Rdx enhancement of system and method for implementing reusable data markup language (rdl)

Abstract

Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention allow users to efficiently manipulate, analyze, and transmit eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) reports. They allow users to automatically build financial reports that are acceptable to governing agencies such as the IRS. In one embodiment, the reports are developed by a parser that transforms text documents into software elements containing a format with a hierarchal relationship between the software elements, and an editor that develops reports by referencing the software elements transformed from the text documents. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention also enable reports to be automatically scheduled by gathering desired information from an accounting system, formatting the information into an XBRL document, and transmitting it to an end source. Furthermore, systems and methods in accordance with the present invention allow a user to translate an XBRL document into RDL format and use the RDL system to manipulate and analyze it.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data processing system for developing reports, comprising:
 a parser that receives one or more text documents and creates software elements having a format with a hierarchal relationship between the software elements based on the one or more text documents; and   an editor that develops reports by referencing the software elements created from the one or more text documents and retrieves data from one or more sources to represent one or more values within the report.   
     
     
         2 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the format with the hierarchal relationship between the software elements is a Numerator Document Object Model (NDOM). 
     
     
         3 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more text documents are XBRL documents. 
     
     
         4 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the parser creates the software elements having the format with the hierarchal relationship by interpreting tags included in the one or more text documents. 
     
     
         5 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein a manager manipulates the software elements. 
     
     
         6 . The data processing system of  claim 5 , wherein the manager manipulates the software elements by browsing, editing, loading, and storing the software elements. 
     
     
         7 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein a mapper generates a relationship between the data from the one or more sources and the one or more values to be placed within the report. 
     
     
         8 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more templates are used to develop the report. 
     
     
         9 . The data processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more templates contain data that is directly inserted into the report and instructions enabling data from the one or more sources to be inserted into the report. 
     
     
         10 . The data processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more templates provide instructions to a mapper to retrieve the data that is directly inserted into the report and data from local or remote sources. 
     
     
         11 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein a mapper links the report and the one or more sources that will present one or more values within the report. 
     
     
         12 . The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the report and the one or more sources are linked through a “drag and drop” process. 
     
     
         13 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the editor provides for the software elements to be modified to create a new combination of software elements representative of a new text document. 
     
     
         14 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the editor provides for modification of one or more parameters associated with the software elements. 
     
     
         15 . The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the software elements are transformed to new software elements and are imported into an RSL system. 
     
     
         16 . The data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the software elements are transformed to the new software elements by retrieving a tag associated with each of the software elements in a dictionary and invoking a translation routine associated with the tag. 
     
     
         17 . A method in a data processing system for developing reports, comprising:
 receiving one or more text documents;   creating software elements having a format with a hierarchal relationship between the software elements based on the one or more text documents; and   developing reports by referencing the software elements created from the one or more text documents and retrieving data from one or more sources to represent one or more values within the report.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein creating the software elements from the one or more text documents includes representing the software elements in a Numerator Document Object Model (NDOM). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein creating the software elements includes creating software elements from one or more XBRL documents. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein creating the software elements having the format with the hierarchal relationship includes interpreting tags included in the one or more text documents.