Transaction-based object-oriented multipart database method and apparatus

• US 7,444,334 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CPA Global LLC
• Original Assignee: Foundation Care LLC (Centene Corporation)
• Inventors: Lundberg, Steven W., Lemaire, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US09/658,795
• Time in Patent Office: 2,969 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/10, 707/201, 707/103, 707/104, 707/2, 707/9, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103.Y, 707/104.1, 705/26, 705/35, 705/43, 705/64, 705/14, 705/42, 705/40, 709/201, 709/203, 709/224, 709/202, 379/112, 714/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

Action data is exchanged between a service provider and a service consumer. Action data include service requests from a service consumer, service reports and billing reports from a service provider. Action data for both the provider and the consumer are encapsulated into an action object by an action processor and transmitted via common telecommunications infrastructure. When received, the action object is unencapsulated by an action processor and processed further by updating the receiver'"'"'s action database or visually displaying the data in a computer monitor.

Claims

1. A computerized method for a transaction-based object-oriented multipart database system, comprising:

receiving a plurality of electronic messages having encoded transactions for the database system including a first electronic message having a first encoded transaction from a service provider and a second electronic message having a second encoded transaction from a service consumer, wherein the first and the second transactions are each associated with the service consumer;

decoding the transactions from the plurality of electronic messages;

storing the plurality of transactions into the database system;

selectively enabling access by the service consumer, based on an identification of the service consumer, to the stored first and second transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled; and

accessing the stored first and second transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled, the accessing being performed by the service consumer to whom access is enabled.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving transactions further comprises receiving transactions by a docketing provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the stored transactions further comprises viewing a log of pending action items.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service consumer uses a browser to access the stored transactions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the receiving transactions further comprises:

receiving an electronic message; and

decoding the transaction from the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising at the service provider:

receiving a database transaction;

encoding the transaction into an electronic message; and

transmitting the electronic message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving of transactions further comprises receiving transactions by a docketing provider.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the accessing of the stored transactions further comprises viewing a log of pending action items.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the service consumer uses a browser to access the stored transactions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the stored transactions further comprises generating a list of actions due by one or more persons at a service organization.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the accessing of the stored transactions further comprises generating a list of actions due by one or more persons at a service organization.

12. A computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions when read and executed by a computer comprise:

receiving a plurality of electronic messages having encoded transactions for the database system including a first electronic message having a first encoded transaction from a service provider and a second electronic message having a second encoded transaction from a service consumer, wherein the first and the second transactions are each associated with the service consumer;

decoding the transactions from the plurality of electronic messages

storing the plurality of transactions into the database system; and

selectively enabling access by the service consumer, based on an identification of the service consumer, to the stored first and second transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein receiving transactions further comprises:

receiving the transactions at a docketing provider system.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 12, wherein the transaction is associated with an application service matter that includes a plurality of transactions each related to.

15. A computer system, comprising:

a receiver coupled to receive database transactions the database transactions being encoded into electronic messages, the transactions being from a first service provider and from a first service consumer, wherein each of these transactions is associated with the first service consumer and are each transactions that add information regarding a particular application matter to the database;

a decoder operatively coupled to decode the database transactions from the plurality of electronic messages;

storage operatively coupled to store information of the plurality of decoded database transactions;

means for enabling access by the service consumer to stored transactions regarding the particular application matter associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled; and

means for accessing the stored transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled, the accessing being performed by the service consumer to whom access is enabled.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the receiver is also coupled to receive transactions from a docketing provider, and wherein the storage also stores docketing information, the system further comprising means for enabling access by the first service provider to the docketing information.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for accessing the stored transactions further comprises means for viewing a log of pending action items.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the service consumer uses a browser to access the stored transactions.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a database stored in the storage, the database holding data for a plurality of service consumers including the first service consumer and for the first service provider; and

a database transaction processor operatively coupled to the receiver of database transaction information and to the storage.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiver is also coupled to receive transactions from a docketing provider, and wherein the storage also stores docketing information, the system further comprising means for enabling access by the first service provider to the docketing information.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for accessing the stored transactions further comprises means for viewing a log of pending action items.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the service consumer uses a browser to access the stored transactions.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the receiver receives an electronic message, the system further comprising:

a decoder that extracts the transaction from the electronic message.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising at the service provider:

an input device that obtains a database transaction;

an encoder that inserts the transaction into an electronic message; and

a transmitter that sends the electronic message to the receiver.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for accessing the stored transactions further comprises means for generating a list of actions due by one or more persons at a service organization.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for accessing the stored transactions further comprises means for generating a list of actions due by one or more persons at a service organization.

27. A computer system, comprising:

a receiver coupled to receive database transactions, the database transactions being encoded into electronic messages, the transactions being from a first service provider and from a first service consumer, wherein each of these transactions is associated with the first service consumer and are each transactions that add information regarding an application service matter to the database;

storage operatively coupled to store information of the plurality of database transactions;

means for enabling access by the service consumer to stored transactions regarding the application service matter associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled; and

means for accessing the stored transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled, the accessing being performed by the service consumer to whom access is enabled, wherein the receiver receives an electronic message, the system further comprising;

a decoder that extracts the transaction from the electronic message.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising at the service provider:

an input device that obtains a database transaction;

an encoder that inserts the transaction into an electronic message; and

a transmitter that sends the electronic message to the receiver.

29. A computerized method for a database system, comprising:

receiving a plurality electronic messages having encoded of transactions for the database system including a first electronic message having a first encoded transaction from a service provider a second electronic message having a second encoded transaction from a service consumer, wherein the first and the second transactions are each associated with the service consumer and are each transactions that add information regarding an application service matter to the database;

decoding the transactions to obtain a plurality of transactions from the plurality of electronic messages;

storing the plurality of transactions into the database system;

selectively enabling access by the service consumer, based on an identification of the service consumer, to the stored first and second transactions regarding the application service matter associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled; and

accessing the stored first and second transactions associated with the service consumer to whom access is enabled, the accessing being performed by the service consumer to whom access is enabled.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving transactions further comprises receiving transactions by a docketing provider.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein accessing the stored transactions further comprises viewing a log of pending action items for the application service matter.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein accessing the stored transactions further comprises generating a list of actions due by one or more persons at a service organization for the application service matter.