Web based methods and systems for managing compliance assurance information

• US 20030069983A1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mukund, R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method for managing, storing, and disseminating compliance assurance (CA) information using a web-based system is provided. The system employs a server system coupled to a centralized interactive database and at least one client system. The method includes receiving CA information from a client system, storing CA information into a centralized database, cross-referencing CA information, updating the centralized database periodically to maintain CA information, providing CA information in response to an inquiry; and notifying users electronically of CA tasks and CA deadlines.

Claims

1. A method for managing, storing, and disseminating compliance assurance (CA) information using a web-based system including a server system coupled to a centralized interactive database and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving CA information from a client system;

storing CA information into a centralized database;

cross-referencing CA information;

updating the centralized database periodically to maintain CA information;

providing CA information in response to an inquiry; and

notifying users electronically of CA tasks and CA deadlines.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving CA information comprises receiving at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing CA information further comprises compiling a user schedule using CA information regarding tasks being performed.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein cross-referencing CA information further comprises creating a user CA calendar based on at least one of previously created user CA calendars and changes in CA audit tracking information.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing CA information comprises:

displaying information to a user identifying at least one of a site location and a CA task to be performed at a site location; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of a site location and a CA task to be performed at a site location.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing CA information comprises:

displaying information on the client system regarding at least one of a site location, CA calendar, CA audit tracking system, CA audit tool, and CA contacts information; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of a site location, CA calendar, CA audit tracking system, CA audit tool, and CA contacts information.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing CA information comprises:

accessing the centralized database;

searching the database regarding the specific inquiry;

retrieving information from the database; and

transmitting the retrieved information to the client system for display by the client system.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein providing CA information comprises providing at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein notifying users comprises transmitting an electronic message to the client system from the server system notifying at least one of the user of a CA task to be performed and the client system of a CA audit tracking task to be performed.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising connecting the client system and the server system via a network that includes one of a wide area network, a local area network, an intranet and the Internet.

11. A method for managing, storing, and disseminating compliance assurance (CA) information using a web-based system including a server system coupled to a centralized interactive database, at least one managerial user system, and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving CA information from a client system, said CA information comprising at least one of site information, CA calendar, CA audit tracking system, CA audit tool, and CA contacts information;

storing CA information into a centralized database;

cross-referencing CA information;

updating the centralized database periodically to maintain CA information;

providing CA information in response to an inquiry;

notifying users electronically of CA tasks and CA deadlines; and

providing an electronic report of the CA audit tracking system and the CA calendar to the managerial user system.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein receiving CA information comprises receiving requested information from the client system relating to certain topics including at least one of environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein cross-referencing CA information comprises comparing inputted CA information with the CA audit tool to assure compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies.

14. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein notifying users comprises transmitting an electronic message to the client system from the server system notifying the user of the CA tasks to be performed within a time period shown on the CA calendar such that compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies relating to certain topics including at least environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance is assured.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein providing an electronic report comprises transmitting an electronic report to the managerial user system from the server system comprising a summary of the CA tasks performed at a site location for a time period shown on the CA calendar such that managerial oversight of the CA information is facilitated and compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies relating to certain topics including at least one of environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance is assured.

16. A method for manipulating CA information using a web-based system including a server system coupled to a centralized interactive database and at least one client system, said method comprising:

receiving CA information comprising at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information;

storing CA information into a centralized database;

cross-referencing CA information comprising creating a CA calendar based on at least one of CA tasks to be performed, a change in other previously created CA calendars, and a change in CA audit tracking information;

updating the centralized database with CA information comprising adding and deleting information so as to revise existing CA information including at least one of CA task information, CA calendar information, and CA audit tracking information;

providing CA information comprising at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information, in response to an inquiry, including downloading requested information from the server system and displaying requested information on the client system, the inquiry including utilizing at least one pull-down lists, check boxes, and hypertext links; and

notifying users of CA tasks and CA deadlines comprising transmitting an electronic message to the client system from the server system notifying the user of a CA task to be performed.

17. A network based system for managing, storing, and disseminating CA information, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a centralized database for storing information;

a server system configured to be coupled to said client system and said database, said server system further configured to;

receive CA information from the client system;

store CA information into the centralized database;

cross-reference CA information;

update the centralized database periodically to maintain CA information;

provide CA information in response to an inquiry; and

notify users electronically of CA tasks and CA deadlines.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said client system further comprises at least one of:

a displaying component for displaying at least one of a pull-down list, a check box, and hypertext link options relating to CA audit tracking information and CA scheduling information;

a sending component to send an inquiry to the server system so that the server system can process and download the requested information to the client system;

a collection component for collecting CA information from users into the centralized database;

a tracking component for tracking CA information;

a displaying component for displaying CA information on at least one site location;

a receiving component for receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information;

an accessing component for accessing the centralized database and causing the retrieved information to be displayed on the client system; and

a notifying component for electronically notifying users of CA tasks and CA deadlines.

19. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a receiving component for receiving an inquiry to provide information from one of a plurality of users.

20. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a processing component for searching and processing received inquiries against the database containing information collected by the collection component, and for cross-referencing at least one of CA calendar information, CA task information, and CA audit tracking information.

21. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a retrieving component to retrieve CA information from the database.

22. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises an information fulfillment component that downloads the requested information after retrieving from the database.

23. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a receiving component that receives an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information.

24. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises at least one of a receiving component that receives information directly through the client system, and a receiving component that receives information in a pre-determined format established for inputting CA information.

25. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a cross-referencing component that accomplishes at least one of:

compiling a user schedule using CA information regarding CA tasks being performed;

creating a user CA calendar based on previously created user CA calendars; and

creating a user CA calendar based on changes in CA audit tracking information.

26. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said server system further comprises a notifying component that notifies a user through at least one of transmitting an electronic message to the client system regarding a CA task to be performed, and transmitting an electronic message to the client system regarding a CA audit tracking task to be performed.

27. A network based system for managing, storing, and disseminating CA information, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a managerial user system comprising a browser;

a centralized database for storing information;

a server system configured to be coupled to said client system, said managerial user system, and said database, said server system further configured to;

receive CA information from the client system, said CA information comprising at least one of site information, a CA audit tracking system, a CA calendar, a CA audit tool, and contact information;

store CA information into the centralized database;

cross-reference CA information;

update the centralized database periodically to maintain CA information;

provide CA information in response to an inquiry;

notify users electronically of CA tasks and CA deadlines; and

provide an electronic report of the CA audit tracking system and the CA calendar to the managerial user system.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein providing CA information comprises:

displaying option information on the client system regarding at least one of a site location, CA calendar, CA audit tracking system, CA audit tool, and CA contacts information; and

receiving an inquiry from the client system regarding at least one of a site location, CA calendar, CA audit tracking system, CA audit tool, and CA contacts information.

29. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said server system further comprises a receiving component that receives an inquiry from the client system regarding certain topics including at least one of environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance.

30. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said server system further comprises a processing component that cross-references CA information with the CA audit tool to assure compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies.

31. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said server system further comprises a notifying component that notifies users by transmitting an electronic message to the client system from the server system regarding a CA task to be performed within a time period shown on the CA calendar such that compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies relating to certain topics including at least environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance is assured.

32. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said server system further comprises a providing component that provides an electronic report to the managerial user system by transmitting an electronic report to the managerial user system from the server system summarizing the CA tasks performed at a site location for a time period shown on the CA calendar such that managerial oversight of the CA information is facilitated and compliance with certain laws, rules, regulations, standards, and policies relating to certain topics including at least one of environment, health and safety, quality, legal, and corporate compliance is assured.

33. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for managing, storing, and disseminating CA information, said program comprising a code segment that receives CA information and then:

maintains a database by adding, deleting and updating CA information;

generates at least one CA calendar based on said received CA information;

manages at least one CA audit tracking system based on said received CA information;

provides said CA calendar, said CA audit tracking system, a CA audit tool system, and CA contact information to users;

notifies users of CA tasks and CA deadlines; and

provides a report of said CA audit tracking system and said CA calendar.

34. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that provides at least one of:

an option to filter CA calendars based on at least one of site information, CA task type, assigned contact person, and time frame;

an option to filter CA audit tracking system based on at least one of site information, CA task type, assigned contact person, and time frame; and

an option to filter CA audit tool system based on at least one of site information, CA task type, assigned contact person, and time frame.

35. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that generates a display of at least one of business information, organizational information, site information, assigned contact person information, COE/department information, building information, CA audit tracking information, CA task information, CA calendar information, CA task reminder information, frequency of reminder information, environmental information, health and safety information, quality information, legal information, human resources information, management information, and corporate compliance information.

36. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising:

a code segment that accesses said database;

a code segment that searches said database in response to an inquiry;

a code segment that retrieves information from said database;

a code segment that causes retrieved information to be displayed on a client system;

a code segment that notifies a user of CA tasks and CA deadlines; and

a code segment that causes a report summarizing the CA tasks and the CA deadlines for a site location to be displayed on a managerial user system.

37. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that monitors the security of the system by restricting access to authorized individuals.

38. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that cross-references said CA calendar when a CA task is performed.

39. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that cross-references said CA calendar to at least one previously created CA calendar when CA information is received.

40. A computer program in accordance with claim 33 further comprising a code segment that cross-references said CA calendar with said CA audit tracking system information.