Trackpoint-based computer-implemented systems and methods for facilitating collaborative project development and communication

• US 6,370,562 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NexPrise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NexPrise, Inc.
• Inventors: Bouchard, Eugene E., Sriram, Venkat R., Page, John D., Stanelle, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/766,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/204, 709/206, 709/224, 709/227, 709/313, 709/329, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for facilitating collaboration and communication among project participants working collaboratively on a project using a computer network. The method includes providing a plurality of trackpoints that are created by at least two of the project participants. Each of the plurality of trackpoints includes metadata descriptive of the each of the plurality of trackpoints. Each of the plurality of trackpoints is configured to store data within its content. The method also includes providing indices of trackpoints based on searchable keys. Additionally, the method includes providing a plurality of tools. The plurality of tools include at least one of a search tool, a notification tool, and a briefing book page, the search tool being configured to search the indices for at least one trackpoint of the plurality of trackpoints that satisfies search criteria, the notification tool being configured to notify a project participant that is authorized to use the notification tool when notification criteria are satisfied, and the briefing book page represents a data presentation mechanism that is configured to receive briefing book data from at least two of the plurality of trackpoints.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating collaboration and communication among project participants working collaboratively on a project, said computer-implemented method being implemented on a computer network, comprising:

providing a plurality of trackpoints, said plurality of trackpoints being viewable and editable by at least two of said project participants, said each of said plurality of trackpoints being configured to store data within its content, wherein said content includes at least one attribute field;

allowing said at least two of said project participants to modify attributes in said at least one attribute field; and

providing a plurality of tools, said plurality of tools including at least one of a search tool, a notification tool, and a briefing book page, said notification tool being configured to notify a project participant that is authorized to use said notification tool when notification criteria are satisfied, and said briefing book page represents a data presentation mechanism that is configured to receive briefing book data from at least two of said plurality of trackpoints.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein, each of said plurality of trackpoints includes metadata descriptive of said each of said plurality of trackpoints and wherein said search criteria includes at least one field of said metadata.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising using data in a trackpoint from another trackpoint.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said attribute field is associated with an attribute content, said attribute content being entered by one of said two of said project participants.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said attribute content is obtained by a sensor that is configured to obtain data from a source other than said plurality of trackpoints.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said attribute content is obtained by a sensor that is configured to obtain data from a trackpoint other than the trackpoint containing said sensor, and wherein two trackpoints may obtain data from the same sensor.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing a history of values in the at least one attribute field.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing an activator code attached to the at least one attribute field.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a data sensor, wherein at least two trackpoints may access data from the data sensor.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said briefing book further comprises generating a graph from the data from said at least two trackpoints.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of security levels, allowing a user to have access to some of the plurality of trackpoints and prevent said user from having access to others of the plurality of trackpoints.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said briefing book is further configured to receive briefing book data from other briefing books.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a plurality of tools further provides a drill down tool, said drill down tool being configured to drill down on a selected item in a briefing book to access a briefing book or trackpoint from which the selected item originated.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the step of providing a plurality of tools further provides an automatic annotation field, wherein said automatic annotation field automatically passes up to any trackpoint or briefing book that references a trackpoint or briefing book containing the automatic annotation field.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the briefing book page is a tool that further provides a mechanism that plots data from a plurality of trackpoints.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing a history of transactions in the at least one attribute field.

7. A computer-implemented method for facilitating collaboration and communication among project participants working collaboratively on a project, said computer-implemented method being implemented on a computer network having a server computer and a client computer, comprising:

providing a plurality of trackpoints, said plurality of trackpoints being viewable and modifiable by at least two of said project participants and stored in a database accessible by said server computer;

providing a plurality of security levels, allowing a user to have access to some of the plurality of trackpoints and prevent said user from having access to others of the plurality of trackpoints; and

providing a plurality of tools, said plurality of tools being accessible by said client computer, said plurality of tools including at least one of a search tool, a notification tool, and a briefing book page, said search tool being configured to search for at least one trackpoint of said plurality of trackpoints that satisfies search criteria, said notification tool being configured to notify a project participant that is authorized to use said notification tool when notification criteria are satisfied, and said briefing book page represents a data presentation mechanism that is configured to receive briefing book data from at least two of said plurality of trackpoints.

8. A computer-implemented arrangement for facilitating collaboration and communication among project participants working collaboratively on a project, said computer-implemented arrangement being implemented on a computer network having a server computer and a client computer, comprising:

a plurality of trackpoints, said plurality of trackpoints being modifiable and viewable by at least two of said project participants and stored in a database accessible by said server computer; and

a plurality of computer-implemented tools, said plurality of computer-implemented tools being accessible by said client computer, said plurality of computer-implemented tools including at least one of a search tool, a notification tool, and a briefing book page, said search tool being configured to search for at least one trackpoint of said plurality of trackpoints that satisfies search criteria, said notification tool being configured to notify a project participant that is authorized to use said notification tool when notification criteria are satisfied, and said briefing book page represents a data presentation mechanism that is configured to receive briefing book data from at least two of said plurality of trackpoints, wherein said briefing book is further configured to receive briefing book data from other briefing books and to generate a graph of said briefing book data.

9. A computer readable medium containing instructions for facilitating collaboration and communication among project participants working collaboratively on a project using a computer network having a server computer and a client computer, said instructions comprising:

instructions for creating a plurality of trackpoints, said plurality of trackpoints being viewable and modifiable by at least two of said project participants and stored in a database accessible by said server computer; and

instructions for implementing a plurality of tools, said plurality of tools being accessible by said client computer, said plurality of tools including at least one of a search tool, a notification tool, and a briefing book page, said search tool being configured to search for at least one trackpoint of said plurality of trackpoints that satisfies search criteria, said notification tool being configured to notify a project participant that is authorized to use said notification tool when notification criteria are satisfied, and said briefing book page represents a data presentation mechanism that is configured to receive briefing book data from at least two of said plurality of trackpoints, wherein said briefing book is further configured to receive briefing book data from other briefing books and to generate a graph of said briefing book data.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said briefing book is further configured to receive briefing book data from other briefing books.