Extensible object oriented framework for general ledger

US6684384B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Matthew John Bickerton · Stratford, GB
• Kathryn Ann Bohrer · Austin, US
• Emma Suzanne Hughes · Dudley, GB
• Edward William Kenworthy · Stratford-upon-Avon, GB
• Rupert Jeremy Musgrove · Alcester, GB
• LindaMay Rose Patterson · Rochester, US
• Steven Porter · Shaw, GB
• David Dennis Salt · Prestbury, GB
• Duncan Keith Scattergood · Worcester, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 28, 1997
• Grant date: Jan 27, 2004
• Expiry date: Jun 4, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/12
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An object oriented framework provides a set of objects that perform general ledger functioning and permits a framework user to add extensions to the framework for specific processing features, thereby producing a general ledger application program for managing business financial data of a company. The framework includes an Application category of classes that contains company information for general ledger processing, a Posting Combinations category of classes that define valid posting combinations for the general ledger, a Journals category of classes that create, process, validate, and post general ledger journals, a Bank Transactions category of classes that process bank statements, a Bank Statements and Reconciliation category of classes that reconcile bank statements with bank accounts, and a Closing category of classes that validate and close the current accounting period. These classes provide the base framework upon which a general ledger application program is developed by the framework user.