Holistic dynamic information management platform for end-users to interact with and share all information categories, including data, functions, and results, in collaborative secure venue

• US 20050060342A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wafik Farag
• Original Assignee: Wafik Farag
• Inventors: Farag, Wafik
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system dynamically and contextually manage information in an electronic computational environment. In one aspect, a desired project provides a context for management of a plurality of information elements, each element being in at least one of a plurality of categories. Each category in turn is a member of a category set, and the category set includes data category, function category, and result category. The context corresponds to at least one model that is defined by the elements and a set of rules governing permissible relationships among the elements. The method includes: receiving an input to the environment specifying a relationship among at least two information elements; using an integrity engine, operating to enforce such rules, to verify dynamically correctness of the relationship specified; and upon acceptance of the relation by the integrity engine, storing automatically the relationship specified, so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to the context. The relation can be specified and implemented on the fly, without a preconceived design process. Related systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically and contextually managing information in an electronic computational environment, the method comprising:

with respect to a desired project, the project providing a corresponding context for management of a plurality of information elements, each element being in at least one of a plurality of categories, each category being a member of a category set, the category set including data category, function category, and result category, wherein the context corresponds to at least one model that is defined by the elements and a set of rules governing permissible relationships among the elements, receiving an input to the environment specifying a relationship among at least two information elements;

using an integrity engine, operating to enforce such rules, to verify dynamically correctness of the relationship specified; and

upon acceptance of the relation by the integrity engine, storing automatically the relationship specified, so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to the context.

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

storing, in a schema table, a list of attributes in the data category, each attribute being an element; and

storing, in a relation table, separately from the schema table, a list of relationships among such attributes, so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to data aspects of the context.

3. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

storing, in a function table, a list of functions in the function category, inputs to and outputs from each of the listed functions, and metadata for each of the listed functions, each function being an element so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to function aspects of the context.

4. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

storing, in a result table, a list of results in the result category, and for each listed result, a sequence of functions pertinent to such result, input parameters to and outputs from each function, and metadata, each result being an element so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to result aspects of the context.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein information relates to a plurality of projects, each project providing a distinct context, the method comprising:

storing a table listing the contexts; and

for each context, storing an information element table pertinent to an information category in the context, the table listing information elements that are present, in the information category, in the context.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein information relates to a plurality of projects, each project providing a distinct context, the method comprising:

for each context, storing a distinct schema table that lists attributes pertinent to the context in the data category; and

storing a relation table that shows relations among attributes in the schema table.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein information relates to a plurality of projects, each project providing a distinct context, the method comprising:

for each context, storing a function table that lists functions, in the function category, pertinent to such context, inputs to and outputs from each of the listed functions, and metadata for each of the listed functions.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein information relates to a plurality of projects, each project providing a distinct context, the method comprising:

for each context, storing a result table that lists results, in the result category, pertinent to such context, and for each listed result, a sequence of functions pertinent to such result, input parameters to and outputs from each function, and metadata.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein an information element in one of the contexts has a relation to an information element present in another of the contexts.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input is via a graphical user interface by an end user.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the method is implemented in software running on a server and the input is via a web browser application running on a computer in communication with the server over a network.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the rules are modifiable so as to modify behavior of the context.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the rules are modifiable by the user so as to modify behavior of the context.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the context changes dynamically in response to the presence of an information element.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input specifying a relationship includes specifying, for a result, a process by which the result is obtained and at least some of the result itself {support is in FIG. 28 and accompanying explanation}.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input specifying a relationship includes specifying, for a function, a workflow by which data is made available to the function.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input specifying a relationship includes specifying, for a data item, a set of relationships among attributes associated with the data item.

18. A method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the schema table and the relation table includes a provision for storing user-definable annotation of entries therein.

19. A method according to claim 3, wherein the function table includes a provision for storing user-definable annotation of entries therein.

20. A method according to claim 3, wherein the result table includes a provision for storing user-definable annotation of entries therein.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the context includes information content that is dynamic.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the project includes integration of information from a plurality of information sources, so that information elements from the information sources may be integrated in the context dynamically.

23. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the projects is associated with another party, the method further comprising:

for an active one of the projects, making therein available, to the user, information elements from at least one user-specified other project, so that information elements from a plurality of projects may be dynamically integrated by the user and so that the user may collaborate with the other party.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the computational environment is multi-user, so that a plurality of users may collaborate with respect to a project, resulting in a collaboration in which the information elements may be integrated dynamically without a pre-conceived design.

25. A method according to claim 1, further comprising tracking changes resulting from user interaction with a project and identifying such changes by at least one of time and user and location and version.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein each end-user has a profile for each context in the system to enforce policies and procedures on user interaction with information elements and any other users.

27. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a user with administrative rights with respect to information elements including at least one of backup/restore, performance optimization, grouping or organization, access authorization, and annotation.

28. A system for dynamically and contextually managing information in an electronic computational environment, the system comprising:

with respect to a desired project, the project providing a corresponding context for management of a plurality of information elements, each element being in at least one of a plurality of categories, each category being a member of a category set, the category set including data category, function category, and result category, wherein the context corresponds to at least one model that is defined by the elements and a set of rules governing permissible relationships among the elements, means for receiving an input to the environment specifying a relationship among at least two information elements;

an integrity engine, operating to enforce such rules, to verify dynamically correctness of the relationship specified; and

means, operative upon acceptance of the relation by the integrity engine, for storing automatically the relationship specified, so as to permit dynamic interaction with respect to the context.