Logical architecture for business-to-employee web services

• US 7,051,045 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Mason, John, Jones, Steve, Rosckes, Renay, Massaro, Diana, Cirinna, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/855,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 707 2- 3, 707/104.1, 705/1, 705 8- 9, 705/11, 705 17- 18, 705/28, 705/30, 704/104.1
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for using a website to provide tools that enable an employee perform employment-related functions. The system includes a website interface, data and applications stored in memory, and a data engine to provide the applications with the data to operate. The system may also include an external application accessible by the data engine via a link to a second electronic information system provided by a partner business. The method includes developing a website that utilizes applications and data to form tools to enable an employee perform employment-related tasks. The method also includes providing the computer system with a data engine to locate specific data in memory and transfer the specific data to an application to enable a tool to perform its employment-related function. The method further includes providing a website interface to access the tools.

Claims

1. A system to enable employees of an identified company to perform employment-related functions for the identified company, the system comprising:

a first electronic information system being accessible from a first website hosted by the first electronic information system, the first electronic information system comprising;

data related to the identified company stored in electronic storage;

a plurality of tools to enable the employees of the identified company to perform a plurality of employment-related functions for the identified company, each tool utilizing the company-related data to perform its intended function; and

a data engine operable to provide a link between the first website hosted by the first electronic information system and a second website hosted by a second electronic information system operated by a business partnered with the identified company, the first and second websites having the same look and feel.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic information system comprises a first application to identify each of the employees using the system.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic information system comprises a second application to configure a website interface based upon the identity of each of the employees accessing the system.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic information system comprises a third application to record each of the employees'"'"' use of the system.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronic information system comprises a fourth application that enables the system to develop employee profiles based upon each of the employees'"'"' use of the system.

6. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the second application configures the appearance of the website interface based upon profiles of the employees.

7. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the second application configures the website interface by employment function of each of the employees.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the web site interface is arranged topically by subject matter of the tools.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tools comprise at least one application.

10. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the system utilizes the first application to identify the employee using the system and to provide the employee with a menu of tools based on the identity of the employee.

11. An electronic information system for providing tools to employees of an identified company to perform employment-related functions for the identified company, the system comprising:

an information database containing data related to the identified company;

an interactive Internet website that enables only the employees of the identified company to access and interact with the electronic information system;

a plurality of tools that direct the system to perform operations to assist the employees to perform employment-related functions for the identified company;

an information engine that operates between the information database and the plurality of tools;

an application to identify each of the employees accessing the system, wherein the system configures the interactive Internet website based on each employees'"'"' identity, and

a data engine operable to provide a link between the interactive Internet website and an external Internet website, the interactive Internet website and the external Internet website being coordinated so they both have a similar appearance.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the interactive Internet website comprises a plurality of web pages, each web page configured by a configuration application according to the employment function of the employee.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the system is operable to develop a profile of each of the employees based on each employee'"'"'s use of the system.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the data engine provides the link to the external Internet website in a manner transparent to the employees.

15. A method of using a computer system to provide tools to employees of a first company to enable the employees to perform employment-related functions, the method comprising:

providing a first computer system with programming to enable the first computer system to host a first website;

enabling a second company to host a second website having the same look and feel as the first website, wherein the first website is linked to the second website to enable the employees of the first company to obtain second company-related data via the second website without appearing to leave the first website;

providing the first computer system with first company-related data and a plurality of applications stored in memory to form a plurality of tools accessible by the employees of the first company via the first website, each tool performing an employment-related function for the employee; and

providing the first computer system with a data engine operable to locate specific first company data and second company data and to transfer the specific first company data and second company data to an application to enable the plurality of tools to perform their employment-related functions.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, comprising the act of:

providing the system with a tool that enables an employee to obtain information or services via the second website.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, comprising the act of:

providing the system with a tool that enables an employee to request goods or services via the first website.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, comprising the act of:

providing the computer system with an application to identify each employee accessing the first website.