US Patent:
20020099562, Jul 25, 2002
Inventors:
Michael Bruce - Leesburg VA, US
Bill Neely - Silver Spring MD, US
Eben Schoeman - Falls Church VA, US
Trevor Veary - Reston VA, US
Allstair Donovan - Reston VA, US
International Classification:
G06F017/60
Abstract:
A system and method of providing data exchange between an aggregate transaction engine and multiple sources. The system may include an aggregate transaction engine including a user interface server, a source interface server, and a transaction server. The source interface server may include data scraping protocols, electronic data interface protocols, and database query protocols for communicating with the multiple sources. The aggregate transaction engine may include a search module for accessing data describing at least one offering available from the multiple source systems. The aggregate transaction engine may include an ordering module for placing a plurality of orders to the multiple source systems in response to an ordering transaction from a user. The search module and ordering module may include predefined data transfer protocols customized for communicating with the particular source system. A module library may be provided for assembling custom data transfer protocols for data exchange with the multiple source systems. A method of customization may be followed that includes evaluating a source system, selecting a base data transfer module, and customizing the base data transfer module according to the data exchange standards of the source system.