Systems and methods for message conversion and validation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for validating and converting a data message is provided. The method is implemented using a data message validation and conversion (DMVC) computer device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving from a client device a first data message in a first communication protocol. The first data message includes a plurality of data elements that include a format and a content. The method also includes converting the first data message into a second communication protocol, determining if the format and the content of each data element of the plurality of data elements is valid, if the determination is that at least one of the format and the content of at least one data element is not valid, generating a detailed report about the first data message and providing the detailed report to the client device, and otherwise transmitting the converted first data message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for validating and converting a data message, the method implemented using a data message validation and conversion (DMVC) computer device in communication with a memory, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a client computer device, a first data message in a first communication protocol, wherein the first data message includes a plurality of data elements, wherein each data element of the plurality of data elements includes a format and a content, and wherein the first data message includes at least one setting option;   converting, by the DMVC computer device, the first data message into a second communication protocol based on the at least one setting option;   determining, by the DMVC computer device, if the format and the content of each data element of the plurality of data elements is valid;   if the determination is that at least one of the format and the content of at least one data element is not valid, generating a detailed report about the first data message and providing the detailed report to the client computer device; and   if the determination is that the format and the content of the plurality of data elements is valid, transmitting the converted first data message to a destination based on the at least one setting option.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the destination is a payment processing network, and wherein the second communication protocol allows communication between the DMVC computer device and the payment processing network. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the payment processing network, a second data message in response to the first data message, wherein the second data message is in the second communication protocol;   converting, by the DMVC computer device, the second data message into the first communication protocol; and   transmitting, to the client computer device, the converted second data message.   
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the destination is the client computer device. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein determining if the format and the content of each data element is valid further comprises:
 storing a plurality of format and content information for a plurality of potential data elements;   comparing each data element in the first message to the plurality of format and content information to determine if the format and the content of the corresponding data element is valid; and   for each data element where at least one of the format and the content is determined to be not valid, marking the corresponding data element as invalid.   
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein generating a detailed report further comprises:
 for each data element marked as invalid, determining one or more errors in at least one of the format and the content of the corresponding data element;   for each data element marked as invalid, determining a proper format and content for the corresponding data element; and   generating the detailed report based on the one or more errors and the proper format and content for each data element marked as invalid.   
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first data message is an authorization request message. 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the second data message is an authorization response message. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol include at least one of American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII), Web Services Description Language Extensible Markup Language (WDSL XML), and Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) Binary. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first data message contains a subset of the data elements in an authorization request message, and wherein method further comprises generating a report that contains information about the format and the content of each data element of the subset of data elements. 
     
     
         11 . A data message validation and conversion (DMVC) computer device used to validate and convert data messages, said DMVC computer device comprising a processor communicatively coupled to a memory device, said processor programmed to:
 receive from a client computer device a first data message in a first communication protocol, wherein the first data message includes a plurality of data elements, wherein each data element of the plurality of data elements includes a format and a content, and wherein the first data message includes at least one setting option;   convert the first data message into a second communication protocol based on the least one setting option;   determine if the format and the content of each data element of the plurality of data elements is valid;   if the determination is that at least one of the content and the format of at least one data element is not valid, generate a detailed report about the first data message and provide the detailed report to the client computer device; and   if the determination is that the format and the content of the plurality of data elements is valid, transmit the converted first data message to a destination based on the at least one setting option.   
     
     
         12 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the destination is a payment processing network, and wherein the second communication protocol allows communication between the DMVC computer device and the payment processing network. 
     
     
         13 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 receive a second data message in response to the first data message from the payment processing network, wherein the second data message is in the second communication protocol;   convert the second data message into the first communication protocol; and   transmit the converted second data message to the client computer device.   
     
     
         14 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the destination is the client computer device. 
     
     
         15 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 store a plurality of format and content information for a plurality of potential data elements;   compare each data element in the first message to the plurality of format and content information to determine if the format and the content of the corresponding data element is valid; and   for each data element where at least one of the format and the content is determined to be not valid, mark the corresponding data element as invalid.   
     
     
         16 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
 for each data element marked as invalid, determine one or more errors in at least one of the format and the content of the corresponding data element;   for each data element marked as invalid, determine a proper format and content for the corresponding data element; and   generate the detailed report based on the one or more errors and the proper format and content for each data element marked as invalid.   
     
     
         17 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first data message is an authorization request message. 
     
     
         18 . A DMVC computer device in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second data message is an authorization response message. 
     
     
         19 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by a data message validation and conversion (DMVC) computer device having at least one processor coupled to at least one memory device, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
 receive from a client computer device a first data message in a first communication protocol, wherein the first data message includes a plurality of data elements, wherein each data element of the plurality of data elements includes a format and a content, and wherein the first data message includes at least one setting option;   convert the first data message into a second communication protocol based on the at least one setting option;   determine if the format and the content of each data element of the plurality of data elements is valid;   if the determination is that at least one of the format and the content of at least one data element is not valid, generate a detailed report about the first data message and provide the detailed report to the client computer device; and   if the determination is that the format and the content of the plurality of data elements is valid, transmit the converted first data message to a destination based on the at least one setting option.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the destination is a payment processing network, wherein the second communication protocol allows communication between the DMVC computer device and the payment processing network, wherein the first data message is an authorization request message, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 receive a second data message in response to the first data message from the payment processing network, wherein the second data message is in the second communication protocol, and wherein the second data message is an authorization response message;   convert the second data message into the first communication protocol; and   transmit the converted second data message to the client computer device.