Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING DATA IN A NETWORK
The present invention relates to a system and method for data exchange in a
network
according to the preamble of claims 1 and 9.
Systems and methods for data exchange in networks are already known in the
art.
For example, PCT Publication W096/03896 describes an information system having
a
data storage unit which is connected to subscriber stations by means of a
message
transmission path. Summary information concerning the information data stored
in the
data storage unit is automatically transmitted to subscribers who can
subsequently
retrieve the selected information. In this way, the on-line database serves
first as a data
storage unit for preparation of data for retrieval by data searcher clients,
in which these
clients can merely select from offers already available in the database.
European Patent Application publication 0,370,164-A1 describes an interactive
market
management system in which several sellers and buyers can be connected
directly to one
another by means of a network database.
Furthermore, PCT Publication W095/12176 discloses an information processing
system
for finding information using a computer network in which a broker can have
access to
several databases. Using this system, the broker, in response to a request
from a data
searcher, can manually search and locate targeted offers from data suppliers
and present
offers to the data searcher or buyer.
European Patent Publication EP 0,639,018-A2 discloses a system for data
transmission in
which information data is time selectively sent or received between a sender
and a
receiver in specific time windows.
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Further methods for data exchange are, for example, illustrated in U.S. Patent
No.
5,392,336, PCT Publication W095/10913 and European Patent Publication EP
0,176,522-A2 as well as German Patent Publication DE 3,122,348.
'Vithin the context of this state of the art, it is an object of the present
invention to
provide a system and a method for data exchange in a network which provides,
in
response to a specific data request or query sent to a central server, a
complete and easily
evaluated result which both quickly, reliably and concretely responds the
request. In
accordance with the invention, the data exchange should proceed as
automatically as
possible.
This object is achieved by a system and a method for data exchange having the
characteristics of claims 1 and 9. Preferred embodiments are described in the
depending
claims.
According to a preferred embodiment, the system for data exchange in a network
includes at least one central server having a data storage unit, which is
provided with a
data input connection and data output connection, and at least one client and
at least one
data provider for input and/or retrieval of data information (hereinafter
referred to as
"data") into or from the data storage unit of the central server. According to
this
embodiment of the invention, the server comprises a module for automatically
relaying
the client request to the selected providers. The module is a
hardware/software apparatus
for control of the internal circuitry processes of the server. The automatic
selection of the
information supplier or provider is, according to the invention, carried out
as a function
of the client request, i.e. for example, the server queries the database in
response to client
request for requested data and the server only forwards to the located
database the client's
request. In this way, a large of number of possible providers are quickly,
easily and -
reliably reached.
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In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the data requested by the client
(data
searcher) relates to offers or quotes for particular products or services. In
this way, a data
provider is prompted to submit an offer in case a data searcher wants offers
for a
particular product or service.
Yet, another preferred embodiment provides a server having a module for
anonymous or
secure relaying of data requests from a client to a data provider so that the
selected data
provider receives no information about the client. In this way, the data
provider, for
example receiving a request by facsimile, is compelled to use the type of
communication
preferred by the system (for example using a data entry at a web page).
Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the
requests are relayed by the server to providers who are selected according to
region. A
further possibility of control is thus provided by the information system. For
example,
consideration of regionally different general quality standards of the
suppliers can be
taken into consideration.
While the invention provides a notification to a data provider, if a client
request remains
unanswered after a predetermined time, it is guaranteed that all clients
targeted with
information are taken care of. The data supplier or provider concerned is made
aware by
notification of the availability of a data searcher (client) in a reliable
manner, and the
process is initiated to transmit the requested data to the client. The elasped
time span
until a new notification is made can either be preset by the system or
selected by the
client. Using count statistics available in the server, providers which only
rarely or never
respond to request can be eliminated from further offer requests for
information.
The system according to the invention is preferably applied as a sales
promotion system.
Providers supply the data storage unit with product or service information in
a known
way via conventional information transmission devices such as for example, TV
decoders
of an interactive television, facsimile transmission devices, personal
computer (PC) and
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modem combinations, PC/ISDN devices or other subscriber terminal devices of
conventional data networks. The information to be stored in the data storage
unit consists
of, for example, current price and product information, technical data,
company
information and sales and trade information. Using on-line connections to
further
constituent databases, the data supplier or provider can enhance its data with
additional
information important to a potentially interested party or prospective
customer. The data
can thus be linked or coupled, for example, with advertisements, editorial
articles, test
reports and further information of interest. Since the data provider has
compiled the data
to be recorded in the data storage unit, the provider transmits the data to
the data storage
unit. This takes place for example in a known way via existing telephone, ISDN
or Datex
networks or the like.
A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the server
comprises a
module for automatically converting and formatting data. This allows for
example the
conversion of an e-mail message of the client into a fax or HTML format so
that the
request from an information provider can be received which uses these data
formats.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the server is connected with external data
bases from
which additional information can be queried. These external databases can also
be
product-specific databases or information and trade databases, as for example,
Creditreform (TM) or Dunn and Bradstreet (TM) databases, customs databases,
etc. The
method for data exchange in a network comprises at least one client (data
searcher), a
central server and a data provider, in which the method comprises the
following steps:
1. Sending a data query or request of a client to the central server.
2. Generating a list of possible providers from a provider pool at the server
as a
function of the data in the request. _
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3. Establishing a connection and transmitting the data request to possible
data
providers using simultaneous transmission of a network address for the reply.
4. Receiving the requested data from at least a fraction of the possible data
providers
from the central server.
5. Collecting the requested data or portion thereof at the central server and
forwarding the collected data to the client.
The network may comprise, for example, the Internet. The control of the
essential
process steps is carried out by the central server, which comprises, in
addition to the
necessary access software for the on-line service, a database, for example an
SQL-
database, and filters for the conversion of various data format. Furthermore,
the server is
prepared to establish automatic connections with data service providers.
First, a client or data searcher establishes an on-line connection with the
central server
and transmits a data query or request. The data request may be carned out
using a
suitable terminal program or an Internet browser. The data request may be a
query for
wares or goods specified according to the product or product class.
Using the data request of the client or data searcher, the central server
generates a list of
possible providers by linking the search terms with index terms. In the case
of automatic
offer or bid retrieval, the requested data or product can be compared with the
product
descriptions or designations, given as search terms, listed in the server. The
listed
product designations are linked with provider addresses in the address list.
If no match
between the requested and listed product designation is found, the server then
looks in the
product group containing the requested product. If no match is found in this
case, then all
product providers are queried. The process involved is thus a heuristic
intelligent list -
generation. The advantage is that the probability of a negative response to a
data request
is limited and the data search is thus optimized. During the automatic
generation of the
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provider list, the type of communication is chosen according to the
capabilities of the
data provider, that is if the data provider has no E-mail address, a fax may
sent.
According to the method, the data request is transmitted, and simultaneously a
network
address of the central server is given for the response. In this way, the data
request can
either be exactly specified, or defined in rough terms only to be completed
when the
provider responds.
The requested data is then prepared by the data provider and transmitted to
the network
address of the central server. In the case of automatic offer obtaining or
retrieval, the
requested data comprises the offers or bids for the requested products. The
central server
collects the information output from individual data providers and compiles
the data in a
form readable by the data searcher or client. In the case of offer retrieval,
a sorting can
also take place, for example by price. Finally, the processed data from
various data
providers is forwarded to the client by E-mail, fax or in an agreed upon
standard format.
It is an advantage of the method disclosed that the client (data searcher)
merely submits a
single request and, in response thereto, automatically obtains the reply of a
number of
data providers.
The method can also be carried out with several clients, servers and data
providers at the
same time.
A further preferred embodiment of the method of data exchange provides that
the client
sets a time limit for the preparation of the data such that the server no
longer accepts any
new data after expiry of the time limit and the data already received is
forwarded to the
client. The time limit set by the client is forwarded with the data request or
query from
the server to the possible data suppliers or providers and the network address
for the reply
for receipt of further data is cut-off after expiry of the time limit. The
data is then
automatically compiled within a short time by the server and forwarded to the
client in a
standard format. In this way, the data searcher (client) can receive and
compare within a
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short time period a large number of data items from various data providers.
This is of
great significance, for example, in the case of invitations for tenders to
purchase goods
having rapidly changing prices.
In a further preferred embodiment of the method, header or profile data
concerning the
client is taken into consideration during the automatic generation of the list
of possible
data providers. The profile data in this case can in particular contain
additions to the
provider list of the server or exclusion of certain data providers. The
profile or header
information can however also be a limitation to certain geographical regions
from which
data providers should be selected, restrictions concerning types of payment or
also basic
restrictions concerning the mode of data return. Furthermore, the list of
information
providers available at the central server can be expanded using data from the
data
searchers or clients.
In a further preferred embodiment, the data is converted and formatted by the
central
server. This concerns, for example, the conversion of the data request into
fax format, or
the formatting and preparation of the data prior to return to the client (data
searcher).
In yet a further preferred embodiment, several queries from various clients
can be
processed in parallel by the central server. This means that the server is
arranged for
mufti-user operation or mufti-tasking. The above-described method can operate
thereby
in parallel with multiple threads. It is also an advantage that, while
generating the list of
possible data providers, address lists of external databases can be queried.
In this case, a
conversion into a standard format, as for example X 500, must take place if
required.
In a further preferred embodiment, a client's data request is converted by the
central
server into an audio, fax or e-mail request to the data provider.'
In yet a further preferred embodiment, the central server carries out
automatic password
allocation to the data providers. By doing so, it is assured that only
authorized data
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providers can return their data as an offer. When accessing the network
address of the
server, a verification setup is implemented which contains a corresponding
password
query (login dialog box). Data providers excluded by the client in a
preliminary selection
receive no password and thereby cannot supply an offer. A virtual seller (data
supplier or
S provider) can input, for example, his password each morning and then
automatically
receive at his terminal the requests which concern him.
Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the method provides that the central
server
automatically creates a virtual web page for each data provider. This means
that a
password query is first carried out at the network address supplied by the
server, and then
a data input screen appears in which the provider can input his offer. In this
way, the data
input screen remains the same for all providers for the data query or request.
The data
input is stored by the server under the name of the provider registered by
each respective
password, and is no longer visible the next time the web page is called up by
a
subsequentprovider.
Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the data is
entered
using the virtual web page automatically generated by the server. In this way,
each data
provider is provided with an individual virtual web page for submitting the
provider's
offer. The individual password of each data provider is positively requested
upon
selection of the network address of the server by the data providers. Each
individual data
provider is then connected with its individual home page. The submission of
offers is
always carried out without a data provider seeing the offers of other data
providers.
A further embodiment of the invention provides that receipt and processing of
data
requests, as well as data entry of the data at the web page, proceeds at the
data provider
end by an automatic process, for example a mail robot. By a mail robot is
understood a _
program controlled computer which processes received requests according to a
predetermined algorithm and answers them automatically in a standardized form.
The
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method can thereby be automated to the degree that the mail robot (and thereby
the data
provider) retrieves (i.e. receives) independently data requests from the
central server and
answers them. This requires that the data provider has a standardized
interface to the
central server and that all required information, as for example product item
number,
client number, time limit, password, and network address are transmitted in a
standardized form.
Furthermore, several central servers can be provided in the network in which
the central
servers are synchronized among each other. In this way, a quicker access to
the nearest
central server is assured and worldwide access to the data of data providers
is possible.
A further preferred embodiment involves the application of a user interface
for offline
generation of data requests from adata searcher for sending to the central
server. In this
way, the comparison and calculation of incoming data are immediately possible.
Finally, the described method is suited advantageously for application in
automatic
retrieval of offers for goods, wherein product index numbers are generated by
the server
in addition to the- listed product designations. This takes place in the
background by
means of a numeric table (matrix), which stores and manages product numbers.
Within
the matrix, various product numbers of various providers designating however
the same
articles are linked and indexed, that is a server product index number is
assigned. In
order to be able to accept new items in the matrix and to manage existing
items, the
matrix is automatically structured and expanded. This takes place by
"intercepting" new
provider product numbers which are for example included in submissions for
offers for
alternate or successor items. When the retrieval of the offers indicates that
a product
number used by data requesters and various providers designates a same
product, the
product number used is linked with the same product number (index) in the
central
server. The method steps are thereby easier to automate since the correct
product
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numbers of the provider can be specified when requesting to receive data (for
example
using a mail robot) using automatic processes installed at the provider.
In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described with
reference
to the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the system for data
exchange
according to the invention; and
Figure 2 shows the flow of a process according to the invention for automatic
offer
retrieval in a network.
A system for data exchange in a network illustrated schematically in Figure 1
comprises a
server 10 including a data storage unit, which is organized as a structured
interactive
database. In the data storage unit, information data concerning data providers
20 can be
stored. The stored data is retrievable by clients (data searchers) 30.
Providers 20 and
data searchers 30 are connected by means of a message transmission path 40
with the
data storage unit. Suitable message transmission paths are, for example, the
telephone
network, ISDN networks, data networks and cable television networks.
The data storage unit comprises an I/O unit module illustrated in Figure 1
with which the
data storage unit is connected to the various message transmission paths 40.
The
providers 20 and data searchers 30 may be connected by means of any freely
selectable
message transmission path 40 to the data storage unit. They are also equipped
with the
corresponding terminal apparatus, such as a PC Modem 41 or ISDN connection 42,
a
network interface 43, a fax apparatus 44 or a TV decoder and television
apparatus 46.
The server 10 converts the data available in the data storage unit in a
particular original
format into the format required by the subscriber or for transmission to the
subscriber. - _
The server also has a verification device which checks authorization' codes
sent from
subscribers so that only authorized subscribers have access to the data
storage unit.
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A data searcher 30 has access to the data storage unit as shown in Figure 1
using is
terminal equipment 41 to 46 and the message transmission path 40 can there
retrieve
data. The data may comprise for example offers for specific products or
services, which
have been previously loaded by providers 20 in the data base. The data
searcher or client
30 inputs a query to the database to find out more about further information
regarding the
earlier input offer of the provider 20. Alternatively, a data searcher 30 can,
however, also
input a query for a particular product or a service, without referring to a
previously input
offer of the provider 20 or without offers of the provider having been
previously input.
The server relays the query or request of the data searcher 30 to the terminal
devices 41
to 44 of the providers 20 wherein the query is relayed only to those providers
which offer
the related product or the related service. The selection of the providers 20
can be done
in an anonymous or secure manner, i.e. the data searchers 30 receive no
information
concerning the providers 20 during this selection. In this case, the data
searchers 30 do
not discover the identity of the providers 20 until the providers 20 have sent
back an
answer to the data searcher 30.
Furthermore, selection by geographical location of providers 20 can be carried
out. The
selected providers 20 can then input or upload into the data storage unit the
data
requested by the data searcher 30 as a result of the transmission of the query
of the data
searcher 30 by means of the terminal devices 41 to 44 of the providers 20. The
data
storage unit forwards the data to the requesting data searcher 30. If a
request stored in the
terminal device 41 to 44 of a provider 20 is not answered within a
predetermined amount
of time, while other providers 20 have responded to. it and transmitted the
requested data
to the interested requester 30, then the concerned provider 20 is
automatically notified.
For this purpose, either a screen output or a message stored in the server can
be used. By
this notification, the provider 20 will be made aware in a reliable manner of
the
availability of a query or request submitted by a data searcher 30 which
concerns the
provider 20.
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The method according to the invention will now be described with reference to
Figure 2.
The client searches for the best offer for an item which he or she more
precisely specifies
in his or her request or query for an offer. Additionally, the client can
input data or
restrictions concerning the offer to be retrieved of the product providers to
be considered.
S Furthermore, the client or customer can specify the type of offer reply,
namely for
example, by e-mail, and the corresponding data structure for the reply when
requesting
the offer, as well as a time limit for the subsequent receipt of the offers.
The client is
connected by a network to the central server where the offer request is
received and is
processed immediately by a decision subroutine. The decision subroutine then
checks
whether the specifications set out in the offer request can be used to
directly generate an
address list, or whether a corresponding address list can be generated using a
heuristic
approach. In the case of an offer request, for example looking for a 386-SX
chip as a
product, when there is a failure to find a match between the chip to be
searched and the
products found in the product list, then products from the next level up are
located, in this
example the product group of CPU providers or resellers, and the addresses
listed in that
group are copied to generate the desired address list.
After generating the address list, the number of possible product providers is
then known,
and therefore so is also the corresponding number of passwords to be
distributed. The
passwords are distributed with the offer request to the corresponding product
providers
and a corresponding number 'n', from the number of possible providers, of
virtual Web
pages are prepared by the server. The offer request is forwarded to each of
the product
providers using the selected communications type, i.e. by fax or e-mail along
with the
additional information concerning the time limit, the individual password and
the
network address for the individual web page.
A password query takes place when the network address is accessed, and
thereafter the
virtual web page, i.e. the data entry screen or mask, opens and is the same
for all product
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providers. After entry of the offer data in the data entry screen, the offer
data provided
by the product provider using the password is stored by the server and is not
viewable for
the next product provider who calls up the virtual web page. After expiry of
the time
limit, no offers at the assigned network address are accepted and the data
from the web
pages are compiled in the format required by the client and sent back to him
by means of
e-mail or fax.
In the case of fully automatic offer retrieval, a mail robot is at the product
provider end to
automatically evaluate and answer the request. Unique item designations are
transmitted
in a predetermined format and the corresponding search process is carried out
automatically in the database of the product provider. Next, the connection is
established
and the submission of the offer to the central server is achieved
automatically by the mail
robot.
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