Updating of electronic performance support systems by remote parties

• US 5,937,197 A
• Filed: 11/06/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Jury, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Application Number:
  US08/744,804
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 395/651, 395/652, 395/653, 395/200.5, 395/200.51, 395/200.52, 395/200.55, 395/200.59, 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 380/25
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An improved Electronic Performance Support System, EPSS. A simplified prior-art EPSS can be viewed as a computerized system which divides a process, such as designing, building, and marketing an automobile, into individual stages. At each stage, the EPSS makes various tools available to users and, in general, the tools available at one stage are different than those available at other stages. Under the invention, different users examine various tools, select those considered best, and submit the selected tools to a common repository. Other users of EPSS'"'"'s can withdraw and use the selected tools.

Claims

1. A method of providing a tool to an Electronic Performance Support System, EPSS, comprising the following steps:

a) posting, in a publicly available place, one or more preferences for at least one tool, not currently installed in a user'"'"'s EPSS, wherein said posting includes information about the user'"'"'s EPSS and wherein said posting includes information about the at least one tool the user would like to see developed for the user'"'"'s EPSS;

b) examining the publicly available place by a provider of tools for EPSS'"'"'s wherein the provider is capable of developing a new tool if there is not an existing tool which conforms to the information included in said user posting;

c) preparing a packet of data by the provider including the at least one tool to be installed by the user, wherein said packet of data includes information, based on the information posted about the user'"'"'s EPSS, to enable the at least one tool to be installed in the user'"'"'s EPSS; and

d) transmitting said packet of data to said user, which is effective to deliver to said user the at least one tool meeting said preferences.

2. For an Electronic Performance Support System, EPSS, operated by a user, a method of providing a tool to the EPSS, comprising the following steps:

a) posting, in a publicly available place, a list of requirements to run programs on the EPSS, wherein said posting includes one or more preferences for at least one tool, not currently installed in the user'"'"'s EPSS, which the user would like to see developed for the user'"'"'s EPSS;

b) examining the publicly available place by a provider of tools for EPSS'"'"'s wherein the provider is capable of developing a new tool if there is not an existing tool which conforms to the posted list of requirements;

c) preparing a packet of data by the provider including the at least one tool to be installed by the user, wherein said packet of data includes information, based on the posted list of requirements, to enable the at least one tool to be installed in the user'"'"'s EPSS;

d) transmitting, via said packet of data, the at least one tool to the user; and

e) using said packet of data, establishing an icon on a computer of the EPSS, by which the at least one tool may be launched.

3. Method according to claim 2, in which the publicly available place comprises a Web Page.

4. Method according to claim 2, in which the packet of data includes a graphical image of the icon.