Abstract: An adapter layer transforms requests generated by an external API according to internal back-end specifications, and also transforms responses received from the back-end software before such responses are sent to the external API. The adapter layer may include any number of chained adapters, configured so that the output of one adapter is provided as input for another adapter. Each adapter can be configured to transform requests and/or responses between one API version and an immediately preceding or succeeding API version. An appropriate chain of adapters can be activated to perform transformations as needed between a particular API and the format expected by the back-end software. Development of adapters is thus simplified, as the system avoids the need to provide different adapters for each possible combination of software versions operating with one another and with the back-end software.

Abstract: An adapter layer transforms requests generated by an external API according to internal back-end specifications, and also transforms responses received from the back-end software before such responses are sent to the external API. The adapter layer may include any number of chained adapters, configured so that the output of one adapter is provided as input for another adapter. Each adapter can be configured to transform requests and/or responses between one API version and an immediately preceding or succeeding API version. An appropriate chain of adapters can be activated to perform transformations as needed between a particular API and the format expected by the back-end software. Development of adapters is thus simplified, as the system avoids the need to provide different adapters for each possible combination of software versions operating with one another and with the back-end software.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and data structures for the effective and efficient synchronization or inter-exchange of invoice information between business applications employing disparate DOFs. For one embodiment, a DOF is provided that allows for relationships between entities, also referred to as invoices, to be modeled as attributes of an entity and for customization of the DOF in a manner that facilitates upgrading of the DOF. For one embodiment, the invoice DOF is provided in a common software language such as XML. For one embodiment, invoice information from each of several business applications is translated to a common DOF. The invoice information, in the common DOF, is then inter-exchanged among the several business applications. Each application has only to translate the invoice information from the common DOF to the application-specific DOF of the respective business application.