Module for the interconnectivity of independent software applications

• US 7,383,225 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hallihan, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NGA B
• Application Number:
  US09/827,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,617 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/32, 705/39, 705/40, 709/229
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

The present invention discloses an interconnectivity program module that provides for interconnectivity and interfacing of independent application programs in the context of a data processing system. Specifically, the interconnectivity program module provides a time and expenses database and interface capability between a payroll application, an accounts payable application, and a projects/billing application.

Claims

1. A program product embedded in a computer readable medium for processing time data and expense data, the software product comprising:

interconnectivity software operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to;

receive the time data into a program module,

receive the expense data into the program module,

store the time data received from the program module and the expense data received from the program module in a central time and expenses database, the time and expenses database being a single access point for a plurality of independent software applications;

create a first file of a first format compatible with a payroll system, the first file including the time data from the time and expenses database, and transfer the first file to the payroll system using a first interface, the payroll system including a payroll software application configured to process the time data; and

create a second file of a second format compatible with an accounts payable software application, the second file including the expense data from the time and expenses database, and transfer the second file to the accounts payable system using a second interface, the accounts payable system including an accounts payable software application configured to process the expense data; and

a software storage medium operational to store the interconnectivity software.

2. The program product of claim 1 wherein the interconnectivity software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to verify the time data in the program module.

3. The program product of claim 1 wherein the interconnectivity software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to verify the expense data in the program module.

4. The program product of claim 1 wherein the interconnectivity software is operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to convert the time data into a format compatible with the payroll system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interconnectivity software when executed by a processor to direct the processor to:

transfer the processed time data from the payroll system to a projects system; and

transfer the processed expense data from the accounts payable system to the projects system, the projects system including a project application configured to process the processed time data and the processed expense data, wherein the time data flows from the single access point to the payroll system to the projects system and the expense data flows from the single access point to the accounts payable system to the projects system.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising processing the time data and the expense data in the projects system to generate a report.

7. A method for processing time data and expense data, the method comprising:

receiving the time data into a program module;

receiving the expense data into the program module;

storing the time data received from the program module and the expense data received from the program module in a central time and expenses database, the time and expenses database being a single access point for a plurality of independent software applications;

creating a first file of a first format compatible with a payroll system, the first file including the time data from the time and expenses database, and transferring the first file to the payroll system using a first interface, the payroll system including a payroll software application configured to process the time data;

creating a second file of a second format compatible with an accounts payable software application, the second file including the expense data from the time and expenses database, and transferring the second file to the accounts payable system using a second interface, the accounts payable system including an accounts payable software application configured to process the expense data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising verifying the time data in the program module.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising verifying the expense data in the program module.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising converting the time data into a format compatible with the payroll system.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating payment in the payroll system based on the time data.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein transferring the time data comprises communicating between the program module and the payroll system.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein transferring the expense data comprises communicating between the program module and the accounts payable system.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating payment in the accounts payable system based on the expense data.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transferring the processed time data from the payroll system to a projects system; and

transferring the processed expense data from the accounts payable system to the projects system, the projects system including a project application configured to process the processed time data and the processed expense data, wherein the time data flows from the single access point to the payroll system to the projects system and the expense data flows from the single access point to the accounts payable system to the projects system.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising processing the time data and the expense data in the projects system to generate a report.

17. The method of claim 7 further comprising processing the time data and the expense data in a billing system to generate an invoice.

18. A data processing system for processing time data and expense data, the data processing system comprising:

a memory device storing a program module; and

a processor functionally coupled to the memory device, the processor being responsive to executable instructions contained in the program module and operable to;

receive the time data and the expense data, and store the time data and expense data in a central time and expenses database, the time and expenses database being a single access point for a plurality of independent software applications;

create a first file of a first format compatible with a payroll system, the first file including the time data from the central time and expenses database, and transfer the first file to the payroll system using a first interface, the payroll system including a payroll software application configured to process the time data; and

create a second file of a second format compatible with an accounts payable system, the second file including the expense data from the central time and expenses database, and transfer the second file to the accounts payable system using a second interface, the accounts payable system including an accounts payable software application configured to process the expense data.

19. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein the program module is further configured to verify the time data.

20. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein the program module is further configured to verify the expense data.

21. The data processing system of claim 18 wherein the program module is further configured to convert the time data into a format compatible with the payroll system.

22. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising the payroll system wherein the payroll system is configured to generate payment based on the time data.

23. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising the accounts payable system wherein the accounts payable system is configured to generate payment based on the expense data.

24. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising a projects system configured to receive the processed time data from the payroll system and receive the processed expense data from the accounts payable system, the projects system including a project application configured to process the processed time data and the processed expense data, wherein the time data flows from the single access point to the payroll system to the projects system and the expense data flows from the single access point to the accounts payable system to the projects system.

25. The data processing system of claim 24 wherein the projects system is configured to process the time data and the expense data to generate a report.

26. The data processing system of claim 18 further comprising a billing system configured to process the time data and the expense data to generate an invoice.