System and method for independent verification and validation

• US 8,543,620 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aplix Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aplix Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Ching, Philip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F
• Application Number:
  US13/111,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 707802-805, 707/736, 707/600, 707/608
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

This invention is to solve the high cost of IV&V by simplifying the complex logistics of project management. This is an intelligent project management system comprising a project server computer remotely accessible by a user computing device. The project server computer includes several databases: A database of electronic library which stores documents that are required by the project, a database which stores project data that reflect the state of the project, and a database which stores the user information of privileged users. Several modules are executing in the project server computer to generate the view of the project, to automatically monitor the state of the project, to verify and validate the mapping between multiple documents for requirement traceability, to automatically indicate the state of the project, to automatically provide assistance to the user, to automatically inform the stakeholder on matters related to the project, and to authenticate the privileged user. This intelligent project management system assumes that the server computer contains a standard computer operating system that includes at least a web server, an email server and a search engine facility.

Claims

1. An IV&

V project management system comprising at least a networked database and at least one subsystem;

(a) said networked database further comprising;

(1) a first database comprising project related data, report, predefined consistency rules, predefined security rules and;

(2) a second database containing at least one document required by the project; and

(3) a third database comprising user credentials, predefined security rules and other project related information; and

(b) said subsystem to execute desired function(s) in an IV&

V project server computer comprising the following;

(1) a module automatically providing a of project view based on documents in the databases, said module comprising;

(i) a web based, color coded multi dimensional matrix where each row represents a project requirement item, each column represents a specific stage in the life cycle of a project requirement item and each entry is a link to a specific piece of information in a related document for the project progress to meet its milestones in the schedule;

(ii) said module generates requirement traceability of the project in the form of multi staged links in a color coded multi dimensional matrix;

(iii) said module accepts user requests to display the project view or to edit project item in the said multi dimensional matrix;

(iv) said module incorporates color codes to automatically change the color of project items based on project status and information from the databases allowing user to visually understand the project growth; and

(v) said module monitors project status and updates the project view

(2) a module using a search, compare, and contrast engine to verify and validate the traceability of project requirements;

(3) a module automatically monitoring and the security of the project server computer;

(4) a module providing interface between user and the project server computer based on user privileges, said module communicates with the user, said module provides user help facility;

(5) a module providing editing capability, sorting functions for project items and a printing facility;

(6) said module searches information hierarchically based on words, phrases and sentences to pin-point relevant information in multiple documents and display the search result side-by-side;

(7) said module compares documents using side-by-side cross referencing of multiple documents to support the electronic review of project documents using web forms;

(8) said module contrasts multiple documents for any changes in words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs and display the result side-by-side for comparison to support version control of project documents, said module archives official version of project documents in the database; and

(9) said module archives the results in databases to support project management including requirement traceability between multiple documents.

2. The subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said module in (b) (3) is further configured to perform following functions:

(1) monitor the confidentiality and integrity of project documents;

(2) monitor the current state of the computer operating system against a set of predefined rules to determine the health state of the project server computer;

(3) monitor the operational integrity for anomalies against the project server computer;

(4) perform intrusion detection for any malicious acts to the project server computer, wherein sending alerts automatically to the server administrator or responsible personnel in case there is any malicious act of some kind;

(5) perform user authentication and user authorization based on user credential to ensure the security of the system.

3. The subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said module in (b) (4) is further configured to:

(1) provide user interface to log in to the project server computer;

(2) communicate with the user on matters related to the project, including the status of a project requirement, project problems and warning messages to the user via electronic mail, text message, audio message and video means via the communication medium, wherein user can be privileged user; and

(3) provide user help and explanation of functions in the project view screen for user, said module sending a follow up message to help the user.

4. The subsystem according to claim 1, wherein said module in (b) (5) is further configured to:

(1) provide a project view directed to handle the editing of project item or change project status to be reflected in the project view;

(2) provide sort functions by displaying data in rows and/or columns sortable by time stamps, name or numeric order; and

(3) provide print capability for the user and to store the printed data to an alternate location and/or alternate storage media according to user'"'"'s choice.

5. A method of using computer implemented IV&

V project management system comprising the following steps;

(a) a first step of reading and storing project related data, information and documents to networked databases, said databases comprises

(1) a first database containing project related data, report, predefined consistency rules, predefined security rules and related information;

(2) a second database which contains all the documents that are mandatory required by the project;

(3) a third database containing related information related to the user of the project server computer; and

(b) a second step of using a computer system to perform project management of an IV&

V functions comprising the following components and processes;

(1) a search facility component to facilitate search compare and contrast of project documents, said facility allows the project server computer to generate the project view and to provide necessary reference of monitoring the status of the project allows users to find necessary information related to the project and makes a decision for matters related to the project;

(2) a web server components supports the web application, user interface for accepting requests and authenticating the user, generation of project view, wherein the web server and application protocols comprise http and different computer programming languages, wherein said web server component provides sorting different project items to visualize the status and manage the project, wherein said web server provides online and offline help to the user, explaining each item in the project, step by step from one project view to the next project view helping the user online and off-line by sending follow up notifications to the end user;

(3) an email server component to support the notification of project matter to the end user, said email server supports all system initiate notification to the end user via email, text messages and other electronic message means;

(4) a scheduler component from the base computer operating system to support the automatic activation of said perpetual processes on the said project server computer;

(5) a file system component to support the security of the system, said file system supporting the hierarchical electronic library of the project documents and all other project related rules, data and information;

(6) a component which automatically monitors the security state of the project server computer, said component examining the document database for integrity of the project documents examining project database based on a set of predefined rules for its consistence comparing the current state of the computer operating system against a set of predefined rules to determine the health state of the project server computer and reporting to the server administrator in case of any inconsistence detected or any malicious act of some kind; and

(7) a component to control the communication protocols comprising at least the TCP/IP protocol to support the application environment, said component controls the communication medium to connect the project server computer and the end user, said component interfacing with the user computing devices from the end user which access the project server computer via the communication medium to view the status of the project;

wherein the said method further comprises at least three perpetual processes to perform the IV&

V project management functions;

(i) a first perpetual process that performs the following;

(1) monitors the state of the project server computer and records the reports in the project database, said process automatically update the project view;

(2) said process is further configured to be perpetual in action automatically and periodically examining the status of the project using data recorded in the project database against a set of predefined rules to determine a particular project status and optionally to be activated periodically by a scheduler from the base operating system;

(3) said perpetual process incorporates color codes and automatically change the color code of project item based on information from the project databases;

(4) said process is further configured to be perpetual in action of updating color codes which periodically exams the status of the project, uses data recorded in the project database against a set of predefined rules to determine if a particular project item is in a condition that meets the rule and optionally to activate a color code to indicate the status of particular project items;

(5) said perpetual process alerts the user on matters related to the project;

(6) said perpetual process examines automatically and periodically data and/or information from the first, the second and/or the third databases; and

(7) Upon detection of late delivery of project item which affects at least one project milestone the said process alerts stakeholders according to scheduled policy against a list of names and addresses;

(ii) a second perpetual process helping the user on-line and off-line, wherein the said process remembers what the user had asked and will follow up with the user via email or other electronic means using the communication medium when the information is available and periodically scanning the project database to determine if a follow up action needs to be executed; and

(iii) a third perpetual process comprising the following functions;

(1) periodically and perpetually monitoring the confidentiality and integrity of project documents;

(2) periodically and perpetually comparing the current state of computer operating system against a set of predefined rules;

(3) periodically and perpetually comparing the operational integrity of the project server computer for deviations against anomalies;

(4) periodically and perpetually performs intrusion detection for malicious attacks to the project server computer; and

(5) periodically and perpetually alert the server administrator or responsible personnel in case there is any malicious act of some kind.