Transferring records between two databases

A computer implemented method of transferring data in a first database stored on a first computer to a second computer storing a second database, wherein the first and second databases store records of data and the first and second databases are each characterized by a record structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• initiating a data transfer session between the first and second databases,
• transmitting to a computer program information identifying the record structure of at least one of the first and second databases, the identifying information being provided substantially without user input,
• establishing a data transfer protocol based on the identifying information,
• transferring, according to the database transfer protocol, from the first database to the second database data stored in a plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database,
• wherein the identifying information identifies the record structure according to a selected protocol, and
• wherein the selected protocol provides a syntax for identifying the characteristics of a field of the one of the first and second databases.

A computer implemented method of transferring data in a first database stored on a first computer to a second computer storing a second database, wherein the first and second databases store records of data and the first and second databases are each characterized by a record structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting to a computer program information identifying the record structure of at least one of the first and second databases, the information being generated substantially without user input, and the information identifying categories and properties of a plurality of fields of the record structure of the one of the first and second databases, a category identifying the type of information stored in a field, and a property identifying limits or rules imposed on data stored in a field,
• transferring from the first database to the second database data stored in a plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database, and
• processing the transferred data using the identifying information,
• wherein the identifying information identifies the record structure according to a selected protocol, and
• wherein the selected protocol provides a syntax for identifying the characteristics of a field of the one of the first and second databases.

Computer software resident on a computer readable medium for transferring data between a first database and a second database storing records of data, the first database being characterized by a first record structure determining fields of the records of the first database, and the second database being characterized by a second record structure determining fields of the records of the second database, the computer software containing instructions for:

• establishing a field map relating the fields of the first and second databases, substantially without user input, by correlating a first plurality of the fields of the first database to a second plurality of the fields of the second database using information identifying the record structure of at least one of the first and second databases, and
• translating the data stored in the first plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database in accordance with the field map,
• wherein the identifying information identifies the record structure according to a selected protocol, and
• wherein the selected protocol provides a syntax for identifying the characteristics of a field of the one of the first and second databases.

Computer software resident on a computer readable medium for transferring data in a first database stored on a first computer to a second computer storing a second database, wherein the computer software includes a computer program and the computer software, wherein the first and second databases store records of data and the first and second databases are each characterized by a record structure, the computer software containing instruction for:

• initiating a data transfer session between the first and second databases,
• transmitting to the computer program information identifying the record structure of at least one of the first and second databases, the identifying information being provided substantially without user input,
• establishing a data transfer protocol based on the identifying information,
• transferring, according to the database transfer protocol, from the first database to the second database data stored in a plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database,
• wherein the identifying information identifies the record structure according to a selected protocol, and
• wherein the selected protocol provides a syntax for identifying the characteristics of a field of the one of the first and second databases.

Computer software resident on a computer readable medium for transferring data in a first database stored on a first computer to a second computer storing a second database, wherein the first and second databases store records of data and the first and second databases are each characterized by a record structure, the computer software containing instruction for:

• transmitting to a computer program information identifying the record structure of at least one of the first and second databases, the information being generated substantially without user input, and the information identifying categories and properties of a plurality of fields of the record structure of the one of the first and second databases, a category identifying the type of information stored in a field, and a property identifying limits or rules imposed on data stored in a field,
• transferring from the first database to the second database data stored in a plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database, and
• processing the transferred data using the identifying information,
• wherein the identifying information identifies the record structure according to a selected protocol, and
• wherein the selected protocol provides a syntax for identifying the characteristics of a field of the one of the first and second databases.