Method and system for dynamically providing materials and technology information

• US 7,454,362 B1
• Filed: 11/09/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hayes, Robert D., Maresca, John S., Kobeda, E., Whitney, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOSWELL, BETH V
• Application Number:
  US09/711,777
• Time in Patent Office: 2,931 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/10, 707/200
• US Class Current: 705/7.32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a computer-based method and system for gathering materials and technology information from internal as well as external sources, integrating the information into a format accessible to disparate systems, storing the information in a centralized system, updating the stored information as needed, and providing continuous access to the information for authorized users of the system. The Development Toolkit Network (DTN) of the present invention is a set of applications designed to facilitate the gathering of technical information about supplier product offerings, and to disseminate that information to an organization'"'"'s development engineers around the globe.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, comprising:

receiving a request from a first enterprise system to contact a web site maintained by a second enterprise system;

said second enterprise system authenticating a user ID and password of a user of said first enterprise system;

in response to receiving a request to complete a survey, providing the first enterprise system with access to a survey form stored in a database that is replicated at the second enterprise system;

receiving response data solicited in the survey form; and

updating a database at the second enterprise system with the response data, the updating including storing the response data in one of a draft mode and a final mode designated by the first enterprise system;

wherein said second enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for executing product development and procurement activities.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a request to view a completed survey, replicating a database associated said second enterprise system resulting from the request to view a completed survey;

providing access to said database;

displaying a list of surveys, said surveys previously completed by said first enterprise system;

retrieving one of said surveys from said database in response to a request to view a selected survey; and

displaying said selected survey.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a request to complete a survey includes:

receiving a request to select a survey type from a list of survey type options; and

associating said survey form with a technical representation of said second enterprise system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an attached file with said response data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing said survey form in a draft mode occurs at said second enterprise system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing said survey form a final mode occurs at said second enterprise system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing said survey form in said final mode includes:

transmitting a notification to a representative of said second enterprise system; and

making available said survey form to said second enterprise system.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a request to access a stored survey form from said database;

retrieving said stored survey form from said database;

transmitting said stored survey form to said first enterprise system, said first enterprise editing said stored survey form;

receiving edits to said stored survey form; and

storing said survey form in said database.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said editing is in a draft mode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting said survey form includes replicating said database to said second enterprise system and designating said survey form as a new entry.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said storing said survey form includes storing said survey form in a final mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said storing said survey form in said final mode causes a notification to be transmitted to a representative of said second enterprise system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said communications network environment includes an extranet.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said authenticating said user ID and said password is accomplished via a firewall.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is a supplier.

16. A method for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, comprising:

receiving a notification by a remote user of a second enterprise system, said notification including data relating to a supplier survey, the notification generated in response to an assignment of a final mode designator to the supplier survey;

wherein the designator is assigned by a first enterprise system;

receiving a request to access a replicated database associated with said second enterprise system, said replicated database storing said supplier survey;

authenticating a user ID and a password of said remote user;

providing access to said replicated database;

displaying said supplier survey;

evaluating supplier input entered into the supplier survey;

providing evaluation results into a remote device operated by said remote user; and

storing said data;

wherein said enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for executing product development and procurement activities.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said receiving said notification is via an electronic mail.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said replicated database resides on a remote device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said entering said data includes providing feedback information to a supplier, said supplier associated with said supplier survey.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said entering said data includes rating said supplier survey.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said rating includes providing markings to said survey, said markings designating a preferred status.

22. A method for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, comprising:

receiving a request to access a database associated with an enterprise system by a remote user;

authenticating a user ID and a password of said remote user;

replicating said database to a second database of said enterprise system;

providing access to said second database;

receiving a request for a technology menu, said menu comprising at least one technology type;

transmitting said technology menu via said network;

receiving a request for a display of technology sub-types from said at least one technology type;

receiving said display via said network wherein said technology sub-types include at least one technology family;

receiving a request for data corresponding to said at least one technology family; and

transmitting said data corresponding to said at least one technology family;

wherein said data includes at least one technology supplier; and

wherein further, said enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for executing product development and procurement functions.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said technology menu, said technology types, and said technology sub-types are retrievable from a first database.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said data corresponding to said at least one technology family is retrievable from a second database.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request for data corresponding to said at least one technology supplier, said data including an item from said supplier technology comparison list; and

transmitting a technology survey response.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said technology survey response is rated, said survey including preferredness designations.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said designations are provided by a procurement engineer of said enterprise system.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said technology survey response is not rated.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

transmitting a hypertext link from said technology survey response, said link corresponding to a supplier'"'"'s web site.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said providing access to said database includes replicating said database to a second database.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein said request for said data is initiated by a development engineer of said second enterprise system.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said communication network environment is an intranet.

33. A system for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a network environment, comprising:

a host system including a web server, an applications server, and a database server;

a first data storage device in communication with said host system;

a second data storage device in communication with said host system;

a development toolkit network application being executed by said host system;

a firewall in communication with said host system;

a workstation; and

a computer network connecting the host system to the workstation;

wherein the development toolkit network application performs;

in response to receiving a request from the workstation to complete a survey, providing the workstation with access to a survey form stored in a database associated with the second storage device, the database replicated at the second enterprise system;

receiving response data solicited in the survey form; and

updating the second database with the response data, the updating including storing the response data in one of a draft mode and a final mode designated by the first enterprise system.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein a front end database is stored in said first data storage device.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein an engineering notebook database is stored in said first data storage device.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein a technology survey database is stored in said second data storage device.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein said front end database is replicated to a remote network device.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein said engineering notebook database is replicated to a remote network device.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein said technology survey database is replicated to a remote network device over an extranet network connection.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein said front end application includes a technology selector application.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein said engineering notebook application includes a road maps application.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein said technology surveys database includes a supplier comparison application.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein said technology surveys database includes a supplier technology survey application.

44. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, including a first enterprise system and a second enterprise system, the storage medium including instructions for causing said second enterprise system to implement a method, comprising:

receiving a request from a first enterprise system to contact a web site maintained by a second enterprise system;

said second enterprise system authenticating a user ID and password of a user of said first enterprise system;

in response to receiving a request to complete a survey, providing said first enterprise system with access to a survey form stored in a database that is replicated at the second enterprise system;

receiving response data solicited in the survey form; and

updating a database at the second enterprise system with the response data, the updating including storing the response data in one of a draft mode and a final mode designated by the first enterprise system;

wherein said second enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for facilitating communication between said first enterprise and said second enterprise, and wherein further, said development toolkit network tool executes product development and procurement activities.

45. The storage medium of claim 44, further comprising instructions for causing said second enterprise system to implement:

in response to receiving a request to view a completed survey, replicating a database associated with said second enterprise system resulting form the request to view a completed survey;

providing access to said database;

displaying a list of surveys, said surveys previously completed by said first enterprise system;

retrieving one of said surveys from said database in response to a request to view a selected survey; and

displaying said selected survey.

46. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein the receiving a request to complete a survey includes:

receiving a request to select a survey type from a list of survey type options; and

associating said survey form with a technical representative of said second enterprise system.

47. The storage medium of claim 44, further comprising instructions for causing said second enterprise system to implement:

receiving an attached file with said response data.

48. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said storing said survey form in a draft mode occurs at said second enterprise system.

49. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said storing said survey form in a final mode occurs at said second enterprise system.

50. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said storing said survey form in said final mode includes:

transmitting a notification to a representative of said second enterprise system; and

making said survey form available to said second enterprise system.

51. The storage medium of claim 46, further comprising instructions for causing said second enterprise system to implement:

receiving a request to access a stored survey form from said database;

retrieving said stored survey form from said database;

transmitting said stored survey form to said first enterprise system, said first enterprise system editing said stored survey form;

receiving edits to said stored survey form; and

storing said survey form in said database.

52. The storage medium of claim 51, wherein said editing is in a draft mode.

53. The storage medium of claim 51, wherein said transmitting said survey form includes replicating said database to said second enterprise system and designating said survey form as a new entry.

54. The storage medium of claim 51, wherein said storing said survey form includes storing said survey form in a final mode.

55. The storage medium of claim 54, wherein said storing said survey form in said final mode causes a notification to be transmitted to a representative of said second enterprise system.

56. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said communications network environment includes an extranet.

57. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said authenticating said user ID and said password is accomplished via a firewall.

58. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein said user is a supplier.

59. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, the storage medium including instructions for causing an enterprise system to implement a method, comprising:

receiving a notification by a remote user of second enterprise system, said notification including data relating to a supplier survey, the notification generated in response to an assignment of a final mode designator to the supplier survey;

wherein the designator is assigned by a first enterprise system;

receiving a request to access a replicated database associated with said second enterprise system, said replicated database storing said supplier survey;

authenticating a user ID and a password of said remote user;

providing access to said replicated database;

displaying said supplier survey;

evaluating supplier input entered into the supplier survey;

providing evaluation results into a remote device operated by said remote user; and

storing said data;

wherein said enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for executing product development and procurement activities.

60. The storage medium of claim 59, wherein said receiving said notification is via an electronic mail.

61. The storage medium of claim 59, wherein said replicated database resides on a remote device.

62. The storage medium of claim 59, wherein said entering said data includes providing feedback information to a supplier, said supplier associated with said supplier survey.

63. The storage medium of claim 59, wherein said entering said data includes rating said supplier survey.

64. The storage medium of claim 63, wherein said rating includes providing markings to said survey, said markings designating a preferred status.

65. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, including a first enterprise system and a second enterprise system, the storage medium including instructions for causing said second enterprise system to implement a method, comprising:

receiving a request to access a database associated with an enterprise system by a remote user;

authenticating a user ID and a password of said remote user;

replicating said database to a second database of said enterprise system;

providing access to said second database;

receiving a request for a technology menu, said menu comprising at least one tehcnoloyg type;

transmitting said technology menu via said network;

receiving a request for a display of tehcnoloyg sub-types from said at lest one tehcnoloyg type;

receiving said display via said network wherein said technology sub-types include at least one technology family;

receiving a request for data corresponding to said at least one technology family; and

transmitting said data corresponding to said at least one tehcnoloyg family;

wherein said data includes at least one technology supplier; and

wherein further, said enterprise system includes a development toolkit network tool for executing product development and procurement functions.

66. The storage medium of claim 65, wherein said technology menu, said technology types, and said technology sub-types are retrievable from a first database.

67. The storage medium of claim 65, wherein said data corresponding to said at least one technology family is retrievable from a second database.

68. The storage medium of claim 65, further comprising instructions for causing said enterprise system to implement:

requesting data corresponding to said at least one technology supplier, said data including an time from said supplier technology comparison list; and

viewing a technology survey response.

69. The storage medium of claim 68 wherein said technology survey response is rated, said survey including preferredness destinations.

70. The storage medium of claim 69 wherein said designations are provided by a procurement engineer of said second enterprise system.

71. The storage medium of claim 69 wherein said technology survey response is unrated.

72. The storage medium of claim 65, further comprising instructions for causing said enterprise system to implement:

providing a hypertext link from said technology survey response, said link corresponding to a supplier'"'"'s web site.

73. The storage medium of claim 65, wherein said storing said data includes replicating databases of said network system.

74. The storage medium of claim 65, wherein said requesting said data and viewing said supplier survey response is initiated by a development engineer of said second enterprise system.

75. The storage medium of claim 65, wherein said communications network environment is an intranet.

76. A method for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, comprising:

receiving product data and technical information from a plurality of supplier entities via a supplier survey database, the supplier survey database replicated for each of the plurality of supplier entities;

associating the product data and technology information with a procurement specialist and providing the procurement specialist with access to the product data and tecnical information for analysis;

receiving results of the analysis from the procurement specialist, the results including preferred technology recommendations and preferred supplier recommendations;

integrating the product development and technical information with the results and with a parts repository resulting in a technical roadmap guide; and

providing a development engineer with access to the technical roadmap guide.

77. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable program code for facilitating product development and procurement functions in a communications network environment, the program code including instructions for causing a host system to implement a method, comprising:

receiving product data and technical information from a plurality of supplier entities via a supplier survey database, the supplier survey database replicated for each of the plurality of supplier entities;

associating the product data and tehcnoloyg information with a procurement specialist and providing the procurement specialists with access to the product data and technical information for analysis;

receiving results of the analysis from the procurement specialist, the results including preferred technology recommendations and preferred supplier recommendations;

integrating the product development and tecnical information with the results and with a parts repository resulting in a technical roadmap guide; and

providing a development engineer with access to the technical roadmap guide.