Reverse Audit System for Global Distribution Rate Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Global distribution systems often contain inaccurate or unapproved rate data due to human error, computer errors, and lag in data updates, leading to incorrect or missing information, which can result in unapproved rates being accepted by customers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses screen-scraping and reverse audits to verify rate data accuracy by sending data requests to global distribution systems, identifying unapproved or missing data, and generating reports to correct errors and reduce unapproved data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If screen-scraping is used to audit rates, then data verification is performed, but the audit may fail when data screen locations change or data lags occur in global distribution systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional screen-scraping approach by instead of scraping data from global distribution system screens, the system sends rate requests directly to data providers and compares the responses against what should appear in the global distribution system. This reverse approach bypasses the problematic screen location dependencies and data lag issues inherent in traditional screen-scraping methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary audit system that acts as a mediator between data providers and global distribution systems. This intermediary sends requests directly to data providers, obtains authoritative rate data, and compares it against global distribution system data, thereby resolving the unreliability of direct screen-scraping without requiring modification of the global distribution systems themselves.
2Productivity
If data providers load rate data with customer identifiers, then rate matching is facilitated, but unapproved rates may be incorrectly associated with approved customer rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the audit system sends rate requests with customer identifiers to data providers and receives responses indicating whether rates are approved or unapproved for each customer. This feedback loop allows the system to verify rate approvals accurately without preventing data providers from loading rate data with customer identifiers for efficiency purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary verification by sending rate requests to data providers before rates are loaded into or displayed by global distribution systems. This preliminary action identifies unapproved rates in advance, preventing them from being incorrectly associated with approved customer rates in the global distribution system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual data entry is used by travel service providers, then rate negotiation flexibility is maintained, but human error and computer errors cause inaccurate data entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service audit mechanism where the system automatically sends rate requests to data providers and performs verification without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-service approach maintains the flexibility of manual rate negotiation while eliminating human error and computer errors in data entry through automated verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary verification of rate data before it is entered into or displayed by global distribution systems. By auditing rates in advance through direct communication with data providers, the system prevents inaccurate data entry caused by human or computer errors while preserving the flexibility of manual rate negotiation processes.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product for reverse audits based on server access of databases. In one embodiment, a data provider is determined, and a data request based on the data provider is sent to a server, wherein the data request promotes an entry of the data request to access a database. A data response is received from the server, wherein the data response corresponds to the data request. A message is output based on whether the data response includes specific data.