The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 14, 1996
Craig A Church, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Joel Chaban, San Rafael, CA (US);
Mark Erbaugh, Grove City, OH (US);
The EC Company, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method that provides the exchange of electronic data interchange (EDI) and electronic fund transfers (EFT) type transactions between trading partners having incompatible accounting database systems is herein provided. The system utilizes a distributed network system connecting one or more client computers representing trading partners and banking institutions to a network server. Each client computer stores data representing EDI and EFT type transactions in an accounting database having a file format that differs from one or more of its associated trading partners. A set of transactions are extracted from an accounting database and converted into a universal file format that is used to exchange data between the various client computers. The universal file format utilizes a freestyle format that accommodates any data element associated with the transactions and is not constrained to a predefined format. The exchange of data between any of the client computers is transmitted through the network server. The network server transmits the data to the appropriate destination client computer as well as perform one or more value added services prescribed by the client computers.