Method and system for facilitating information exchange

• US 7,430,709 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Outlooksoft Corporation (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Outlooksoft Corporation (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Voshell, Perlie E., Cho, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faber; David
• Application Number:
  US10/855,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20040220977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 715/503, 715/515, 715/751, 715/504, 715/212, 715/209, 715/217, 715/220
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal, i.e., non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating information exchange, comprising:

(a) a server that includes at least one database;

(b) a client that includes a spreadsheet program and a browser program and that communicates with said server across a network, said spreadsheet program generating at least one spreadsheet having a plurality of data cells;

(c) at least one collaborative group that includes a plurality of users, said collaborative group being predefined within said at least one database, each of said plurality of users of said at least one collaborative group having access to said spreadsheet; and

(d) at least one link to at least one supporting document contained within said database operatively associated with said spreadsheet;

wherein said browser of said client facilitates viewing of said at least one supporting document from a screen view of said spreadsheet;

wherein data to be used in rendering a first spreadsheet by said spreadsheet program is determined by a first set of user selections in a toolbar displayed on a screen associated with said client, said first set of user selections defining a first current view, wherein data used to render a second spreadsheet by said spreadsheet program is determined by user changes to said first set of user selections on said toolbar, and wherein unchanged user selections from said first set of user selections are automatically incorporated into a second current view that are determined by said user changes.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information exchange is selected from a group consisting of an hierarchical information exchange, a nonhierarchical information exchange and combinations thereof.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information exchange is selected from a group consisting of an exchange of information in connection with creation of a budget an exchange of information in connection with measurement of performance against a budget, an exchange of information in connection with measurement of performance against a forecast, and combinations thereof.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said server is operatively associated with enterprise sources of information.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said network across which said client communicates with said server is selected from a group consisting of an intranet, Internet, World Wide Web, local area network, wide area network and combinations thereof.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first current view determines a data request that said client initially attempts to fulfill based on data contained within a data cache associated with said client and, to the extent fulfillment of said data request is incomplete based on data contained in said data cache, said data request gives rise to a second data request for transmission from said client across said network to said server.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein a data request includes a need for at least two pieces of data, and wherein said data request is formulated by said client to include said at least two pieces of data for a single query across said network to said client.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one collaborative group includes geographically dispersed individuals having different functional responsibilities for an enterprise.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one link is tied to a specific data cell from among said plurality of data cells of said at least one spreadsheet.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one supporting document is selected from a group consisting of a supporting spreadsheet, a word processing document, a slide presentation, a graphic file, an audio file, a multimedia file, and content available for viewing on said network.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a bulletin board on which messages may be posted by a user from among said plurality of users for viewing by other of said users within said at least one collaborative group.

12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying said collaborative group when information related to said at least one spreadsheet has been communicated to said server across said network.

13. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for communicating to said collaborative group guidance relative to a non-hierarchical exchange of information.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for communicating includes at least one message from a senior member of an enterprise related to a topic selected from the group consisting of strategy, mission, objectives, budgeting criteria, budgeting parameters, competitive information, economic information, employment information, timetables, deadlines and combinations thereof.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one individual who is among said plurality of users that define said collaborative group is a member of at least one additional collaborative group.

16. An information system, comprising:

a server in communication with at least one database;

at least one client that is adapted to operate at least two computer programs, a first program for manipulating data and generating at least one first document having a plurality of data cells and a second browser program for communicating with said server across a network;

at least one team of two or more members being predefined in said at least one database; and

at least one second support document in said at least one database and operatively associated with said at least one first document,

wherein each of said two or more members of said team has simultaneous access to both said at least one first document and said at least one second support document,

wherein data to be used in rendering a first spreadsheet by said first program is determined by a first set of user selections in a toolbar displayed on a screen associated with said at least one client, said first set of user selections defining a first current view,

wherein data used to render a second spreadsheet by said first program is determined by user changes to said first set of user selections on said toolbar, and

wherein unchanged user selections from said first set of user selections are automatically incorporated into a second current view that are determined by said user changes.

17. The information system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said team members is geographically remote with respect to at least one other of said team members.

18. The information system of claim 16, wherein said at least one first document is a spreadsheet document.

19. The information system of claim 16, wherein said at least one second support document is selected from a group consisting of:

a word processing document, an audio file, a graphical file, a slide presentation document, a multimedia file, a supporting spreadsheet, and content available for viewing on said network.

20. The information system of claim 16, wherein said second program of said at least one client facilitates viewing of said at least one second support document from a screen view of said at least one first document.

21. The information system of claim 16, wherein said second program of said at least one client facilitates real-time participation of said two or more members in an enterprise-wide project.

22. The information system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said plurality of data cells contains informational content that is linked to an ancillary information source.

23. The information system of claim 16, further comprising a centralized location associated with said server for posting information relevant to one or more tasks.

24. The information system of claim 23, wherein said posted information is viewed, stored or categorized by category or document type.

25. The information system of claim 24, wherein said category is selected from a predefined list of categories.

26. The information system of claim 24, wherein said category is selected from a group consisting of:

an assumption category, a guideline category, a schedule category, a timetable category, and a package category.

27. The information system of claim 16, wherein said at least one client includes a data cache that automatically caches data that is input or retrieved to said at least one client.

28. The information system of claim 27, wherein said at least one client includes a key cache that automatically checks said data cache for requested data and to the extent that said requested data is in said data cache, said key cache provides said requested data immediately to said first program of said client for use therein.

29. The information system of claim 28, wherein said key cache automatically omits said requested data already contained in said data cache from queries across said network.

30. The information system of claim 29, wherein said key cache retains said requested data not already contained in said data cache for combination into a single inquiry to be transmitted across said network.

31. The information system of claim 30, wherein said first program is instructed not to update said at least one first document or said second support document until all requested data has been received based on operation of said data cache and said key cache.

32. The information system of claim 31, wherein said key cache prompts said first program to update said first document and said second support document upon receipt of said requested data.

33. The information system of claim 16, wherein said server is operatively associated with at least one enterprise source of information.

34. The information system of claim 16, wherein said network across which said at least one client communicates with said server is selected from a group consisting of an intranet, Internet, World Wide Web, local area network, wide area network and combinations thereof.

35. The information system of claim 16, wherein said first current view determines a data request for transmission from said at least one client across said network to said server.

36. The information system of claim 16, wherein each of said team members is authorized to submit a data request, and wherein said data request includes at least two required pieces of data, and wherein said data request is formulated by said at least one client to include said at least two required pieces of data for a single query across said network to said at least one client.

37. The information system of claim 16, wherein said at least one second support document is tied to a specific data cell from among said plurality of data cells of said at least one first document.

38. The information system of claim 16, further comprising a bulletin board on which messages may be posted by at least one member of said team for viewing by at least one other member of said team.

39. The information system of claim 16, further comprising a means for notifying said team when information related to said at least one spreadsheet has been communicated to said server across said network.

40. The information system of claim 16, further comprising means for communicating to said team guidance relative to a non-hierarchical exchange of information.

41. The information system of claim 40, wherein said means for communicating includes messages from senior members of an enterprise related to a topic selected from the team consisting of strategy, mission, objectives, budgeting criteria, budgeting parameters, competitive information, economic information, employment information, timetables, deadlines and combinations thereof.