Method and system for data filing systems

• US 8,700,565 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amadeus (Amadeus Global Travel Distribution S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Amadeus (Amadeus Global Travel Distribution S.A.)
• Inventors: Saban, David-Olivier, Becker, Muriel, D'orso, Julien, Bassilana, Thierry
• Primary Examiner(s): Uddin, Md I
• Application Number:
  US13/351,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 707/625, 707/681, 707/685, 707/602, 707/609, 707/624, 707/638, 707/736, 707/768, 707/999.2, 705/5, 705/6, 705/7.35, 705/80, 705/400, 726/1, 726/3
• US Class Current: 707/609
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2358 Change logging, detection, and notification replication G06F16/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

A method for updating data to ensure the correct version of the data is available for a user of a second data system. In the second data system, an update request is received from a first data entity to update the data in a component of the second data system. The update request comprises an updated version of the data. The updated version of the data is compared with a currently stored version of the data in the second component to determine a change therein. An operating function representative of the change in the data is produced. The operating function is applied to the currently stored version of the standard data to produce resulting data. The operating function is stored to ensure the correct version of the data is capable of being output if requested.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining data in a second data system, the method comprising:

storing a first version of standard data in a standard data database for the second data system, wherein the first version of the standard data is additionally maintained in a first data system, wherein the first data system is an institutional filing system related to a plurality of travel fare providers, wherein the second data system is a proprietary filing system related to a travel provider, and wherein the first version of the standard data comprises a key and a first sequence associated with the key;

after an update of the standard data to a second version in the first data system, receiving in the second system a first request from the first data system to update the standard data stored in the standard database to the second version, and in response to receiving the first request, updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version by associating a second sequence with the key in the standard data database;

after updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version, receiving a second request from a user to modify the standard data stored in the standard data database in the second data system, and in response to receiving the second request;

comparing updated data associated with the second request with the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

producing an operating function representative of the change and associated with the key; and

storing the operating function in an operating function database;

after storing the operating function in the operating function database;

searching the standard data database based on the key to retrieve the second version of the standard data associated with the key;

searching the operating function database based on the key to retrieve the operating function associated with the key; and

applying the operating function to apply the change to the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data retrieved from the standard data database to produce a resulting data to store in a cache database as a most recent version of data related to the standard data; and

sending the resulting data to a pricing engine for use in generating a travel fare.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is initiated by the first data system in connection with a regular replication process that replicates standard data from the first data system to the second data system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the standard data comprises a standard travel product including one or more of a fare, a rule or a branded fare.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second request modifies the standard data to add specific data, wherein the specific data comprises one or more of a dynamic discounted fare, an add-on zone or baggage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein searching the standard data database, searching the operating function, and applying the operating function are performed in response to the second request, the method further comprising storing the resulting data in the cache database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein searching the standard data database, searching the operating function database, and applying the operating function are performed in response to a third request, the method further comprising returning the resulting data as a response to the third request.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, after returning the resulting data, receiving a fourth request updating the resulting data, and in response to receiving the fourth request:

accessing the standard data database to retrieve a current version of the standard data;

comparing updated resulting data associated with the fourth request with the current version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

producing a second operating function representative of the change;

applying the second operating function to the current version of the standard data to produce second resulting data; and

storing the second resulting data in the cache database.

8. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

computer program instructions configured upon execution by the at least one processor to maintain data in a second data system by;

storing a first version of standard data in a standard data database for the second data system, wherein the first version of the standard data is additionally maintained in a first data system, wherein the first data system is an institutional filing system related to a plurality of travel fare providers, wherein the second data system is a proprietary filing system related to a travel provider, and wherein the first version of the standard data comprises a key and a first sequence associated with the key;

after an update of the standard data to a second version in the first data system, receiving in the second system a first request from the first data system to update the standard data stored in the standard database to the second version, and in response to receiving the first request, updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version by associating a second sequence with the key in the standard data database;

after updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version, receiving a second request from a user to modify the standard data stored in the standard data database in the second data system, and in response to receiving the second request;

comparing updated data associated with the second request with the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

producing an operating function representative of the change and associated with the key; and

storing the operating function in an operating function database;

after storing the operating function in the operating function database;

searching the standard data database based on the key to retrieve the second version of the standard data associated with the key;

searching the operating function database based on the key to retrieve the operating function associated with the key; and

applying the operating function to apply the change to the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data retrieved from the standard data database to produce a resulting data to store in a cache database as a most recent version of data related to the standard data; and

sending the resulting data to a pricing engine for use in generating a travel fare.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first request is initiated by the first data system in connection with a regular replication process that replicates standard data from the first data system to the second data system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the standard data comprises a standard travel product including one or more of a fare, a rule or a branded fare.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second request modifies the standard data to add specific data, wherein the specific data comprises one or more of a dynamic discounted fare, an add-on zone or baggage.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program instructions are configured to search the standard data database, search the operating function database, and apply the operating function in response to the second request, and wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to store the resulting data in the cache database.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer program instructions are configured to search the standard data database, search the operating function database, and apply the operating function in response to a third request and wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to return the resulting data as a response to the third request.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to, after returning the resulting data, receive a fourth request updating the resulting data, and in response to receiving the fourth request:

access the standard data database to retrieve a current version of the standard data;

compare updated resulting data associated with the fourth request with the current version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

produce a second operating function representative of the change;

apply the second operating function to the current version of the standard data to produce second resulting data; and

store the second resulting data in the cache database.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program instructions configured upon execution by at least one processor to maintain data in a second data system by:

storing a first version of standard data in a standard data database for the second data system, wherein the first version of the standard data is additionally maintained in a first data system, wherein the first data system is an institutional filing system related to a plurality of travel fare providers, wherein the second data system is a proprietary filing system related to a travel provider, and wherein the first version of the standard data comprises a key and a first sequence associated with the key;

after an update of the standard data to a second version in the first data system, receiving in the second system a first request from the first data system to update the standard data stored in the standard database to the second version, and in response to receiving the first request, updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version by associating a second sequence with the key in the standard data database;

after updating the standard data stored in the standard data database to the second version, receiving a second request from a user to modify the standard data stored in the standard data database in the second data system, and in response to receiving the second request;

comparing updated data associated with the second request with the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

producing an operating function representative of the change and associated with the key; and

storing the operating function in an operating function database;

after storing the operating function in the operating function database;

searching the standard data database based on the key to retrieve the second version of the standard data associated with the key;

searching the operating function database based on the key to retrieve the operating function associated with the key; and

applying the operating function to apply the change to the second sequence associated with the second version of the standard data retrieved from the standard data database to produce a resulting data to store in a cache database as a most recent version of data related to the standard data; and

sending the resulting data to a pricing engine for use in generating a travel fare.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first request is initiated by the first data system in connection with a regular replication process that replicates standard data from the first data system to the second data system.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the standard data comprises a standard travel product including one or more of a fare, a rule or a branded fare.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second request modifies the standard data to add specific data, wherein the specific data comprises one or more of a dynamic discounted fare, an add-on zone or baggage.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions are configured to search the standard data database, search the operating function database, and apply the operating function in response to the second request, and wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to store the resulting data in the cache database.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions are configured to search the standard data database, search the operating function database, and apply the operating function in response to a third request and wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to return the resulting data as a response to the third request.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to, after returning the resulting data, receive a fourth request updating the resulting data, and in response to receiving the fourth request:

access the standard data database to retrieve a current version of the standard data;

compare updated resulting data associated with the fourth request with the current version of the standard data stored in the standard data database to determine a change therein;

produce a second operating function representative of the change;

apply the second operating function to the current version of the standard data to produce second resulting data; and

store the second resulting data in the cache database.