Universal parsing agent system and method

1. A method for extracting and converting data in a computer system from one or more information sources into a common format, comprising:

receiving said information sources in a computer system;

receiving at least one pattern descriptor selected from a graphical user interface;

receiving one or more templates, each of said templates having said at least one pattern descriptor;

applying said one or more templates to said information sources;

generating said data in a common format by parsing said information sources with a universal parsing agent that utilizes said one or more templates; and

storing said data in said common format.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein after storing said data in said common format, said method further comprises communicating said data to an application configured to process said common format.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said application is a database application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said common format for said structured data is a Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein before receiving said one or more templates, said method further comprises,

generating said one or more templates by selecting a file from said information sources, and

having a user select one or more pattern descriptors to describe said file.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising permitting said user to define said one or more pattern descriptors.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein before receiving said one or more templates, said method further comprises permitting said user to select one or more templates from a template library.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said storing of said data in said common format is selected from a group of storage bins consisting of an input bin, a wait bin, an incomplete bin, and a complete bin.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said information sources are selected from the group of structured information sources, semi-structured information sources, unstructured information sources and combinations thereof.

10. A system for extracting and converting data from one or more information sources into a common format, comprising:

a memory configured to receive said information sources, said memory configured to store one or more templates wherein each of said templates has at least one pattern descriptor selected from a graphical user interface;

an input device configured to receive said at least one pattern descriptor from a user interacting with a graphical user interface;

a processor programmed to:

apply said one or more templates to said information sources;

generate said data in said common format by parsing said information sources with a universal parsing agent that utilizes said one or more templates; and

communicate said data in said common format.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said processor is configured to communicate said data in said common format to an application configured to process said common format.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said application is a database application.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said common format for said structured data is a Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said memory stores a template library from which a user can select one or more templates.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said memory stores said data in said common format in a storage bin selected from a group of storage bins consisting of an input bin, a wait bin, and incomplete bin, and a complete bin.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said information sources are selected from the group of structured information sources, semi-structured information sources, unstructured information sources and combinations thereof.

17. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for extracting and converting data from one or more information sources into a common format, comprising:

receiving said information sources;

receiving at least one pattern descriptor selected from a graphical user interface;

receiving one or more templates, each of said templates having said at least one pattern descriptor;

applying said one or more templates to said information sources;

converting said data into said common format by parsing said information sources with a universal parsing agent that utilizes said one or more templates; and

storing said data in said common format.

18. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein after storing said data in said common format, said method further comprises communicating said data in said common format to an application configured to process said common format.

19. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 18 wherein said application is a database application.

20. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 18 further comprising permitting said user to define said one or more pattern descriptors.

21. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein said common format for said structured data is a Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

22. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein before receiving said one or more templates, said method further comprises,

generating said one or more templates by selecting a file from said plurality of information sources, and

having a user select one or more pattern descriptors to describe said file.

23. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein before receiving said one or more templates, said method further comprises permitting said user to select one or more templates from a template library.

24. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein said storing of said data in said common format is selected from a group of storage bins consisting of an input bin, a wait bin, an incomplete bin, and a complete bin.

25. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer-executable instructions for performing said method of claim 17 wherein information sources are selected from the group of structured information sources, semi-structured information sources, unstructured information sources and combinations thereof.