Method and system for facilitating web-based information exchange via a centralized web structure for managing projects and funding requests

• US 6,920,495 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Fuselier, Christopher S., Wille, Guillermo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUANG N
• Application Number:
  US09/652,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/223, 709/217, 709/219, 709/224, 709/229, 705/7, 705/9, 705/1
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A method for facilitating Web-based information exchange includes providing a centralized Web structure for the Web-based information of an organization. The Web-based information includes Web pages and interactive Web-based applications. The Web structure includes multiple Web sites linked to at least one common site to which the Web-based information generated by the organization is linked, directly or indirectly. Thus the Web structure provides a user with single point of entry access to the Web-based information of the organization.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating Web-based information exchange, said method comprising:

providing a centralized Web structure for the Web-based information of an organization, the Web structure comprising a plurality of Web sites linked together to form Web structure;

identifying a user requesting access to the Web structure by a password that is configured to be used for a limited time; and

tracking, via the Web structure, a shift of responsibility of making a first decision on a funding request from a first user to a second user, wherein the shift occurs when a second decision is made on the funding request by the first user.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the Web-based information of the organization in the plurality of Web sites in the centralized Web structure.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said step of providing a centralized Web structure comprising a plurality of Web sites linked together comprises providing sufficient links among the Web sites so that all the Web-based information is accessible from any one location in the Web structure.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said step of providing sufficient links among the Web sites so that all the Web-based information is accessible from any one location in the Web structure comprises the step of providing at least one point of entry to the Web structure from which all the Web-based information of the organization is accessible.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising the step of applying a centralized navigational scheme to the centralized Web structure.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said step of applying a centralized navigational scheme to the centralized Web structure comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of names for the plurality of Web sites, wherein the names are chosen to identify the content of each Web site and wherein the names are based on a common theme; and

assigning a name to each of the plurality of Web sites.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising the step of creating a plurality of virtual co-locations wherein each Web site is a virtual co-location.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said step of applying a centralized navigational scheme to the centralized Web structure comprises the steps of:

providing a plurality of location names for the plurality of Web sites, wherein the location names are chosen from real locations in a community; and

assigning each location name to a Web site so that the location name of each Web site identifies content of the Web site.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the Web-based information comprises a plurality of data files and wherein said step of storing the Web-based information in the plurality of Web sites comprises the step of storing a subset of the plurality of data files at each Web site, the subset of data files at each Web site providing function and content identifiable with the location name of the Web site.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

creating a central virtual co-location; and

assigning a name of a real central administration building to the central virtual co-location.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said step of providing a centralized Web structure comprises the step of linking the plurality of Web sites to the central virtual co-location.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said step of linking the plurality of Web sites to the central virtual co-location comprises the step of linking each of the plurality of Web sites at least indirectly to the central virtual co-location.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said identifying a user comprises identifying the user requesting access to the Web structure by a password that is configured to be used for at most one time.

14. A method for facilitating Web-based information exchange, said method comprising:

providing one Web structure for storing the Web-based information of a business; and

electronically tracking, via a Web-based application, actions that include a decision retarding implementing an idea and a decision regarding obtaining funding to implement the idea, wherein one of the actions occurs at a level within the business that is separate from any other levels within the business in which remaining of the actions occur.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising the step of providing Internet access to the Web structure to a plurality of users authorized by the business.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said step of providing one Web structure for storing the Web-based information of business comprises the step of providing a plurality of Web sites linked together to form the Web structure, wherein any one Web site is accessible from another Web site.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said step of providing a plurality of Web sites linked together to form the Web structure comprises providing a plurality of Web sites each having distinct content.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising the step of providing a navigational scheme for a user to navigate the Web structure.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said step of providing a navigational scheme for a user to navigate the Web structure comprises the step of providing a name for each Web site wherein the name for a Web site identifies the content of the Web site.

20. A method for facilitating computer network-based information exchange, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sites for containing network-based information on a central server;

linking the plurality of sites to one another so that any one of the sites is at least indirectly accessible from any one of the remaining sites;

naming each of the plurality of sites on the central server wherein all of the plurality of names are based on a common theme and wherein each name identifies the network-based information stored at each site;

identifying a user requesting access to one of the sites by a password that is configured to be used for a limited time; and

tracking via the sites, a shift of responsibility of making a first decision on a funding request from a first user to a second user, wherein the shift occurs when a second decision is made on the finding request by the first user, and the first decision is made at a level within a business that is separate from other levels within the business at which the second decision is made.

21. A system for facilitating Web-based information exchange, said system comprising:

a device; and

a server connected to said device and configured to;

provide a Web-based application including a centralized Web structure for Web-based information of a business the Web structure comprising a plurality of Web sites linked together to form the Web structure; and

electronically track, via the Web-based application, actions that include a decision regarding reviewing an idea, and a decision regarding obtaining funding to implement the idea, wherein one of the actions occurs at a level within the business that is separate from any other levels within the business in which remaining of the actions occur.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said server further configured to store the Web-based information of the business in the plurality of Web sites in the centralized Web structure.

23. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said server further configured to provide sufficient links among the Web sites so that all the Web-based information is accessible from any one location in the Web structure.

24. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said server further configured to provide at least one point of entry to the Web structure from which all the Web-based information of the business is accessible.

25. A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said server further configured to:

provide a plurality of names for the plurality of Web sites, the names chosen to identify the content of each Web site, wherein the names are based on a common theme; and

assign a name to each of the plurality of Web sites.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said server further configured to:

provide a plurality of location names for the plurality of Web sites, wherein the location names are chosen from real locations in a community; and

assign each location name to a Web site so that the location name of each Web site identifies content of the Web site.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the Web-based information includes a plurality of data files, said server further configured to store a subset of the plurality of data files at each Web site, the subset of data files at each Web site providing function and content identifiable with the location name of the Web site.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said server further configured to:

create a central virtual co-location; and

assign a name of a real central administration building to the central virtual co-location.

29. A system in accordance with claim 28 wherein said server further configured to link the plurality of Web sites to the central virtual co-location.

30. A system in accordance with claim 28 wherein said server further configured to link each of the plurality of Web sites at least indirectly to the central virtual co-location.

31. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said server further configured to provide Internet access to the Web structure to a plurality of users authorized by the business.

32. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said server further configured to provide accessibility to any one Web site from another Web site.

33. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said server further configured to:

provide a plurality of sites for containing network-based information on a central server;

link the plurality of sites to one another so that any one of the sites is at least indirectly accessible from any one of the remaining sites; and

name each of the plurality of sites on the central server wherein all of the plurality of names are based on a common theme and wherein each name identifies the network-based information stored at each site.