting is performed according to a user-customizable configuration text file.

11. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer instruction code executable by the processor to implement an electronic purchasing system configured to implement;

interfacing to a plurality of good and services catalogs residing in a database, each of said catalogs comprising unique goods and services identification parameters;

retrieving in-bound XML data of a first type from a source external to said server in response to a purchase requisition request from a particular purchase order and generating an intermediary XML data of a second type and presenting out-bound XML data of a third type for delivery in response to said purchasing requisition request;

traversing said database to extract data objects and attributes corresponding to said particular purchase order according to a mapping of tag information of said in-bound XML data to said intermediary XML data; and

processing said purchase requisition request in said electronic purchasing system according to a flag for the out-bound XML data, wherein said flag indicates whether or not a corresponding data object or attribute is to be presented in said out-bound XML data.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

retrieving one or more XML content formatting templates specific to purchase order line item data object and attribute information defining said goods and services in said purchase order.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

translating tag information associated with said XML data said first type into corresponding tag information of XML data of said second type for processing by said electronic purchasing system.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

accessing a data configuration file for providing configuration information corresponding to the content of said XML data of said first type for said translating.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein said data configuration file is extensible to alter translation data used for said translating.

16. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing computer instruction code executable by the processor to implement an electronic purchasing system configured to implement;

retrieving in-bound XML data of a first type from an external source in response to a particular purchase requisition content access request from a particular purchase order, generating an intermediary XML data of a second type by mapping tags of said in-bound XML data to determine data objects corresponding to said intermediary XML data, and presenting out-bound XML data of a third type for delivery in response to said purchase requisition content access request; and

processing said purchase requisition content access request in said electronic purchasing system by selectively retrieving one or more of said corresponding data objects and attribute according to a flag, wherein said flag indicates whether or not a corresponding data object or attribute is to be presented in said out-bound XML data.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

retrieving one or more XML content formatting templates specific to purchase order line item data object and attribute information defining said goods and services in said purchase order.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

translating tag information associated with said XML data of said first type into corresponding tag information of XML data of said second type for processing by said electronic purchasing system.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the electronic purchasing system is further configured to implement:

accessing a data configuration file for providing configuration information corresponding to the content of said XML data of said first type.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said electronic purchasing system is extensible to dynamically alter translation data provided to said electronic purchasing system.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said XML data is compliant with Wireless Markup Language content.

22. A method of mapping Extensible Markup Language (XML) in an electronic purchasing system, said method comprising:

receiving a purchase request having a first XML data format;

retrieving XML content in a second XML data format in response to said first XML data format in said purchase request from one or more data sources internal to said purchasing system, wherein said retrieving comprises mapping tags of said first XML data format to tags of said second XML data format to determine corresponding data objects; and

transforming said retrieved XML content into appropriate content for an underlying markup language of an Internet browser used by a user submitting said purchase request by selectively presenting said retrieved XML content according to a flag, wherein said flag indicates whether or not a corresponding data object or attribute is to be presented.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing configuration files for retrieving template information specific to said first XML data format for transforming said XML content.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing identification tags which correspond to data objects that is used in said transforming of said retrieved XML content.