Business information repository system and method of operation

• US 6,401,091 B1
• Filed: 12/05/1995
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Butler, Kathy Elaine, Sergent, George Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US08/567,447
• Time in Patent Office: 2,373 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/603, 395/601, 395/602, 395/442, 395/157, 395/500, 395/800, 305/605, 364/401, 364/468, 364/402, 364/419.19, 354/401, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/907 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A business information repository system (10) is provided that is coupled to a distributed network (12). The business information repository system (10) includes a user interface that is coupled to a control system (28). The control system (28) accesses a business information database (65) using a search engine (26). The business information database (65) includes business information including glossaries, graphics, resumes, skills inventories, citations, proposals, customer information and internal corporate profiles, vendor information, standard solutions, and forecasted deal information. Utility functions (56) are provided including a data access manager (32), a forecasting engine (58), a graphics utility (60) and a population engine (62).

Claims

1. A business information repository system accessible by a user, comprising:

a control system coupled to a user interface accessible to the user;

a search engine coupled to the control system and operable to access a business information database;

the business information database comprising a plurality of data repositories, each data repository storing a plurality of abstracts of information associated with activities of the business;

a data storage system operable to store raw business data associated with the plurality of abstracts of information stored in the data repositories of the business information database; and

a data access manager coupled to the control system and operable to access the data storage system and to retrieve the raw business data responsive to requests from the user.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a graphics utility operable to receive data associated with a computer graphic image and to process the data to create a compressed bit map of the computer graphic image, a graphics database within the business information database operable to store the compressed bit map of the computer graphic image.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a population engine accessible to selected users of the system and operable to parse raw business information data and suggest key words to be used to access abstracts of the raw business information data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control system comprises a forecasting manager and wherein the business information database comprises a forecasted deal information database, the system further comprising a forecasting engine coupled to the forecasting manager, the forecasting engine and the forecasting manager operable to access the forecasted deal information database and to supply graphical representations of future business proposal activity based on the information stored in the forecasted deal information database.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the graphical representations of future business activity comprises a Gantt chart illustrating in a time line fashion the activities required to prepare a future proposal and the estimated length of time required for each of the activities identified.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the search engine comprises a plurality of key word tables and wherein:

the user accessing the search engine is allowed to identify search requests using key words linked by Boolean operators.

7. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a security manager operable to insure that only authorized users have access to the control system.

16. The business information repository system of claim 1, wherein one of the data repositories of the business information database comprises a resume database operable to store a plurality of textual resumes.

17. The business information repository system of claim 1, wherein one of the data repositories of the business information database comprises a skills inventory database operable to store a plurality of personnel skills.

18. The business information repository system of claim 1, wherein one of the data repositories of the business information database comprises a proposals database operable to store a plurality of abstracts of past proposals.

8. A business information repository system accessible by a user, comprising:

a control system coupled to a user interface accessible to the user;

a search engine coupled to the control system and operable to access a business information database;

the business information database storing abstracts of information associated with activities of the business;

a data storage system operable to store raw business information associated with the abstracts of business information stored in the business information database;

a data access manager coupled to the control system and operable to access the data storage system and to retrieve the raw business data responsive to requests from the user;

a graphics utility operable to receive data associated with a computer graphic image and to process the data to create a compressed bit map of the computer graphic image, a graphics database within the business information database operable to store the compressed bit map of the computer graphic image;

a population engine accessible to selected users of the system and operable to parse raw business information and suggest key words to be used to access abstracts of the raw business information;

a forecasted deal information database within the business information database; and

a forecasting engine coupled to a forecasting manager, the forecasting engine and the forecasting manager operable to access the forecasted deal information database and to supply graphical representations of future business proposal activity based on the information stored in the forecasted deal information database.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the graphical representations of future business activity comprise a Gantt chart illustrating in a time line fashion the activities required to prepare a future proposal and the length of time required for each of the activities identified.

10. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a search engine comprising a plurality of key word tables and wherein the user accessing the search engine is allowed to identify search requests using key words linked by Boolean operators.

11. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a security manager operable to insure that only authorized users have access to the control system.

13. The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of:

accessing a forecasted deal information database within the business information database;

supplying a forecasting engine with parametric limitations;

calculating in the forecasting engine a forecasted calendar for future business proposal activity;

displaying a Gantt chart illustrating the tasks required to prepare a future business proposal and the time required for each task; and

receiving changes from a user and altering the displayed Gantt chart responsive to the changes received.

12. A method of processing business information comprising the steps of:

storing key word tables and accessing the key word tables through a search engine;

parsing raw business information associated with past business activities to create abstracts of the raw business information;

storing the abstracts of the business information in a business information database;

linking the abstracts of the business information to the key word tables within the search engine;

accessing the business information database using the search engine to retrieve abstracts of past business activity; and

retrieving the raw business information using a data access manager to access data storage facilities storing the raw business information.

14. A population engine accessible to selected users and operable to parse raw business information data and suggest key words to be used to access abstracts of the raw business information data.

15. A control system for a business information repository system having a forecasted deal information database, the control system comprising a forecasting manager and a forecasting engine coupled to the forecasting manager, the forecasting engine and the forecasting manager operable to access the forecasted deal information database and to supply graphical representations of future business proposal activity based on the information stored in the forecasted deal information database.