Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2002-08-27
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C705S007380, C705S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442567
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to computer software for aiding the execution of business activities for an individual (User) acting alone or for a group of individuals (Users) employing a plurality of networked computer terminals. In one of its embodiments, the invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which can cause a computer to function as a contact and activity manager operating according to the instructions of the program. More particularly, the invention can be described as a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to function as a contact and activity manager wherein a computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program having an interface for accessing a database of contact records containing information about a plurality of different contacts (subjects); an interface for accessing a database of activity records containing activity information about a plurality of human-implicated activities wherein activity records are linked to a contact record; an interface for accessing a database of topic records containing topic information about a plurality of topics, each of which identifies a set of activities wherein each topic record is linked to one or more activity records; a processing module for selecting all activity records linked to a contact record; and a processing module for selecting all activity records linked to a topic record.
The invention can also be characterized as a series of operations performed by a computer under the direction of a computer program.
While the invention is advantageously utilized in business environments where the activities managed, planned and recorded are those of officers, employees, and agents of the business, the invention is not so restricted and can be used to advantage in other settings, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the invention is described in greater detail below. For convenience, however, the invention will be described and explained, for the most part, with reference to its application in a business setting where multiple Users (officers, employees, agents, etc.) are functionally connected through a computer network of individual work stations and whose activities are to be integrated for better productivity and efficiency. The invention's applicability to other situations will then be obvious to those skilled in the art with little or no further explanation required.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The basic activity management and recordation program, of which the present invention is an important improvement, is, and has been for several years, successfully marketed by Applicant under the commercial name “TeleMagic/400.” The TeleMagic/400 program advanced the art by, for the first time, interconnecting a plurality of Users to allow integrated effort in a way not possible with manual systems. Unlike many “workflow” or “work management” computer programs which are computerizations of manual systems, the TeleMagic/400 program is a tool that changes the way business is conducted in a truly fundamental sense. Its benefits include greater efficiency, control and productivity. The present invention expands the capabilities of, and adds new dimensions to, the TeleMagic/400 program to the end of creating a new, different and improved product.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The central concept of the present invention for the management of contacts and activities that are typically used and carried on by Users of an organization is the creation, storage and retrieval of data contained in three sets of linked data records (databases): “Contact” records; “Activity” records; and “Topic” records. As used herein, “linked” records refers to records which can be recalled from the totality of stored records as an independent and reviewable group of records. The terms “Contact,” “Activity,” and “Topic” are used as convenient labels to distinguish between records which contain different (but possibly overlapping) subject matter. Obviously, other labels can be used without in any way departing from the invention.
Contact records (sometimes referred to simply as Contacts) are typically customer records or project records (although they may be any other set of records to which Activities can be logically related) where, inter alia, relatively static information (names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.) is stored. For convenience and simplicity, the invention will be explained in relation to a set of customer records as the Contact records, since that is typical of many businesses, but with the understanding that the invention is not so limited.
“Activity” records (sometimes referred to simply as Activities) record human-implicated (or assisted) events that have happened or are scheduled to happen in the future (such as a telephone call, a document, a fax, a scheduled visit), information to share, a question that needs to be answered, some action that has been or needs to be taken, etc.
“Topic” records (sometimes referred to simply as Topics) identify in some detail the relationship between grouped Activity records to enable the easy and quick retrieval of only those activities relating to a particular event. When the number or subject matter of a Topic requires, “Subtopic” records (sometimes referred to simply as Subtopics) can be created which, like Topics, identify in some detail the relationship between grouped Activity records for a sub-group of Activity records all related to the same Topic. Since Topics and Subtopics are so similar, wherever Topics are mentioned herein, it is to be understood that the statement applies to Subtopics as well, unless otherwise stated.
Contact records, Activity records and Topic records advantageously include two data structures: (1) data entered into named fields with a limited numbers of characters (e.g., name, address, subject matter, date, contact person, etc.) which data is, for convenience, referred to herein as “Structured” data; and (2) narrative data that can be of a free-flowing nature entered into fields of virtually unlimited space, including, for example, alpha-numeric data, graphic data, video data, voice data, etc. (e.g., “Comments,” “Discussion,” “Notes,” recorded telephone messages, videos, etc.) which data is, for convenience, referred to herein as “Unstructured” data.
In a typical scenario, Contacts are records of customers, Activities are records of information about interactions with, and tasks to be performed for, such customers, as well as records of tasks relating to internal projects or administrative activities. Topics are logical groupings of Activities beyond their common association with a Contact and may contain Activities linked to several different Contacts, as well as Activities not linked to any Contact. Contact records typically contain Structured data of the customer's essential identifying and locating information (name, address, telephone, fax, Internet, payment terms, contact person, etc.), business activities (sales records, etc.), as well as Unstructured data that may include the background of the business done with the customer, its relationship to other customers, as well as any other information required to give a User an understanding of how to best serve the customer. Topic (and Subtopic) records, which will include both Structured and Unstructured data, permit the substance of a set of grouped Activities to be perceived without having to review the records themselves.
In the present invention, Activity records are typically linked with a Contact record, but not invariably so. While Activities typically relate to a particular customer or project (Contact record) and thus should be linked to that record (and in the preferred embodiment, will do so as a default), it is possible to have an Activity that is linked only to another Activity, or only to a Topic, or free-standing (related only, for example, to a User's calendar). In most cases, however, Activities will be linked to one Contact.
Every created Activity, Contact and Topic is stored for later retrieval. The advantage
Retallick Robin
Sanchez Susana
Appintec Corporation
Black Thomas G.
H. Michael Brucker
Mizrahi Diane
LandOfFree
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