Technology management system using knowledge management disciplines, web-based technologies, and web infrastructures

• US 20020120481A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Woods, Steven D., Ginn, James W., Wagner, Charles F., Brandes, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system for managing technologies supports both local and enterprise level requirements. The management system has a controlled lexicon containing technology-specific terminology data, and a web-based collaboration tool. The collaboration tool populates a card catalog based on the technology-specific terminology data and based on collaboration input. The management system further includes a web portal for maintaining a bookshelf of links to entries in the card catalog. The web portal further accesses the bookshelf based on search input and based on technology-specific terminology data. The card catalog and bookshelf are accessed over a networking connection such as the Internet-based World Wide Web. The method of the present invention provides for maintaining a card catalog over a networking connection based on collaboration input from a steward. A bookshelf of links is maintained over the networking connection based on entries of the card catalog. The method further provides for accessing the bookshelf based on search input from a user. The steward and user may be remotely located and may even be employees of different organizations. The technical infrastructure supporting the technology management system is developed in a spiral approach that includes opportunities for learning by members of the core participants.

Claims

1. A technology management system comprising:

a controlled lexicon containing technology-specific terminology data;

a web-based collaboration tool for populating a card catalog based on the technology-specific terminology data and based on collaboration input; and

a web portal for maintaining a bookshelf of links to entries in the card catalog, the web portal further accessing the bookshelf based on search input and based on the technology-specific terminology data.

2. The management system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration input is generated by a steward and the search input is generated by a user.

3. The management system of claim 2 wherein the collaboration tool retrieves the collaboration input directly from the steward.

4. The management system of claim 2 wherein the collaboration tool retrieves the collaboration input from an electronic file, the steward placing the collaboration input in the electronic file.

5. The management system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration tool converts the collaboration input into metadata, the collaboration input having a corresponding content.

6. The management system of claim 5 wherein the metadata includes keyword attribute information, the keyword attribute information defining keywords relating to the content.

7. The management system of claim 6 wherein the collaboration tool further converts the technology-specific terminology data into metadata based on the collaboration input.

8. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes readiness attribute information, the readiness attribute information defining a readiness for linking of the content to the bookshelf.

9. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes steward attribute information, the steward attribute information defining a responsible party for the content.

10. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes author attribute information, the author attribute information defining an author of the content.

11. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes location attribute information, the location attribute information defining a file location of the content.

12. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes notification attribute information, the notification attribute information defining individuals to be notified of the conversion of the collaboration input into metadata.

13. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes security attribute information, the security attribute information defining security requirements for accessing the content.

14. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes date attribute information, the date attribute information defining a conversion date for the collaboration input.

15. The management system of claim 2 wherein the metadata includes title attribute information, the title attribute information defining a title for the content.

16. The management system of claim 2 wherein the collaboration tool interacts with the card catalog over a networking connection.

17. The management system of claim 13 wherein the networking connection is an Internet connection.

18. The management system of claim 13 wherein the networking connection is an Intranet connection.

19. The management system of claim 1 wherein the web portal interacts with the card catalog over a networking connection.

20. The management system of claim 19 wherein the networking connection is an Internet connection.

21. The management system of claim 19 wherein the networking connection is an Intranet connection.

22. The management system of claim 1 wherein the web portal includes a user interface, the user interface being customizable based on interface input from a user.

23. The management system of claim 22 wherein the user interface includes links contained in the bookshelf.

24. The management system of claim 1 wherein the terminology data relates to airplane technologies.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

storing technology-specific terminology data to a controlled lexicon;

maintaining the card catalog based on the technology-specific terminology data; and

assessing the bookshelf based on the technology-specific terminology data.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the steward is a member of a first collaboration group and the user is a member of a second collaboration group, the first and second collaboration groups being a part of an overall enterprise group.

29. The method of claim 28 further including the step of repeating step f) a plurality of times.

25. A method for managing technologies among a plurality of individuals, the method comprising the steps of:

populating a card catalog over a networking connection based on collaboration input from a steward;

maintaining a bookshelf of links over the networking connection based on entries in the card catalog; and

accessing the bookshelf based on search input from a user.

28. A method for developing a technical infrastructure for a technology management system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) defining business processes for an enterprise group;

b) determining system requirements based on the business processes;

c) determining infrastructure requirements based on the system requirements;

d) modeling a system architecture based on the infrastructure requirements;

e) prototyping the technical infrastructure based on the system architecture; and

f) repeating steps a) through e) based on the technical infrastructure prototyped in step e).