Abstract: A computer implemented method for processing streams of data signals representing different data items of a common business attribute transmitted by a plurality of different vendors. The streams of data signals are transmitted to the computer by the vendors. Each one of the vendors transmits the data items in a different vendor associated data item format. A rules table is provided in the computer relating each of the vendors with such vendors associated data item format. The streams of data signals transmitted by the plurality of different vendors are stored in a memory. The vendors transmitting the streams of data signals are identified by the computer. The formats of the streams of data signals transmitted by each of the vendors are mapped by the computer in accordance with the rules table into a common predetermined format for the data items. The common format of the data items is stored in a computer memory.