Method and apparatus for a commercial network system designed to facilitate, manage and support the implementation and integration of technology systems

• US 6,253,206 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inroads Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inroads Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Marshall, Scott A., Jeter, Lorin E., Burton, Tom C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US09/378,305
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/102, 707/104, 707/100, 707/2, 707/1, 705/9, 700/83, 370/408
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system in which the implementation and integration of technology systems is facilitated, managed and supported regardless of the type of technology system being implemented. An implementation plan and strategy is developed that will ensure the highest probability of success and will be time and cost effective. The creation of implementation deliverables such as project schedules and plans is streamlined. Users are able to access, communicate with and share implementation and integration strategies with each other. An “implementation template” is created based upon specific implementation requirements. A common framework, marketplace and community is provided where businesses, vendors, consultants and other experts can communicate and share implementation information data in a useful and workable manner. A mechanism is provided for pricing and billing of implementation templates and tools. Expert analysis is provided surrounding a specific technology system implementation using historical “like kind” implementation data and knowledge bases.

Claims

1. A system to enable the implementation and integration of technology systems comprising:

a) a control unit subsystem for coupling to a network and adapted to i) search for and analyze information, ii) create implementation data capsules, and extract objects from said implementation data capsules;

b) an implementation management subsystem for coupling to said network and adapted to i) collect and manage implementation data, ii) create an optimal implementation plan;

c) an end user interface subsystem for coupling to said network and adapted to i) receive end user requests for processing to be performed by said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, ii) pass said requests to said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem through said network, and iii) receive results of said requests from said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem;

d) an administration interface subsystem for coupling to said network and adapted to i) receive administrative user requests for processing to be performed by said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, ii) pass said requests to said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem through said network, and iii) receive results of said requests from said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem.

2. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said implementation data capsules are each a digital package which comprises:

a) an implementation objects database which stores implementation objects;

b) an implementation database which stores an index of implementations represented in said implementation management subsystem;

c) control files which store index information and an inventory for the implementation objects and data contained in said digital package; and

d) implementation deliverables storage which store a subset of said implementation objects and implementation data available in said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem.

3. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said control unit subsystem comprises:

a) a network interface adapted to act as a gateway for coupling said control unit subsystem to said network;

b) an analysis processor adapted to provide the capability to search for and analyze information in said data storage device and return the information to an end user or administrator;

c) an implementation data capsule processor adapted to create said implementation data capsules and extract objects contained within the capsules;

d) a pricing processor adapted to calculate a price for said implementation data capsules;

e) a billing processor adapted to enable payments to be made for accessing said implementation data capsules;

f) a data storage device for storing a set of databases utilized by said analysis, implementation, pricing and billing processors.

4. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said implementation management subsystem comprises:

a) a network interface adapted to act as a gateway for coupling said implementation management subsystem to said network;

b) an analysis processor adapted to provide the capability to search for and analyze information in said data storage device and return the information to an end user or administrator;

c) an implementation data capsule processor adapted to create said implementation data capsules and extract objects contained within the capsules;

d) an implementation deliverable processor adapted to create documents and output files based on information stored in said data storage device;

e) an implementation planning processor adapted to create an optimal implementation plan using the objects stored in said data storage device;

f) a data storage device for storing a set of databases utilized by said analysis processor, said implementation data capsule processor, said implementation deliverable processor, and said implementation planning processor.

5. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said end user interface subsystem comprises a personal computer or workstation including a network interface, browser software, information storage and an audit database.

6. The system defined by claim 1 wherein said administration interface subsystem comprises a personal computer or workstation including a network interface, browser software information storage and an audit database.

7. The system defined by claim 3 wherein said data storage device comprises an admin database, an end user database, an implementation objects database, an implementation database, a billing database, an audit database and an information data capsule storage facility.

8. The system defined by claim 4 wherein said data storage device comprises an admin database, an end user database, an implementation objects database, an implementation database, a billing database, an audit database and an information data capsule storage facility.

9. A method to enable the implementation and integration of technology systems comprising the steps of:

a) using a control unit subsystem to i) search for and analyze information, ii) create implementation data capsules, and iii) extract objects from said implementation data capsules;

b) using an implementation management subsystem to i) collect and manage implementation data, ii) create an optimal implementation plan;

c) using an end user interface subsystem to i) receive end user requests for processing to be performed by said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, ii) pass said requests to said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, and iii) receive results of said requests from said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem;

d) using an administration interface subsystem to i) receive administrative user requests for processing to be performed by said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, ii) pass said requests to said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem, and iii) receive results of said requests from said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem.

10. The method defined by claim 9 wherein said implementation data capsules are each created as a digital package by the steps of:

a) storing implementation objects in an implementation objects database within said digital package;

b) storing an index of implementations represented in said implementation management subsystem in an implementation database within said digital package;

c) storing index information and an inventory for the implementation objects and data in control files contained in said digital package within said digital package; and

d) storing a subset of implementation objects and implementation data available in said control unit subsystem and said implementation management subsystem in an implementation deliverables storage within said digital package.