Virtual office management system

• US 8,307,299 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Conner, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, HIEN LUONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/398,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 715/778
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A virtual office management system has an image output module that displays as a single view web page. A series of defined sections are included in the single view web page, a defined section being a divisible frame capable of displaying separate content within that divisible frame, a physical office module, a desktop module, and a resource module. The physical office module is connected to the single view web page and displayed within the divisible frame, the physical office module providing a layered physical office environment with tags assigned to file directories. The desktop module is connected to the single view web page and displayable through the divisible frame, the desktop module being linkable to content of a pre-determined file directory that is then displayed as a system file folder, and changeable through assigned tags associated with the layered physical office environment. The resource module is connected to the single view web page through a series of separate embedded links, the links individually layered into another frame of the single view web page and connected to both internal and external content.

Claims

1. A virtual office management system, comprising:

an image output device that displays as a single view web page;

a series of defined window sections viewable in the single view web page, one defined window section being a divisible frame capable of displaying separate content within that divisible frame;

a physical office module connected to the single view web page and displaying a layered physical office environment within the divisible frame, the layered physical office environment having tags assigned to physical assets and file directories of individual staff members, the tags providing access and displayable information regarding the physical asset or the individual staff members;

a desktop module connected to the single view web page and displaying desktop module content of individual staff members through the divisible frame, the desktop module content includes a pre-determined file directory displayed as a system file folder and changeable through the tags of the layered physical office environment; and

a resource module connected to and displaying resource content through the single view web page through a series of separate embedded links, the links individually layered into another frame of the single view web page and connected to both internal and external content.

2. The virtual office management system of claim 1, wherein the defined window sections include a top element, side element and a divisible inline frame.

3. The virtual office management system of claim 1, wherein the inline frame is divisible between a top inline frame and a bottom inline frame.

4. The virtual office management system of claim 3, wherein the layered physical office environment is displayable through the top inline frame.

5. The virtual office management system of claim 3, wherein the desktop module content is displayable through the bottom inline frame.

6. The virtual office management system of claim 3, wherein the layered physical office environment is displayable through the bottom inline frame.

7. The virtual office management system of claim 3, wherein the desktop module content is displayable through the top inline frame.

8. The virtual office management system of claim 1, further comprising a reset feature that sets the single view web page back to a default start page.

9. The virtual office management system of claim 2, further comprising a corporate portal module connected through an embedded link within the top element, the corporate portal module providing access to a document-management platform that runs through the divisible inline frame.

10. The virtual office management system of claim 2, further comprising a file directory module connected through another embedded link within the top element, the file directory module providing access to the shared server files and displayable within the divisible inline frame.

11. The virtual office management system of claim 4, wherein the layered physical office environment is a three-dimensional graphical user interface.

12. The virtual office management system of claim 11, wherein the three-dimensional graphical user interface is prepared as a two-dimensional image with perspective, using Google SketchUp.

13. The virtual office management system of claim 12, wherein the layered physical office environment is includes physical assets.

14. The virtual office management system of claim 1, wherein the physical office module includes communication abilities through the layered physical office environment.

15. The virtual office management system of claim 1, wherein the physical office module displays employee presence awareness through the layered physical office environment.

16. A method of managing staff members, comprising the steps of:

navigating through a single view web page, having several defined sections, including at least one divisible frame capable of displaying separate content within that divisible frame;

providing a layered physical office environment with tags assigned to physical assets and file directories of individual staff members, the tags providing access and displayable information regarding the physical asset or the individual staff members;

selecting information linked to a physical asset or the file directories of individual staff members linked through a three-dimensional office environment displayable in one section of the divisible frame, and the information or selected staff member file directory displayed in another section of the divisible frame;

selecting specific content within the selected file directory, the specific content displayable within an entirety of the divisible frame; and

selecting user resources through a series of links embedded within the defined sections, other than the divisible frame, the user resources displayable within an entirety of the divisible frame.

17. The method of managing staff members according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

requesting displayable content through a top element, a side element and a divisible inline frame of the single view web page having defined sections.

18. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

selecting specific staff member file directory content through a three-dimensional office environment displayable within a top inline frame of the divisible frame, the staff member file directory content displayable in a bottom inline frame of the divisible frame.

19. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

navigating and selecting specific staff member file content displayable through a bottom inline frame of the divisible frame.

20. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

displaying specific staff member file content through the divisible frame.

21. The method of managing staff members according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a reset feature that sets the single view web page back to a default start page.

22. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a corporate portal module connected through an embedded link within the top element, the corporate portal module providing access to a document-management platform that is displayable through the divisible inline frame.

23. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a file directory module connected through another embedded link within the top element, the file directory module providing access to the shared server files and displayable through the divisible inline frame.

24. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

communicating with staff members through the single view webpage.

25. The method of managing staff members according to claim 24, wherein the step of communicating with staff members is performed through the displayable three-dimensional office environment.

26. The method of managing staff members according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring staff member through employee presence awareness.

27. The method of managing staff members according to claim 24, wherein the step of monitoring staff members is performed through the displayable three-dimensional office environment.