Concise communication of real-time business information in an enterprise network
First Claim
1. A method for displaying information derived from an integrated business system having at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, comprising:
- displaying a browser window to a user;
simultaneously displaying within said browser window a plurality of portlet windows, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area within said browser window, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that user, said plurality of portlets comprising;
a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from said ERP module, said first reporting portlet further displaying a first report access link associated with said business result that, when selected by the user, invokes a display of underlying business data associated with said first business result metric;
a first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; and
a second reporting portlet displaying a second business result metric, said second business result metric being derived from said CRM module; and
accessing said user profile associated with said user from the integrated business system, said user profile comprising a display mode preference associated with each of said first and second business result metrics indicating a selection of one of a text-based output format or a graphics-based output format;
displaying said first and second business result metrics according to their associated display mode preferences;
receiving portlet positioning preferences from the user indicating desired spatial arrangements of said plurality of portlets in said browser window for that user;
storing said portlet positioning preferences in said user profile;
subsequent to said receiving portlet positioning preferences, displaying said first reporting portlet, said second reporting portlet, and said first application portlet according to said portlet positioning preferences; and
for each of said first and second business result metrics,acquiring an associated threshold value;
storing said threshold value in said user profile;
comparing each of said first and second business result metrics against their associated threshold value; and
displaying any of said first and second business result metrics that are beyond their associated threshold value in a highlighted format within its respective portlet, thereby immediately informing the user that said business result metric is beyond its associated threshold without requiring affirmative inquiry from the user.
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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.
34 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for displaying information derived from an integrated business system having at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, comprising:
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displaying a browser window to a user; simultaneously displaying within said browser window a plurality of portlet windows, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area within said browser window, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that user, said plurality of portlets comprising; a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from said ERP module, said first reporting portlet further displaying a first report access link associated with said business result that, when selected by the user, invokes a display of underlying business data associated with said first business result metric; a first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; and a second reporting portlet displaying a second business result metric, said second business result metric being derived from said CRM module; and accessing said user profile associated with said user from the integrated business system, said user profile comprising a display mode preference associated with each of said first and second business result metrics indicating a selection of one of a text-based output format or a graphics-based output format; displaying said first and second business result metrics according to their associated display mode preferences; receiving portlet positioning preferences from the user indicating desired spatial arrangements of said plurality of portlets in said browser window for that user; storing said portlet positioning preferences in said user profile; subsequent to said receiving portlet positioning preferences, displaying said first reporting portlet, said second reporting portlet, and said first application portlet according to said portlet positioning preferences; and for each of said first and second business result metrics, acquiring an associated threshold value; storing said threshold value in said user profile; comparing each of said first and second business result metrics against their associated threshold value; and displaying any of said first and second business result metrics that are beyond their associated threshold value in a highlighted format within its respective portlet, thereby immediately informing the user that said business result metric is beyond its associated threshold without requiring affirmative inquiry from the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for displaying information derived from an integrated business system having at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, comprising:
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displaying a browser window to a user; simultaneously displaying within said browser window a plurality of portlet windows, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area within said browser window, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that user, said plurality of portlets comprising; a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from said ERP module, said first reporting portlet further displaying a first report access link associated with said business result that, when selected by the user, invokes a display of underlying business data associated with said first business result metric; a first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; a second reporting portlet displaying a second business result metric, said second business result metric being derived from said CRM module; a continuing search results portlet displaying results associated with a continuing search request; and a user interface management portlet comprising at least one customization access link that, when selected by the user, invokes a browser-based interactive session customization module, said customization module receiving user preferences including said portlet positioning preferences and said continuing search request; accessing said user profile associated with said user from the integrated business system, said user profile comprising a display mode preference associated with each of said first and second business result metrics indicating a selection of one of a text-based output format or a graphics-based output format; displaying said first and second business result metrics according to their associated display mode preferences; receiving portlet positioning preferences from the user indicating desired spatial arrangements of said plurality of portlets in said browser window for that user; storing said portlet positioning preferences in said user profile; and subsequent to said receiving portlet positioning preferences, displaying said first reporting portlet, said second reporting portlet, and said first application portlet according to said portlet positioning preferences. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for displaying information derived from an integrated business system having at least one Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) module and at least one Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module, comprising:
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displaying a browser window to a user, said user being associated with a business enterprise having an enterprise network; simultaneously displaying within said browser window a plurality of portlet windows, each portlet window occupying a relatively small area within said browser window, said portlet windows being selected and arranged according to a user profile for that user, said plurality of portlets comprising; a first reporting portlet displaying a first business result metric derived from said ERP module, said first reporting portlet further displaying a first report access link associated with said business result that, when selected by the user, invokes a display of underlying business data associated with said first business result metric; and a first application portlet comprising at least one application access link that, when selected by the user, invokes a browser-based interactive session with one of said ERP or CRM modules; assigning the user a predefined role relevant to said business enterprise, said redefined role being selected from a plurality of predefined roles each having an associated default user profile associated therewith; setting said user profile for that user equal to the default user profile for said assigned predefined role; and updating said user profile for that user according to customization commands received from the user; wherein said user profile includes a terminology map, said terminology map comprising; a plurality of static business terms fixedly associated with data records, transactions, or groups thereof within the integrated business system; and for each of said static business terms, an associated vernacular equivalent customized to said user; and wherein said vernacular equivalents are substituted for said static business terms in said browser window. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification