Interactive risk management system and method

• US 7,707,511 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Edward Peterson
• Original Assignee: Gary Edward Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, Gary Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US10/868,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771, 715/762, 715/736, 715/738, 705/38, 705/397, 705/10, 705/11, 705/7, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

An interactive risk management system and method for a business or other organization generates a graphic display to the user, through the browser, to display a mapping of processes used in conducting the business or the affairs of the organization and allow the user to selectively view additional data, such as messages describing risks associated with the process selected. The user may navigate thorough and among the processes to access and review associated data, allowing the user to gain information about selected processes and associated risks.

Claims

1. An interactive risk management system for an organization comprising:

a computer including;

a processor;

an input device;

a display device for displaying a graphic user interface including a browser;

a memory; and

a multi-dimensional mapping for visual display of steps of a plurality of processes carried out by the organization and at least one risk message associated with at least one of the steps, wherein the mapping includes a plurality of horizontal lanes corresponding to at least one process carried out by a unit of the organization having at least one step in one of the plurality of horizontal lanes that is vertically connected to a step in a different horizontal lane that is carried out by another unit of the organization, the multi-dimensional mapping being stored in the memory;

wherein the processor, in response to user selections through the input device, displays to the user through the browser the multi-dimensional mapping of the plurality of processes, with each of a set of the displayed processes having an associated user actuatable display region; and

wherein the processor, in response to user actuation of an actuatable display region of a selected step, displays to the user through the browser the at least one risk message associated with the selected step, thereby displaying to the user information about the selected step and its associated risks;

wherein the processor operates mapping software to display the mapping and the steps of the plurality of processes carried out by the organization as graphical representations on the display; and

wherein the mapping software displays a graphical image on the display to indicate risk information available to the user.

2. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the memory is accessible through a computer network, whereby any user, using the browser and communicating via the computer network, may access and view the mapping and may actuate the actuatable display regions to selectively view the at least one risk message.

3. The interactive risk management system of claim 2, wherein the computer network is an intranet.

4. The interactive risk management system of claim 2, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

5. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the actuatable display regions are associated with link data addressing linkable data stored in the memory;

and

wherein the processor, in responsive the actuation of a selective actuatable display region, communicates with the memory via a respective link data to retrieve the corresponding linkable data.

6. The interactive risk management system of claim 5, wherein the link data is a hyperlink.

7. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the mapping software displays a graphical stop sign image on the display to indicate risk information available to the user.

8. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the mapping software displays the processes in a multi-dimensional format.

9. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the mapping software is graphics software.

10. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes a yield sign.

11. The interactive risk management system of claim 1, wherein the graphical image includes a circle with a letter therein.

12. The interactive risk management system of claim 11, wherein the letter in the circle is determined by the type of a report, accessible by actuation of the circle, according to a predetermined indicator scheme.

13. The interactive risk management system of claim 11, wherein a color of the circle is determined by the nature of a report, accessible by actuation of the circle, according to a predetermined indicator scheme.

14. An interactive risk management method for providing risk information associated with one or more of a plurality of processes of an organization, the method comprising the steps of

providing a computer including a processor, an input device, a display device, and a memory;

displaying a graphic user interface including a browser on the display device;

storing in the memory a multi-dimensional mapping for visual display of steps of a plurality of processes carried out by the organization and at least one risk message associated with at least one of the steps;

wherein the mapping includes a plurality of horizontal lanes corresponding to at least one process carried out by a unit of the organization having at least one step in one of the plurality of horizontal lanes that is vertically connected to a step in a different horizontal lane that is carried out by another unit of the organization;

receiving at the processor user command signals entered through the input device;

displaying to the user through the browser the multi-dimensional mapping of the plurality of processes, with each of a set of the displayed processes having an associated actuatable display region;

receiving at the processor signals corresponding to user actuation of an actuatable display region of a selected step;

displaying to the user through the browser, in response to the user actuation, the at least one risk message associated with the selected step, thereby displaying to the user information about the selected step and any associated risk;

operating mapping software using the processor to display the mapping and the steps of the plurality of processes carried out by the organization as graphical representations on the display; and

displaying a graphical image on the display using the mapping software to indicate risk information available to the user.

15. The interactive risk management method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing inputs by users using the input device and a browser connected to a computer network;

communicating command signals through the computer network to access and display to the user the mapping; and

actuating the actuatable display regions to selectively view the at least one risk message.

16. The interactive risk management method of claim 15, wherein the computer network is an intranet.

17. The interactive risk management method of claim 15, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

18. The interactive risk management method of claim 14, further comprising:

associating actuatable display regions with link data addressing linkable data stored in the memory;

responding at the processor to actuation of a selective actuatable display region to communicate with the memory via a respective link data; and

retrieving the corresponding linkable data.

19. The interactive risk management method of claim 18, wherein the link data is a hyperlink.

20. The interactive risk management method of claim 14, wherein the mapping software is graphics software.