Method and System for Service Provisioning

• US 20110010728A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AirBNB Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Initiate Systems, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Goldenberg, Glenn, Woods, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/329
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods that can bridge the gap between business operations and data management operations. An interface layer provides customizable interfaces for interactions with a master entity index (MEI) system to accomplish association, storage, management or processing of data records based on user-defined business service operations. The interface layer allows a user to define business services, operations, and logical procedures according to a desired data model such that the inputs and outputs for each operation of the service correspond to the particular needs of the user and allow different terminology to be employed by the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

one or more computer readable storage media accessible by said processor and storing computer instructions executable by said processor to implement an interface layer between one or more users and a master entity index (MEI) system, said interface layer comprising a set of interfaces and business services, wherein each of said business services is defined according to a data model, is associated with one of said interfaces, and comprises one or more operations, wherein each of said one or more operations is associated with a logical procedure to interact with said MEI system, and wherein said logical procedure is defined by said one or more users via a set of graphical objects on a graphical interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said logical procedure is mapped to a service function provided by said MEI system, to a different business service operation, or to another logical procedure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said logical procedure invokes a service function of said MEI system to obtain outputs defined for a particular operation by said one or more users.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said set of interfaces allows queries from said one or more users to be submitted utilizing Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical interface enables said one or more users to select and arrange said graphical objects to graphically define said logical procedure.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a graphical representation of said logical procedure includes at least two nodes and one route connecting said at least two nodes.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said logical procedure is persisted as an XML file.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said logical procedure interacts with said MEI system via an application programming interface (API) provided by said MEI system.

9. A computer readable memory device carrying computer instructions executable by a processor to implement an interface layer between one or more users and a master entity index (MEI) system, said interface layer comprising a set of interfaces and business services, wherein each of said business services is defined according to a data model, is associated with one of said interfaces, and comprises one or more operations, wherein each of said one or more operations is associated with a logical procedure to interact with said MEI system, and wherein said logical procedure is defined by said one or more users via a set of graphical objects on a graphical interface.

10. The computer readable memory device of claim 9, wherein said logical procedure is mapped to a service function provided by said MEI system, to a different business service operation, or to another logical procedure.

11. The computer readable memory device of claim 9, wherein said logical procedure invokes a service function of said MEI system to obtain outputs defined for a particular operation by said one or more users.

12. The computer readable memory device of claim 9, wherein said set of interfaces allows queries from said one or more users to be submitted utilizing Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

13. The computer readable memory device of claim 9, wherein said graphical interface enables said one or more users to select and arrange said graphical objects to graphically define said logical procedure.

14. The computer readable memory device of claim 13, wherein a graphical representation of said logical procedure includes at least two nodes and one route connecting said at least two nodes.

15. The computer readable memory device of claim 9, wherein said logical procedure is persisted as an XML file.

16. A method for service provisioning, comprising:

enabling a user to define, via a graphical interface, business service operations according to a business service model, wherein inputs and outputs to each of said business service operations are defined in said business service model;

enabling said user to define and edit, via a set of graphical objects on said graphical interface, a logical procedure for each of said business service operations;

mapping said logical procedure to a service function provided by a master entity index system; and

invoking said service function to obtain said outputs.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising returning said outputs to said user via said graphical interface.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising enabling said user to assign said mapping via said graphical interface.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically creating a flow file corresponding to each of said business service operations.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically providing one or more predefined mapping functions for each of said business service operations.