Computer-based system and method for resource determination and management

• US 6,078,912 A
• Filed: 04/15/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Umansys Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TravelHost Inc.
• Inventors: Buerger, James E., Smith, Lee H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US09/060,834
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 705/1, 705/7, 705/8, 364/468.05
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

For use with a general-purpose computer, systems, methods, processors, computer-executable software and computer-readable media for determining and managing supporting resources pertaining to an object resource. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a resource database that, contains resource classes and (2) a supporting resource determination engine, cooperable with the database, that allows a user to determine which of the resource classes relate to the object resource, identify first level supporting resources pertaining to the object resource and identify second level supporting resources pertaining to each of the first level supporting resources.

Claims

1. For use with a general-purpose computer, a system for facilitating a determination and management of supporting resources pertaining to an object resource, comprising:

a resource database that contains resource classes; and

a supporting resource determination engine, cooperable with said database, that allows a user to determine which of said resource classes relate to said object resource, identify first level supporting resources pertaining to said object resource and identify second level supporting resources pertaining to each of said first level supporting resources, said supporting resource determination engine including;

an object resource selector that assists said user in selecting said object resource; and

a resource analyzer that leads said user through a sequential analysis of each of said resource classes relative to said object resource.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an origination/change policy driver, associated with said supporting resource determination engine, that prompts said user to initiate interaction with said resource database and said supporting resource determination engine.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said resource classes are selected from the group consisting of:

time,

facilities,

equipment,

supplies,

personnel,

funds,

systems, and

products/services.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting resource determination engine stores said first and second level supporting resources in said resource database.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said resource database contains context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said resource classes.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said resource database contains context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said first and second level supporting resources.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting resource determination engine comprises a resource planner that assembles a list of said first and second level supporting resources for said user.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting resource determination engine comprises a resource allocator that leads said user through an analysis of each of said first and second level supporting resources to determine therefrom an action vehicle and develop a time-ordered set of steps for said action vehicle.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said supporting resource determination engine comprises a resource implementor that manages implementation, evaluation and updating of actions and information relating to said object resource.

10. For use with a general-purpose computer, a method of facilitating a determination and management of supporting resources pertaining to an object resource, comprising:

storing resource classes in a resource database;

allowing a user to determine which of said resource classes relate to said object resource, said step of allowing including;

assisting said user in selecting said object resource; and

leading said user through a sequential analysis of each of said resource classes relative to said object resource;

identifying first level supporting resources pertaining to said object resource; and

identifying second level supporting resources pertaining to each of said first level supporting resources.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising prompting said user to initiate said interaction with said resource database.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said resource classes are selected from the group consisting of:

time,

facilities,

equipment,

supplies,

personnel,

funds,

systems, and

products/services.

13. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising storing said first and second level supporting resources in said resource database.

14. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising selectively recalling context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said resource classes from said resource database.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising selectively recalling context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said first and second level supporting resources from said resource database.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising assembling a list of said first and second level supporting resources for said user.

17. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising leading said user through an analysis of each of said first and second level supporting resources to determine therefrom an action vehicle and develop a time-ordered set of steps for said action vehicle.

18. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising managing implementation, evaluation and updating of actions and information relating to said object resource.

19. A processor for facilitating a determination and management of supporting resources pertaining to an object resource that executes instructions to:

store resource classes in a resource database;

allow a user to determine which of said resource classes relate to said object resource;

identify first level supporting resources pertaining to said object resource;

identify second level supporting resources pertaining to each of said first level supporting resources;

assist said user in selecting said object resource; and

lead said user through a sequential analysis of each of said resource classes relative to said object resource.

20. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions to prompt said user to initiate said interaction with said resource database.

21. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said resource classes are selected from the group consisting of:

time,

facilities,

equipment,

supplies,

personnel,

funds,

systems, and

products/services.

22. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions to store said first and second level supporting resources in said resource database.

23. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions selectively to recall context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said resource classes from said resource database.

24. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions selectively to recall context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said first and second level supporting resources from said resource database.

25. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions to assemble a list of said first and second level supporting resources for said user.

26. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions to lead said user through an analysis of each of said first and second level supporting resources to determine therefrom an action vehicle and develop a time-ordered set of steps for said action vehicle.

27. The processor as recited in claim 19 wherein said processor further executes instructions to manage implementation, evaluation and updating of actions and information relating to said object resource.

28. For execution in a processor of a general-purpose computer, software for facilitating a determination and management of supporting resources pertaining to an object resource, that:

stores resource classes in a resource database;

allows a user to determine which of said resource classes relate to said object resource;

identifies first level supporting resources pertaining to said object resource;

identifies second level supporting resources pertaining to each of said first level supporting resources;

assists said user in selecting said object resource; and

leads said user through a sequential analysis of each of said resource classes relative to said object resource.

29. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further prompts said user to initiate interaction with said resource database and said supporting resource determination engine.

30. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said resource classes are selected from the group consisting of:

time,

facilities,

equipment,

supplies,

personnel,

funds,

systems, and

products/services.

31. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further stores said first and second level supporting resources in said resource database.

32. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further selectively recalls context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said resource classes.

33. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further selectively recalls context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said first and second level supporting resources.

34. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further assembles a list of said first and second level supporting resources for said user.

35. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further leads said user through an analysis of each of said first and second level supporting resources to determine therefrom an action vehicle and develop a time-ordered set of steps for said action vehicle.

36. The software as recited in claim 28 wherein said software further manages implementation, evaluation and updating of actions and information relating to said object resource.

37. For use with a general-purpose computer, a storage medium readable by said computer and containing software that:

stores resource classes in a resource database;

allows a user to determine which of said resource classes relate to said object resource;

identifies first level supporting resources pertaining to said object resource;

identifies second level supporting resources pertaining to each of said first level supporting resources;

assists said user in selecting said object resource; and

leads said user through a sequential analysis of each of said resource classes relative to said object resource.

38. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further prompts said user to initiate interaction with said resource database and said supporting resource determination engine.

39. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said resource classes are selected from the group consisting of:

time,

facilities,

equipment,

supplies,

personnel,

funds,

systems, and

products/services.

40. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further stores said first and second level supporting resources in said resource database.

41. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further selectively recalls context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said resource classes.

42. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further selectively recalls context-sensitive help text corresponding to relationships between said first and second level supporting resources.

43. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further assembles a list of said first and second level supporting resources for said user.

44. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further leads said user through an analysis of each of said first and second level supporting resources to determine therefrom an action vehicle and develop a time-ordered set of steps for said action vehicle.

45. The medium as recited in claim 37 wherein said software further manages implementation, evaluation and updating of actions and information relating to said object resource.