Methods and systems for providing benchmark information under controlled access

• US 7,725,947 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Bukary, Roman, Wefers, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Jung
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, VENKATANARAY
• Application Number:
  US10/899,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705 10- 11, 705/22, 705/28, 705/30, 705/44, 705/404, 705/411, 726 27- 30, 726/21, 713165-167, 713/193
• US Class Current: 726/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An electronic data structure comprises benchmark information and an authorizing section for access to said benchmark information. A method processes and stores data objects by means of one or more processes running in a computer system having one or more of the electronic data structures. A request for benchmark information is received from a second party, the request including identification information of the second party. The benchmark information is analyzed to determine whether it contains in its electronic data structures and whether the authorizing section of the electronic data structure includes the identification information. Based on the determination, the benchmark information is presented to the second party.

Claims

1. A method for processing an electronic data structure by using one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising:

selecting benchmark information stored in a resource or database;

selecting identification information for controlling access to the benchmark information;

storing the selected benchmark information, an entity associated with the selected benchmark information, and the selected identification information in said electronic data structure, wherein the selected identification information comprises data specifying a parent entity having access to the selected benchmark information associated with the entity and wherein the entity is a child entity of the parent entity;

receiving a request to access the selected benchmark information, the request including identification information of a second party; and

granting access to the selected benchmark information to the second party when the identification information of the second party matches the selected identification information included in the electronic data structure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the electronic data structure to the second party.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the electronic data structure to second parties by electronic means.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the resource or database with benchmark information.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for a benchmark information from the second party, said request including the identification information of said second party;

determining whether the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and whether the identification information of the second party is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

presenting the requested benchmark information to the second party when the determination indicates that the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section of the electronic data structure.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an authorized content section in said electronic data structure, wherein the authorized content section specifies the benchmark information that is accessible by the entity.

8. A computer system for processing an electronic data structure by using one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising:

memory having program instructions;

input means for entering data;

storage means for storing data;

a processor responsive to the program instructions to;

select a benchmark information stored in a resource or database, and an identification information for controlling access to the benchmark information;

store the selected benchmark information, an entity associated with the selected benchmark information, and the selected identification information in said electronic data structure, wherein the selected identification information comprises data specifying a parent entity having access to selected benchmark information associated with the entity and wherein the entity is a child entity of the parent entity;

receive a request to access the selected benchmark information, the request including identification information of a second party; and

grant access to the selected benchmark information to the second party when the identification information of the second party matches the selected identification information included in the electronic data structure.

9. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions for presenting the electronic data structure to the second party.

10. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions for presenting the electronic data structure to second parties by electronic means.

11. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

updating the resource or database with benchmark information.

12. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

instructions for encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

13. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising:

instructions for stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

14. The computer system of claim 8, further responsive to the program instructions to:

receiving receive a request for a benchmark information from the second party, said request including the identification information of said second party;

determine whether the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and whether the identification information of the second party is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

present the requested benchmark information to the second party when the determination indicates that the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section of the electronic data structure.

23. The computer system of claim 8, the processor is further responsive to the program instructions to:

store an authorized content section in said electronic data structure, wherein the authorized content section specifies the benchmark information that is accessible by the entity.

15. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions for processing an electronic data structure by using one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party according to a method, the method comprising:

selecting a benchmark information stored in a resource or database, and an identification information for controlling access to the benchmark information;

storing the selected benchmark information, an entity associated with the selected benchmark information, and the selected identification information in said electronic data structure, wherein the selected identification information comprises data specifying a parent entity having access to selected benchmark information associated with the entity and wherein the entity is a child entity of the parent entity;

receiving a request to access the selected benchmark information, the request including identification information of a second party; and

granting access to the selected benchmark information to the second party when the identification information of the second party matches the selected identification information included in the electronic data structure.

16. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

presenting the electronic data structure to the second party.

17. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

presenting the electronic data structure to second parties by electronic means.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

updating the resource or database with benchmark information.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, the method further comprising:

encrypting the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 16, the method further comprising:

stripping off personally identifiable information contained in the electronic data structure prior to presenting.

21. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving a request for a benchmark information from the second party, said request including the identification information of said second party;

determining whether the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and whether the identification information of the second party is contained in an authorizing section of the electronic data structure; and

presenting the requested benchmark information to the second party when the determination indicates that the requested benchmark information is contained in said electronic data structure and the identification information is contained in the authorizing section of the electronic data structure.

24. The computer-readable storage device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

storing an authorized content section in said electronic data structure, wherein the authorized content section specifies the benchmark information that is accessible by the entity.