Granted Patent B1

US 7,158,967 · App. 10/027,066 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A data processing system comprising:

a. a user terminal which generates a service request as an XML document;

b. a legacy data base management system which honors said service request by executing an ordered sequence of command language script coupled to a publicly accessible digital data communication network;

c. a response generated by said legacy data base management system which is not in XML format by executing said ordered sequence of command language script to honor said service request; and

d. a facility for converting said XML document into said ordered sequence of command language script and said response into an XML message which is transferrable over said publicly accessible digital data communication network.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said facility further comprises an output definition table.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said facility further comprises a document type definition corresponding to said XML message.

4. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said facility includes storage for said output definition table.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said facility further comprises a repository responsively coupled to said legacy data base management system wherein said ordered sequence of command language script, said output definition table and said document type definition are temporarily stored within said repository.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a. a user terminal which generates a service request as an XML message responsively coupled to a publicly accessible digital data communication network;

b. a data base management system having an internal format different from XML responsively coupled to said publicly accessible digital data communication network which generates a response to said service request in said internal format by executing an ordered sequence of command language script; and

c. an Output Definition Table which converts said response into an XML document for transmission to said user terminal via said publically accessible digital data communication network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a Document Type Definition (DTD) which defines a format of said XML document.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a repository within said data base management system for storage of said Output Definition Table.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a window for user activation of said Output Definition Table.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication system further comprises the Internet.

11. A method of supplying a response from a data base management system comprising:

a. transferring a service request to said data base management system via a publically accessible digital data communication network;

b. processing said service request by said data base management system to produce a response;

c. converting said response into an XML document using an Output Definition Table (ODT); and

d. transmitting said XML document via said publically accessible digital data communication network.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said converting step includes use of a Document Type Definition corresponding to said XML document.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said Output Definition Table is dynamically generated from storage.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said converting step further comprises an XML element to source mapping tree containing an internal representation that assures conformance to said Document Type Definition.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said publically accessible digital data communication network further comprises the Internet.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a. transmitting means for transmitting an XML document via a publicly accessible digital data communication network;

b. processing means responsively coupled to said transmitting means for processing a service request to produce a response;

c. converting means responsively coupled to said processing means for converting said response into said XML document; and

d. sending means responsively coupled to said converting means and said transmitting means for sending said XML document to said transmitting means for transmission via said publicly accessible digital data communication network.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said processing means further comprises a repository.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising defining means for defining a format of said XML document.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said transmitting means further comprises the Internet.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said storing means stores said defining means for future use.

21. An apparatus for honoring a data processing service request comprising:

a. A user terminal which generates said service request as an XML document;

b. A legacy data base management system having a data base in a non-XML legacy format which honors said service request by executing an ordered sequence of command language script responsively coupled to said user terminal via a publicly accessible digital data communication network;

c. A first response in said non-XML legacy format generated by said legacy data base management system by executing said ordered sequence of command language script;

d. A conversion facility responsively coupled to said legacy data base management system which converts said service request into said non-XML legacy format and said first response in said non-XML legacy format into a second response embodied as an XML message; and

e. A transfer facility for transferring said XML message from said legacy data base management system to said user terminal via said publicly accessible digital data communication network.

22. An apparatus for honoring a data processing service request according to claim 21 comprising further comprising a Document Type Definition (DTD) which defines a format of said XML message.

23. An apparatus for honoring a data processing service request according to claim 22 further comprising a repository within said legacy data base management system for storage of said ordered sequence of command language script.

24. An apparatus for honoring a data processing service request according to claim 23 further comprising a window for user activation of said XML document at said user terminal.

25. An apparatus for honoring a data processing service request according to claim 24 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication system further comprises the Internet.

Assignments (13)