Methods and systems for organizing information stored within a computer network-based system

• US 20040111387A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Grewal, Sukhminder, Nelson, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/383 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• 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 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for organizing information stored within a computer network-based system that includes a server system is provided. The server system is coupled to a centralized database and at least one client system. The method includes receiving at the server system information from the client system wherein the information includes documentation relating to a plurality of topics and a list of experts on a plurality of topics, storing information received at the server system in the centralized database, organizing the information stored in the centralized database, aggregating related information by at least one of a work function, a functional category, and a community, and displaying a user interface on the client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information by at least one of the work function, the functional category, and the community.

Claims

1. A method for organizing information stored within a computer network-based system that includes a server system coupled to a centralized database and at least one client system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the server system information from the client system, the information including documentation relating to a plurality of topics and a list of experts on a plurality of topics;

storing information received at the server system in the centralized database;

organizing the information stored in the centralized database;

aggregating related information by at least one of a work function, a functional category, and a community; and

displaying a user interface on the client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information by at least one of the work function, the functional category, and the community.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of reports including at least one of experts'"'"' schedules and performance, a consolidated community metrics report, a monthly community metrics report, a consolidated community feedback report, a workflow form status report, and a case status report; and

displaying on the client system for a permissioned user the plurality of generated reports.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises aggregating related information by at least one of a business, a sub-business, and an office location.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises:

aggregating related information into communities;

aggregating related communities into functional categories; and

aggregating related functional categories into a work function.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises displaying related communities on a single, consolidated user interface on the client system.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises enabling a permissioned user to attach at least one of a document and a survey into a community assigned to the permissioned user.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises enabling a permissioned user to define custom categories to further organize communities.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein aggregating related information further comprises enabling a permissioned user to secure specific information within a community such that the secured information is accessible by only authorized users.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein displaying a user interface on the client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information further comprises enabling a permissioned user to provide functional tabs in a community assigned to the permissioned user that are displayed on the client system for navigational purposes.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein displaying a user interface on the client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information further comprises enabling a permissioned user to transmit an electronic message to users of a community by attaching the electronic message to the user interface.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising connecting the client system and the server system via a network that includes one of a local area network, a wide area network, and intranet, and the Internet.

12. A network based system for organizing information stored within said system, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a centralized database for storing information; and

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

receive information from said client system, said information includes documentation relating to a plurality of topics and a list of experts on a plurality of topics;

store information in the centralized database;

organize information stored in the centralized database; and

aggregate related information by at least one of a work function, a functional category, and a community.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to display a user interface on said client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information by at least one of the work function, the functional category, and the community.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to:

generate a plurality of reports including at least one of experts'"'"' schedules and performance, a consolidated community metrics report, a monthly community metrics report, a consolidated community feedback report, a workflow form status report, and a case status report; and

display on said client system for a permissioned user said plurality of generated reports.

15. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to aggregate related information by at least one of a business, a sub-business, and an office location.

16. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to:

aggregate related information into communities;

aggregate related communities into functional categories; and

aggregate related functional categories into a work function.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said server system is further configured to display related communities on a single, consolidated user interface on said client system.

18. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to prompt a permissioned user to attach at least one of a document and a survey into a community assigned to the permissioned user.

19. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to enable a permissioned user to define custom categories to further organize communities.

20. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to enable a permissioned user to secure specific information within a community such that said secured information is accessible by only authorized users.

21. A system according to claim 12 wherein said server system is further configured to prompt a permissioned user to provide functional tabs in a community assigned to the permissioned user wherein said functional tabs are displayed on said client system for navigational purposes.

22. A system according to claim 13 wherein said server system is further configured to enable a permissioned user to transmit an electronic message to users of a community by attaching said electronic message to said user interface.

23. A system according to claim 12 wherein said client system and said server system are coupled via a network that includes one of a local area network, a wide area network, and intranet, and the Internet.

24. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for organizing information stored within a computer network-based system, said program comprising a code segment that receives information and then:

stores information in a database, said information includes documentation relating to a plurality of topics and a list of experts relating to a plurality of topics;

organizes information stored in the database;

aggregates related information by at least one of a work function, a functional category, and a community; and

displays a user interface on a client system to enable a user to search the database for a specific item of information by at least one of the work function, the functional category, and the community.

25. A computer program according to claim 24 further comprising a code segment that:

generates a plurality of reports including at least one of experts'"'"' schedules and performance, consolidated community metrics report, a monthly community metrics report, a consolidated community feedback report, a workflow form status report, and a case status report; and

displays on said client system for a permissioned user said plurality of generated reports.

26. A computer program according to claim 24 further comprising a code segment that aggregates related information by at least one of a business, a sub-business, and an office location.

27. A computer program according to claim 24 further comprising a code segment that:

aggregates related information into communities;

aggregates related communities into functional categories; and

aggregates related functional categories into a work function.

28. A computer program according to claim 24 further comprising a code segment that:

enables a permissioned user to attach at least one of a document and a survey into a community assigned to the permissioned user;

enables a permissioned user to define custom categories to further organize communities;

enables a permissioned user to secure specific information within a community such that said secured information is accessible by only authorized users; and

enables a permissioned user to provide functional tabs in a community assigned to the permissioned user wherein said functional tabs are displayed on said client system for navigational purposes.

29. A computer program according to claim 24 further comprising a code segment that enables a permissioned user to transmit an electronic message to users of a community by attaching said electronic message to said user interface.