Project management database and method of managing project related information
OwnerPatrick J. Coyneinventor
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Abstract
A database, and method of using the same, are provided for managing professional services projects. Professional services practices typically employ distributed proprietary applications which complicate the ready transfer of data between and among applications. The database of the present invention is preferably built on an ODBC-compliant platform, such as Lotus Notes and operates in conjunction with an SQL database. Data is secured from the distributed proprietary databases by the SQL database server and supplied to an ODBC-compliant database in Lotus Notes. The data is stored in portable format in the Lotus Notes database, providing an easily accessible data warehouse for the professional services practice.
Claims118
A data processing application, in machine readable form, for managing data relating to a professional services project, comprising:
- a. means for receiving the data in a format other than application-independent format;
- and
- d. storing the data in a substantially portable format.
A data processing application, in machine readable form, for managing data relating to a professional services project, comprising:
- a. the application being adapted to receive the data in a format other than application-independent format;
- and
- b. data storage means cooperating with the application for storing the data;
- c. the application being adapted to store said data in a substantially portable format.
A data processing system for managing a professional services practice, in machine readable format, comprising:
- a. one or more distributed applications;
- b. data storage means, cooperating with said one or more distributed applications, for storing the data in a format other than an application-independent format;
- and
- c. case management database means, cooperating with one or more of said data storage means and said one or more distributed applications;
- d. said case management database means being adapted to store said data in a substantially portable format;
- e. said case management database means being adapted to make the data available to users in the professional services practice.
A data processing system for managing data relating to a professional services project, in machine readable format, comprising:
- a. the data being in a format other than application-independent format;
- b. one or more distributed applications;
- adapted to access the data;
- c. data storage means, cooperating with said one or more distributed applications, for storing the data in a format other than an application-independent format;
- d. server means, cooperating with one or more of said one or more of said data storage means and said one or more distributed applications, said server means being adapted to transfer the data;
- and
- e. case management database means, cooperating with one or more of said server means, said data storage means, and said one or more distributed applications, said case management means being adapted for communicating with respect to the data;
- f. said case management database means being adapted to store said data in a substantially portable format.
A user interface for a computer network comprising one or more distributed applications and data storage means used in a professional services practice, comprising:
- a. client means in machine readable format for aggregating data relating to the client for whom the professional services are being undertaken;
- b. matter means in machine readable format for aggregating data relating to the subject matter of the professional services;
- and
- c. project management means in machine readable format for aggregating data relating to the representation, the data aggregated in the project management means further comprising one or more types of data selected from the group consisting of:
- conflicts;
- accounting;
- docketing;
- word processing;
- document management;
- forms and prior work product precedents;
- workflow;
- events;
- tasks;
- risk management tools;
- project management tools;
- d. whereby the data is made available to the user.
A method for aggregating project management information used in conjunction with a professional services practice, comprising:
- a. retaining client-related data associated with the client for whom the project is being undertaken in a first format;
- b. retaining project-related data relating to said client in a second format;
- c. retaining event-related data relating to the occurrence of one or more events associated with said matter in a third format;
- d. aggregating said client-, project-, and event-related data in machine readable format;
- and
- e. making said client-, project-, and event-related data available to the user in a common format.
A data processing application, in machine readable form, for integrating data relating to a professional services project, comprising:
- a. application means, for managing the data, said application means comprising client means for identifying the client, and project means for identifying the project;
- b. said client means further comprising data, maintained in a second application, relating to the client for whom the professional services are being performed, the data being selected from the group consisting of:
- identity of the client, relationships and affiliations of the client to other persons, client number, client contact information, lines of business, products and services, referral information, billing information, and fee-related information;
- and
- c. said project means further comprising data, maintained in a third application, relating to the subject matter of the professional services being performed, the data being selected from the group consisting of:
- identity of the project, creation date, description, geographic area, jurisdictions, other associate counsel, vendors, responsible attorney, comments, and other pertinent facts relating to the representation;
- d. said application means being adapted to maintain the data in substantially portable format.
A software application, in machine readable form, for integrating data relating to a professional services project, comprising:
- a. ODBC-compliant case management database means for managing the data,
- b. said case management database means being adapted to cooperate with SQL server means;
- c. said case management database application means further comprising client means for identifying the professional services client, and project means for identifying the professional service project;
- d. said client means further comprising data, maintained in a second application, relating to the client for whom the professional services are being performed, the data being selected from the group consisting of:
- identity of the client, relationships and affiliations of the client to other persons, client number, client contact information, lines of business, products and services, referral information, billing information, and fee-related information;
- and
- e. said project means further comprising data, maintained in a third application, relating to the subject matter of the professional services being performed, the data being selected from the group consisting of:
- identity of the project, creation date, description, geographic area, jurisdictions, other associate counsel, vendors, responsible attorney, comments, and other pertinent facts relating to the representation;
- f. said SQL server means being adapted to cooperate with said second and third applications and to communicate the data to said case management database means.
- g. said case management database application means being adapted to maintain the data in substantially portable format.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.