Patent ID: 6961687
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented collaborative engineering environment (CEE) for providing an inter-enterprise collaborative mechanism for organizations developing and maintaining complex system products, the CEE providing a federated architecture linking multiple systems and applications together to enable collaboration among enterprise members, comprising: a database defined by an associative information model for providing a persistent understanding of product and program information, assets and tools available in the enterprise; an information management service providing controlled access to the database for collaboration and; an information transformation service receiving, sending and formatting data and acting as a bi-directional link between the database and members of the enterprise, wherein access to the data in the database is managed by the information management service, and wherein the information transformation service provides information structuring, and information mapping and exchange for domain-specific tools; and at least one domain user interface linking members of a domain in the enterprise with information in the database, wherein the information available to each member is information necessary for the member to complete role and team based tasks, and wherein a domain user interface comprises access to at least one domain-specific tool, wherein each tool communicates information with the database via the information transformation service, wherein members have immediate access to data generated by any member of the enterprise, as authorized by the associative information model defining database access and control.