Patent ID: 8682866

Claim:
A method for performing data hygiene, comprising: obtaining an input data record of an input file maintained in remote storage; storing said input data record in a local memory; processing said input data record, through a series of updating processes successively performed at least one time, wherein said input data record is a first input for a first updating process which results in a first output, wherein an input for each of said updating processes, after said first updating process, is an output from a most previous updating process, wherein a reference file from a plurality of reference files is only used for a single updating process and a different reference file is used for each of said updating processes, and wherein after said at least one time of performing said updating processes a final output stored in local memory is a cleansed input data record, wherein said updating processes comprise: first, matching said input stored in said local memory to a matching reference data record from a plurality of reference files, said matching comprising: retrieving a set of reference data records from a first reference file of said plurality of reference files, said retrieving utilizes a search key based at least in part upon said input data record; and selecting said matching reference data record from said set of reference data records; second, combining said input with said matching reference data record, said combining comprising: generating an output based upon a data value of said matching reference data record; and storing said output in said local memory; and outputting said cleansed input data record from said local memory to said remote storage, wherein said input data record is retrieved from said remote storage a single time for performing data hygiene.