Enterprise architecture diagramming systems and methods

• US 8,347,218 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• 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): TRAN, TUYETLIEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/555,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 715/706, 715/760
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; 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 levels 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. The content of the various user-editable webpages may be standardized based on level and category.

Claims

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

defining a framework of a plurality of units, the framework comprising a plurality of levels and a plurality of categories, wherein the level of detail for each sequential level downwardly progresses from broad to narrow, wherein the framework comprises levels for a system model and a technology model, and wherein the framework comprises categories for processes and location;

storing the framework in a computer readable medium;

displaying the framework on a computer display using a computer system, wherein each unit in the framework corresponds to at least one user-editable webpage;

wherein a first user-editable webpage associated with a first unit displays first enterprise architecture content, wherein the first enterprise architecture content comprises a first enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the first user-editable webpage, wherein the first enterprise architecture diagram is based on a first set of guidelines, wherein the first set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the system model level and the processes category, and wherein the first set of guidelines corresponds to a first common format applicable to user modifications of the first user-editable webpage; and

wherein a second user-editable webpage associated with a second unit displays second enterprise content, wherein the second enterprise architecture content comprises a second enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the second user-editable webpage, wherein the second enterprise architecture diagram is based on a second set of guidelines, and wherein the second set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the technology model level and the processes category, and wherein the second set of guidelines corresponds to a second common format applicable to user modifications of the second user-editable webpage;

storing the first enterprise architecture diagram and the second enterprise architecture diagram in a computer readable 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 user modification of the at least one user-editable webpage;

storing the modified one user-editable webpage in a computer readable medium; and

displaying the modified user-editable webpage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework comprises levels for a scope, a business model, and a detailed representation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the framework comprises categories for definition, organization, time, and rationale.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching a file to the user-editable webpage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the file is the first enterprise architecture diagram.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user-editable webpage and the second user-editable webpage each comprise at least one standardized icon selected from a set of standardized icons, where the at least one standardized icons respectively correspond to the first common format and the second common format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the framework comprises displaying a third user-editable webpage associated with a third unit and a third enterprise architecture content, wherein the third enterprise architecture content comprises a third enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the third user-editable webpage, wherein the third enterprise architecture diagram is based on a third set of guidelines, wherein the third set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the system model level and the location category, and wherein the third set of guidelines corresponds to a third common format applicable to user modifications of the third user-editable webpage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the framework comprises displaying a fourth user-editable webpage associated with a fourth unit and a fourth enterprise architecture content, wherein the fourth enterprise architecture content comprises a fourth enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the fourth user-editable webpage, wherein the fourth enterprise architecture diagram is based on a fourth set of guidelines, wherein the fourth set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the technology model level and the location category, and wherein the fourth set of guidelines corresponds to a fourth common format applicable to user modifications of the fourth user-editable webpage.

9. 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;

determining a schema for specifying the subject matter of the levels and categories, wherein the subject matter of each level varies in detail, and wherein the level of detail downwardly progresses from broad to narrow;

associating a first user-editable webpage with a first unit in the framework;

displaying the first user-editable webpage upon selection of the first unit by a user, the first user-editable webpage displaying a first enterprise architecture content, wherein the first content enterprise architecture content is dependent upon the location of the associated unit within the framework;

wherein the first enterprise architecture content comprises a first enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the first user-editable webpage, and wherein the first enterprise architecture diagram is based on a first set of guidelines, and wherein the first set of guidelines corresponds to a first common format applicable to user modifications of the first user-editable webpage;

associating a second user-editable webpage with a second unit in the framework;

displaying the second user-editable webpage upon selection of the second unit by a user, the second user-editable webpage displaying a second enterprise architecture content, wherein the second content enterprise architecture content is dependent upon the location of the associated unit within the framework, wherein the second enterprise architecture content comprises a second enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the second user-editable webpage, and wherein the second enterprise architecture diagram is based on a second set of guidelines, and wherein the second set of guidelines corresponds to a second common format applicable to user modifications of the second user-editable webpage;

modifying the first user-editable webpage upon a modification by a user via an online editor;

storing the modified first user-editable webpage in a computer readable memory medium; and

displaying the modified first user-editable webpage;

remodifying the modified first user-editable webpage upon a remodification by a user via the online editor;

storing the remodified first user-editable webpage in the computer readable memory medium; and

displaying the remodified first user-editable webpage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the schema comprises levels for scope, business model, system model, technology model, and detailed representations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the schema comprises categories for definition, processes, location, organization, time, and rationale.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

attaching a file to the user-editable webpage, wherein the file is the first enterprise architecture diagram.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the system model level and the processes category.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the technology model level and the processes category.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a third user-editable webpage upon selection of a third unit by a user, the third user-editable webpage displaying a third enterprise architecture content, wherein the third content enterprise architecture content is dependent upon the location of the associated unit within the framework, wherein the third enterprise architecture content comprises a third enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the third user-editable webpage, wherein the third enterprise architecture diagram is based on a third set of guidelines, and wherein the third set of guidelines corresponds to a third common format applicable to user modifications of the third user-editable webpage.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a fourth user-editable webpage upon selection of a fourth unit by a user, the fourth user-editable webpage displaying a fourth enterprise architecture content, wherein the fourth content enterprise architecture content is dependent upon the location of the associated unit within the framework, wherein the fourth enterprise architecture content comprises a fourth enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the fourth user-editable webpage, and wherein the fourth enterprise architecture diagram is based on a fourth set of guidelines, and wherein the fourth set of guidelines corresponds to a fourth common format applicable to user modifications of the fourth user-editable webpage.

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

defining a framework of a plurality of units, the framework comprising a plurality of levels and a plurality of categories, wherein the level of detail for each sequential level downwardly progresses from broad to narrow, wherein the framework comprises a business model level, a system model level, a technology model level, and a detailed representation level, and wherein the framework comprises a definition category, a processes category, a location category, an organization category, a time category and a rational category;

storing the framework in a computer readable medium;

displaying the framework on a computer display using a computer system, wherein each unit in the framework corresponds to at least one user-editable webpage;

wherein a first user-editable webpage associated with a first unit displays first enterprise architecture content, wherein the first enterprise architecture content comprises a first enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the first user-editable webpage, wherein the first enterprise architecture diagram is based on a first set of guidelines, wherein the first set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the system model level and the processes category, and wherein the first set of guidelines corresponds to a first common format applicable to user modifications of the first user-editable webpage; and

wherein a second user-editable webpage associated with a second unit displays second enterprise content, wherein the second enterprise architecture content comprises a second enterprise architecture diagram graphically displayed on the second user-editable webpage, wherein the second enterprise architecture diagram is based on a second set of guidelines, wherein the second set of guidelines is for at least one unit in the technology model level and the processes category, and wherein the second set of guidelines corresponds to a second common format applicable to user modifications of the second user-editable webpage;

storing the first enterprise architecture diagram and the second enterprise architecture diagram in a computer readable 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 user modification of at least one user-editable webpage;

storing the modified one user-editable webpage in a computer readable medium; and

displaying the modified user-editable webpage.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of user-editable webpages are editable via a wiki interface.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first user-editable webpage and the second user-editable webpage each comprise at least one standardized icon selected from a set of standardized icons.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

attaching a file to the user-editable webpage.