System and Method for Program Management Using Systems Engineering Management Model

• US 20100324957A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Sumner, Steven E.
• Application Number:
  US12/818,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324957A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities

Abstract

The present invention solves the problems associated with traditional systems engineering process using a Systems Engineering Management Model (SEMM) which takes in to consideration all of the systems engineering capabilities critical to success (technical solution, risk, requirements, IPTs and interfaces, etc.) and provides for these capabilities in a timely and relevant manner using a single user interface to promote informed program execution. The SEMM automates the data manipulation processes and provides a single user interface and focal point to facilitate timely and informed decision-making. Such contemporaneous insight can help focus activities and resources to prioritize current issues, address critical ones, and provide indications of impending risks. Hence, the marginal utility of all program control activities is maximized.

Claims

1. A device for use with a first client, a second client and a display, the first client being operable to perform a first function and to output first functional data based on a performance of the first function, the second client being operable to perform a second function and to output second functional data based on a performance of the second function, the display being operable to display an image, said device comprising:

a receiver portion operable to receive the first functional data and the second functional data;

a graphical user interface portion having a display generator portion, said graphical user interface portion being operable to generate display data, said display generator portion being operable to create a first icon and a second icon; and

an entity operator portion having a nowcasting portion, a forecasting portion, a simulating portion, a domain operator portion and a functional operator portion, said entity operator portion being operable to create a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, said nowcasting portion being operable to generate current state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a current state of the first client and a current state of the second client, said forecasting portion being operable to generate future state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a future state of the first client and a future state of the second client, said simulating portion being operable to generate simulated data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a simulated state of the first client and a simulated state of the second client,

wherein the display data is based on at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein the first icon and the second icon are based on the first entity and the second entity, respectively,

wherein said entity operator portion is further operable to change at least one of the first entity and the second entity based on a change in at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein said entity operator portion is further operable to link the first entity and the second entity, such that a change in the first entity will generate a change in the second entity, and

wherein said display generator portion is operable to change at least one of the first icon or the second icon based on a change in at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said entity operator portion is further operable to generate a hierarchy of the first entity and the second entity.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said graphical user interface portion is operable to generate a graphical representation of the hierarchy.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said entity operator portion is further operable to generate a second hierarchy not to include one of the first entity and the second entity.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said graphical user interface portion is further operable to generate a graphical representation of the second hierarchy.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a transmitter portion operable to transmit data corresponding to the hierarchy to one of the first client and the second client.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said transmitter portion is further operable to transmit the data corresponding to the hierarchy to the first client and to transmit data corresponding to the second hierarchy to the second client.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said transmitter portion is further operable to transmit a request to the first client and the second client for the first functional data and the second functional data.

9. A method of using a device with a first client, a second client and a display, the first client being operable to perform a first function and to output first functional data based on a performance of the first function, the second client being operable to perform a second function and to output second functional data based on a performance of the second function, the display being operable to display an image, said method comprising:

receiving, via a receiver, the first functional data and the second functional data;

generating, via a graphical user interface portion having a display generator portion, display data;

creating, via the display generator portion, a first icon and a second icon;

creating, via an entity operator portion having a nowcasting portion, a forecasting portion, a simulating portion, a domain operator portion and a functional operator portion, a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively;

generating, via the nowcasting portion, current state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a current state of the first client and a current state of the second client;

generating, via the forecasting portion, future state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a future state of the first client and a future state of the second client;

generating, via the simulating portion, simulated data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a simulated state of the first client and a simulated state of the second client,

wherein the display data is based on at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein the first icon and the second icon are based on the first entity and the second entity, respectively,

wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, comprises changing at least one of the first entity and the second entity based on a change in at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, further comprises linking the first entity and the second entity, such that a change in the first entity will generate a change in the second entity, and

wherein said creating a first icon and a second icon comprises changing at least one of the first icon or the second icon based on a change in at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, further comprises generating a hierarchy of the first entity and the second entity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said generating display data comprises generating a graphical representation of the hierarchy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, further comprises generating a second hierarchy not to include one of the first entity and the second entity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said generating display data further comprises generating a graphical representation of the second hierarchy.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting, via a transmitter, data corresponding to the hierarchy to one of the first client and the second client.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said transmitting data corresponding to the hierarchy to one of the first client and the second client comprises:

transmitting the data corresponding to the hierarchy to the first client; and

transmitting data corresponding to the second hierarchy to the second client.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, via the transmitter, a request to the first client and the second client for the first functional data and the second functional data.

17. A device-readable media having device-readable instructions stored thereon, the device-readable instructions being capable of being read by a device to be used with a first client, a second client and a display, the first client being operable to perform a first function and to output first functional data based on a performance of the first function, the second client being operable to perform a second function and to output second functional data based on a performance of the second function, the display being operable to display an image, the device-readable instructions being capable of instructing the device to perform the method comprising:

receiving, via a receiver, the first functional data and the second functional data;

generating, via a graphical user interface portion having a display generator portion, display data;

creating, via the display generator portion, a first icon and a second icon;

creating, via an entity operator portion having a nowcasting portion, a forecasting portion, a simulating portion, a domain operator portion and a functional operator portion, a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively;

generating, via the nowcasting portion, current state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a current state of the first client and a current state of the second client;

generating, via the forecasting portion, future state data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a future state of the first client and a future state of the second client;

generating, via the simulating portion, simulated data based on the first functional data and the second functional data and related to a simulated state of the first client and a simulated state of the second client,

wherein the display data is based on at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein the first icon and the second icon are based on the first entity and the second entity, respectively,

wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, comprises changing at least one of the first entity and the second entity based on a change in at least one of the current state data, the future state data and the simulated data,

wherein said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, further comprises linking the first entity and the second entity, such that a change in the first entity will generate a change in the second entity, and

wherein said creating a first icon and a second icon comprises changing at least one of the first icon or the second icon based on a change in at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

18. The device-readable media of claim 17, the device-readable instructions being capable of instructing the device to perform said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, so as to further comprise generating a hierarchy of the first entity and the second entity.

19. The device-readable media of claim 18, the device-readable instructions being capable of instructing the device to perform said generating display data so as to comprise generating a graphical representation of the hierarchy.

20. The device-readable media of claim 19, the device-readable instructions being capable of instructing the device to perform said creating a first entity and a second entity based on the first function and the second function, respectively, so as to further comprise generating a second hierarchy not to include one of the first entity and the second entity.