Computer-implemented system for producing, processing and managing structured data sets

• US 8,024,373 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2006
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UBS Business Solutions AG (UBS Ag)
• Original Assignee: UBS Ag
• Inventors: Engel, Michael, Bank, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Khanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, JOHNESE T
• Application Number:
  US12/085,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/803
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a data management system has a basic function configurator to define a generic basic function, whereby the function to be performed is to be depicted in a basic function by means of descriptive attributes and associated values or value ranges necessary for processing the basic function. The function is to be depicted on a data set to which a distribution rule is allocated. A data set, with its associated distribution rules, defines a generic basic function. The data sets which define the generic basic functions, together with their distribution rules for access by a product template configurator, are contained in a basic function list. The product template configurator combines one or several basic functions and transfers these to a product template, in that the generic basic functions are mutated into specific basic functions for the product template concerned by transferring or restricting the values. A product template comprises one or more basic functions belonging to a product. A product template with specific basic functions serves as a basis for a contractual relationship with a partner. The structure of the product template is stored in a product template list for access by a contract manager.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for producing, processing, and managing structured data sets, the system comprising:

a basic function configurator for defining a basic function, wherein;

services performed in the basic function are organized hierarchically by at least one of descriptive attributes, associated values, and value ranges for processing the basic function;

each service is depicted on data sets;

distribution rules are allocated to the data sets; and

the data sets and the distribution rules define the basic function;

a basic function directory storing the data sets and the distribution rules defining the basic function in a database accessible by a product template configurator, wherein;

the basic function in the basic function directory has at least one of the following states;

released and active for product configuration;

released and inactive for product configuration; and

not released and inactive for product configuration; and

the product template configurator combines generic basic functions from the database and transfers the generic basic functions to a product template, the generic basic functions providing specific basic functions for the product template by restrictions of values and value ranges of the attributes and defining default values of the attributes, wherein;

the product template comprises one or more basic functions associated with a product and comprises one or more basic functions to be associated or disassociated with the product;

the product template is supplemented with referenced conditions including at least one of central instructions, price data, and interest conditions, and the referenced conditions overrule the values and the value ranges for the attributes;

during creation of the product template from the generic basic functions, the states of the generic basic functions are fixed to the state that was productive at the time of production of the product template;

the product template serves as the basis for a contract relationship with a customer;

a product template directory stores product templates in a structure accessible by a contract manager and for representation on a user interface, the contract manager being adapted to individualize a product template by adapting attributes within possible value ranges;

a contract is formed by exchanging attributes between components involved in the contract, the components being indicated by metadata of the basic functions and the product templates; and

the metadata of each basic function comprises structure data, and permitted value ranges of the attributes comprise the permitted business case types which are established by the components.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules comprise at least one of static distribution rules and dynamic distribution rules.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules are defined by at least one of a rule identification number, a brief description, a long description, a rule class code, and a rule type code.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 2, wherein the static distribution rules are implemented as a computer program with at least one of standardized data input interface and standardized data output interface.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 2, wherein the dynamic distribution rules are implemented as a computer program with a description and an implementation of at least one of dynamic rules and dynamic variables.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein an extension of the attributes by addition or expansion of the value ranges is excluded.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules determine which conditions are to be fulfilled so that the customer has access to the product associated with the basic function defined by the distribution rules.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules comprise at least one of an age, a domicile, a customer segment, and legal restrictions.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules cannot be overruled.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the distribution rules comprises legal restrictions are transferred on product configuration.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein an identification number characteristic of the distribution rule is allocated to the product template.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising validation rules for checking whether the values or the value ranges of the attributes are observed or whether inputs in fields are valid based on field formats.

13. The computer-implemented system of claim 12, wherein the validation rules return OK or NOK as a result.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising validation rules for pre-selecting and checking product templates for which a contractual relation must be opened or modified for a customer, the validation rules returning a result set upon the checking.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising validation rules for determining a default value specific to the customer before or during displaying the value on the user interface.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising validation rules for checking at least one of a value, a value range, or a data set specified in the product template to ensure processability of the basic function.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the service is segmented into several basic functions based on delimitable functions.

18. A computer-implemented method for producing, processing, and managing structured data sets, the method comprising:

defining a basic function, including;

organizing hierarchically services performed in the basic function by at least one of descriptive attributes, associated values, and value ranges for processing the basic function;

depicting each service on data sets;

allocating distribution rules to the data sets; and

defining the basic function by the data sets and the distribution rules;

storing the data sets and the distribution rules defining the basic function in a database in a basic function directory, wherein;

the basic function in the basic function directory has at least one of the following states;

released and active for product configuration;

released and inactive for product configuration; and

not released and inactive for product configuration;

combining generic basic functions from the database and transferring the generic basic functions to a product template, the generic basic functions providing specific basic functions for the product template by restrictions of values and value ranges of the attributes and defining default values of the attributes, the product template comprising one or more basic functions associated with a product and comprises one or more basic functions to be associated or disassociated with the product;

supplementing the product template with referenced conditions including at least one of central instructions, price data, and interest conditions, the referenced conditions overruling the values and the value ranges for the attributes;

fixing, during creation of the product template from the generic basic functions, the states of the generic basic functions to the state that was productive at the time of production of the product template, the product template serving as the basis for a contract relationship with a customer;

storing stores product templates in a structure in a product template directory accessible by a contract manager;

representing the product templates on a user interface;

individualizing a product template by adapting attributes within possible value ranges;

indicating components by metadata of the basic functions and product templates; and

forming a contract by exchanging attributes between the components involved in the contract;

wherein the metadata of each basic function comprises structure data, and permitted value ranges of the attributes comprise the permitted business case types which are established by the components.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising determining based on the distribution rules whether conditions are fulfilled so that the customer has access to the product associated with the basic function.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising checking whether the values or the value ranges of the attributes are observed or whether inputs in field are valid based on field formats.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising:

pre-selecting and checking product templates for which a contractual relation must be opened for modified for a customer; and

returning a result set based on the checking.

22. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, performs the method of claim 18.