Abstract:
A solution for maintaining the operation of a server and allowing the transfer of data from client devices to a database without locking the database during an audit and pack process is realized that reduces the amount of time lost due to backup file storage transfer. When a file is backed up to a first storage trail through the audit process, the trail may eventually become filled to capacity. Upon the first storage trail filling to capacity, a pack process is initiated, and a backup storage trail is created to store the data during this process. Upon completion of the pack process, the data from the backup storage trail is transferred to another active storage trail.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The instant disclosure relates to application development. More specifically, this disclosure relates to management of business-related information in databases. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Business information Server (BIS) system is a product that allows users to design and control their own database applications without the need for advanced computer programming knowledge and skills. For example, a manager of a human resources (HR) department at a company may design a database application in BIS containing employee information such as an employee&#39;s name, an employee&#39;s company identification number, an employee&#39;s home address, an employee&#39;s home telephone number and/or the like. Once this information is stored into a database, a host of functions may be performed on the information such as sorting, searching, calculating, modifying, comparing and/or the like. Business Information Server software operates according to a client-server model in which a user of a client device sends a request to a server to perform one or more of the aforementioned functions. An administrator that may be coupled to the server controls administrative activities associated with serving the request. These administrative activities may include setting up default configurations, manipulating data files, or performing audit-related tasks. 
         [0003]    Due to the number of users interacting with the server at one time, it may be useful to create a record of changes to or a back-up copy of a file&#39;s contents every time a modification is made to a file. One solution to tracking changes in a file or database is to provide an audit feature to write the changes made to the server into a back-up file that may be kept in an audit trail that is separate from the database. The audit feature is configured by the administrator, and when it is enabled, the copy of the file is stored in an audit trail. Conventionally, two audit trails may be configured. A first audit trail may be an active audit trail, while a second audit trail may be an inactive audit trail. When the active audit trail is filled to capacity, a process begins that deactivates the active audit trail and switches an inactive audit trail to an active trail to continue receiving back-up file information from the administrator. 
         [0004]    While performing this pack process, the database is locked, and applications are not able to make any updates to the server. Consequently, the applications, and the users using the applications, must wait for the pack process to terminate and the database to be unlocked before continuing to access the database. The pack process may take a considerable amount of time to complete and cause unnecessary delay for the applications and users. This delay may be unacceptable when a user has limited time to perform a transaction in the database. For example, when a user is submitting updates to the server (prior to boarding a flight, the user only has a short amount of time to perform the update before boarding the plane and losing internet connections to the server. Thus, there is a need to provide a solution that allows a user to make updates to information through the server without incurring long delays during the pack process when an active audit trail is filled to capacity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A third audit trail may be used by an information server, such as BIS, to reduce the amount of time a database is locked. This third audit trail may continue to accept back-up information from the server white the pack process continues to execute to switch the information server from a first active audit trail to a second inactive audit trail. As a result, the database may remain unlocked for at least a duration of the pack process. When a first portion of the pack process is complete, the second inactive audit trail may become the active audit trail and the files written into the third audit trail may be transferred to the second audit trail. During this second portion of the pack process, the database may be temporarily locked. The duration of time that the database is locked during the transfer of files from the third audit trail to the second active audit trail may be smaller than the duration of time the database is locked during the pack process as practiced in the conventional methods described above. In some cases, this reduction in the duration of time may be at least a 50% reduction. This is due, in part, to the percentage of free storage capacity for the third audit trail creating a small likelihood that the third audit trail will fill to capacity during the pack process. 
         [0006]    According to one embodiment, a method may include receiving a query for a database in communication with the information server; executing the query against the database; storing a record of the query in a first audit trail; determining that a size of the first audit trail has reached a predetermined threshold size; and when the size has reached the predetermined threshold size, the method may further include executing the steps comprising initiating a pack process on the first audit trail to switch from the first audit trail to a second audit trail; receiving a second query for the database while the pack process is executing; and storing a record of the second query in a third audit trail while the pack process is executing. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment, a method may include receiving information through a server engine from an application, wherein the information may comprise updated information; transmitting the information from an application to a database; initiating an audit process to store a copy of the information to a first audit trail; initiating a pack process in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity; generating a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity; and storing a copy of the information through the audit process to a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity. 
         [0008]    According to an additional embodiment, a method may include receiving a command to run a pack process; initiating a pack process in response to a first audit trail being filled to capacity; switching the first audit trail from active to inactive and a second audit trail from inactive to active; locking a database to prevent updates; transferring information from a third audit trail to the second trail that is active; and unlocking the database to resume updates. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to perform the steps of receiving a query for a database in communication with the information server; executing the query against the database; storing a record of the query in a first audit trail; determining that a size of the first audit trail has reached a predetermined threshold size; and when the size has reached the predetermined threshold size executing the steps including initiating a pack process on the first audit trail to switch from the first audit trail to a second audit trail; receiving a second query for the database while the pack process is executing; and storing a record of the second query in a third audit trail while the pack process is executing. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to perform the steps of receiving information through a server engine from an application, wherein the information may comprise updated information; transmitting the information from an application to a database; initiating an audit process to store a copy of the information to a first audit trail; initiating a pack process in response to the first audit trail being tilled to capacity; generating a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity; and storing a copy of the information through the audit process to a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity. 
         [0011]    According to an additional embodiment, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to perform the steps of receiving a command to run a pack process; initiating a pack process in response to a first audit trail being filled to capacity; switching the first audit trail from active to inactive and a second audit trail from inactive to active; locking a database to prevent updates; transferring information from a third audit trail to the second trail that is active; and unlocking the database to resume updates. 
         [0012]    According to a further embodiment, a computer program product includes a non-transitory medium having code to receive a query for a database in communication with the information server; code to execute the query against the database; code to store a record of the query in a first audit trail; code to determine that a size of the first audit trail has reached a predetermined threshold size; and when the size has reached the predetermined threshold size, the method may further include code to initiate a pack process on the first audit trail to switch from the first audit trail to a second audit trail; code to receive a second query for the database while the pack process is executing; and code to store a record of the second query in a third audit trail while the pack process is executing. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, a computer program product includes a non-transitory medium having code to receive information through a server engine from an application, wherein the information may comprise updated information; code to transmit the information from an application to a database; code to initiate an audit process to store a copy of the information to a first audit trail; code to initiate a pack process in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity; code to generate a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity; and code to store a copy of the information through the audit process to a third audit trail in response to the first audit trail being filled to capacity. 
         [0014]    According to an additional embodiment, a computer program product includes a non-transitory medium having code to receive a command to run a pack process; code to initiate a pack process in response to a first audit trail being filled to capacity; code to switch the first audit trail from active to inactive and a second audit trail from inactive to active; code to lock a database to prevent updates; code to transfer information from a third audit trail to the second trail that is active; and code to unlock the database to resume updates. 
         [0015]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features that are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a limitation of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    For a more complete understanding of the disclosed system and methods, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a communications environment where a client interacts with a server according to one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates an overview of a server engine processing data and storing files according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a flow chart illustrating the process of transmitting information through the audit process to an active audit trail according to one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a flow chart illustrating the process of activating a new audit trail through the pack process when a current audit trail is filled to capacity according to one embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3C  is a flow chart illustrating the process of querying several audit trails to gather audit trail status information according to one embodiment. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method of storing information in an audit trail by a server engine according to one embodiment. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5A  is a flow chart illustrating another method of storing information in an audit trail by a server engine according to another embodiment. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5B  is a flow chart illustrating a method of running a pack process according to one embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a computer network according to one embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a computer system  700  adapted according to certain embodiments of the server  602  and/or the user interface device  610 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a communications environment where a client interacts with a server according to one embodiment. A server  102  may provide a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs)  104 , including  104   a - d,  to be used by client devices  110  to design or access a database application. The client devices  110  may include wired and/or wireless devices, such as a tablet computer  110   a,  a desktop computer  110   b,  handheld mobile device  110   c,  and/or a laptop computer  110   d.  In addition, other devices (not shown) such as a workstation, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) may also be included in the list of client devices. In one embodiment of communications environment  100  where server  102  hosts many different applications, each of the client devices  110  may interact with a unique API  104 . For example, tablet computer  110   a  may utilize API  104   a,  desktop computer  110   b  may utilize API  104   b,  handheld mobile device  110   c  may utilize API  104   c,  and laptop computer  110   d  may utilize API  104   d.    
         [0028]    In another embodiment where server  102  hosts a single application, server  102  may provide a single API  104  for the application that is accessed by all of the client devices  110 . In this instance, only one of the client devices  110  may interact with the API  104  at a given time period. In a further embodiment where a single application is hosted by server  102 , copies of APIs  104  may be replicated and utilized by each of the client devices  110 . In yet another embodiment, each of the client devices  110  may interact with more than one API  104  in which the APIs  104  are provided to operate the same application or unique applications. In an additional embodiment, each of the client devices  110  may interact with the same API  104  at the same time as long as the server  102  is capable of handling dynamic updates. One skilled in the art can appreciate other configurations and scenarios in which any of the client devices  110  access any of the APIs  104  to design database applications. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates an overview of a server engine processing data and storing files according to one embodiment. When one of the client devices  110  accesses the server to request an operation, the client device may utilize an application  202  to communicate with a server engine  204  to process the request. The request may include storing a new file, modifying the contents of an existing file, such as updating an employee address, adding new information to an existing file, gathering stored information to perform a calculation and the like. The request may be structured as a query to execute against a database  206 . Server engine  204  may handle the request, and send the desired information back to the application  202 . In one embodiment, the server engine  204  may send a confirmation that a task has been completed. In another embodiment, the server engine  204  may access the database  206  to assist in processing the request. Database  206  may comprise any type of data or metadata stored for a finite or infinite period of time. In another embodiment, database  206  may contain encrypted data of hash values of data. In another embodiment, the server engine  204  may include a cryptosystem that encrypts and decrypts data from the database  206  and the client device  110  to increase the security of data transmission. In another embodiment, the administrator  208  may manage the server engine  204  to handle all requests and operations performed at the server engine  204 . 
         [0030]    The data stored on the database  206  may be corrupted by any number of unexpected incidents. If the data is critical to a company&#39;s operation, the data may be backed up, such as to another location. To facilitate this step, in one embodiment, the client device  110  may enable an audit feature on the application  202  by setting an audit flag to “ENABLE.” The audit feature may be configured by the administrator  208  for use by the client device on the application  202 . When the administrator  208  sees the audit flag set to “ENABLE,” the administrator  208  may direct the server engine  204  to start an audit process  210  or the server engine  204  may automatically start the audit process  210 . 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, the audit process  210  may execute instructions to store files or records into a storage location called an audit trail. In another embodiment, audit process  210  may comprise a module with its own administrator that is responsible for administrating the audit process  210 . Files or modifications to files written to the server and stored on database  206  may also be stored on one of the available audit trails. For example, when an UPDATE query is executed against the database  206  causing the contents of the database  206  to change, a record describing the modifications to the database  206  by the UPDATE query may be stored in the audit trail. 
         [0032]    An information server system may include three (or more) audit trails: Audit Trail # 1   220 , Audit Trail # 2   222 , or Audit Trail # 3   224 . In one embodiment, each of the audit trails may comprise blocks of memory that range in size from 32 Megabits (Mb) to 16 Gigabytes (GB). One audit trail of the trails  220 ,  222 , and  224  may serve as an active trail, while the other two may serve as inactive trails. One of the two inactive trails may be used as a temporary store for backing up information while the pack process  212  switches from one audit trail to another. In one embodiment, files added on audit trails may be stored in blocks. Files may be stored on the active audit trail until the audit trail is filled to capacity. When the active audit trail is filled to capacity, the server engine  204  may redirect the pack process  212  to switch to another audit trail. 
         [0033]    The pack process  212  may execute instructions to deactivate the active audit trail and activate the inactive audit trail. For example, if Audit Trail # 1   220  is active, and Audit Trail # 2   222  is inactive, after the audit trail # 1   220  reaches capacity, Audit Trail # 1   220  may become inactive and Audit Trail # 2   222  may become active. During the transition from audit trail # 1   220  to audit trail # 2   222 , information regarding modifications to the database  206  that would conventionally be stored on the active audit trail may be temporarily stored on a third audit trail # 3   224 . After the transition is completed, the database  206  may be temporarily locked, and the files stored on the third audit trail # 3   224  may be transferred to the new active audit trail # 2   222 . When the database  206  is temporarily locked, client devices may not be able to utilize the server system to write changes or new files into the database  206 . After the transfer, the database  206  may be unlocked and made available for the client devices  110  and server engine  204 . In one embodiment, third audit trail # 3   224  may be created once the pack process transition is initiated and destroyed after filed are transferred to the new active trail. In another embodiment, the third audit trail # 3   224  may initially be an inactive trail that becomes active when the pack process initiates. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a flow chart illustrating the process of transmitting information through the audit process to an active audit trail according to one embodiment. This process starts at step  301  where a piece of information may be entered or modified API  104  by the client device  110  accessing applications that interface with the server engine. In one embodiment, the information may comprise a new file or a change to the contents of a file. At step  302 , the information may be transmitted to a database  206  through the server engine  204 . 
         [0035]    At step  303 , a decision block is encountered in which the information server may determine if the client device  110  has enabled the audit feature on the application  202  by setting an audit flag to “ENABLE.” If the audit flag is not enabled, the process of  FIG. 3A  terminates. This signifies that a copy of the information stored on the database  206  is not backed up to an audit trail through an audit process  210 . The client device  110  may choose to create a backup copy of the information through a method external to the Business Information Server system, such as saving the information to a disk or an internal memory. 
         [0036]    If the audit flag is enabled, the process proceeds to step  304  where the server engine  204  initiates the audit process. During the audit process, the server may initially select to store the backup copy of the information on Audit Trail # 1   220  because Audit Trail # 1   220  is active. Conversely, in one embodiment, if Audit Trail # 1   220  is not active, the server may select any of the three audit trails that is active to store the information. 
         [0037]    At step  305 , the administrator  208  may determine if Audit Trail # 1   220  is filled to capacity. If Audit Trail # 1   220  is not filled to capacity, the process continues to step  306 , where the information transmitted through the audit process  210  is stored on Audit Trail # 1   220 . However, if the Audit Trail # 1   220  is filled to capacity, the process continues to  FIG. 3B . In one embodiment, an audit trail may be deemed “filled to capacity” when there are zero bytes of available storage on the audit trail. In another embodiment, an audit trail may be deemed “tilled to capacity” when a threshold of a minimum number of bytes of available storage on the audit trail is reached. In a particular embodiment, that threshold may be set at 0.9 indicating that the audit trail is 90% filled to capacity. In a further embodiment, an audit trail may be deemed “filled to capacity” when the size of the proposed information to be stored on the audit trail is larger than the available space on the audit trail. In this scenario, blocks of information may be stored on the audit trail until there are zero bytes available on the audit trail or the threshold is reached. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3B  is a flow chart illustrating the process of activating a new audit trail through the pack process when a current audit trail is filled to capacity according to one embodiment. Continuing from step  305 , if Audit Trail # 1   220  is filled to capacity, the administrator  208  directs the server engine  204  to begin the pack process  212  in step  308 . The pack process  212  may start automatically in response to Audit Trail # 1   220  filling to capacity, in step  309 , during the pack process, Audit Trail # 1   220  may be switched from active to inactive, and a second audit trail, Audit Trail # 2   222 , may be switched from inactive to active. 
         [0039]    Concurrently, while steps  308  and/or  309  are being performed and when the pack process begins, information intended to be stored to Audit Trail # 1   220  may be stored on Audit Trail # 3   224 , which functions as a temporary trail at step  307 . Conventionally, when the pack process  212  begins, the database  206  is locked throughout the process. However, in an embodiment of the invention, the database  206  is not locked during at least a portion of the pack process  212  because the information to be backed up is stored on the third trail, so the operation of the Business Information Server system may proceed uninterruptedly. Finally, in step  310 , when the pack process completes, the information that was stored on the third trail, Audit Trail # 3   224 , is copied to the active Audit Trail # 2   222 . During this step, the database  206  may be temporarily locked, and the audit flag may be temporarily set to “DISABLE.” However, in one embodiment, the duration of time that the database  206  is locked during the transfer of tiles from the third audit trail to the current active audit trail when the pack process is completed may be a minimum of 50% less than the duration of time the database  206  is locked during the pack process in the conventional method. After the pack process  212  completes, New information to be backed up may be stored on Audit Trail # 2   222 . In one embodiment, the information on Audit Trail # 1   220  may be stored on a disk to free up available storage space on the audit trail for future use. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3C  is a flow chart illustrating the process of querying several audit trails to gather audit trail status information according to one embodiment. Referring to step  304  of the process in  FIG. 3A , after the server engine  204  initiates the audit process  210 , an additional decision block may be encountered in which the server may determine if Audit Trail # 1   220  is active at step  304 A. If Audit Trail # 1   220  is active, a second decision block may be encountered in which the server may determine if Audit Trail # 1   220  is filled to capacity at step  305 A. If Audit Trail # 1   220  is not filled to capacity, the process continues to step  306 A where information may be stored on Audit Trail # 1   220 . In contrast, if the Audit Trail # 1   220  is filled to capacity, the process proceeds to step  305  of  FIG. 3B . 
         [0041]    Referring back to the decision block at step  304 A, in one embodiment, if the Audit Trail # 1   220  is not active, the server may proceed to the decision block at step  304 B. Similarly, if the Audit Trail # 2   222  is not active, the administrator may proceed to the decision block at step  304 C. If the Audit Trail # 3   224  is not active, the administrator may proceed to another decision block to determine the next active audit trail in the series. In another embodiment, this process may continue until an active audit trail is identified. Once an active audit trail is identified, the process may continue to step  305 . In one embodiment, where there are three audit trails, as in the Business Information Server system, once it is determined that the first two audit trails are inactive, the last audit trail may be automatically deemed as active. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating a method of storing information in an audit trail by a server engine according to one embodiment. The method begins at step  402  where the server engine  204  receives a query for a database in communication with an information server. The query may be a request to edit the contents of a file. In some embodiments, this information may also include a request to store a new file, add new information to an existing file, gather stored information to perform a calculation from the database  206  and the like. Next, the query may be executed against the database in step  404 . 
         [0043]    If the server engine  204  recognizes that the audit feature on the application  202  has been enabled by setting an audit flag to “ENABLE,” the server engine  204  initiates the audit process  210  by storing a record of the query in a first audit trail at step  406 . In step  408 , the server engine  204  may determine that the size of the first audit trail has reached a predetermined threshold size. When this occurs, a series of steps may be performed to start a pack process. At step  410 , the pack process may be initiated on the first audit trail to switch from the first audit trail to a second trail. While the pack process is executing, a second query may be received by the server engine  204  for the database  206  at step  412 . Finally, at step  414 , a record of the second query may be stored in a third audit trail while the pack process is executing. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5A  is a flow chart illustrating another method of storing information in an audit trail by a server engine according to another embodiment. The method begins at step  502  where the server engine  204  receives information from an application  202  that receives information from the client device  110 . This information may include a request to modify the contents of a file stored in database  206 . In other embodiments, this information may also include a request to store a new file, add new information to an existing file, gather stored information to perform a calculation from the database  206  and the like. At step  504 , this information is transmitted to the database  206  for storing. 
         [0045]    If the server engine  204  recognizes that the audit feature on the application  202  has been enabled by setting an audit flag to “ENABLE,” the server  204  initiates the audit process  210  to store a copy of the information to a first audit trail at step  506 . At step  508 , when the first audit trail is filled to capacity, the server initiates a pack process  212 . When the pack process  212  begins, the server, at step  510 , generates a third audit trail to store the information. The third audit trail may provide a temporary location to store information when the first audit trail is filled to capacity. Finally, the information is temporarily stored at step  512 . In another embodiment, once the pack process  212  is initiated, a notice of this activity may be submitted by the server to the client device  110  through the application  202 . Because there is a period of delay associated with the pack process  212 , a notice of this type may allow the client or user of the client device  110  to plan accordingly for a temporary delay in utilization of the server. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5B  is a flow chart illustrating a method of running a pack process according to one embodiment. The method begins at step  532  where the pack process receives a command to run a pack process. Step  532  may be performed in response to storage space of an active audit trail filling to capacity. At step  534 , the pack process initiates. When the pack process  212  begins, the server switches the state of a first audit trail from active to inactive, and the state of a second audit trail from inactive to active at step  536 . During the pack process, the database  206  may remain available for the server engine  204  to access. 
         [0047]    When the pack process is completed, at step  538 , the server temporarily locks the database  206 . During the lock, no additions or updates to the database  206  may be made. At step  540 , the server transfers information stored in the third audit trail to the active, second audit trail. Finally, in step  542 , the database  206  is unlocked, and activity between the client device  110 , server engine  204 , and the database  206  may be resumed. In one embodiment, once an audit trail is filled capacity, the information on that trail may be saved to an external location or maintained in the trail In a further embodiment, if the information is maintained in an audit trail that is filled to capacity, that audit trail may stay inactive throughout the lifetime of the server system. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a computer network according to one embodiment. The system  600  may include a server  602 , a data storage device  606 , a network  608 , and a user interface device  610 . In a further embodiment, the system  600  may include a storage controller  604 , or storage server configured to manage data communications between the data storage device  606  and the server  602  or other components in communication with the network  608 . In an alternative embodiment, the storage controller  604  may be coupled to the network  608 . The system  600  may support code analysis by hosting the database  206  of  FIG. 2  on the server  602 . 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the user interface device  610  is referred to broadly and is intended to encompass a suitable processor-based device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or tablet computer, a smartphone, or other mobile communication device having access to the network  608 . In a further embodiment, the user interface device  610  may access the Internet or other wide area or local area network to access a web application or web service hosted by the server  602  and may provide a user interface for communicating with the application  202  of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0050]    The network  608  may facilitate communications of data between the server  602  and the user interface device  610 . The network  608  may include any type of communications network including, but not limited to, a direct PC-to-PC connection, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a modem-to-modem connection, the Internet, a combination of the above, or any other communications network now known or later developed within the networking arts which permits two or more computers to communicate. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a computer system  700  adapted according to certain embodiments of the server  602  and/or the user interface device  610 . The central processing unit (“CPU”)  702  is coupled to the system bus  704 . Although only a single CPU is shown, multiple CPUs may be present. The CPU  702  may be a general purpose CPU or microprocessor, graphics processing unit (“GPU”), and/or microcontroller. The present embodiments are not restricted by the architecture of the CPU  702  so long as the CPU  702 , whether directly or indirectly, supports the operations as described herein. The CPU  702  may execute the various logical instructions according to the present embodiments. 
         [0052]    The computer system  700  may also include random access memory (RAM)  708 , which may be synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), or the like. The computer system  700  may utilize RAM  708  to store the various data structures used by a software application. The computer system  700  may also include read only memory (ROM)  706  which may be PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, optical storage, or the like. The ROM may store configuration information for booting the computer system  700 . The RAM  708  and the ROM  706  hold user and system data, and both the RAM  708  and the ROM  706  may be randomly accessed. 
         [0053]    The computer system  700  may also include an input/output (I/O) adapter  710 , a communications adapter  714 , a user interface adapter  716 , and a display adapter  722 . The I/O adapter  710  and/or the user interface adapter  716  may, in certain embodiments, enable a user to interact with the computer system  700 . In a further embodiment, the display adapter  722  may display a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with a software or web-based application on a display device  724 , such as a monitor or touch screen. 
         [0054]    The I/O adapter  710  may couple one or more storage devices  712 , such as one or more of a hard drive, a solid state storage device, a flash drive, a compact disc (CD) drive, a floppy disk drive, and a tape drive, to the computer system  700 . According to one embodiment, the data storage  712  may be a separate server coupled to the computer system  700  through a network connection to the I/O adapter  710 . The communications adapter  714  may be adapted to couple the computer system  700  to the network  608 , which may be one or more of a LAN, WAN, and/or the Internet. The user interface adapter  716  couples user input devices, such as a keyboard  720 , a pointing device  718 , and/or a touch screen (not shown) to the computer system  700 . The keyboard  720  may be an on-screen keyboard displayed on a touch panel. The display adapter  722  may be driven by the CPU  702  to control the display on the display device  724 . Any of the devices  702 - 722  may be physical and/or logical. 
         [0055]    The applications of the present disclosure are not limited to the architecture of computer system  700 . Rather the computer system  700  is provided as an example of one type of computing device that may be adapted to perform the functions of the server  602  and/or the user interface device  610 . For example, any suitable processor-based device may be utilized including, without limitation, personal data assistants (RDAs), tablet computers, smartphones, computer game consoles, and multi-processor servers. Moreover, the systems and methods of the present disclosure may be implemented on application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits, or other circuitry. In fact, persons of ordinary skill in the art may utilize any number of suitable structures capable of executing logical operations according to the described embodiments. For example, the computer system may be virtualized for access by multiple users and/or applications. 
         [0056]    If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions described above may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Examples include non-transitory computer-readable media encoded with a data structure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program. Computer-readable media includes physical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc includes compact discs (CD), laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVD), floppy disks and blu-ray discs. Generally, disks reproduce data magnetically, and discs reproduce data optically. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally, the firmware and/or software may be executed by processors integrated with components described above. 
         [0057]    In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/or data may be provided as signals on transmission media included in a communication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus may include a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions and data. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or more processors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. 
         [0058]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present invention, disclosure, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.