Business alliance identification in a web architecture framework

• US 6,721,713 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Andersen Consulting LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Barrese, James J., Guheen, Michael F., Mitchell, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/320,816
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/39, 707/503, 709/223, 717/151
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework. First, alliances are identified among a plurality of business entities in terms of components of a current network framework. Next, a pictorial representation is displayed of the current network framework and the components. The alliances are then conveyed by indicia coding the components of the current network framework in which the alliances exist.

Claims

1. A system of identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework comprising:

(a) device for identifying at least one alliance among a plurality of business entities in terms of components of a current network framework;

(b) device for displaying a pictorial representation of the current network framework and the components; and

(c) device for conveying the at least one alliance by indicia coding the components of the current network framework in which the at least one alliance exists.

2. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework comprising:

(a) a code segment that identifies at least one alliance among a plurality of business entities in terms of components of a current network framework;

(b) a code segment that displays a pictorial representation of the current network framework and the components; and

(c) a code segment that conveys the at least one alliance by indicia coding the components of the current network framework in which the at least one alliance exists.

3. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one alliance that is conveyed relates to features of the components of the current network framework.

4. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 3, wherein the features are listed in terms of the components to which the features relate.

5. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 4, wherein the features are indicia coded to convey the at least one alliance.

6. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein the components of the current network framework are selected from the group of components including security services, network services, web services, client services, integration capabilities, data services, directory services, management services, operation services, and developer services.

7. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein the components of the current network framework are selected from the group of components including commerce-related services, content-related services, administration-related services, customer-related services, and education-related services.

8. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein the indicia coding is selected from the group of indicia coding including texture coding, color coding, and shading coding.

9. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein the current network framework is a web architecture framework.

10. A computer program for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework as recited in claim 2, wherein a legend is presented which defines the indicia coding with respect to the business entities.