System for managing and tracking an inventory of elements
First Claim
1. A method for managing and tracking an inventory of elements, the method comprising:
- maintaining a database comprising a plurality of elements;
assigning an owner to each element, wherein an owner is an individual primarily responsible for the implementation of an element;
identifying relationships between elements, wherein a change in a first element causes a change in implementation of a second element;
monitoring, via a computing device processor, the plurality of elements to identify a change to the first element;
creating an event when the change is material, the event comprising at least one activity that must be completed to incorporate the change for the second element;
notifying the owners of the second element of the event;
monitoring, via the computing device processor, changes to the plurality of elements to determine when all of the activities required by the event are completed;
requesting a final confirmation from all of the owners of elements related to the element with the change, once all activities in the event have been completed, that no further changes are required;
wherein assigning an owner to each element comprises;
identifying an element in need of a new owner;
selecting a new owner for the element, wherein select the new owner for the element comprises;
sending a notification to a manager of the previous owner requiring the manager to specify the new owner;
determining if the manager responds to the notification within a preset period of time; and
sending a notification to a higher level manager in a management hierarchy when the manager does not respond to the notification within the preset period of time; and
communicating ownership of the element to the new owner wherein the new owner must confirm ownership of the element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for managing and tracking an inventory of controlled elements, wherein a database comprising a plurality of elements is maintained, an owner is assigned to each element, the relationships between elements are identified and related elements are linked. The elements are then monitored to identify changes to the elements. Any identified change is confirmed, and if material, the owners of related elements are notified of the changes the need to be made to the related elements and the plurality of elements are monitored to determine when all required changes have been made. Once all the required changes are a made, the owners of the identified elements are required to provide final confirmation that no further changes are needed.
43 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for managing and tracking an inventory of elements, the method comprising:
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maintaining a database comprising a plurality of elements; assigning an owner to each element, wherein an owner is an individual primarily responsible for the implementation of an element; identifying relationships between elements, wherein a change in a first element causes a change in implementation of a second element; monitoring, via a computing device processor, the plurality of elements to identify a change to the first element; creating an event when the change is material, the event comprising at least one activity that must be completed to incorporate the change for the second element; notifying the owners of the second element of the event; monitoring, via the computing device processor, changes to the plurality of elements to determine when all of the activities required by the event are completed; requesting a final confirmation from all of the owners of elements related to the element with the change, once all activities in the event have been completed, that no further changes are required; wherein assigning an owner to each element comprises; identifying an element in need of a new owner; selecting a new owner for the element, wherein select the new owner for the element comprises; sending a notification to a manager of the previous owner requiring the manager to specify the new owner; determining if the manager responds to the notification within a preset period of time; and sending a notification to a higher level manager in a management hierarchy when the manager does not respond to the notification within the preset period of time; and communicating ownership of the element to the new owner wherein the new owner must confirm ownership of the element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory, wherein a database comprising a plurality of elements is stored; a processor operatively connected with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to; maintain a database comprising a plurality of elements; assign an owner to each element, wherein an owner is an individual primarily responsible for the implementation of an element; identify relationships between elements, wherein a change in a first element causes a change in implementation of a second element; monitor the plurality of elements to identify a change to the first element; create an event when the change is material, the event comprising at least one activity that must be completed to incorporate the change for the second element; notify the owners of the second element of the event; monitor changes to the plurality of elements to determine when all of the activities required by the event are completed; request a final confirmation from all of the owners of elements related to the element with the change, once all activities in the event have been completed, that no further changes are required; wherein assigning an owner to each element comprises; identifying an element in need of a new owner; selecting a new owner for the element, wherein select the new owner for the element comprises; sending a notification to a manager of the previous owner requiring the manager to specify the new owner; determining if the manager responds to the notification within a preset period of time; and sending a notification to a higher level manager in a management hierarchy when the manager does not respond to the notification within the preset period of time; and communicate ownership of the element to the new owner wherein the new owner must confirm ownership of the element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable code stored thereon, the computer-executable code comprising:
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a code portion configured to receive inputs from a user to create and maintain a database comprising a plurality of elements; a code portion configured to receive a list of owners for each element, wherein an owner is an individual primarily responsible for the implementation of an element; a code portion configured to identify relationships between elements wherein a change to a first element causes a change in implementation of a second element; a code portion configured to monitor the plurality of elements to identify a change to the first element; a code portion configured to create an event when the change is material, the event comprising at least one activity that must be completed to incorporate the change for the second element; a code portion configured to communicate the creation of an event to the owners of the second element of the event; a code portion configured to monitor changes to the plurality of elements to determine when all of the activities required by the event are completed; and a code portion configured to request a final confirmation from all of the owners of elements related to the element with the change, once all activities in the event have been completed, that no further changes are required; wherein assigning an owner to each element comprises; identifying an element in need of a new owner; selecting a new owner for the element, wherein select the new owner for the element comprises; sending a notification to a manager of the previous owner requiring the manager to specify the new owner; determining if the manager responds to the notification within a preset period of time; and sending a notification to a higher level manager in a management hierarchy when the manager does not respond to the notification within the preset period of time; and a code portion configured to request a final confirmation from all of the owners of elements related to the element with the change, once all activities in the event have been completed, that no further changes are required. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification