the cycle data processing

Data processing (DP) is any computer process that converts data into information or knowledge. The processing is usually assumed to be automated and running on a computer. Because data are most useful when well-presented and actually informative, data-processing systems are often referred to as information systems to emphasize their practicality. Nevertheless, both terms are roughly synonymous, performing similar conversions; data-processing systems typically manipulate raw data into information, and likewise information systems typically take raw data as input to produce information as output.

resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/bitesize/standard/computing/ind_com_apps/com_data_processing_rev4.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_processing