Issues database system and method

• US 20070118531A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Fowler, William, Gatton, Phil
• Application Number:
  US11/283,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118531A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A graphical interface provides multi-faceted distributed access to project information stored in one or more databases. A plurality of users having different types of functions can access data related to their respective function to the exclusion of information for the same project related to other functions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one database;

first software that provides pluralities of function based, interactive graphical screens;

second software that receives queries from the first software and responsive thereto at least retrieves function based information from the at least one database and couples retrieved information through a respective interface to a user.

2. A system as in claim 1 where the second software includes additional software, responsive to function based information from the first software to store at least portions thereof in at least one database.

3. A system as in claim 2 where the function based screens are selected from a class which includes at least a marketing function;

a development management function;

a developer function;

a test management function;

a tester function, and a technical support function.

4. A system as in claim 1 where a user specifies a desired type of function.

5. A system as in claim 3 where a user specifies a desired type of function from the class.

6. A system as in claim 1 where the database includes project development information relative to a plurality of predetermined development functions.

7. A system as in claim 6 which includes third software for automatically determining at least one metric based on the project development information in the database.

8. A system as in claim 7 where the at least one metric is selected from a class which includes at least development time distribution;

defect leakage, productivity, test efficiency, design changes, and test iterations.

9. A system as in claim 1 where the database comprises a relational database.

10. A system as in claim 9 which includes third software that selects a particular plurality of graphical screens for display in accordance with a specified function.

11. A system comprising:

a plurality of interface devices;

at least one database;

a network coupling the devices to the database;

interface software that presents a visual display at a selected device, the display providing a plurality of selectable indicia that specify a plurality of respective functions and additional software that at least presents function related information from the database on the selected device, to the exclusion of non-function related information in the database, in accordance with the selected function.

12. A system as in claim 11 where the additional software receives information entered on the selected device related to the selected function.

13. A system as in claim 11 which includes additional software for automatically analyzing data stored in the database in accordance with predetermined criteria.

14. A system as in claim 13 where the database comprises a relational database and the additional software analyses data therein in accordance with a selected metric pertaining to at least one of marketing, engineering and testing functions.

15. A method comprising:

providing a database of information for an activity that relates to a plurality of different types of functions associated with that activity;

specifying a least two different pluralities of function based graphically displayable screens;

specifying a type of function thereby specifying one of the members of the plurality;

displaying screens from at least one member of the specified plurality;

identifying function related information via a displayed screen;

retrieving the identified function related information from the multi-functional information the multi-functional information in the database exclusive of other information in the database.

16. A method as in claim 15 where the providing includes providing a relational database which includes the information.

17. A method as in claim 15 where the activity comprises product development and the information includes marketing, development and test information relative to a selected product development, and including:

providing function related information pertaining to open development issues.

18. A method as in claim 17 which includes only providing information pertaining to open development issues that correspond to a specified function.

19. A method as in claim 18 which includes specifying a function by a log-on process.

20. A method as in claim 18 which includes automatically analyzing information in the database in accordance with one or more predetermined metrics.