Providing collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain environment

• US 6,606,744 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Mikurak, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US09/444,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168, 717/170, 717/171, 717/174, 717/177, 717/172, 717/102, 717/176, 717/178, 705/1, 705/21, 705/26, 705/28, 709/201, 709/217, 709/227
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/102 applying security measure for e-commerce
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/765 intermediate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5191 interacting with the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0062 Provisions for network management

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain environment. According to an embodiment of the invention, telephone calls, data and other multimedia information are routed through a network system which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. The system includes integrated Internet Protocol (IP) telephony services allowing a user of a web application to communicate in an audio fashion in-band without having to pick up another telephone. Users can click a button and go to a call center through the network using IP telephony. The system invokes an IP telephony session simultaneously with the data session, and uses an active directory lookup whenever a user uses the system. Users include service providers and manufacturers utilizing the network-based supply chain environment.

Claims

1. A method for collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain, comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting data over a network during a data session for managing an installation;

b) allowing communication, in an audio fashion in-band, over the network during the data session between at least one service provider and at least one manufacturer;

c) routing the communication over the network via a user action; and

d) limiting the communication over the network based on a user profile.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data session is initiated by a web browser.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers of the at least one service provider and the at least one manufacturer.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user profile is included on a rules database.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rules database having the user profile.

8. A system for collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain, comprising:

a) logic that transmits data over a network during a data session for managing an installation;

b) logic that allows communication, in an audio fashion in-band, over the network during the data session between at least one service provider and at least one manufacturer;

c) logic that routes the communication over the network via a user action; and

d) logic that limits the communication over the network based on a user profile.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a web browser that initiates the data session.

10. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

12. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for collaborative installation management in a network-based supply chain, comprising:

a) a code segment that transmits data over a network during a data session for managing an installation;

b) a code segment that allows communication, in an audio fashion in-band, over the network during the data session between at least one service provider and at least one manufacturer;

c) a code segment that routs the communication over the network via a user action; and

d) a code segment that limits the communication over the network based on a user profile.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers of the at least one service provider and the at least one manufacturer.

14. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the data session is initiated by a web browser.

15. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the user action is a selection of a button on a user interface by a user.

16. A computer program as recited in claim 15, wherein the user interface includes a directory of information.

17. A computer program as recited in claim 16, wherein the directory includes telephone numbers of the at least one service provider and the at least one manufacturer.

18. A computer program as recited in claim 13, wherein the user profile is included on a rules database.