Web-based architecture sales tool

• US 7,165,041 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• 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): Pond; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US09/322,073
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for selling products and services. First, an existing network framework is determined after which a plan is defined. Such plan includes improvements to the existing network framework. A pictorial representation is then presented of the existing network framework and a plurality of components of such existing network framework. The components of the existing network framework are then indicia coded in order to sell the products and services relating to the components of the existing network framework. It should be noted that such products and services are necessary to implement the improvements.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method for effectively selling at least one of products and services, wherein all steps are performed by the computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining, by a processor executing logic, an existing network framework that includes a plurality of components,

(b) defining, by the processor executing said logic, a plan for selling the at least one of products and services to a target market, the plan including improvements to the existing network framework;

(c) determining, by the processor executing said logic, a listing of targeted components that relate to the improvements to the existing network framework, wherein each targeted component offers one of the least one of the products and services for sale to the target market;

(d) determining, by the processor executing said logic, a listing of at least one of products or services that relate to the targeted components, wherein the at least one of products and services are necessary to implement the improvements;

(e) identifying, by the processor executing said logic, a plurality of identified business alliances among a plurality of business entities associated with the targeted components;

(f) associating, by the processor executing said logic, selected identified business alliances with each said targeted component, wherein the selected identified business alliances are selected from the plurality of identified business alliances;

(g) displaying, through a display adapter by the processor executing said logic, a pictorial representation of the existing network framework and the plurality of components, including the targeted components; and

(h) modifying, through the display adapter by the processor executing said logic, the pictorial representation by indicia coding the targeted components in order to sell the at least one of the products and services that relate to the targeted components and the plurality of identified business alliances, wherein the indicia coding identifies the selected identified business alliances.

2. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of defining the plan includes identifying the absence of at least one of products and services in the components of the existing network framework.

3. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein a legend is presented which defines the indicia coding with respect to the products or services.

4. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the existing 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.

5. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the existing 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.

6. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein the indicia coding is selected from the group of indicia coding including texture coding, color coding, and shading coding.

7. A method for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 1, wherein the existing network framework is a web architecture framework.

8. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for effectively selling at least one of products and services comprising:

(a) a code segment executable on a processor that determines an existing network framework that includes a plurality of components;

(b) a code segment executable by said processor that defines a plan for selling the at least one of products and services to a target marker, the plan including improvements to the existing network framework;

(c) a code segment executable by said processor that determines a listing of targeted components that relate to the improvements to the existing network framework, wherein each targeted component offers one of the least one of the products and services for sale to the target market;

(d) a code segment executable by said processor that determines a listing of at least one of products or services that relate to the targeted components, wherein the at least one of products and services are necessary to implement the improvements to the existing network framework;

(a) a code segment executable by said processor that identifies a plurality of identified business alliances among a plurality of business entities associated with the targeted components;

(f) a code segment executable by said processor that associates selected identified business alliances with each said targeted component, wherein the selected identified business alliances are selected from the plurality of identified business alliances;

(g) a code segment executable by said processor that displays a pictorial representation of the existing network framework and the plurality of components, including the targeted components; and

(h) a code segment executable by said processor that modifies the pictorial representation by indicia coding the targeted components in order to sell the at least one of the products and services that relate to the targeted components and the plurality of identified business alliances, wherein the indicia coding identifies the selected identified business alliances.

9. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 8, wherein the code segment that defines the plan includes a code segment that identifies the absence of at least one of products and services in the components of the existing network framework.

10. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 8, wherein a legend is presented which defines the indicia coding with respect to the products or services.

11. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 8, wherein the components of the existing 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.

12. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 8, wherein the components of the existing 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.

13. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of product and services as recited in claim 8, wherein the indicia coding is selected from the group of indicia coding including texture coding, color coding, and shading coding.

14. A computer program for effectively selling at least one of products and services as recited in claim 8, wherein the existing network framework is a web architecture framework.

15. A computer system for effectively selling at least one of products and services comprising:

(a) a processor;

(b) a memory that stores information under the control of the processor;

(c) logic executable by said processor for determining in existing network framework that includes a plurality of components;

(d) logic executable by said processor for defining a plan for selling the at least one of products and services to a target market, the plan including improvements to the existing network framework;

(e) logic executable by said processor for determining a listing of targeted components that relate to the improvements to the existing network framework, wherein each targeted component offers one of the least one of the products and services for sale to the target market;

(f) logic executable by said processor for determining listing of at least one of products or services that relate to the targeted components, wherein the at least one of products and services are necessary to implement the improvements to the existing network framework;

(g) logic executable by said processor that identifies a plurality of identified business alliances among a plurality of business entities associated with the targeted components;

(h) logic executable by said processor that associates selected identified business alliances with each said targeted component, wherein the selected identified business alliances are selected from the plurality of identified business alliances;

(i) logic executable by said processor for displaying a pictorial representation of the existing network framework and the plurality of components, including the targeted components; and

(j) logic executable by said processor for modifying the pictorial representation by indicia coding the targeted components in order to sell the at least one of the products and services that relate to the targeted components and the plurality of identified business alliances, wherein the indicia coding identifies the selected identified business alliances.