Method and apparatus for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by multiple users

• US 7,653,613 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Schoolcraft, Harold E., Holmes, Andrew D., Roberts, Teresa L., Ramani, Puja, DeGraaff, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Baoquoc N
• Application Number:
  US11/701,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1774 Locking methods, e.g. locking methods for file systems allowing shared and concurrent access to files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user. During operation, the system creates a copy of a financial-data file. The system then allows the first user to modify the financial-data file. The system also sends the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file. Next, the system receives the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file. Finally, the system merges the change file into the financial-data file.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, wherein the computer includes a processor, the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:

creating a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more fields and corresponding values;

partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subsets based on the one or more field, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves;

receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user;

copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file;

locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and

locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user;

allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file;

sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file;

receiving the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and

merging the change file into the financial-data file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file involves:

determining if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date;

if so, permitting the financial-data file to be modified; and

if not, preventing the financial-data file from being modified.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file involves:

displaying the change file to the first user;

receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user; and

in response to the confirmation;

creating a backup of the financial-data file, and

modifying the financial-data file based on the change file.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the change file to the first user involves:

determining if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file;

if so, resolving the conflict; and

displaying the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifications to the financial-data can include:

an addition to the financial-data;

a deletion of the financial-data; and

a modification of the financial-data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file can involve merging a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file.

7. The method the method of claim 1, wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the method further comprises compressing the copy of the financial-data file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the copy of the financial-data file is a sub-set of the financial-data file.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user is a client and the second user is an accountant.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instruction that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, the method comprising:

creating a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more fields and corresponding values;

partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subsets based on the one or more fields, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves;

receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user;

copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file;

locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and

locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user;

allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file;

sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file;

receiving the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and

merging the change file into the financial-data file.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file involves:

determining if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date;

if so, permitting the financial-data file to be modified; and

if not, preventing the financial-data file from being modified.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file involves:

displaying the change file to the first user;

receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user; and

in response to the confirmation;

creating a backup of the financial-data file, and

modifying the financial-data file based on the change file.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein displaying the change file to the first user involves:

determining if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file;

if so, resolving the conflict; and

displaying the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user.

14. The compurer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the modifications to the financial-data can include:

an addition to the financial-data;

a deletion of the financial-data; and

a modification of the financial-data.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file can involve merging a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the method further comprises compressing the copy of the financial-data file.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the copy of the financial-data file is a sub-set of the financial-data file.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the first user is a client and the second user is an accountant.

19. An apparatus that facilitates simultaneously modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, comprising:

a processor;

a creation mechanism configured to create a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more field and corresponding values;

a partitioning mechanism configured to partition the financial-data file into two independently subsets based on the one or more fields, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves;

receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user;

copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file;

locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and

locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user;

a modification mechanism configured to allow the first user to modify the financial-data file;

a sending mechanism configured to send the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file;

a receiving mechanism configured to receive the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and

a merging mechanism configured to merge the change file into the financial-data file.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein while allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file the modification mechanism is further configured:

to

determine if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date; and

if so, permit the financial-data file to be modified; and

if not, prevent the financial-data file from being modified.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the merging mechanism is further configured to:

displaying the change file to the first user;

receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user;

creating a backup of the financial-data file, and

modifying the financial-data file based on the change file.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein while displaying the change file to the first user the merging mechanism is further configured to:

determine if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file;

if so, resolve the conflict; and

display the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the merging mechanism is further configured to merge a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the sending mechanism is further configured to compress the copy of the financial-data file.