Product deviation request tracking system
OwnerJohn E. Ford, Kevin Fuller +1inventors
InventorsJohn E. Ford, Kevin Fuller, Walter Andrew Wojtowicz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system in a computer for tracking requests for deviations, such as deviations to products, is provided. The computer system receives information associated with a request for deviation. After a review of a request, the computer system receives an indication of a decision for the request resulting from the review. When requested by a user, the computer system generates a report indicating open items identified during the review. Once the open items have been completed, the computer system receives an indication that an open item has been completed. When a final decision for the request is reached, the computer system receives an indication of the decision.
Claims76
A method in a computer for organizing and tracking information associated with requests for deviations from a product, the method comprising:
- providing a hierarchical organization, the hierarchical organization specifying categories for project identification information, request group information, and request item information;
- receiving project identification information associated with one or more requests for deviations from the product;
- receiving request group information for a request group, the request group relating to the received project identification information;
- receiving request item information for a request item, the request item relating to the received request group information;
- and
- storing the received information.
A method in a computer for tracking requests for deviations, the method comprising:
- receiving information associated with the requests for deviations;
- storing the received information associated with the requests for deviations;
- generating a report of the stored information for review of the requests for deviations;
- and
- after review of the requests for deviations, receiving an indication of a decision whether to deviate;
- and
- when the received decision indicates that more information related to the requests for deviations is needed,
- receiving an indication of open items associated with the requests;
- tracking completion of the open items;
- and
- receiving a final decision whether to deviate.
A method in a computer for tracking requests for deviations from a product, the method comprising:
- receiving project identification information associated with one or more requests for deviations from the product;
- receiving request group information for a request group, the request group relating to the received project identification information;
- receiving request item information for a request item, the request item relating to the received request group information;
- storing the received information;
- generating a report of the stored information for review of a request group;
- and
- after review of the request group,
- receiving an indication of a decision whether to deviate from the product;
- and
- when the received decision indicates that more information related to the request group is needed,
- receiving an indication of an open item associated with the request group;
- when the open item is completed, generating a report relating to open items, and
- receiving a final decision whether to deviate from the product.
A method in a computer for tracking requests for deviations from a product, the method comprising:
- providing information associated with requests for deviations, wherein the stored information is organized using hierarchical categories, the hierarchical categories including project identification information, request group information, and request item information;
- receiving from a user criteria for retrieving the stored information, the criteria associated with one or more of the provided hierarchical categories;
- searching for the stored information using the received criteria;
- when information corresponding to the received criteria is found, generating search results, the search results including indications of the found information;
- and
- sending to the user the search results.
A computer-readable medium containing a data structure for use by a request tracking system, the data structure comprising:
- a project table having entries for projects;
- a request group table having entries for request groups, each entry for a request group being mapped to an entry for a project;
- and
- a request item table having entries for requests items, each entry for a request item being mapped to an entry for a request group.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform a method comprising:
- receiving project identification information for a plurality of projects;
- receiving request group information for a request group relating to the received project identification information;
- receiving request item information relating to received request group information and identifying a request for a deviation from a product;
- and
- storing the received information.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer to perform a method comprising:
- receiving information associated with requests for deviations;
- storing the received information using an organization of information categories;
- generating a report of the stored information for review of the requests for deviations;
- and
- after review of the requests, receiving a final decision whether to deviate.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method comprising:
- receiving project identification information for a plurality of requests for deviations from a product;
- receiving request group information for a plurality of request groups, the request groups relating to a project;
- receiving request item information for a plurality of request items, the request items relating to a request group;
- storing the received information;
- generating a report of the stored information for review of a request group;
- and
- receiving a final decision whether to deviate from the product.
A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer to track requests for deviations from a product by a method comprising:
- providing information stored in a database, the information associated with requests for deviations, wherein the stored information is organized using hierarchical categories, the hierarchical categories including project identification information, request group information, and request item information;
- receiving from a user criteria for retrieving the stored information, the criteria associated with one or more of the provided hierarchical categories;
- searching for the stored information in the database using the received criteria;
- when information corresponding to the received criteria is found, generating search results, the search results including indications of the found information;
- and
- sending to the user the search results.
A computer system for organizing and tracking information associated with requests for deviations from a product comprising:
- means for receiving project identification information associated with one or more requests for deviations from the product;
- means for receiving request group information for a request group, the request group relating to the received project identification information;
- means for receiving request item information for a request item, the request item relating to the received request group information;
- and
- means for storing the received information.
A computer system for tracking requests for deviations from a product comprising:
- means for receiving project identification information associated with one or more requests for deviations from the product;
- means for receiving request group information for a request group, the request group relating to the received project identification information;
- means for receiving request item information for a request item, the request item relating to the received request group information;
- means for storing the received information;
- means for generating a report of the stored information for review of a request group;
- means for receiving an indication of an initial decision whether to deviate from the product;
- means for receiving an indication of an open item associated with the request group;
- means for generating a report relating to open items, and
- means for receiving a final decision whether to deviate from the product.
A computer system for tracking requests for deviations from a product, comprising:
- means for providing information stored in a database, the information associated with requests for deviations, wherein the stored information is organized using hierarchical categories, the hierarchical categories including project identification information, request group information, and request item information;
- means for receiving from a user criteria for retrieving the stored information, the criteria associated with one or more of the provided hierarchical categories;
- means for searching for the stored information in the database using the received criteria;
- means for generating search results, the search results including indications of the found information;
- and
- means for sending to the user the search results.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.