System method and article of manufacture for building, managing, and supporting various components of a system

• US 6,957,186 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Barrese, James J., Guheen, Michael F., Mitchell, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/320,921
• Time in Patent Office: 2,336 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/7.29, 283/34, 703/17, 340/995, 707/100, 707/512, 701/202, 702/56, 709/223, 348/552, 345/735, 345/854, 345/705
• US Class Current: 705/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• 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 various components of a system for building, management, and support purposes. A pictorial representation of an existing system is first displayed along with a plurality of components thereof. Next, information is presented relating to building, managing, and supporting the components of the existing system by indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation. The building, management, and support information relates more specifically to deliverable features of the components of the existing system that are available in a business offering.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing various components of a web architecture framework using an electronic display device to facilitate assessment of the components as part of a comprehensive, integrated solution comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying strengths, weaknesses, and feature coverage of a product or service;

(b) displaying on an electronic display device a pictorial representation of a web architecture framework including a plurality of components of the web architecture framework;

(c) presenting information relating to the coverage of the product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate the availability of those components through the product or service;

(d) presenting information relating to strengths of a product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate strengths of the products or services in relation to the coded components;

(e) presenting information relating to weaknesses of a product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate which weaknesses of the product or service in relation to the coded components;

wherein indicia coding the components facilitates assessment of the components as part of a comprehensive, integrated web architecture solution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of presenting information relating to the coverage of a product or service includes presenting information relating to the availability of deliverable features of one or more products or services in a business offering.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the features are assigned a unique indicia coding to indicate the components to which the features relate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of presenting information relating to strengths of a product or service includes coding the components to indicate which components relate to building, management, and support of other components.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the components of the existing web architecture 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.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the components of the existing web architecture 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.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicia coding is selected from the group of indicia coding including texture coding, color coding, and shading coding.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of presenting information relating to weaknesses of a product or service includes coding the components to indicate which components relate to features that are not available in one or more products or services.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein a legend is presented which defines the indicia coding with respect to building, management, and support deliverables in a business offering.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable code segments for visualizing various components of a web architecture framework on an electronic display device to facilitate assessment of the components as part of a comprehensive, integrated solution comprising:

(a) a code segment that identifies strengths, weaknesses, and feature coverage of a product or service;

(b) a code segment that displays on an electronic display device a pictorial representation of a web architecture framework including a plurality of components of a web architecture framework;

(c) a code segment that presents information relating to the coverage of a product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate the availability of those components through the product or service;

(d) a code segment that presents information relating to strengths of a product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate strengths of the products or services in relation to the coded components; and

(e) a code segment that presents information relating to weaknesses of a product or service by non-textually indicia coding the components on the pictorial representation to indicate weaknesses of the product or service in relation to the coded components;

wherein indicia coding the components facilitates assessment of the components as part of a comprehensive, integrated web architecture solution.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the code segment that presents information relating to the coverage of a product or service presents information relating to the availability of deliverable features of one or more products or services in a business offering.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the features are assigned a unique indicia coding to indicate the components to which the features relate.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the step of presenting information relating to strengths of a product or service includes coding the components to indicate which components relate to building, management, and support of other components.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the components of the existing web architecture 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.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the components of the existing web architecture 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.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the indicia coding is selected from the group of indicia coding including texture coding, color coding, and shading coding.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the step of presenting information relating to weaknesses of a product or service includes coding the components to indicate which components relate to features that are not available in one or more products or services.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein a legend is presented which defines the indicia coding with respect to building, management, and support deliverables in a business offering.