Wiki-facilitated enterprise architecture repository

• US 8,244,763 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Meredith, Eric P., Jeffers, Chad T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Yuk Ting
• Application Number:
  US12/338,774
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/791
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An enterprise architecture storage and organization system is provided which includes user-editable webpages to display enterprise architecture content. The webpages are organized in a framework, such as the Zachman Framework. The framework may comprise a plurality of units grouped into a plurality of levers and a plurality of categories. Each unit may have a user-editable webpage associated with it. The level of detail included within each user-editable webpage is variant depending upon the location of its associated unit in the framework. Units at the top of the framework contain broad or general information and the level of detail downwardly increases. Users may selectably edit the content of the user-editable webpages using an editor. Users may edit the text and edit and attach graphics. In some embodiments, wiki-type functionality may be utilized.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for storing enterprise architecture, the method comprising:

defining a framework of a plurality of units, the plurality of units comprising enterprise architecture content, the framework comprising a plurality of levels and a plurality of categories grouping the enterprise architecture content among the plurality of units according to a category and a level of detail of the enterprise architecture content, wherein the level of detail of the enterprise architecture content grouped in each sequential level downwardly progresses from broad to narrow in each category, and wherein the levels grouping the enterprise architecture content comprise scope, business model, system model, technology model, and detailed representations;

displaying the framework using a computer system, wherein each unit in the framework corresponds to at least one user-editable webpage, wherein the at least one user-editable webpage is populated with enterprise architecture content, the enterprise architecture content stored in a computer memory medium;

facilitating individual selection of each of the plurality of units to display the corresponding at least one user-editable webpage;

facilitating with an online editor a modification of the enterprise architecture content of the at least one user-editable webpage;

storing the modification of the enterprise architecture content in a computer memory medium; and

displaying the modification of the enterprise architecture content on the at least one user-editable webpage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the categories grouping the enterprise architecture content comprise definition, processes, location, organization, time, and rationale.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a file to the at least one user-editable webpage.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectably displaying an author help window.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the categories comprise at least definition, processes, location, organization, time, and rationale.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a module programmed to compile the content of the plurality of user-modifiable webpages into a file.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of user-editable webpages are editable via a wiki interface.

5. A computer implemented system for storing enterprise architecture, the computer implemented system comprising:

a computer memory medium;

a visual display comprising a framework of units, wherein the framework comprises a set of levels and a set of categories allocating enterprise architecture content among the framework of units according to a category and a level of detail of the enterprise architecture content, wherein the framework is displayed on a webpage and stored in the computer memory medium;

a plurality of user-editable webpages stored in the computer memory medium, wherein at least one user-editable webpage corresponds to each unit in the framework, wherein the user-editable webpages are populated with the enterprise architecture content, wherein the enterprise architecture content is stored in a computer memory medium, wherein the level of detail of the enterprise architecture stored in the framework downwardly progresses from broad to narrow between vertically sequential levels in each category, wherein the levels comprise scope, business model, system model, technology model, and detailed representations, and wherein each user-editable webpage is accessed with an input device; and

an editor programmed to permit a plurality of users to view and edit the enterprise architecture content on the user-editable webpages via a webpage interface;

wherein the edited enterprise architecture content is stored in a computer memory medium.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a module programmed to compile the content of the plurality of user-editable webpages into a single webpage.

10. A method for storing and organizing enterprise architecture, the method comprising:

displaying a framework of units on a webpage using a computer system, the framework comprised of a plurality of levels and a plurality of categories allocating enterprise architecture content and enterprise architecture;

determining a schema to specify subject matter of the plurality of levels and the plurality of categories of the framework of units,

wherein the specified subject matter of each level varies in detail, wherein the detail downwardly progresses from broad to narrow between vertically sequential levels in each category, and

wherein the specified subject matter levels comprising scope, business model, system model, technology model, and detailed representations;

associating at least one user-editable webpage with each unit in the framework;

displaying at least one user-editable webpage upon selection of a unit by a user, the at least one user-editable webpage displaying the enterprise architecture content,

wherein the specified subject matter defines the enterprise architecture and the enterprise architecture content is dependent upon the location of the associated unit within the framework;

modifying the content of the user-editable webpage via an online editor;

storing the modified content in computer memory medium; and

displaying the modified content on the user-editable webpage.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the schema specifies subject matter categories comprising definition, processes, location, organization, time, and rationale.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising attaching a file to at least one user-editable webpage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selectably displaying an author help window.

14. A computer implemented system, the computer implemented system comprising:

a computer memory medium;

a plurality of user-editable webpages, wherein each user-editable webpage includes enterprise architecture content, wherein the enterprise architecture content is stored in the computer memory medium, wherein the plurality of user-editable webpages are managed as a wiki;

a framework of units displayed on a web application using a computer system, wherein each individual unit of the framework is associated with the user-editable webpage;

an input device is configured to receive an input from a user, wherein a selection of the individual unit is associated with the user-editable webpage;

a schema designating a plurality of categories and a plurality of levels of the framework of units, wherein the plurality of categories and plurality of levels define the enterprise architecture content of the associated user-editable webpage accessed through each individual unit, the schema providing a level of detail for the enterprise architecture content included on each user-editable webpage, wherein the level of detail downwardly progresses from broad to narrow between sequential levels in each category, and wherein the levels comprise scope, business model, system model, technology model, and detailed representations; and

a computer-based online editor is configured to edit the enterprise architecture content via the web application.