Description
Background to the invention
Many companies base their business also on databases, which they manage in the
framework of business transactions and in which a large number of structured data records
are held and are to be maintained if necessary. In this regard new data records that are
generated in the company and are to be entered manually in the database, or changes to
these, arise on the one hand. On the other hand, the amount of data occurring in the
context of electronic data traffic between companies is increasing more and more. The
same also applies to authorities. At all events, in connection with the provision of services,
establishment and conduct of business relationships, or in the exercise of governmental
duties, structured and systematic data production, processing, administration and
representation of the services provided, business relationships entered into or the like are
necessary.
Problems forming the basis of the invention
It can entail considerable outlay if the database of a company (for example, a bank) or an
authority has to correspond exactly to the database of another company / another authority.
This requirement, which ostensibly appears self-evident, then becomes an extremely
demanding task if (i) a company is exchanging data with other different companies
concerning a plurality of transactions, if (ii) in addition data records of transactions are
input manually into the database of the company, if (iii) national borders are crossed in the
data exchange and in this case state control mechanisms can intervene, or if (iv) at certain
times (reference dates for dividend and interest payments or for capital transactions, share
divisions, capital increases or the like) congruence has to be created, and if (v) in this case
backgrounds and details of the transactions associated with the data arising also have to be
reproducible if necessary. Apart from this, several databases are often to be maintained
within the sphere of a bank on account of banking and/or statutory stipulations, which
databases are to be matched at certain times. Transaction in this case is understood to
mean any business occurrence between for example two or more banks / financial
institutions and/or their customers.

In US patent application 2004/0167808 Al a database management system is described
including a server, which can be accessed by a client over a network. Several databases are
assigned to the server. The server takes data records from a first database and takes data
records from a second database. The server compares the first data records and the second
data records with each other and determines the probability of specific first data records
belonging to specific second data records.
Object of the invention
The object of the invention is to show a way how transactions are to be handled securely
and correctly, and how the data traffic within a bank occurring in the context of these
transactions in computer-implemented systems for managing a database system with
structured data records, the data traffic of the bank with other banks or the data traffic of
the bank with institutional or private customers / partners at home and abroad is to be
organised efficiently.
Solution according to the invention
To achieve this object, two internal databases separate from one another are maintained
according to the invention in a computer-implemented system for managing a database
system with structured data records concerning one or more transactions. Furthermore, an
interface for an input at least of parts of a structured data record of the transaction into one
of the databases is provided, and at least one interface for communicating with an external
database system is provided, in order to communicate between one of the internal
databases and the external database. Inputting a new data record of the transaction into the
first database initiates inputting of a new corresponding data record into the second
database. However, inputting of the new corresponding data record into the second
database only takes place if a confirmation was received. Therefore, an instruction related
to the transaction is sent to the external database system via the third interface. A plurality
of data records is received from the external database system, each of which is a
confirmation regarding the successful execution of an instruction. Further, presumably
corresponding ones of the received data records are compared with the new data record in
the first database. In the event of a difference between the new data record in the first
database and a presumably corresponding new data record from the external database, a

probability is assigned to the probably corresponding new data record from the external
database depending on the degree of difference, and a data record is extracted from further
data records from the external database that has a higher probability of being the correct
corresponding new data record.
In other words, the invention provides a concept of how to proceed to avoid unnecessary
data traffic between individual databases or their operators (in a data network, for example
the SWIFT network) if inconsistencies arising occur between data records in the database
system of the bank and/or between data records of the database system and an external
database system. (SWIFT is the abbreviation for Society for Worldwide Interbank
Financial Telecommunication. This is an international association of financial institutions,
which maintains a telecommunications network (SWIFT network) for communication
between these.) The outlay on manual reworking in the event of inconsistencies, and also
the other data traffic in connection with such clarifications are also reduced by the
invention.
Here it is assumed that in connection with the transaction in the sphere of the external
database inputting of a corresponding new data record into the external database takes
place.
The system according to the invention is used preferably for handling transactions of
securities in/for a bank, and the first database being an account of a customer or partner of
the bank for transactions, and/or the second database being a nostro account of the bank.
The term security as used in connection with the present invention refers to a document
that evidences a private right to something such that the holding or possession of the
document is required for asserting the right. Bearer instruments and order instruments are
included in this, instruments not to order are excluded. However, a so-called certificate of
deposit (of the bank, that the shares are kept safe in its deposit), which is sufficient for
example to exercise the right to participation in the shareholders' general meeting, is not a
security in the sense of the present invention. In a narrower sense, stocks and bonds are
securities, thus for example shares, participation certificates, subscription warrants,

annuity certificates or debentures, thus mortgage bonds, bearer debentures, medium term
bonds, convertible bonds, certificates etc.). Furthermore, shares in a collective security
holding or in a collective government ledger bond, as well as rights to delivery or
allocation of commercial papers are also considered as securities in the sense of the present
invention. The same applies to derivatives (derivatives are financial instruments that are
derived from media of investment (for example shares, bonds, foreign currency) traded on
the spot market. The valuation is determined predominantly by price, price fluctuations
and price expectations of the primary instruments that form the basis. Known derivatives
are futures, options and swaps) and structured financial products (structured financial
products are financial instruments that can be understood as combinations of state
securities of the spot and futures markets (e.g. shares, interest products, derivatives). This
combination of a plurality of individual components facilitates the acceptance of a large
number of of risk-return profiles.)
Securities in the narrower sense are identified in the various markets by different but
respectively clear identifiers (for example ISIN, WKN, CUSIP, etc.). The twelve-digit
number-letter combination ISIN (International Securities Identification Number) has the
following structure, for example:
Country code National identification no. Check digit
DE 000575200 0
in which the previous WertschriftenKennNummer (securities identification number) WKN
(here: Bayer AG, WKN 575200) is included right-aligned, the front places being filled
with zeros.
From the viewpoint of Bank A, a nostro account is an account that Bank A maintains at a
correspondent bank B. From the viewpoint of Bank B, the account is a vostro account.
Transactions in the sense of this invention are to be understood as security deliveries on
the basis of an order or a stock exchange transaction. The delivery can take place in
connection with a money payment (delivery against payment) or as a pure transaction

(delivery without payment). An order can refer to one or more items. However, with
reference to processing and handling each item represents a separate transaction.
A delivery without payment has the following steps:
1a. A customer gives Bank X a security delivery order for -y- shares ISIN vvvv
1b. Customer sends Bank U an advance notification (receipt by Bank U -y- shares ISIN
vvvv)
2a. Bank X sends a delivery instruction to a securities clearing house (to Bank U -y- shares
ISIN vvvv)
2b. Bank U sends the securities clearing house a receipt instruction (from Bank X -y-
shares ISIN vvvv)
3a. The securities clearing house sends Bank X a confirmation of execution (outgoing)
3b. The securities clearing house sends Bank U a confirmation of execution (receipt)
4a. Bank X draws up a delivery notification for the customer (outgoing).
4b. Bank U draws up a delivery notification for the customer (receipt) and updates its
second database.
A delivery against payment "DELIVERY versus PAYMENT" has the following steps:
1a. Customer X gives Bank X a security delivery order for -z- shares ISIN vvvv against
payment of CHF n,nnnn.—
1b. Customer Y sends Bank U a security delivery order for -z- shares ISIN vvvv against
payment of CHF n,nnnn.—
2a. Bank X sends the securities clearing house a delivery instruction (to Bank U -z- shares
ISIN vvvv against payment of CHF n,nnnn.—)
2b. Bank U sends the securities clearing house a receipt instruction (from Bank X -z-
shares ISIN vvvv against payment of CHF n,nnnn.—)
3a. The securities clearing house sends Bank X a confirmation of execution (outgoing)
3b. The securities clearing house sends Bank U a confirmation of execution (receipt)
4a. Bank X draws up a delivery notification for the customer (outgoing) and credits the
cash amount CHF n,nnnn.~.
4b. Bank U draws up a delivery notification for the customer (receipt) and debits him the
cash amount of CHF n,nnnn.— and updates its second database.

According to the invention the system can be used for handling transactions of securities in
/ for a bank, the third external database being an account of an external depositary or a
securities clearing house.
A clearing house in this case is an organisation that intervenes in the transaction between
purchaser and vendor and guarantees to both parties the fulfillment of the business. A
depositary undertakes to keep the securities with externally recognisable designation of
each depositor separate from its own stocks and from those of third parties.
According to the invention, to extract data records with a higher probability the system
preferably accesses data fields of the data record from which the transaction type,
accounting direction, the quantity, the security identification, the security characteristics,
the place of deposit, the date of the transaction, or the value date of the transaction results,
for which inputting of a new corresponding data record into the second database is to take
place.
The data fields of the data record are accessed according to the invention according to a
dynamically or statically determinable order. This determination of the order can also be
changed according to the invention depending on the entities respectively involved in the
transaction (which banks, clearing houses, depositaries etc.) or the transactions themselves.
In the event of a difference between the new data record in the first database and a
probably corresponding new data record in the external database, the system issues an
error message if the system does not or cannot extract a data record that has a higher
probability of being the correct corresponding new data record.
According to the invention, the system can in this case send a request to a supervisory
authority of the first, the second and/or the external database to resolve the correspondence
that cannot be produced between the data records.

Finally, the invention relates to a method, which is executed in the system outlined above,
and a computer program product, which is designed to implement such a method if it is
executed by a computer or a computer network.
Brief description of the drawings
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the enclosed drawing.
Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a computer system for implementing the system according
to the invention.
Detailed description of embodiments
In Fig. 1, a computer-implemented system for managing a database system with structured
data records is illustrated. In the present embodiment the system is used to handle
transactions of securities in a bank. This system has, in a network indicated only
schematically as a bus, one or more servers (server 1, server 2) for database and program
holding, as well as a large number of workstations. Two databases dbl, db2 that are
separate from one another and internal with reference to the bank are apparently
maintained in the system at the two servers (server 1, server 2), which databases are to be
managed with structured data records. The first database db1 is in this case an accounting
of customer transactions (thus for example an account of a customer maintained at the
bank). The second database db2 is a nostro accounting of the bank.
The workstations represent first, graphical and/or alphanumeric interfaces for a manual
input at least of parts of a structured data record into one of the databases dbl, db2, via
which an employee of the bank can handle accounting processes. Not illustrated further,
but likewise possible and conceived is the increasingly widespread input of transactions in
so-called online banking, in which not a bank employee but the customer himself enters
the data of the transaction into the computer network of the bank. To this end at least a
second graphical and/or alphanumeric interface is provided for an input at least of parts of
a structured data record via a network into one of the databases db1, db2.

Furthermore, a third, bidirectional interface for communication with an external database
system db3 via a data network (SWIFT network) or a data direct line is provided. This
interface is used to communicate parts of a structured data record between at least one of
the internal databases db1, db2 and an external database db3 via an external server (server
3). Since the system in this embodiment is used to handle transactions of securities, the
third, external database db3 represents an accounting of an external depositary of securities
in this embodiment.
If in a security transaction inputting of a new data record ds takes place into the first
database dbl, inputting of a new corresponding data record into the second database db2
must also take place. However, the invention provides here that this is only undertaken if a
confirmation from the external database db3 of the depositary or the securities clearing
house arrives at the bank regarding the successful handling of the transaction in the sphere
of the depositary (or the securities clearing house) in its - from the bank's viewpoint -
external database db3.
In this case the invention provides for checking of the data record sent for confirmation by
the depositary or the securities clearing house in the following way. Since normally a
plurality of data records are communicated back and forth between the bank and the
depositary (or the securities clearing house), the allocation is not directly possible. If an
allocation can take place for example via a process identification, a comparison is carried
out on the part of the bank of whether the new data record in the first database db1 and the
probably corresponding new data record from the external database db3 actually
correspond. In the case of a difference between the new data record in the first database
db1 and a probably corresponding new data record from the external database db3, the
probably corresponding new data record from the external database db3 is assigned a
probability of being the actually corresponding new data record depending on the degree of
difference. To do this, the system accesses data fields of the data record of the transaction
sent by the external database, which fields yield
■ the transaction type (for example delivery against payment, delivery without
payment, dividend payment, capital increase, nominee registration etc.)
■ the accounting direction (incoming/outgoing),

■ the quantity,
■ the security identification,
■ the security characteristics (e.g. interest rate, maturity, currency),
■ the place of deposit,
■ the date of the transaction, or
■ the value date of the transaction
for which inputting of a new corresponding data record is to take place into the second
database and compares them with the corresponding data field of the data record of the
transaction from the first database db1 before the corresponding data field/fields of the
data record of the transaction is/are input into the second database db2. The probability is
assigned depending on the differences. This is carried out in the event of a difference
existing for all data records that are supplied by the external database db3. If a data record
is extracted from further data records from the external database db3 that has a higher
probability of being the correct corresponding new data record to the data record to be
input into the second database db2, this is assigned to the respective data record and input
into the second database db2. In this case it is removed from the list of the data records
supplied by the external database db3.
Since the error distribution in the individual data records (for example depending on the
external depositary or the time of the data transfer or the transfer path) can vary, the
invention provides that the system accesses the data fields of the data records to be
compared according to a dynamically or statically determinable order.
In the event of a difference between the new data record in the first database db1 and a
probably corresponding new data record from the external database db3, the system issues
an error message if it does not extract any data record that has a higher probability of being
the correct corresponding new data record. In particular, if the (error) probability assigned
to the original probable data record exceeds a predeterminable threshold, so that it is to be
assumed that an error that is not to be resolved exists here, the system sends a request to a
supervisory authority of the first, the second and/or the external database to resolve the
correspondence that cannot be produced between the data records.

We Claim :
1. Computer-implemented system for managing a database system with structured data
records, in this system
- at least two internal databases (db1, db2) separate from one another being
maintained, which databases are to be managed with structured data
records concerning one or more transactions,
- at least a first, graphical and/or alphanumeric interface for a manual input
at least of parts of a structured data record of a transaction into one of the
databases being provided, and/or at least a second, graphical and/or
alphanumeric interface for an input at least of parts of a structured data
record of a transaction via a network into one of the databases (db1, db2)
being provided,
- at least a third, bidirectional interface for communication with an external
database system (db3) via a data network or a data direct line being
provided, in order to communicate at least parts of a structured data
record of a transaction between at least one of the internal databases (db1,
db2) and the external database (db3),
- inputting of a new data record of a transaction into the first database
(dbl) initiating inputting of a new corresponding data record of the
transaction into the second database (db2), wherein the inputting of the
new corresponding data record of the transaction into the second database
(db2) only takes place if a confirmation was received from the external
database (db3) regarding the successful execution of the transaction,
wherein
o an instruction related to the transaction is sent to the external
database system via the third interface;
o a plurality of data records is received from the external database
system, each of which is a confirmation regarding the successful
execution of an instruction;

o presumably corresponding ones of the received data records are
compared with the new data record in the first database, wherein
■ in the event of a difference between the new data record in
the first database (dbl) and a probably corresponding new
data record from the external database (db3), a probability is
assigned to the probably corresponding new data record
from the external database (db3) depending on the degree of
difference, and
■ from further data records from the external database (db3) a
data record being extracted that has a higher probability of is
the correct corresponding new data record from a large
number of data records from the external database (db3) to
the data record to be input into the second database (db2).
2 . Computer-implemented system according to claim 1, in which the system is used for
handling transactions of securities in / for a bank, and the first database (dbl) being
an accounting of customer transactions, and/or the second database (db2) being a
nostro accounting of the bank.
3. Computer-implemented system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the system is
used for handling transactions of securities in / for a bank, and the third database
(db3) being an accounting of an external depositary of securities.
4 . Computer-implemented system according to one of the preceding claims, in which
the system for handling transactions of securities, to extract data records with higher
probability, accesses data fields of the data record from which the transaction type,
the accounting direction, the quantity, the security identification, the security
characteristics, the place of deposit, the date of the transaction, or the value date of
the transaction result, for which inputting of a new corresponding data record into
the second database (db2) is to take place.

5. Computer-implemented system according to the preceding claim, in which the
system accesses the data fields of the data record according to a dynamically or
statically determinable order.
6. Computer-implemented system according to one of the preceding claims, in which
the system in the event of a difference between the new data record in the first
database (db1) and a probably corresponding new data record in the external
database (db3) issues an error message if it does not extract any data record that has
a higher probability of being the correct corresponding new data record.
7 . Computer-implemented system according to the preceding claim, in which the
system sends a request to a supervisory authority of the first, the second and/or the
external database to resolve the correspondence that cannot be produced between the
data records.
8 . Computer-implemented method for managing a database system with structured data
records, with the steps:
- maintenance of two internal databases (db1, db2) separate from one
another, which are managed with structured data records concerning one
or more transactions,
provision of at least a first, graphical and/or alphanumeric interface for a
manual input at least of parts of a structured data record of the transaction
into one of the databases (db1, db2), and/or at least a second, graphical
and/or alphanumeric interface for an input at least of parts of a structured
data record of the transaction via a network into one of the databases
(db1,db2)
provision of at least a third, bidirectional interface for communication
with an external database system (db3) via a data network or a data direct
line, in order to communicate at least parts of a structured data record of
the transaction between at least one of the internal databases (db1, db2)
and the external database (db3),

- inputting of a new corresponding data record of the transaction into the
first database (db1), wherein the inputting of the new corresponding data
record of the transaction into the second database (db2) only takes place
if a confirmation was received from the external database (db3) regarding
the successful execution of the transaction, comprising the following
further steps of
o sending an instruction related to the transaction to the external
database system via the third interface;
o receiving a plurality of data records from the external database
system, each of which is a confirmation regarding the successful
execution of an instruction;
o comparing presumably corresponding ones of the received data
records with the new data record in the first database, wherein
■ in the event of a difference between the new data record in
the first database (dbl) and a probably corresponding new
data record from the external database (db3), a probability is
assigned to the probably corresponding new data record
from the external database (db3) depending on the degree of
difference, and
■ from further data records from the external database (db3) a
data record is extracted that has a higher probability of being
the correct corresponding new data record from a large
number of data records from the external database (db3) to
the data record to be input into the second database (db2).
9. Computer-implemented method according to claim 8, in which the system is used
for handling transactions of securities in / for a bank, and the first database (dbl)
being an accounting of customer transactions, and/or the second database (db2)
being a nostro accounting of the bank.

10 . Computer-implemented method according to claim 8 or 9, which is used for
handling transactions of securities in / for a bank, and the third, external database
(db3) being an accounting of an external depositary.
11. Computer-implemented method according to one of the preceding claims, with the
step that, for handling transactions of securities, to extract data records (ds j) with
higher probability, accesses data fields of the data record from which the accounting
direction, the quantity, the security identification, the security characteristics, the
place of deposit, the date of the transaction, or the value date of the transaction
result, for which inputting of a new corresponding data record into the second
database (db2) is to take place.
12. Computer-implemented method according to the preceding claim, with the step that
the data fields of the data record are accessed according to a dynamically or statically
determinable order.
13. Computer-implemented method according to one of the preceding claims, with the
step that in the event of a difference between the new data record in the first database
(db1) and a probably corresponding new data record in the external database (db3)
an error message is issued if it does not extract any data record that has a higher
probability of being the correct corresponding new data record.
14. Computer-implemented method according to the preceding claim, with the step that
a request is sent to a supervisory authority of the first, the second and/or the external
database to resolve the correspondence that cannot be produced between the data
records.

In a computer-implemented system for managing a database system with structured data records, two internal databases separate from one another are maintained, an interface for an input at least of parts of a structured data record into one of the databases is provided, at least one interface for communicating with an external database system is provided, in order to communicate between one of the internal databases and the external database. Initiated by inputting of a new data record into the first database, inputting of a new corresponding data record into the second database only takes place if a confirmation was received from the external database regarding the successful inputting of a corresponding new data record into the external database, and in the event of a difference between the new data record in the first database and a probably corresponding new data record from the external database, a probability is assigned to the probably corresponding new data record from the external database depending on the degree of difference, and from further
data records from the external database a data record is extracted that has a higher
probability of being the correct corresponding new data record.