Patent ID: 8290808
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer system for providing customer-validated Statement of Work workflow automation for data storage environments, the computer system comprising: one or more memory devices; a plurality of records stored on the memory devices and corresponding to a plurality of data storage system environments of a plurality of customers; one or more processors; a first portal module executing on the one or more processors configured to receive first data indicative of a storage architecture of a first data storage system of the plurality of data storage system environments comprising at least first storage configuration information input by a service provider about the first data storage system and recommendations by the service provider for modifying the first data storage system, the first data storage system corresponding to a customer of the plurality of customers and providing one or more of backup, replication and archiving of the customer's data, the first data indicative of a customer storage media type preference and an amount of available storage components; a manager module executing on the one or more processors in communication with the first portal module to receive the first data, the manager module being configured to populate a first record of the plurality of records with the first data; a second portal module executing on the one or more processors, in communication with the manager module, and configured to transmit the first record for review by the customer, the second portal module being further configured to receive input of second storage configuration information from a customer about the first data system, expectations from the customer about the modifications to the first data storage system, and validation input from the customer regarding the data storage system environment; the manager module is further configured to; after a service manager or professional services personnel resolve the discrepancies, the manager module further configured to generate, based at least on the first data from the first record and the validation input, a customer-validated proposed project Statement of Work to be performed with respect to the project related to the first data storage system; after the customer has accepted the proposed project Statement of Work, a third portal module configured to receive completion data regarding completion of the services performed with respect to the first data storage system; and a searchable repository comprising project history data corresponding to a history of the project's lifecycle configured to be used to assist professional services or customer support organizations to better manage relevant details associated with each deployment's successes or issues, wherein at least some of the project history data corresponding to one or more of the first data, the validation input, and the completion data.