Patents Assigned to Sterling Commerce, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20040243713
    Abstract: A protocol converter (14) allows communications between a host (12) and remotes (16, 18, 20) that operate using different communications protocols. The protocol converter (14) includes processes (50) and subsystems (60) for establishing a communications session between the remotes (16, 18, 20) and the host (12). The processes include a session manager (52), a set of facilities (54), and a set of utilities (56). The subsystems include a logon subsystem (62), a communications subsystem (64), and a translator subsystem (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Sterling Commerce, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: John K. Hadland
  • Patent number: 6766375
    Abstract: A protocol converter (14) allows communications between a host (12) and remotes (16, 18, 20) that operate using different communications protocols. The protocol converter (14) includes processes (50) and subsystems (60) for establishing a communications session between the remotes (16, 18, 20) and the host (12). The processes include a session manager (52), a set of facilities (54), and a set of utilities (56). The subsystems include a logon subsystem (62), a communications subsystem (64), and a translator subsystem (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Hadland
  • Publication number: 20040016683
    Abstract: A system for handling checks is provided that includes a sorter operable to retrieve MICR data from a plurality of checks. An emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulator is operable to access the MICR data, to generate a process buffer based on the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructions for each check based on the process buffer. A communication engine is coupled between the emulator and a check processing system. The communication engine is operable to communicate between the emulator and the check processing system in real-time. The check processing system is operable to receive the process buffer from the emulator through the communication engine. The emulator is further operable to communicate the feature instructions to the sorter. The sorter is further operable to process the checks based on the feature instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Sterling Commerce, Inc. a Delaware corporation
    Inventor: Rian R. Maloney
  • Patent number: 6608274
    Abstract: A system for handling checks is provided that includes a sorter operable to retrieve MICR data from a plurality of checks. An emulator is coupled to the sorter. The emulator is operable to access the MICR data, to generate a process buffer based on the MICR data, and to generate a plurality of feature instructions for each check based on the process buffer. A communication engine is coupled between the emulator and a check processing system. The communication engine is operable to communicate between the emulator and the check processing system in real-time. The check processing system is operable to receive the process buffer from the emulator through the communication engine. The emulator is further operable to communicate the feature instructions to the sorter. The sorter is further operable to process the checks based on the feature instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventor: Rian R. Maloney
  • Publication number: 20020133610
    Abstract: A protocol converter (14) allows communications between a host (12) and remotes (16, 18, 20) that operate using different communications protocols. The protocol converter (14) includes processes (50) and subsystems (60) for establishing a communications session between the remotes (16, 18, 20) and the host (12). The processes include a session manager (52), a set of facilities (54), and a set of utilities (56). The subsystems include a logon subsystem (62), a communications subsystem (64), and a translator subsystem (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Sterling Commerce, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
    Inventor: John K. Hadland
  • Patent number: 6405254
    Abstract: A protocol converter (14) allows communications between a host (12) and remotes (16, 18, 20) that operate using different communications protocols. The protocol converter (14) includes processes (50) and subsystems (60) for establishing a communications session between the remotes (16, 18, 20) and the host (12). The processes include a session manager (52), a set of facilities (54), and a set of utilities (56). The subsystems include a logon subsystem (62), a communications subsystem (64), and a translator subsystem (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventor: John K. Hadland
  • Patent number: 6259700
    Abstract: An electronic commerce distributed network is disclosed that includes a plurality of interconnected processing nodes. Each processing node (50) includes a first sub-node (52) and a second sub-node (54) that are connected to communicate information and are in geographically remote locations. The first sub-node (52) of each processing node (50) has an active state in which the first sub-node (52) communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The second sub-node (54) of each processing node (50) has a mirror state in which the second sub-node (54) mirrors the first sub-node (52) as well as an active state in which the second sub-node (54) communicates with other processing nodes and processes electronic commerce messages communicated with originator/recipient organizations. The first sub-node (52) of each processing node (50) is initially in the active state, and the second sub-node (54) is initially in the mirror state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Hsieh, Brad Manring
  • Patent number: 6192034
    Abstract: A system and method for network integrity management are provided. A plurality of network elements (108) and software elements (114) are interconnected in a network. Each network element (108) and software element (114) includes an SNMP agent (110, 116) operable to create and maintain a management information base (112, 118) that stores information representing a current status of the associated network element (108) or software element (114). The SNMP agent (110, 116) is further operable to communicate the management information base (112, 118) across the network, and a remote monitor (102) is operable to collect the management information bases (112, 118) communicated by the SNMP agents (110, 116). A management client (120) is operable to connect to the remote monitor (102) and to receive the management information bases (112, 118) collected by the remote monitor (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Hsieh, Brad Manring
  • Patent number: 5928333
    Abstract: Firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) interface between private networks (14), (16), (18) and a public network (12). The firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) manage alias databases (21), (25) and (29). The firewall host system (26) communicates updates to its alias database (21) to the firewall host system (28) which redistributes the updates the fireball host system (30). The firewall host system (30) then reinitializes its alias database (29) using the information received from the firewall host system (26) through the firewall host system (28). In addition, each of the firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) provide a graphical user interface (66) which allows for the proactive maintenance of mail message queues through the provision of a mail message queue display area (68) and a command area (70) and a search area (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent B. Landfield, Albert J. Zechmann
  • Patent number: 5893076
    Abstract: A transaction processing system for processing business transactions between a supplier and retailer is provided. The transaction processing system may comprise a retailer processor, a replenishment processor, and a supplier processor. The retailer processor transmits business data from the retailer. The replenishment processor receives the business data and generates suggested business transactions that are communicated to the supplier processor. The supplier processor is operable to selectively modify the suggested business transaction and communicate them to the replenishment processor. The replenishment processor generates actual business transactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Hafner, Jay S. Steinberger, Robert C. Humphrey, David Gracon
  • Patent number: 5870542
    Abstract: A data processing system (10) includes processing nodes (12, 18) and submitting nodes (14, 16, 20, 22). Each processing node (12, 18) includes a list of remote proxies (36, 50) and a list of local proxies (38, 52). The remote proxies (36, 50) and local proxies (38, 52) specify access to the storage or processing capabilities of the processing nodes (12, 18) by the submitting nodes (14, 16, 20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: S. Dale Ander, Christopher Von See
  • Patent number: 5794206
    Abstract: An interchange window (106) of a graphical user interface. The interchange window (106) may display at least one interchange entry (95). The interchange entry (95) is associated with an interchange (54) of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) message (50). The interchange window (106) may include a status icon (120) representing the status of the interchange (54). In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the interchange window (106) may include a translation report sub-window (222) and a data set sub-window (220). Additionally, the interchange window (106) may display a functional group entry (96) associated with a functional group (60) of the interchange (54) and a document entry (98) associated with a document (66) of the interchange (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Wilkinson, Thomas A. Crable, Norman K. Fry
  • Patent number: 5771343
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a transaction processing system is provided comprising at least one server and a mainframe. Recovery process for restarting a batch is also provided comprising failure detection process for indicating a batch failure, and a startup means responsive to the failure detection process for starting failed batch on the mainframe. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a batch failure may be indicated by a server's failure to respond to a request or by a step within a batch requiring longer than a predetermined length of time to complete. Further, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, recovery process may run on the mainframe, the server processing the batch, or a secondary server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Hafner, Charles J. Batka, Elizabeth P. Mellott
  • Patent number: 5758126
    Abstract: An electronic forms application presents a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display of a computer. The GUI includes a plurality of information accepting fields which accept entry of, and present information in, human readable form. The electronic forms application is operative to accept an EDI data transmission, translate the EDI data into human-readable form and present the data in the information accepting fields of the GUI. The electronic forms application is further operative to accept and verify information manually entered into the information accepting fields of the GUI, extract the information entered into the information accepting fields, translate the information into EDI data and transmit the EDI data to a destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy J. Daniels, Sheila W. Goad, Kevin F. Maisano, James M. Motyka, Matthew D. Reiser, David L. Suffecool
  • Patent number: 5734820
    Abstract: A data communication system includes a host (12) having a memory and a remote (16) that communicate data. A security system (14) is coupled to the remote (16) and the host (12), and spawns an interactive process in response to the remote (16) requesting access to the host (12). The interactive process has selected access to the memory of the host (12), and interacts with the remote (16) to provide the selected access. The security system (14) may include a communications module (50), a control module (60), a mailbox module (62), an auto connect module (64), a log module (66), and an exits module (68).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky D. Howard, Ramzi Khaouli
  • Patent number: 5664185
    Abstract: A data communications management and nameserver administration system is provided that allows for the administration of a nameserver database (44) through the invocation of a nameserver administration system (46). In addition, a nameserver test system (48) is provided that provides for nameserver tool execution systems (130) and a tool configuration utility (128). A graphical nameserver query system (50) is provided that allows for the submission of nameserver queries to other nameserver system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent B. Landfield, Roger L. Ferrel
  • Patent number: 5632011
    Abstract: Firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) interface between private networks (14), (16), (18) and a public network (12). The firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) manage alias databases (21), (25) and (29). The firewall host system (26) communicates updates to its alias database (21) to the firewall host system (28) which redistributes the updates the firewall host system (30). The firewall host system (30) then reinitializes its alias database (29) using the information received from the firewall host system (26) through the firewall host system (28). In addition, each of the firewall host systems (26), (28) and (30) provide a graphical user interface (66) which allows for the proactive maintenance of mail message queues through the provision of a mail message queue display area (68) and a command area (70) and a search area (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Sterling Commerce, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent B. Landfield, Albert J. Zechmann