IE990221A1 - A Data Processing System - Google Patents

Abstract

A processing system for real time processing of invoices in a multi-user, distributed billing environment such as a hotel having sub-networks for billing activities such as bars, restaurants and a reception desk is described. The system uses a hospitality server device connected to the sub-networks for receiving invoice data processed at a user interface keypad by accessing a relational billing values database. The invoice data is received at a port of the server and is mapped in real time to a buffer memory. The system uses dedicated invoice record handler for subsequent processing and reporting of the data ensuring optimum performance and availability of invoice information using minimum system resources.

Description

The invention relates to a data processing system and more particularly to a data processing system for real time processing of invoices in a multi-user, distributed billing environment.

Invoicing in a distributed network such as the processing of room charges from various operational areas, such as the bar, restaurant or leisure complex of a hotel has become increasingly problematic with the advent of larger hotels having a greater number of guests. Room charges have previously been centralised at the reception desk. Obviously, the reliability of an account enquiry at any point in time is dependent on the timely and complete delivery of invoices from throughout the network of charging centres to reception. In manual systems, this requires an inordinate number of staff and is prone to error on data entry. Automated systems conventionally comprise a host computer programmed to capture data from a remote register, log the data, process the data, and generate output reports according to report criteria.

The environment in which such systems operate has become more complex in recent years. For example, there is often a need to connect more than one register in a given area and thus multiple data streams must be processed simultaneously. In addition, invoice volumes are increasing dramatically in line with the size of serviced networks. Further, with increasingly complex distribution network environments and customer invoice detail requirements, the performance of invoice monitoring systems has been challenged, despite the improvement in hardware processing capacity. Another problem is that existing systems tend to be inflexible in operation, both in respect of the extent of data which can be captured and processed, and the outputs which may be provided.

The invention is therefore directed towards providing a data processing system which has improved flexibility for operation in different environments such as single-user or LAN environments. The invention also seeks to provide a system for handling different types of reporting outputs, while achieving short res processed. --— -.-q .-6/ uri 23 INT CL 6GU fch n/te fb I / ZF According to the invention, there is provided a data processing system for use in real time processing of invoices in a multi-user, distributed billing environment, comprising: a hospitality server having a port for connection to an invoicing sub-network for reception of invoice detail records, said server having means for mapping real time buffer memory to accommodate received data; a user interface comprising means for interactively receiving invoice data and maintaining a billing values database having a relational record structure; a data manager associated with each billing value dataset, said managers comprising means for automatically writing contents of the values database to memory in response to received invoice data before real time invoice data processing; an invoice record handler comprising:means for communicating with the server via an Application Protocol Interface (API), and for processing received invoice data in real time upon receipt via the API according to the billing values in said memory, and means for writing the processed data to a dedicated invoice database; and a reporting module comprising means for reading the invoice database and a dedicated reporting parameter values database and for generating output data reports according to pre-set filters, the reporting module having read-only access to said databases.

In one embodiment, the hospitality server comprises means for establishing separate and independent data streams and memory buffers for different sub-networks, either local or remote.

Preferably, the hospitality server comprises means for retrieving setup values from operating system datasets and for storing said values in a dedicated register during processing.

In one embodiment, the invoice record handler comprises means for automatically activating relevant data managers to update values in the memory upon detection of a parameter value change in received invoice data.

In another embodiment, the user interface comprises means for indicating the relevant parameter value category to the invoice record handler upon amending a value in the values database, and the invoice record handler comprises means for automatically activating the relevant data manager to update the memory.

Ideally, the invoice record handler comprises means for performing in-line compression of particular data items before writing to the invoice database.

Preferably, the invoice record handler comprises means for mapping an invoice buffer for temporary storage of processed invoice data between invoice database updates, and for mapping an invoice portion buffer for temporary storage of portions of complex invoice records.

In another embodiment, the reporting module comprises programmed addressable objects, each storing a set of report criteria and filters defined by object attributes, and a scheduler for activating said objects according to stored times.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 which is a schematic representation of a data processing system of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a data processing system 1 of the invention. The system 1 is shown connected to two remote sub-networks, namely, a bar sub-network 2 and a restaurant sub-network 3.

The system 1 comprises a hospitality server 10, which communicates with the bar subnetwork 2 and the restaurant sub-network 3. The hospitality server 10 has a mapped section of read/write memory 12 associated with the bar sub-network 2 and a section 13 associated with the restaurant sub-network 3. The sections 12 and 13 are for buffer storage of received invoice detail records associated with the sub-networks 2 and 3 respectively. While the embodiment described shows two sub-networks and two mapped sections of read/write memory it will be understood that the number of sub-networks and associated sections may be readily varied.

The received invoice detail records include a large number of indicators and registers including inter alia transaction type, (cash, charge, cheque, credit card) location identifiers, (room number, table number etc) provision type, (goods, service) as well as applicable tax charges. The server 10 communicates via an Application Program Interface (API) with an invoice record handler 14. The primary function of the invoice record handler 14 is to perform real time processing of the invoice data which is received from the hospitality server 10, including a cost analysis of each invoice data.

The processed invoice data is routed directly to an invoice database 15 for reference by the hospitality server in processing of a room or client bill. The record handler 14 includes an output interface for real time display of processed invoice data, and a maintenance interface for specialist access to the invoice database 15 for maintenance. The record handler 14 is the only processor which has write access to the invoice database 15.

An independent reporting module 19 is programmed to retrieve data directly from the invoice database 15, and to read parameter values from a reporting database 20. The reporting module 19 can perform read operations from both of these databases but does not have write authority, which guarantees data integrity.

The system 1 also comprises a user interface 25 having an associated keyboard (not shown) to allow easy entry of invoice data. The user interface 25 may also be used in supervisor mode to update various parameter values and settings. These values are updated in a parameter values database 26. The parameter values database 26 may store stock prices for given items and also admissible parameter ranges for freely entered items or services. This database is used by a series of data managers 27 to update a master store of parameter values during real time processing on the system 1. A data manager 27 is automatically generated for every dataset, such as a room number or client.

When parameter values are accessed by the interface 25 during real time processing of an invoice data entry, the record handler 14 is automatically notified of the category of the data involved. The record handler 14 then generates or accesses the relevant data manager 27 to ensure that all memory and storage is updated accordingly. The data manager is generated during the first entry if a manager has not been created during check in. This allows, for example, an interim account to be opened at a bar for non residents of a hotel which may be processed from multiple locations in real time, while guaranteeing that all revenue generated is notified to the system 1.

Operation of the system 1 is now described in more detail. The hospitality server 10 sets up various communication parameters. The server 10 initialises communication with the record handler 14 by use of the API. This API allows the memory control of the server 10 to be transparent to the record handler 14.

The set-up values for the server 10 are stored in an operating system file and are written to a server register for use during a particular communications session. Validity checks are performed to ensure that all remote devices are operational, known to the system and valid. This has a particular application in service outlets where fraud is common. One possible method of effecting such fraud is to replace a bar register till during the course of an evening. Invoice data is apparently correctly registered and receipts generated. Similarly, till reports at the end of a billing period concur with receipts issued. Thus if a remote device is removed from the system an alarm signal is generated. This signal may be audible or may form part of a reporting procedure. Additionally, when a remote device is connected, the hospitality server confirms authenticity of the remote device by retrieving a validity identifier across the system.

The server 10 uses a one-second-callback timer to poll each remote device, which will 5 supply data. Immediately following establishment of the communication streams, the server 10 maps the buffers 12 and 13. Each buffer is initially configured at 256Kbytes but may be dynamically increased.

As data is received from the sub-networks 2 and 3, the server 10 immediately routes it to 10 the record handler 14. The data is processed by the hospitality server in real time and recorded in a very simple record structure, which is written to the invoice database 15 nearly instantaneously in variable length records and also retrieved by the reporting module 19 in a quick and simple manner. The record handler 14 may compresses some invoice data items for in-line processing in an in-line manner to save time during write operations, and allow faster searching by the reporting module 19.

The data managers 27 are vital in ensuring that the record handler 14 processes received data in real time. As described above, they are used to refresh and synchronise all data after the record handler 14 receives notification from the user interface 25. In addition, if the record handler 14 receives a data item for which it cannot ascertain an item of data such as charging code, it requests a default value from the data manager for that dataset.

The reporting module 19 retrieves data from the invoice database 15 and outputs it according to search criteria and filters. The reporting module 19 comprises a large set of objects, each being a report with a set of report conditions, or a lower level report filter. There may be a number of different filters within a single report. In more detail, each object has a set of attributes including a common set of attributes including an identifier, a data size limit and an associated GUI display icon. Sample report objects for the network described may include but are not limited to individual room balance requests, total period billing, bar totals, restaurant totals, item sales etc. The reporting module 19 also includes a scheduler, which activates objects according to time to provide automatic reporting in a very comprehensive manner. It has been found that this structure for the reporting module may be easily modified because of its modular nature and the manner in which the objects may be easily modified for different search and filter criteria.

During real time processing, the record handler 14 relies on the parameter values in the 5 memory 28, and thus this data is essentially the master data during real time processing.

Thus, whenever the record handler 14 receives a notification of a change in these values it immediately activates the relevant data manager 27 to cause the necessary updates to be made.

Another aspect of the operation of the invoice record handler 14 which helps to achieve a very fast response .time is the fact that the record it writes to the invoice database 15 may include some raw data as well as processed data. This allows a finer level of detail to be processed by the reporting module 16 subsequent to processing by the record handler 14.

It will be appreciated that the invention allows very flexible operation of an invoice monitoring system. The communication server 10 is scalable in a modular manner to allow connection to different invoice data sources, including TCP/IP networks. A very fast response time is achieved by virtue of the separation of the record handler 14 from the hospitality server and the fast writes to the invoice database 15, with parameter values being stored in a completely separate database which is accessible by the user interface 25. The invoice database 15 is in effect a dedicated real time processing database which may be accessed only by the invoice record handler 14 for writes, the reporting module 19 only performing reads. The data managers 27 achieve comprehensive data updates in real time while allowing the master values to be stored in memory. In general, the modular architecture allows implementation with a single hardware machine or a distributed hardware arrangement.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, but may be varied within the scope of the appended claims in both construction and detail.

Claims (6)

1. A data processing system for use in real time processing of invoices in a multi-user, distributed billing environment, comprising: a hospitality server having a port for connection to an invoicing subnetwork for reception of invoice detail records, said server having means for mapping real time buffer memory to accommodate received data; a user interface comprising means for interactively receiving invoice data and maintaining a billing values database having a relational record structure; a data manager associated with each billing value dataset, said managers comprising means for automatically writing contents of the values database to memory in response to received invoice data before real time invoice data processing; an invoice record handler comprising:means for communicating with the server via an Application Protocol Interface (API), and for processing received invoice data in real time upon receipt via the API according to the billing values in said memory, means for writing the processed data to a dedicated invoice database; and the invoice record handler comprises means for performing in-line compression of particular data items before writing to the invoice database; and reporting module comprising means for reading the invoice database and a dedicated reporting parameter values database and for generating output data reports according to pre-set filters, the reporting module having readonly access to said databases.

2. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hospitality server comprises means for establishing separate and independent data streams and memory buffers for a given sub-networks. 10

3. A data processing system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hospitality server comprises means for retrieving setup values from operating system datasets and for storing said values in a dedicated register during processing.

4. A data processing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the user 15 interface comprises means for indicating the relevant parameter value category to the invoice record handler upon amending a value in the values database, and the invoice record handler comprises means for automatically activating the relevant data manager to update the memory. 20

5. A data processing system as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the invoice record handler comprises means for mapping a invoice buffer for temporary storage of processed invoice data between invoice database updates, and for mapping a invoice portion buffer for temporary storage of portions of complex invoice records. 25

6. A data processing system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the reporting module comprises programmed addressable objects, each storing a set of report criteria and filters defined by object attributes, and a scheduler for activating said objects according to stored times.