Method of maintaining database records

• US 6,697,822 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Armatis, Kathleen C., Schrader, David B., Herzberg, Carol E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US09/326,859
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 707/8, 707/10, 707/201, 707/202, 707/204, 707/5, 707/102, 707/203, 707/205, 709/206, 709/218, 709/201, 379/265.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

The present invention provides a way of managing databases when updating records in a local database where individual records in a source database are changed on a regular basis, but each record maintains a consistent unique record identifier. The first time a reviewer reviews a record resulting from a search, the reviewer accepts or rejects the record. If the record reappears in future additions to the database, e.g., as a result of an update to the record, rejected records will be filtered before ever reaching the reviewer. Previously reviewed and accepted records can either be sent directly to a local database (again by-passing the reviewer) or forwarded to the reviewer if a significant field has been updated. In this manner the reviewer always sees brand new records, but avoids seeing updated versions of previously reviewed records unless some portion of the data has been updated which the reviewer considers significant. Local database users see only a single, fully updated version of each record.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining local database records through searches of a source database, the method comprising:

a) providing a local database having a plurality of records, in which each record includes a unique and constant record identifier taken from the source database that maintains records with such unique and constant record identifiers,

b) providing a reject list of such unique and constant record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain in the local database;

c) obtaining new or updated data from the source database;

d) comparing the record identifier for each record in the results of the new or updated records with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

e) by means of a programmed system, comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results from step d) to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

f) by means of a programmed system, updating the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database; and

g) providing any remaining records to a reviewer.

2. A method of maintaining local database records through searches of a source database, the method comprising:

a) providing a local database having a plurality of records, in which each record includes a unique and constant record identifier, taken from the source database that maintains records with such unique and constant record identifiers;

b) providing a reject list of such unique and constant record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain in the local database;

c) by means of a programmed system, obtaining new or updated data from the source database, the source database including the same unique and constant record identifiers as the local database;

d) by means of a programmed system, comparing the record identifier for each record in the results of the new or updated records with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

e) comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results from step d) to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

f) updating the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

g) providing any remaining records to a reviewer;

h) having at least one reviewer accept or reject each record;

i) adding to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

j) adding to the local database each record not added to the reject list.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising;

providing a previously reviewed list, the previously reviewed list including the record identifier of each record in the local database, wherein the step e) of comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the record identifiers in the local database is carried out by comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the previously reviewed list; and

adding to the previously reviewed list the record identifier for each record added to the local database.

4. A method of maintaining database records, the method comprising:

a) providing a local database having a plurality of records, in which each record includes a unique and constant record identifier taken from the source database that maintains records with such unique and constant record identifiers;

b) providing a reject list of such unique record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain in the local database;

c) obtaining new or updated data from a source database, the source database including the same unique record identifiers as the local database;

d) comparing the record identifier for each record in the results of the new or updated records with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

e) comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results from step d) to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

f) updating the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

g) providing any remaining records to a reviewer;

h) having at least one reviewer accept or reject each record;

i) adding to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

j) adding to the local database each record not added to the reject list;

said method further comprising the steps of;

k) providing a list of significant fields in the records;

l) comparing each previously reviewed record to the prior version of the record in the local database to identify the changes between the prior version and the new version;

m) comparing the changes to the record to the list of significant fields to determine if a significant field has been updated; and

n) if a significant field has been updated, providing the record to at least one reviewer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a separate reject list is maintained for each reviewer, and even a record for which a significant field has been updated is not shown to the particular reviewer if it is on that reviewer'"'"'s reject list.

6. A system for maintaining a local database, comprising:

a) at least one display device readable by at least one reviewer;

b) at least one mass storage device drive having thereon;

i) a local database comprising a plurality of records, each record having a unique and constant record identifier taken from a source database that maintains records with such unique and constant identifiers; and

ii) a reject list of such unique record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain records in the local database;

c) at least one central processing unit programmed to;

i) obtain new or updated data from the source database;

ii) compare the record identifier for each record in the results of step c)i) with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

iii) compare the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

iv) write to the mass storage device to update the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database; and

v) display any remaining records to the reviewer on the display device.

7. A system for maintaining a database, comprising:

a) at least one display device readable by at least one reviewer;

b) at least one mass storage device having thereon;

i) a local database comprising a plurality of records, each record having a unique and constant record identifier, taken from a source database that maintains records with such unique and constant record identifiers;

ii) a reject list of record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain records in the local database;

c) at least one central processing unit programmed to;

i) obtain new or updated data from the source database that maintains records with the same unique and constant record identifiers;

ii) compare the record identifier for each record in the results of step c) i) with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

iii) compare the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

iv) write to the mass storage device to update the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

d) display any remaining records on the display device;

e) receive from at least one reviewer an accept or reject indication for each record displayed;

f) write to the mass storage device to add to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

g) write to the local database each record not added to the reject list.

8. A system for maintaining a database, comprising:

a) at least one display device readable by at least one reviewer;

b) at least one mass storage device having thereon;

i) a local database comprising a plurality of records, each record having a unique and constant record identifier;

taken from a source database that maintains records with such unique and constant record identifiers; and

ii) a reject list of record identifiers for records which a reviewer does not wish to maintain records in the local database;

c) at least one central processing unit programmed to;

i) obtain new or updated data from the source database, the source database including the same unique and constant record identifiers as the local database;

ii) compare the unique record identifier for each record in the results of step c) i) with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records for which the unique record identifier matches the reject list;

iii compare the unique-record identifier for each record in the filtered results from step

c)ii) to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

iv) write to the mass storage device to update the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

d) display any remaining records on the display device;

e) receive from at least one reviewer an accept or reject indication for each record displayed;

f) write to the mass storage device to add to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

g) write to the local database each record not added to the reject list;

wherein the mass storage device further has a list of significant fields in the records stored thereon, and wherein the central processing unit is further programmed to;

h) compare each previously reviewed record to the prior version of the record in the local database to identify the changes between the prior version arid the new version;

i) compare the changes to the record to the list of significant fields to determine if a significant field has been updated; and

j) if a significant field has been updated, display the record for at least one reviewer on the display device.

9. Data storage media containing software which, when installed on a suitable computer system, will cause the system to maintain local database records by the method comprising:

a) providing a local database having a plurality of records, in which each record includes a unique and constant record identifier taken from a source database that maintains records with the same unique and constant record identifiers;

b) providing a reject list of such unique record identifiers for records of which a reviewer does not wish to maintain in the local database;

c) obtaining new or updated data from the source database;

d) comparing the record identifier for each record in the results of the new or updated records with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

e) comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

f) updating the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

g) providing any remaining records to a reviewer

h) having the reviewer accept or reject each record;

i) adding to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

j) adding to the local database each record accepted by the reviewer.

10. Data storage media containing software which, when installed on a suitable computer system, will cause the system to maintain database records by the method comprising:

a) providing a local database having a plurality of records, in which each record includes a unique and constant record identifier taken from a source database;

b) providing a reject list of such unique record identifiers for records of which a reviewer does not wish to maintain in the local database;

c) obtaining new or updated data from the source database;

d) comparing the record identifier for each record in the results of the new or updated records with the reject list, and filtering from the results all records which match the reject list;

e) comparing the record identifier for each record in the filtered results to the record identifiers of the records in the local database;

f) updating the corresponding local database record for each record which is in the local database;

g) providing any remaining records to a reviewer

h) having the reviewer accept or reject each record;

i) adding to the reject list the record identifier of each record rejected according to a method selected from;

i) add to the list only if all reviewers reject the record;

ii) add to the list if a particular reviewer rejects the record; and

iii) add to the list if not all reviewers accept the record; and

j) adding to the local database each record accepted by the reviewer;

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

k) providing a list of significant fields in the records;

l) comparing each previously reviewed record to the prior version of the record in the local database to identify the changes between the prior version and the new version;

m) comparing the changes to the record to the list of significant fields to determine if a significant field has been updated; and

n) if a significant field has been updated, providing the record to at least one reviewer.

11. The data storage media of claim 10, wherein a separate reject list is maintained for each reviewer, and even a record for which a significant field has been updated is not provided to the particular reviewer if it is on that reviewer'"'"'s reject list.