Concise communication of real-time business information in an enterprise network
First Claim
1. An integrated business information system for serving a business enterprise having an enterprise network, comprising:
- a plurality of business computing modules including at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, said business computing modules being located at a central location and hosted by an application service provider (ASP);
an interface server coupled to said business computing modules and to the Internet, said interface server facilitating browser-based access between an end user on said enterprise network and said business computing modules, said interface server causing display of a browser window to said end user including a simultaneous display within said browser window of a plurality of portlet windows, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that end user that is user-customizable, said plurality of portlets comprising;
a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from at least one of said ERP or CRM modules, said first reporting portlet further displaying with said first business result metric a first report access link associated with said business result metric that, when selected by the end user, invokes a display of underlying business data used to derive said first business result metric,a second reporting portlet displaying a second business result metric derived from the other of said ERP or CRM modules, anda first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the end user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; and
an electronic mail server coupled to said interface server, said electronic mail server transmitting an electronic mail message to an e-mail account of the end user, said electronic mail message communicating said first and second business result metrics,wherein said user profile for said end user is stored in said interface server and comprises an e-mail alert format preference, said e-mail format alert preference defining whether the end user prefers a graphical format over a text-only format for said electronic mail message,wherein said electronic mail message is formed from a markup language so as to emulate an appearance of said browser window when invoked by the end user and when said e-mail format alert indicates said graphical format preference, andwherein said electronic mail message is a text-only message when said e-mail format alert indicates said text-only format preference, said text-only message comprising text sections sequentially ordered in a manner matching an order in which said portlet windows are arranged in said browser window according to said user profile of said end user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, computer program product, and related business methods for concisely communicating real-time business information to end users in an enterprise network is described. An integrated business system having at least ERP and CRM functionality is accessed via a browser-based user interface. A plurality of portlet windows are simultaneously displayed within a browser window, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area therein. The portlet windows are selected and arranged according to a customizable user profile for each user, and include reporting portlets displaying up-to-date business results retrieved from the integrated business system. Each reporting portlet further comprises report access links associated with at least one of the business results that, when selected by the user, invoke browser-based displays of up-to-date business data underlying those business results. Preferably, in accordance with a user-customizable alert setting stored in the user profile, regular electronic mail messages are sent to the user communicating up-to-date versions of those business results. Preferably, data labels that identify business items within the browser-based user interface and on the electronic mails are expressed in a business vernacular tuned to each user according to customizable business vernacular settings in their user profiles.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An integrated business information system for serving a business enterprise having an enterprise network, comprising:
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a plurality of business computing modules including at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, said business computing modules being located at a central location and hosted by an application service provider (ASP); an interface server coupled to said business computing modules and to the Internet, said interface server facilitating browser-based access between an end user on said enterprise network and said business computing modules, said interface server causing display of a browser window to said end user including a simultaneous display within said browser window of a plurality of portlet windows, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that end user that is user-customizable, said plurality of portlets comprising; a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from at least one of said ERP or CRM modules, said first reporting portlet further displaying with said first business result metric a first report access link associated with said business result metric that, when selected by the end user, invokes a display of underlying business data used to derive said first business result metric, a second reporting portlet displaying a second business result metric derived from the other of said ERP or CRM modules, and a first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the end user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; and an electronic mail server coupled to said interface server, said electronic mail server transmitting an electronic mail message to an e-mail account of the end user, said electronic mail message communicating said first and second business result metrics, wherein said user profile for said end user is stored in said interface server and comprises an e-mail alert format preference, said e-mail format alert preference defining whether the end user prefers a graphical format over a text-only format for said electronic mail message, wherein said electronic mail message is formed from a markup language so as to emulate an appearance of said browser window when invoked by the end user and when said e-mail format alert indicates said graphical format preference, and wherein said electronic mail message is a text-only message when said e-mail format alert indicates said text-only format preference, said text-only message comprising text sections sequentially ordered in a manner matching an order in which said portlet windows are arranged in said browser window according to said user profile of said end user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification