METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROJECT INFORMATION

• US 20130054657A1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Joseph Coyne
• Original Assignee: Patrick Joseph Coyne
• Inventors: Coyne, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US13/594,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A method and system are provided for the transfer and/or aggregation of data and, in particular, integrating data used in managing a professional services practice. The invention preferably transfers and/or aggregates data relating to the identity of client and matters for whom professional services are being rendered with data relating to the work which data may be maintained in inconsistent, proprietary formats, comprising one or more of the following types of information: accounting; budgeting; docketing; time and billing; work product; word processing; records; project management; and/or other information relating to the professional services. The system of the present invention preferably comprises data storage and data processing means adapted to use the data in substantially portable and/or application-independent format, and/or and transfer or aggregate data between common, and/or proprietary data formats.

Claims

1. A computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising:

a. a computer network;

b. data processing means;

c. one or more distributed application means;

d. data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means;

e. data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means; and

f. project management database means cooperating with said one or more distributed application means for facilitating the communication of said data from said one or more distributed application means.

2. In the computer network of claim 1, said case management database means further comprising data in substantially portable format.

3. In the computer network of claim 1, said case management database means further comprising data in portable format

4. In the computer network of claim 1, said case management database means further comprising data in substantially application-independent format

5. In the computer network of claim 1, said case management database means further comprising data in application independent format

6. In the computer network of claim 1, said case management database means further comprising, data selected from the group consisting of:

docketing;

calendaring;

work processing;

document management;

accounting; and

time and billing.

7. In the computer network claim 6, said case management database means further comprising substantially portable data.

8. In the computer network of claim 6, said case management database means further comprising portable data.

9. In the computer network of claim 6, said case management database means further comprising substantially application independent data.

10. In the computer net of claim 6, said case management database means further comprising application independent data.

11. In a computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising a computer network, data processing means, one or more distributed application means, data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means, and data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means, the improvement comprising:

project management database means cooperating with said one or more distributed application means for facilitating the transfer of said data from said one or more distributed application means.

12. In the computer network of claim 11, said case management database means further comprising data in substantially portable format.

13. In the computer network of claim 11, said case management database means further comprising data in portable format

14. In the computer network of claim 11, said case management database means further comprising data in substantially application-independent format

15. In the computer network of claim 11, said case management database means further comprising data in application independent format

16. In the computer network of claim 11, said management database means further comprising data selected from the group consisting of:

docketing;

calendaring;

word processing;

document management;

accounting; and

time and billing.

17. In the computer network of claim 16, said case management database means further comprising substantially portable data.

18. In the computer network of claim 16, said case management database means further comprising portable data.

19. In the computer network of claim 16, said case management database means further comprising substantially application independent data.

20. In the computer network of claim 16, said case management database means further comprising application independent data.

21. In a computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising a computer network, data processing means, one or more distributed application means, data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means, and data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means, the improvement comprising:

a. a case management database;

b. said case management database communicating with said one or more application means;

c. said case management database means being adapted to receive data from said one or more application means;

d. said data being substantially portable data.

22. In the computer network of claim 21, said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate portable data from said one or more application means.

23. In the computer network of claim 21, said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate substantially application-independent data with said one or more application means.

24. In the computer network of claim 21, said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate application-independent data with said one of more distributed application means.

25. In the computer network of claim 21, further comprising, data selected from the group consisting of:

docketing;

calendaring;

word processing;

document management;

accounting; and

time and billing.

26. In the computer network of claim 25, said data further comprising substantially portable data.

27. In the computer network of claim 25, said data further comprising portable data.

28. In the computer network of claim 25, said data further comprising substantially application independent data.

29. In the computer network of claim 25, said data further comprising application independent data.

30. In the computer network of claim 25, said data further comprising docketing data.