Computer controlled system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business enterprise into a structure of holonic self-contained modules

• US 20030130860A1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Saxena, Rahul, Polikoff, Irene, Hodgson, Ralph, Datta, Vic
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system for facilitating the reorganization of the information technology of a business organization into a structure that is modular and, thus, interchangeable between business units within the enterprise, and particularly within World Wide Web enterprises involving several correlated companies.

A computer controlled system is provided for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization into a structure of interchangeable holonic self-contained modules, with each module performing a set of related functions comprising means for providing a plurality of sets of self-controlling holons, with each holon in each set performing a business capability of the same type as performed by the other holons in its respective set but each set of holons performing a different business capability type than the other sets of holons. A plurality of integration holons are provided, with each integration holon respectively integrating the holons in one of said sets to provide a coordinated overall business capability of one of said different types. The system also provides for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization so that each integration holon integrates the holons in one of the sets to unitary overall combination business capability holon. Such combined sets of holons may perform a World Wide Web business capability, an internal business organization capability and/or a data processing organization type of capability.

Claims

1. A computer controlled system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization into a structure of interchangeable holonic self-contained modules, with each module performing a set of related functions comprising:

means for providing a plurality of sets of self-controlling holons, each holon in each set performing a business capability of the same type as performed by the other holons in its respective set but each set of holons performing a different business capability type than the other sets of holons; and

means for providing a plurality of integration holons, each integration holon respectively integrating the holons in one of said sets to provide a coordinated overall business capability of one of said different types.

2. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 1 wherein each integration holon integrates the holons in one of said sets to unitary overall business capability holon.

3. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 1 wherein the business capability type performed by one of said sets of holons is World Wide Web services capability.

4. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 3 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said sets of holons is of the internal business organization type.

5. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 4 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said sets of holons is of the data processing organization type.

6. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 2 wherein said holons are interchangeable to perform their respective business capabilities in other information technology structures.

7. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 6 further including:

a holon directory listing available interchangeable holons and the respective business capability of each of said available holons; and

means for registering an interchangeable holon in said directory.

8. The system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 5 further including means for visualizing the modularized information technology structure of said business organization on a display of said computer controlled system.

10. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 8 wherein each integration holon integrates the holons in one of said sets to unitary overall business capability holon.

14. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 10 wherein said holons are interchangeable to perform their respective business capabilities in other information technology structures.

9. In a computer controlled system, a method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization into a structure of interchangeable holonic self-contained modules, with each module performing a set of related functions comprising:

providing a plurality of sets of self-controlling holons, each holon in each set performing a business capability of the same type as performed by the other holons in its respective set but each set of holons performing a different business capability type than the other sets of holons; and

providing a plurality of integration holons, each integration holon respectively integrating the holons in one of said sets to provide a coordinated overall business capability of one of said different types.

11. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 9 wherein the business capability type performed by one of said sets of holons is World Wide Web services capability.

12. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 11 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said sets of holons is of the internal business organization type.

13. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 12 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said sets of holons is of the data processing organization type.

15. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 13 further including the steps of:

providing a holon directory listing available interchangeable holons and the respective business capability of each of said available holons; and

registering an interchangeable holon in said directory.

16. The method for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 12 further including the step of visualizing the modularized information technology structure of said business organization on a display of said computer controlled system.

17. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium in a computer controlled system for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization into a structure of interchangeable holonic self-contained modules, with each module performing a set of related functions comprising:

means for providing a plurality of sets of self-controlling holons, each holon in each set performing a business capability of the same type as performed by the other holons in its respective set but each set of holons performing a different business capability type than the other sets of holons; and

means for providing a plurality of integration holons, each integration holon respectively integrating the holons in one of said sets to provide a coordinated overall business capability of one of said different types.

18. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 17 wherein each integration holon integrates the holons in one of said sets to unitary overall business capability holon.

19. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 17 wherein the business capability type performed by one of said sets of holons is World Wide Web services capability.

20. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 19 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said sets of holons is of the internal business organization type.

21. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 20 wherein the business capability type performed by another of said set of holons is of the data processing organization type.

22. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 18 wherein said holons are interchangeable to perform their respective business capabilities in other information technology structures.

23. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 22 further including:

a holon directory listing available interchangeable holons and the respective business capability of each of said available holons; and

means for registering an interchangeable holon in said directory.

24. The computer program for modularizing the information technology structure of a business organization of claim 21 further including means for visualizing the modularized information technology structure of said business organization on a display of said computer controlled system.