Digital cockpit

• US 20030149682A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Godbey, Michael Scott, Earley, Elizabeth Anne, Brady, Thomas Paul, McKee, James Geoffrey Chirumbolo, Rice, David Andrew, Lorence, Christopher Balfour, Meyer, Kristin Sherwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method for communicating information for pre-defined metrics management of business metrics uses a system including a server and at least one user accessible device communicative with the server. The server has a database and a web interface. The method comprises providing a user with a web interface configurable to a template accommodating business metrics data by the user, and providing visual indications of the status of the business metrics.

Claims

1. A method for processing business metrics information in a system including a server, and at least one user device and a database communicably coupled to the server, said method comprising:

receiving operating and financial data for a business;

processing the data to generate business metrics;

comparing the business metrics to pre-defined parameters; and

displaying a status of the business metrics.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying the business metrics further comprises displaying a plurality of gauges which visually indicate a status of a respective business metric.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying the business metrics further comprises displaying at least one gauge which visually indicates the position of a switch between an “

ON”

position and an “

OFF”

position.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying business data associated with each business metric.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein displaying business data associated with each business metric further comprises linking business data used in determining a status of each respective metric to each business metric.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein displaying business data associated with each business metric further comprises linking business data to each respective visual display.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising notifying pre-defined users when a pre-determined threshold regarding a respective business metric is satisfied.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein notifying users further comprises defining the pre-determined thresholds that trigger the notifications.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein notifying users further comprises defining which users receive the notifications when a pre-determined thresholds is satisfied.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising coupling a message center to the server.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling a message center further comprises receiving user inquiries regarding the business metric associated with the message center.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling a message center further comprises receiving user input regarding the business metric associated with the message center.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprises restricting access to the server system.

14. A business metrics management system comprising:

a computer;

a server configured with a database enabled for storing and retrieving a user interface, said server further configured to upload and store user input regarding business metrics in a database;

a network communicably coupled to the server; and

a user operated device communicatively coupled to the network.

15. A metrics management system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said system further configured to:

display visual indications of a status of business metrics within said database; and

restrict access to unauthorized users.

16. A metrics management system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said system further configured to:

receive inputs from a user to define thresholds regarding the business metrics; and

notify users when pre-defined business metrics thresholds are satisfied.

17. A metrics management system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said system further configured to:

receive inquiry inputs from a user regarding the business metrics; and

display previously entered user inputs regarding the business metrics.

18. A metrics management system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said system further configured to:

receive inputs defining the business metrics;

periodically update the data stored within said database;

transmit status updates to pre-defined users; and

provide access to data relevant to each defined business metric.

19. A method for providing business management with business metrics, said method comprising:

defining a business metric template which can accommodate business metrics data;

entering business metrics data into the template;

uploading the template into a database having enabled storage and retrieval capability for a business metric template; and

providing the business metric template to business management.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 further comprising:

assigning security access to users;

defining business metrics from the data stored within the database;

defining the template to visually indicate a status of the business metrics; and

updating the data on a pre-defined periodic basis.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein defining the template further comprises:

defining which business metrics will be displayed within the template;

determining a layout of the template display;

determining a display format of a status of each business metric

22. A method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising:

defining a group of users for each respective template; and

defining threshold values unique to a status of each business metric.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 further comprising notifying the pre-defined group of users when a threshold value for a business metric is satisfied.

24. A method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising:

providing a web interface to the system;

configuring the web interface to the template; and

restricting access to the system through the web interface.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising:

receiving business metrics data in the template; and

providing access to business data associated with the business metric data through the template.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a computer;

a server communicatively coupled with a database enabled for storing and retrieving a template, the server additionally configured to upload and store business metrics data in the database; and

a network communicably coupled with the server and a user device connected to the network.

27. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said server further configured to:

display visual indications of a status of business metrics within said database;

restrict access to unauthorized users;

define thresholds regarding the business metrics; and

transmit notifications when pre-defined business metrics thresholds are satisfied.

28. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said server further configured to

receive inquiry inputs from a user regarding the business metrics;

display previously entered user inputs regarding the business metrics.

update data stored within said database;

transmit status updates to pre-defined users; and

store data relevant to each defined business metric.

29. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said server further configured to provide access to the template for visually displaying a status of each business metric.

30. An apparatus comprising:

means for providing an interface to a user;

means for configuring the interface to a template;

means for entering business metrics data in the template; and

means for storing and retrieving the template.

31. An apparatus in accordance with claim 30 further comprising:

means for defining business metrics data in the template; and

means for displaying a status of business metrics data in the template.

32. An apparatus in accordance with claim 31 further comprising:

means for transmitting a status of business metrics data to users;

means for restricting access to the business metrics data;

means for restricting access to the template; and

means for retrieving additional business metrics data through the template.

33. An apparatus in accordance with claim 32 further comprising:

means for posting user inquires regarding the business metrics data such that such inquires are viewable by other users;

means for retrieving previously entered user inquires; and

means for updating the business metrics data in the template.

34. A computer-readable medium executable by a computer connected to a user device, for controlling the computer to:

receive a request to provide a web interface;

provide a web interface configurable to a template;

receive business metrics data in the template; and

store the template.

35. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 34 for further controlling the computer to:

display a status of business metrics data in the template;

receive a request defining visual display options in the tempate;

store data associated with respective business metric data in the template; and

receive a request to define thresholds associated with respective business metric data in the template.

36. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 35 for further controlling the computer to:

receive a request to define a group of users to be notified when threshold conditions are satisfied;

receive a request to define a group of users for access to the template; and

receive user inquiries about the business metric data in the template;

37. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 36 for further controlling the computer to:

store user inquires regarding the business metric data in the template;

retrieve stored user inquires regarding the business metric data; and

monitor access to the template.

38. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 37 for further controlling the computer to:

monitor a status of business metric data in the template with respect to pre-defined thresholds;

transmit notifications when pre-defined thresholds with respect to the pre-defined thresholds are satisfied.