Generic management software application for all industries and method thereof

• US 20030210269A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhaoji Luo
• Original Assignee: Zhaoji Luo
• Inventors: Luo, Zhaoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Visual Flow Interface (VFI) is a generic management software tool for any user in different industries which is similar to implementing a.Graphical User Interface (GUI) on Database Applications for the front end. VFI revolutionizes the principle of Management Information System (MIS) design and will launch a new generation of MIS. VFI'"'"'s innovative contribution to MIS includes two key points: (1) A user'"'"'s specific managerial and technological process is independent from the program of the MIS. Users can design their managerial and technologic process themselves or make any change freely without redesigning the program of the MIS; and (2) VFI focuses on the unique functional common character of different flows in all different industries and designs a visual image “Sandwich” to represent the functional common character. The Sandwich is a very simple idea but solves a very complicated problem for designing a generic MIS.

Claims

1. A database application for computer-based generic and visual management software comprising:

a) a data source capable of connecting to a plurality of databases, said data source made up of a plurality of fields, wherein each field is a managed object;

b) a visual flow interface representing a plurality of units of actual flow, each unit of said plurality of units of actual flow having;

i. a unit body representing the managed object for processing an input data and recording information about said unit of actual flow in one of the plurality of databases,

ii. an input display module for displaying input data, and

iii. an output display module for displaying output data, whereby a visual image of said unit of actual flow is loaded from said data source for displaying a plurality of information stored in said unit body, for displaying said input data and displaying said output data;

c) a plurality of dialog boxes for indicating a plurality of fields for said data source, for displaying a plurality of current messages and for setting a plurality of flow items;

d) a graphical user interface tool for designing said plurality of units of actual flow using said input data and said output data;

e) a process database for storing said input data and said output data;

whereby said database application can be used with any existing database structure by mapping the structure of the existing database to the visual flow interface.

2. The database application of claim 1, wherein said database application can be used with any existing management information system.

3. The database application of claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface allows for design of flow lines to connect a plurality of units of actual flow to be viewed using said visual flow interface.

4. The database application of claim 1, further comprising a free grouping module for grouping a plurality of units of actual flow as an open group or isolating a single unit of actual flow as a closed group, whereby said free grouping module is designed using said graphical user interface and displayed on said visual flow interface.

5. The database application of claim 1, further comprising a module for viewing a past process of units of actual flow recorded in said process database to be viewed in real time.

6. The database application of claim 1, further comprising a simulation module for creating a production plan in real time.

7. The database application of claim 1, wherein the existing database structure can be retrieved through Open Database Connectivity.

8. A method of management on a computer system using a visual flow interface for the purpose of implementing a generic and visual management software, said method comprising:

a) opening an existing applied database structure through a data source, said data source having a plurality of fields;

b) indicating a managed object in one of said plurality of fields by opening a dialog box to input a field data;

c) inserting input data into a unit body through an input displayer;

d) inserting output data into a unit body through an output displayer;

e) storing input data and output data in a process database;

f) indicating a plurality of relational flows among a plurality of units of actual flow by using a dialog box;

g) loading a visual flow from said data source to display said units of actual flow on a visual flow interface;

h) designing a placement and an order of said plurality of units of actual flow using a graphical user interface;

i) storing said visual flow and designed placement and order of said plurality of units of actual flow,

wherein said method provides for an easily modifiable visual database management of the applied existing database structure without requiring defining or redeveloping a database management system to manage the applied existing database structure or other existing database structures.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying one or more current messages using a dialog box, wherein said current messages display details of unit bodies or units of actual flow.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising using said graphical user interface to design one or more flow lines to connect a plurality of units of actual flow to be viewed using said visual flow interface.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising grouping one or more units of actual flow using a free grouping module for

a) forming an opened group, or

b) isolating a closed group, and further designing said grouping using a graphical user interface and representing said grouping on a visual flow interface.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a past process of units of actual flow recorded in said unit process database, in real time.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a production plan in real time.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of opening an existing applied database structure is achieved through Open Database Connectivity.

15. A software application for computer-based design and manipulation of a visual flow interface (VFI) used to manage, network, organize and display different processes in a database management system comprising:

a means for connecting to an internet or intranet server for receiving data and sending data;

a plurality of units, each unit comprising an input displayer, a body and an output displayer;

an access to a plurality of databases to be managed in the body;

a graphical interface for displaying a geometric structure depicting said plurality of units representing a functional structure of said databases;

wherein said VFI allows for combining units into group units, and combining group units into a visual and manageable hierarchy.

16. The software application according to claim 15, wherein the unit represents a server or an end, the input displayer is an up level IP address, the body manages data obtained from local files, and the output displayer is a down level IP address.