Patent ID: 6650346
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A system for inputting information identifying and classifying an article in a database, comprisinga graphical user interface comprising a first screen, said first screen comprising a search field and a display window; a reference database comprising a first multiplicity of records, each record of said reference database containing manufacturer, model and article type information for a respective class of articles and not containing article identifiers that uniquely identify any particular article belonging to any class of articles; an asset management database comprising a second multiplicity of records, each record of said asset management database containing manufacturer, model, article type, and article identifier information for a respective article, each article identifier uniquely identifying each article in an inventory; means for inputting a search word comprising a sequence of alphanumeric characters uniquely identifying a particular manufacturer in said search field on said first screen; means for displaying a list of entries in said display window on said first screen in response to input of said search word, each of said entries comprising a manufacturer identifier identifying said particular manufacturer, a different model number representing respective models of equipment manufactured by said particular manufacturer, and a respective designation identifying one of a multiplicity of article types by which said respective model of equipment is classified, all of said information being retrieved from said reference database; and means for selecting one of said entries listed in said display window, wherein said graphical user interface changes from said first screen to a second screen in response to said selection of said one of said entries, said second screen comprising an empty data field for entry of an article identifier uniquely identifying an article made by said particular manufacturer and having the model number for said selected entry, filled data fields containing the manufacturer identifier, model number and article type for said selected entry, and an activation area that is selectable by said selecting means, and wherein said system further comprises means for creating a new record containing the information appearing in said fields on said second screen at the time when said activation area is selected after entry of said article identifier and storing said new record in said asset management database.