Abstract: A client-server system for corporate travel planning, expense reporting and travel management that utilizes a corporate database server to enable accurate and timely pre-travel and post-travel decision making that is fed by a travel planning process and an expense reporting process, plus a SABRE data feed of all booked data and back office system data as well as a hand-off of exchange and void ticket information that comprises a Travel Planning module, a Travel Decision Maker module, and a Travel Expense Reporting module. The system uses a corporate database environment communicating with a real-time CRS data feed that enhances the Travel Planning module by offering the traveler live choices of air, car, and hotel availability based upon company travel policy as well as live access to current or company negotiated fares while also allowing the Travel Decision Maker module to make comparisons between booked information and actual current travel data.

Abstract: A table with a first work surface and a second lower work surface on a trundle table assembly. The first work surface having a table lip extending upward around the perimeter of the table while the trundle table assembly work surface does not have a lip on either end. The trundle table assembly providing a second and lower work surface so that caregivers can avoid lifting heavier children or children in wheelchairs to the height necessary to clear the table lip around the first work surface. One use for the table with trundle table assembly is a diaper changing table.

Abstract: Conversion of a data in a variable field message to a fixed format message. The variable field message has a varying length and fields of varying types of data. The corresponding fixed format message has fields of a fixed data type and length, which facilitates parsing and processing data from the variable field message. Customers for the data conversion or other processing are load balanced among multiple servers sharing load level information.

Abstract: A system and method for processing travel data and travel receipts. Travel data including travel segments is received by the system. Receipts for the trip are also received from a credit card provider. The received credit card data and travel data are each converted into a predefined format. The converted information is compared to match information in the receipts and the travel data such as chain codes or dates of travel. A list of matching data is output, such as to use in preparing an expense report.

Abstract: A system for accessing and analyzing data through a central processing unit. The system includes a non-modal user interface to provide a user access to the system. A number of application graphics objects allow the user to visually interact with a plurality of analysis objects through the non-modal user interface. The plurality of application analysis objects allow a user to interactively create an analysis network for analyzing one or more databases. A plurality of application data access objects automatically interprets the analysis network and allows the system to access required databases and to generate structure query language required to access and analyze the databases as defined within the analysis network.

Abstract: An information aggregation and synthesization system and process. The present invention provides aggregation and packaging of structured or unstructured information from disparate sources such as those available on a network such as the Internet. A network compatible/addressable interface device is operated by a user. The network interface device communicates with local datastores or network accessible datastores via an addressing scheme such as Uniform Resource Locator addresses (URLs) utilized by the Internet. Data passing between the network interface device and the datastores is accessed, polled, and retrieved through an intermediary gateway system. Such aggregated information is then synthesized, customized, personalized and localized to meet the information resource requests specified by the user via the network interface device.

Abstract: An information search and retrieval process using geographical coordinates. An index of coordinates is built for a plurality of text based references, resources or sites, each having a set of said coordinates. A user inquiry is accepted containing a text reference. The text reference specified in the user inquiry is converted to a set of coordinates. A search is thereafter conducted against the index of coordinates based on the converted coordinates of the user inquiry reference. All information retrieved from the search is returned in a text based format.

Abstract: A system for accessing and analyzing data through a central processing unit. The system includes a non-modal user interface to provide a user access to the system. A number of application graphics objects allow the user to visually interact with a plurality of analysis objects through the non-modal user interface. The plurality of application analysis objects allow a user to interactively create an analysis network for analyzing one or more databases. A plurality of application data access objects automatically interprets the analysis network and allows the system to access required databases and to generate structure query language required to access and analyze the databases as defined within the analysis network.

Abstract: A data management method and architecture that enables users to integrate central reservation system communications with local accounting and reporting functions. More particularly, the present invention comprises a batch scheduling function that automatically executes predetermined batch tasks and distributes the executable load efficiently among available processing resources. The invention provides significant improvements in environments which require access to mass data storage systems such as the central information repositories used in the travel industry.

Abstract: A process to access an IMS transaction based computer system from a structured query language (SQL) application program without revising or migrating the transaction based system. Binary virtual table mappings are built. An SQL statement from the SQL application program is parsed. Virtual column to transaction utilization mappings are extracted from the SQL statement. A possible solution set or solution sets are generated which may be capable of satisfying the SQL statement. Thereafter, transaction costs for each potential solution set are determined. Finally, a solution set with the lowest cost to satisfy the SQL statement is executed.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a data management system having a centrally located host computer, at least one trading partner output data file that communicates with the host computer, a data management processing means resident within the host computer and in communication with the trading partner's output data file, at least one management transaction database in communication with the processing means, at least one management customer database in communication with the data management processing means and at least one data output means within the host computer that provides visual representation of the data following processing from the management transaction database, the management customer database, and the output data file.

Abstract: A system to evaluate movement of computer application functions from an existing computer system platform to an alternate computer system platform. The process includes determining the cost of a generic computing unit by dividing the total costs of the existing computer system platform by the total number of application functions. The percentage of the generic unit attributable to various categories is determined, including hardware and software, support and personnel, and facility costs. Yearly percentage cost changes for the existing computer system platform for a selected number of years are applied in each category. Training costs per generic unit for the alternate computer system platform are applied. The conversion costs per generic unit are applied to the generic unit. The costs of each category in the alternate computer system as a percentage of the existing computer system platform costs are applied to the generic unit to produce comparative costs of the alternate environment.

Abstract: A system for accessing and analyzing data through a central processing unit. The system includes a non-modal user interface to provide a user access to the system. A number of application graphics objects allow the user to visually interact with a plurality of analysis objects through the non-modal user interface. The plurality of application analysis objects allow a user to interactively create an analysis network for analyzing one or more databases. A plurality of application data access objects interpret the analysis network and allow the system to access required databases and to generate structure query language required to access and analyze the databases as defined within the analysis network.

Abstract: A computerized airline flight reservation system simulator that allows air ravel carriers to simulate changes in flight schedules and predict the impact of those changes on a carrier's revenue. The simulator includes means for the input of host and other airline scheduled flight information which is used to build a global network of flight services offered on existing central reservation systems (CRS). The network is built according to CRS build and edit rules and simulates the screen display of reservation systems according to CRS display and sorting rules. The system simulates the screen presence on existing CRSs allowing the airline to predict the revenues derived from its present flight schedule and provides means to make proposed changes in its schedule and correspondingly see how such changes may impact revenues.