System for managing multiple projects of similar type using dynamically updated global database

• US 5,826,252 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Smith, Michael Adrian, Isaacs, James Russell, Mayo, Paul Lawrence, Schwee, Susan Mae, Cooley, Walter Hening Jr., Lownes, Gregory Douglas, Borst, George, Wolters, Richard Arthur Jr., Leighty, Craig Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US08/671,999
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/7, 707/10, 707/104, 707/2, 707/6, 707/102, 705/1, 705/8, 705/7, 706/45
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system for managing multiple projects of a similar type has a global project management database for storing data for all participating projects which is dynamically updated with best current data representing best current practices across all participating projects in the system. Localized computer terminals are operated at each local site with a common project management program and data imported from the global project management database. Periodically, the local terminals export data to the global project management database which are evaluated to determine any new best current practices across all participating projects and to update the global project management database with the new best current practices. Upon periodically importing data from the global project management database, each localized computer terminal is updated with the new best current practices across all participating projects.

Claims

1. A system for managing multiple projects of a similar type comprising:

(a) a global project management database for storing data for all projects participating in said system, said database being maintained and updated dynamically with best current data representing best current practices across all participating projects in said system;

(b) a plurality of localized computer terminals, each having a microprocessor for executing a project management program for a participating project associated with each said terminal at a respective local site and a memory for storing and retrieving data obtained from said global project management database for use in the project management program at the respective local site;

(c) data access means operative between said global project management database and each one of the localized computer terminals for periodically importing data from said global project management database, including best current data across all projects, for use in the participating projects, and for periodically exporting data from the participating projects to said global project management database; and

(d) updating means operative in conjunction with said global project management database for allowing evaluation of said data periodically exported from the localized computer terminals of the participating projects, determining whether any such data constitutes best current practices across all participating projects, and updating the best current data of said global project management database with data determined to constitute new best current practices across all participating projects, said new best current practices data then being imported by the localized computer terminals from said global project management database,

wherein said updating means and said data access means are operative to update the localized computer terminals with the new best current practices data whenever a current version of data maintained at a localized computer terminal is outdated as compared to the new best current practices data available from said global project management database,

whereby said global project management database is updated dynamically with best current data representing new best current practices across all participating projects of said system, and the localized computer terminals import and use the new best current practices at the respective participating projects.

2. The system as described in claim 1, wherein said data access means comprises means for importing and exporting data by periodic exchange of data stored on data storage media between said localized computer terminals and said global project management database.

3. The system as described in claim 1, wherein said data access means comprises a network connecting each of said localized computer terminals with said global project management database for importing and exporting data periodically therebetween.

4. The system as described in claim 1, wherein said project management program used by the localized computer terminals includes means for reporting lessons learned or best current practices developed at a participating project to said global project management database.

5. The system as described in claim 1, wherein the project management program used by the localized computer terminals is the same as that maintained with the global project management database, and a uniform directory and file structure is used by the common project management program.

6. A system for managing multiple projects of a similar type comprising:

(a) a global project management database for storing data for all projects participating in said system, said database being maintained and updated dynamically with best current data representing best current practices across all participating projects in said system;

(b) a plurality of localized computer terminals, each having a microprocessor for executing a project management program for a participating project associated with each said terminal at a respective local site and a memory for storing and retrieving data obtained from said global project management database for use in the project management program at the respective local site;

(c) data access means operative between said global project management database and each one of the localized computer terminals for periodically importing data from said global project management database, including best current data across all projects, for use in the participating projects, and for periodically exporting data from the participating projects to said global project management database; and

(d) updating means operative in conjunction with said global project management database for allowing evaluation of said data periodically exported from the localized computer terminals of the participating projects, determining whether any such data constitutes best current practices across all participating projects, and updating the best current data of said global project management database with data determined to constitute new best current practices across all participating projects, said new best current practices then being imported by the localized computer terminals from said global project management database,

whereby said global project management database is updated dynamically with best current data representing new best current practices across all Participating projects of said system, and the localized computer terminals import and use the new best current practices at the respective participating projects, and

wherein the project management program includes means for using the data obtained from said global project management database in a Project Planning Mode, then transferring the data from the Project Planning Mode for use in a Project Performance Mode.

7. A system for managing multiple projects of a similar type comprising:

(a) a global project management database for storing data for all projects participating in said system, said database being maintained and updated dynamically with best current data representing best current practices across all participating projects in said system;

(b) a plurality of localized computer terminals, each having a microprocessor for executing a project management program for a participating project associated with each said terminal at a respective local site and a memory for storing and retrieving data obtained from said global project management database for use in the project management program at the respective local site;

(c) data access means operative between said global project management database and each one of the localized computer terminals for periodically importing data from said global project management database, including best current data across all projects, for use in the participating projects, and for periodically exporting data from the participating projects to said global project management database; and

(d) updating means operative in conjunction with said global project management database for allowing evaluation of said data periodically exported from the localized computer terminals of the participating projects, determining whether any such data constitutes best current practices across all participating projects, and updating the best current data of said global project management database with data determined to constitute new best current practices across all participating projects, said new best current practices then being imported by the localized computer terminals from said global project management database,

whereby said global project management database is updated dynamically with best current data representing new best current practices across all participating projects of said system, and the localized computer terminals import and use the new best current practices at the respective participating projects, and

wherein said data access means includes means for performing revision control by comparing an existing revision number of the project management program at a localized computer terminal with a revision number assigned to best current data currently imported from the global project management database.

8. The system as described in claim 7, wherein said means for performing revision control includes Combine means for combining new best current data currently imported from the global project management database with best current data maintained at the localized computer terminal for a participating project.

9. The system as described in claim 8, wherein said Combine means includes means for creating a combined list of best current data items by first copying best current data items for the participating project to the combined list, then comparing each new best current data item imported from the global project management database for inclusion on the combined list.

10. The system as described in claim 9, wherein each best current data item imported from the global project management database has a unique identifying code so that it is distinguishable from best current data items that are entered at the localized computer terminal as project specific items, and said Combine means operates to merge best current data items having unique identifying codes and copying best current data items not having unique identifying codes.

11. A method for managing multiple projects of a similar type comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining a global project management database for storing data for multiple participating projects, said database being maintained and updated dynamically with best current data representing best current practices across all participating projects;

(b) providing a plurality of localized computer terminals, each having a microprocessor for executing a project management program for a participating project associated with each said terminal at a respective local site and a memory for storing and retrieving data obtained from said global project management database for use in the project management program at the respective local site;

(c) periodically importing data to each one of the localized computer terminals from said global project management database, including best current data across all projects, for use in the participating projects, and periodically exporting data from the participating projects to said global project management database; and

(d) evaluating said data periodically exported from the localized computer terminals of the participating projects, determining whether any such data constitutes best current practices across all participating projects, and updating the best current data of said global project management database with data determined to constitute new best current practices across all participating projects, said new best current practices data then being imported by the localized computer terminals from said global project management database whenever a current version of data maintained at a localized computer terminal is outdated as compared to the new best current practices data available from said global project management database,

whereby said global project management database is updated dynamically with best current data representing new best current practices across all participating projects, and the localized computer terminals import and use the new best current practices at the respective participating projects.

12. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said importing and exporting of data is conducted by periodic exchange of data stored on data storage media between said localized computer terminals and said global project management database.

13. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said importing and exporting of data is conducted periodically by connection to a network connecting each of said localized computer terminals with said global project management database.

14. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said periodic exporting data step includes reporting lessons learned or best current practices developed at a participating project to said global project management database.

15. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said program providing step includes providing the localized computer terminals with a common project management program having a uniform directory and file structure as maintained with the global project management database.

16. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said importing data step includes using the data obtained from said global project management database in a Project Planning Mode, then transferring the data from the Project Planning Mode for use in a Project Performance Mode.

17. The method as described in claim 11, wherein said importing data step includes performing revision control by comparing an existing revision number of the project management program at a localized computer terminal with a revision number assigned to best current data currently imported from the global project management database.

18. The method as described in claim 17, wherein said step of performing revision control includes combining new best current data currently imported from the global project management database with best current data maintained at the localized computer terminal for a participating project.

19. The method as described in claim 18, wherein said combining step includes creating a combined list of best current data items by first copying best current data items for the participating project to the combined list, then comparing each new best current data item imported from the global project management database for inclusion on the combined list.

20. The method as described in claim 19, wherein importing data step includes assignment of a unique identifying code to each best current data item imported from the global project management database so that it is distinguishable from best current data items that are entered at the localized computer terminal as project specific items, and merging together best current data items having unique identifying codes and copying best current data items not having said unique identifying codes.