Integrated business system for the design, execution, and management of projects

• US 7,174,339 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tririga LLC
• Inventors: Marnell, Anthony A. II, Wucherer, Tom, Nisbet, Todd, Nicastro, Cherisse M.
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US09/519,935
• Time in Patent Office: 2,527 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/10, 707/102, 707/202, 707/505, 707/104.1, 707/103.R, 709/203, 709/220, 709/217, 705/30, 714/15
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The system of method for building a database for the design and execution of projects is described. This system includes a host computer system in data communication with a central database and at least first and second databases. The central data base stores information relating to the design and execution of the project predetermined to be important to one or more project team members. The first and second databases are in communication with first and second computer systems which may be remotely located from each other and which execute standard industry software tools. The host computer system is configured to monitor a plurality of transactions to the first database. Each of the plurality of transactions stores data in the first database. The monitoring includes comparing the plurality of a transaction against a predetermined transaction. If the host computer detects a match between one of the plurality of transactions and the predetermined transaction, the host computer reads the first data stored in the first database by the matched transaction and stores the first data in either the second database or the central database, or both. Additionally, the host computer system generates a message indicating that the first database was updated with the first data. This message is then transmitted to the second computer system.

Claims

1. A method for managing the design and building of a construction project, the method being executable by a host computer system, comprising:

receiving a first type of software application data for the construction project into a central database via a first interface database, the first type of software application data input by a first project collaborator into a first type of software application program running on a first computer system;

receiving a second different type of software application data for the construction project into the central database via a second interface database, the second type of software application data input by a second project collaborator into a second software application program, the second application program of a different type running on a second computer system;

generating a first message indicating a modification of the first data; and

transmitting the first message to the second computer system;

wherein said first type of software application program and second type of software application program each comprise at least one of a computer aided design software application, a design database application, a procurement application, a facilities management application, or an accounting application;

monitoring a plurality of transactions to the first interface database, wherein each of the plurality of transactions store data in the first interface database, wherein monitoring the plurality of transactions comprises comparing the plurality of transactions against a predetermined transaction;

detecting a match between one of the plurality of transactions to the first database and the predetermined transaction;

generating said first message wherein said first message indicates that the first type of software application data has been stored in the first database by the one of the plurality of transactions; and

transmitting the first message to the second computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

reading the first type of software application data stored in the first interface database in response to the host computer detecting the match;

translating the first type of software application data into translated first data in response to the host computer detecting the match;

storing the translated first type of data into another interface database in data communication with the host computer system in response to the host computer detecting the match.

3. A method for managing the design and building of a construction project, the method being executable by a host computer system, comprising:

receiving a first type of software application data for the construction project into a central database via a first interface database, the first type of software application data input by a first project collaborator into a first type of software application program running on a first computer system;

receiving a second different type of software application data for the construction project into the central database via a second interface database, the second type of software application data input by a second project collaborator into a second software application program, the second application program of a different type running on a second computer system;

generating a first message indicating a modification of the first data; and

transmitting the first message to the second computer system;

wherein said first type of software application program and second type of software application program each comprise at least one of a computer aided design software application, a design database application, a procurement application, a facilities management application, or an accounting application;

monitoring a plurality of transactions to a first interface database, wherein each of the plurality of transactions store data in the first interface database, wherein monitoring the plurality of transactions comprises comparing the plurality of transactions against a predetermined transaction;

detecting a match between one of the plurality of transactions to the first interface database and the predetermined transaction;

reading the first type of software application data stored in the first interface database in response to the host computer detecting the match;

translating the first type of software application data into translated first data in response to the host computer detecting the match;

storing the translated first type of data into another interface database in data communication with the host computer system in response to the host computer detecting the match.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the method further comprises:

generating a message indicating that first type of software application data has been stored in the first interface data base by the one of the plurality of transactions;

transmitting the message to a second computer system in data communication with the host computer.

5. A method operating on a host computer system coupled to the Internet to manage the design and building of a construction project, comprising:

storing first data received from a first computer system in a database, wherein the first computer system operates at least a first type of application software and provides computer aided design data input by a first project collaboration comprising construction project objects of a first type;

generating a first message corresponding to a request to approve or reject storing the first data in the database;

transmitting the first message to a second computer system, wherein the second computer system is in data communication with the host computer system and the database and operates at least a second type of application software providing construction project objects of a second type, input by a second project collaboration, wherein said first and second type of application software comprises any of at least one of a design database application, a procurement application, a facilities management application, or an accounting application;

the second computer system generating a second message corresponding to an approval or rejection of storing the first data in the database; and

removing the first data from the database if the second message corresponds to the rejection of storing the first data in the second database, or maintaining the first data in the second database if the second message corresponds to the approval of storing the first data in the database;

monitoring a plurality of transactions to the database, wherein each of the plurality of transactions store data in the database, wherein monitoring the plurality of transactions comprises comparing the plurality of transactions against a predetermined transaction;

detecting a match between one of the plurality of transactions to the database and the predetermined transaction;

reading second data stored in the database in response to the host computer detecting the match between one of the plurality of transactions to the database and the predetermined transaction;

translating the second data into translated second data in response to the host computer detecting the match; and

storing the translated second data into another database in data communication with the host computer system in response to the host computer detecting the match between one of the plurality of transactions to the database and the predetermined transaction.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the another database stores data specifying components of a project to be built.