Abstract:
An on-line certification service accessible over a communication network. Data concerning members formed of service entities and individuals are stored in a member database. Certification records associated with the members, based on data representing a standard, are stored in a certification database. A controller connected to the databases and the communication network registers the members, collects certification data, processes audited information from the members and manages the certification records accordingly with respect to the standard, manages access rights to selected elements of the certification records, and reports the selected elements of the certification records to an authorized user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an on-line service accessible over a communication network, and more particularly to an on-line certification service for electronic virtual certification of professionals with respect to predetermined standards. Such a service is particularly useful for enhancing communications and exchanges between companies seeking outside counsels and services, and for rationalizing the steps and processes implemented by the companies for quality, cost and delay controls and other purposes, leading to a wider recognition and information dissemination with respect to the qualifications and competencies of their employees.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    According to the present invention, there is provided an on-line certification service accessible over a communication network, comprising:  
           [0003]    a member database for storage of data concerning members comprising service entities and individuals associated with the entities;  
           [0004]    a certification database for storage of certification records associated with the members based on predetermined process specification data; and  
           [0005]    a controller connected to the databases and the communication network, and performing operations comprising:  
           [0006]    registering the members into the member database based on information provided by the members over the communication network following a member registration process under control of the controller;  
           [0007]    collecting certification data for the individuals based on audited information provided by the members over the communication network following an auditing process under control of the controller;  
           [0008]    processing the audited information with respect to the process specification data and managing the certification records as a function of the audited information processed by the controller;  
           [0009]    managing access rights to selected elements of the certification records based on access right information provided by the members over the communication network following an authorization process under control of the controller; and  
           [0010]    reporting the selected elements of the certification records corresponding to the access rights of a requester over the communication network following a report process under control of the controller in response to an information request received from the requester over the communication network.  
           [0011]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for on-line certification of members of a service over a communication network, comprising steps of:  
           [0012]    registering the members based on information provided by the members over the communication network following a member registration process under control of the service;  
           [0013]    collecting certification data for individuals associated to service entities having registered as members of the service, based on audited information provided by the members over the communication network following an auditing process under control of the service;  
           [0014]    processing the audited information with respect to process specification data for certification managing certification records associated with the members as a function of the audited information processed by the service;  
           [0015]    managing access rights to selected elements of the certification records based on access right information provided by the members over the communication network following an authorization process under control of the service; and  
           [0016]    reporting the selected elements of the certification records corresponding to the access rights of a requester over the communication network following a report process under control of the service in response to an information request received from the requester over the communication network.  
           [0017]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a member site connectable to an on-line certification site over a communication network, comprising:  
           [0018]    a user interface for interaction with a user;  
           [0019]    a port for communication with the on-line certification site through the communication network;  
           [0020]    a data storage for storing the data entered by the user and data received from the on-line certification site; and  
           [0021]    a processor connected to the user interface, the data storage and the port, the processor being programmed to:  
           [0022]    establish a communication with the certification site upon user request transmit user identification data to the certification site;  
           [0023]    receive information data from the certification site depending on access rights granted to the user based on the user identification data;  
           [0024]    display operations selectable by the user on the user interface depending on the information data, the operations comprising requesting a certification and updating a certification record associated with the user;  
           [0025]    display certification information on the user interface depending on the information data; and  
           [0026]    transmit requests for execution of the operations selected by the user through the user interface and data related to the operations to the on-line certification site.  
           [0027]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a system for on-line certification of members over a communication network, comprising:  
           [0028]    a data storage;  
           [0029]    a controller connected to the data storage; and  
           [0030]    instructions stored in the data storage for controlling the controller,  
           [0031]    the controller being operative with the instructions to:  
           [0032]    register the members by storing data concerning the members into the data storage based on information provided by the members over the communication network following a member registration process under control of the controller;  
           [0033]    collecting certification data for the individuals based on audited information provided by the members over the communication network following an auditing process under control of the controller;  
           [0034]    processing the audited information with respect to the process specification data;  
           [0035]    managing certification records as a function of the audited information processed by the controller;  
           [0036]    storing the certification records into the data storage;  
           [0037]    managing access rights to selected elements of the certification records based on access right information provided by the members over the communication network following an authorization process under control of the controller; and  
           [0038]    reporting the selected elements of the certification records corresponding to the access rights of a requester over the communication network following a report process under control of the controller in response to an information request received from the requester over the communication network.  
           [0039]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a data processing system for determining conformity of member-submitted business process steps to process specification data required to obtain certification and for reporting certification status of the business process steps, comprising a controller and a data storage operatively connected to the controller, the process specification data being stored in the data storage, the controller being configured to:  
           [0040]    receive process data defining the business process steps subjected to the certification;  
           [0041]    calculate the conformity of the business process steps based on whether variables defined in the process data fall in acceptable ranges defined in the process specification data;  
           [0042]    establish the certification of the business process steps depending on the conformity calculated;  
           [0043]    store certification data indicative of the certification in the data storage; and  
           [0044]    produce and transmit a certification status report using the certification data stored in the data storage in response to a report request validated by the controller.  
           [0045]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for determining conformity of member-submitted business process steps to process specification data required to obtain certification and for reporting certification status of the business process steps, comprising steps of:  
           [0046]    receiving process data defining the business process steps subjected to the certification;  
           [0047]    calculating the conformity of the business process steps based on whether variables defined in the process data fall in acceptable ranges defined in the process specification data;  
           [0048]    establishing the certification of the business process steps depending on the conformity calculated; and  
           [0049]    producing and transmitting a certification status report using the certification data in response to a valid report request.  
           [0050]    According to the present invention, there is also provided computer executable process steps operative to control a computer, stored on a computer readable medium, for determining conformity of member-submitted business process steps to process specification data required to obtain certification and for reporting certification status of the business process steps, comprising:  
           [0051]    a step to receive process data defining the business process steps subjected to the certification calculate the conformity of the business process steps based on whether variables defined in the process data fall in acceptable ranges defined in the process specification data;  
           [0052]    a step to establish the certification of the business process steps depending on the conformity calculated; and  
           [0053]    a step to produce and transmit a certification status report using the certification data in response to a valid report request.  
           [0054]    According to the present invention, there is also provided, in a communication network system with remote sites and a center site, a method for determining conformity of member-submitted business process steps to process specification data required to obtain certification and for reporting certification status of the business process steps, comprising steps of:  
           [0055]    transmitting process data defining the business process steps subjected to the certification from one of the remote sites to the center site;  
           [0056]    calculating the conformity of the business process steps based on whether variables defined in the process data fall in acceptable ranges defined in the process specification data;  
           [0057]    establishing the certification of the business process steps depending on the conformity calculated; and  
           [0058]    producing and transmitting a certification status report using the certification data from the center site to an authorized one of the remote sites having requested the certification status report.  
           [0059]    The following provides a non-restrictive summary of certain features of the invention which are more fully described hereinafter in relation with preferred embodiments thereof.  
           [0060]    The present invention provides a system and a method for enabling an Internet certification entity, referred to herein as the “online certification site” to efficiently certify working processes and workers or professionnals. This application is referring to the welding process but is not limited to this example.  
           [0061]    To ensure that professionnal activities are monitored for code, standards or law requirements, a monitoring process is engaged by the controller to the agreement of professionnal responsability. This virtual process method for professionnel certification has a universal format for all professions under code, law regulations or state-of-the-art rules with the help of hyperlinked products in cooperation with Web sites or other network sites of respective business partners, referred to herein as “associates.” The system and method are implemented in part by software that runs on the “online certification” Web site. Through this site, an entity can enroll (via an automated registration process) as an associate, and can then disseminate list of certified companies (Web documents, PUSH documents, e-mail newsletters, etc.) that include the associate&#39;s reviews and/or recommendations on certification. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the associate catalogue documents include product-specific hyperlinks, referred to herein as “referral links,” that allow potential “on-line certified companies” to link to the “online certification” Web site to initiate certification of professionals and/or process.  
           [0062]    A data notarization method is provided for monitoring and recording the information flow and data, and making all calculations, necessary for maintaining a virtual certification service for professional activities regulated by law, code or state-of-the art rules. In particular, the data processing method makes a continuous allocation of Process Data Sheets (PDS) that are stored in a Process Data Management System (PDMS). In this present invention, the expression PDMS refers, without limitations to a variety of essential variables data acquisition apparatus consisting of, but not limited to the following process data trade indexer, main process database, virtual processor for professionnal certification, tracked certification list, center site and notarization database, bank of essential variables. To ensure a comprehensive reading, only one professionnal activity will be describe. However all professional and industrial activities regulated by law or code or state-of-the-art rule could be monitored with the present invention. For a better illustration, this invention will be described only in conjunction with the process of welding. This is an industrial/engineering process that refers to law, code and state-of-the-art rules.  
           [0063]    For the case of welding, the PDMS has stored. Process Data sheets named Welding Data Sheets (WDS) with the welding parameters for the appropriate material, welding position, metal deposition method, gas protection etc. All these data could be stored and retrieved with multimedia technology.  
           [0064]    A Welder certification check-list will then be used to show to a third party that a welder is appropriate to do a job. As mentioned before this transparent check-list shows the steps of the certification to any third party that the member deems necessary to show to ascertain an obtention of a job. When the check-list is completed, a welder competency card can be emitted at the name of the person who completed this check-list. And this check-list will be the traceability proof of his test completion.  
           [0065]    The online system will then provide the online end-user to show to any member&#39;s customer or a third party the status of qualification of the welder and/or the status of the welding procedure approval. An online status with the progress of the certification will also be available. Because the check-list will be available when required. The data in the progress of the status is encrypted to ensure a safe information and only registered user will be allowed to add data in the online status.  
           [0066]    The fact that the system is on-line, combined with the use of a check list and all the functions related thereto, with update and approval procedures, allows an outstanding control over the process steps and Working variables subjected to certification which, by their retraceable character, provide evidence and authenticity of the certification.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0067]    With the increasing popularity of the Internet and the World Wide Web, it has become common for technicians specialist to set up Web sites for displaying technical services. One example of such a Web site is the online virtual certification site of WWW.123CERTIFICATION.COM, the assignee of the present application. Via this site, welding plants and shops can access their status of certification and can, at their discretion, disclose some information to a third party for their technical and business relation.  
           [0068]    One problem commonly encountered by a certification site which is not on-line resides, in an inability to effectively answer requests for status for technical ability of companies in the increasingly complex business of welding. The number of Codes and Standards is increasing and their size is expanding but a good welding shop can be ignored by a third party if its paper work is not properly filed. In other words, in those days of ISO certification, it is possible now to demonstrate to a third party a good control of paper work without any control in a special processes such as welding. Because the third party cannot physically inspect the related welded goods via a Web site, and typically cannot talk to a welder supervisor, it is desirable that the site provides access to welding reviews, welding cards for their specialty and other information that can be relied upon by the third party to make an informed decision before signing a contract. In many cases, however, the welding plant or shop lacks the resources needed to generate or otherwise obtain such information, especially if the plant or shop welds a large and diverse selection of products.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0069]    Description will now be given in detail of an embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In this connection, the present invention is not restricted by this embodiment. A data notarization method is provided for monitoring and recording the information flow and data, and making all calculations, necessary for maintaining a virtual certification services configuration according to a tracked certification described below.  
         [0070]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a center site named processor  1  intervenes in a process and process-user certification method achieved through a network. For a better understanding of this method, the center site logical diagram is described in FIG. 1 and the physical diagram is described in FIG. 3. The center site includes all information received from member sites  4  connected to the network which will be used as open audited information. All sort of information from open source  2  may also be used to improve the content of the virtual database. A notarization database  3  keep therein contents of audited step of the certification between the center site and members  4 . The center site receives a request from a member site to certify a member and notifies the request to an information supply site associated therewith (included in the virtual database  3 ). The processor  1  intervenes in a certification procedure resultantly accomplished between the information supply site and the member site and conducts a notarization process for the step of the certification to accumulate in a notarization database  3 . Through processor  1 , a professionnal or associate  9  is updating the monitor  9  accordingly to required standard.  
         [0071]    To ensure a safe storage and protect the validity of the tracked audited certification data, all informations coming from member  4  or from  10  into step  11  will be digitally encrypted and their source/status of origin will be kept for essential steps approval. This encryption may be achieved using a conventional method involving for example private or public keys, which ever is available in the network through an authentification database. A transparent check-list shows the process of the certification to any third party that the member deems necessary. An output, for example, could be a competency card or any technical output such as certified drawing, certified calculation or certified diploma which is referring to this check-list  7 .  
         [0072]    The input could be any essentials variables that has to be kept in a tracked certification check-list for future reference by a third party. This check-list will be secured for ensuring safety and privacy.  
         [0073]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the logical structure of an embodiment of an electronic virtual certification service via a communication network according to the present example of the invention. The description of algorythm elements are described in FIG. 1. The purpose of this FIG. 2 is to properly connect all FIGS.  3  to  10  to this invention. There is four detail notes showing how the upcoming figures all linked together.  
         [0074]    Link  6  and link  12  are showing bidirectionnal flow between algorythm elements. These links could be using encrypted technology.  
         [0075]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown the physical structure of an embodiment of an electronic virtual certification service via a communication network  32  according to the present invention. The system includes member sites  4  which participate as members of the embodiment of the transaction system in electronic virtual certification process and an open certification database center site  3  to provide services to the member sites  4 . The center site  3  is mutually connected via a network  32  to the member sites. Moreover, the open certification database center site  3  is coupled with an external network  32  with an administrator/controller  33 . The term “external network” represents a network other than the constituent elements of the electronic virtual certification system, i.e., a network such as the Internet constituting another electronic system. Each member site  4  can be connected via the center site to the external network. For safety and security, the network is desirably a closed network using a leased line however, there may be adopted a public telephone line and the Internet. Each of the center and member sites  31  includes such an information processing apparatus as a personal computer, a workstation, a main frame computer or an administrator/controller  33  each including a communication line interface or a hand size computer device each including a communication line interface with a network card or an equivalent.  
         [0076]    The center site  3  includes a member information database  39  to control information related to the respective member sites of the transaction system, an authentication database  35  to verify each member site, a notarization database  38  to notarize transaction data in the business transaction achieved between member sites, a monitoring database  31 , a contact amount main process database  37  to manage information of the contracted amount of the business transaction between member sites, and a process report database  34  to supply various report and information to the respective member.  
         [0077]    These databases are preferably stored in an external storage of the information processing apparatus. The center site includes a administrator  33  which supervises programs included therein to control and monitor the databases so as to implement various functions provided by the center site. The administrator includes a controller or a processor  1  and a memory of the information processing apparatus and executes various software programs by the processor to achieve the functions such as the relation between items  4 ,  10 ,  11 ,  7  and  9 .  
         [0078]    Any number of member sites  4  can be connected to the center site  3 . In the illustrated Case, the five member sites  4  mutually carry out process reports and are operated by a manufacturer, a third party representative for a buyer, a regulation agency and the like. One of the member site, per example, member site  5  could includes a settling function to settle business transactions accomplished by the other member sites  1  to  4 . The site  5  could be operated, for example, by a regulation agency. Although five member sites are arranged for convenience of explanation in this embodiment, there may be disposed more member sites to be connected to the system.  
         [0079]    Communications of requests, acceptance of requests from the administrator that is monitoring bank of acceptance criteria and associated data items between the center site and the member sites  1  to  5  are carried out in conformity with a protocol used by the network. The center and member sites have a password procedure to ensure the safety of the confidential information to produce a frame including request or reception data in accordance with a specified protocol and to send the frame to the network. These sites further include a function to receive a frame via the network and extract necessary information such as the information shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and  10 .  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the data trade indexer for a certification, this method is applied to a welding certification scenario. A member site (as shown in FIG. 3) can access web site display by typing username and password (item  41 ) to access confidential information. A menu (item  43 ) will then display a possibility of submitting customer welding request or update data from existing status documents. If there is an interest in already paid document, the member site can access the displayed information.  
         [0081]    If the member site is interested to update the welder status, he can update the online certification check-list by editing the audited step he performed. (item  42 ). This review (item  45 ) is made secured by the use of encrypted digital prints. Example of available reports (item  44 ) are shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and  10 . These are preferred embodiments but it is not limited to these example.  
         [0082]    In FIG. 8, the welder&#39;s name  81  that is authentified in the database, the emission date and expiration date  82 , a list of essential variables  83 , a test certification responsible  84  and a name and signature of a site member  85  are an example of a minimal requirement for a welder card competency holder.  
         [0083]    In FIG. 9, there is shown an innovative check-list  91  which is used in conjonction with this virtual certification invention. This check-list  91  will be the traceability reference of all steps that could be required by a third party to ensure himself that the welder test was done accordingly to the code requirement that was meant to be. In this diagram, item  92  shows a responsible reference designation where a person will refer for the encryption of his own digital print or electronic seal  93 . The method to add a digital print to a process step is shown in FIG. 4. The combination of this digital print process with this virtual certification with the center site  3  and the security password  41  of the communication network will permit to update the main process database  37  with the sequence of the FIG. 4 and do an update of the main process database  42  when required until all step of the check-list  91  is completed. From his member site  4 , the third party  63  can have his own access to the information shown in FIG. 8, 9 or  10  and will be able to locate even from a remote location if the company have the minimum workmanship and expertise to perform a contrat according to any code requirements. The third party will also be able to locate if the digital print is one of the 4 following level of competency welder (W) item  94 , authorized worker.(AW) item  96 , welding Engineer (WE) item  95  or a Laboratory (LABO) item  97  and decide if the check-list is done with a high or a low level of confidence for the integrity of the information note in the format he received. It has to be cleared in the head of the reader that this check-list is an example and the minimal level of confidence for every third-party can vary from having only item  94  for the designated on the check-list or at the opposite a higher number of  95  and  97  when the third-party requires a higher level of confidence depending on the difficulty of the welder test. In this check-list example, there is 22 items which are listed accordingly to a chronological sequence that permits to a third party to verify the status of the welder certification. In particular, items  1  to  8  are referring to pre-welding steps. Item  9  is refering to the welding step itself. Items  10  to  22  are refering to post-welding steps that are the back-up information for the virtual certification.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 10 is an output consisting of essential variables and consisting of reference informations that are meant to be used by a welder for is work assignation and for his certification. The essential variables are a drawing cut of the part to be assemble  101 , a drawing cut of the weld assembly  102 , a list of welding code reference  103 , a list of welding essential variables  104 . This ouput is product is constituted of variables from the certification database center site  3  and is viewable from a member site  4  with the FIG. 5 or  6  diagrams.  
         [0085]    Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a flowchart illustrating an operation flow involving the use of the information stored (item  51 ) in the main process database (item  53 ) and the notarization database applied to a welding certification scenario. A welding document can be produced either by a member site or a regulation agency. This document has to be monitored with code regulation and will be revised until code check is completed (item  54 ) with the conjunction of the notarization database (item  38 ). The code could be either an internal technical code or a regulatory agency code such as American Welding Society (AWS), American Society of Mechanical Engineer (ASME), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS.), Association of American Railroads (AAR), American Petroleum Institute (API),Canadian Standard Association (CSA) Code or any other international regulatory agency code.  
         [0086]    This loop will then be performed until approval by an engineer or any certified welding inspector (item  52 ). If a third party approval (AISC, AWS or CSA) is required (item  55 ), an other loop of approval can be performed until code approval.  
         [0087]    As illustrated in FIG. 6, a client/member can consult a paid document as depicted by box  61 . By entering a password which can be provided on a daily or a permanent basis, as depicted by  62 . In the event that the password is invalid a message is displayed which will explain the reason of not entering the web site and will access information to enroll if it is a case of a new member site. When the password is valid, the member site have access to all his certification informations as shown in the layout example of the authentication database. This method will allow also a third party (item  63 ) designated by the member site to have access to some informations that the member site will consider having some interest by the third party. The advantage of an online certification method is to show to a third party the level of technology available in the company without having an audition by a third party. This figure shows how a third party can access and give appreciation of the information he has available in the member site.  
         [0088]    Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a flowchart illustrating an operation flow of certification steps &amp; interface display for the welding scenario. This figure explains an existing web site with the web pages sequences with existing documents. Four displays of documents are shown in this invention as preferred embodiments (Item  71 ). But is as to be noted that there could be other related documents that could be requested by member site of by third party request. A timely report (item  72 ) can be produce to ensure that certification is in progress or to ensure that certification is maintain according to monitored data that are required by a monitoring process shown previously. If required a hard copy of welder&#39;s comptency card (item  73 ) or engineer report (item  74 ) can be printed and routed to the person, company or regulatory agency that is requiring such information.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0089]    The objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an on-line virtual certification service according to the present invention, in one of its simplest form.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram similar to the diagram of FIG. 1, showing the relations with the other figures.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 3 is a diagram physically showing the configuration of a preferred embodiement of a hub and spoke for an electronic virtual certification by data processing method via a communication network, according to the present invention.  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the data trade indexer for a certification according to the present invention, this method being applied to a welding certification scenario.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the main process database with the notarization database applied to a welding certification scenario, according to the present invention.  
         [0095]    [0095]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the certification method for the welding scenario, an operation flow of accepting or registering a new member site and a layout example of the authentication database, according to the present invention.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of certification steps &amp; interface display for the welding scenario, according to the present invention.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of welding card holder according to the present invention.  
         [0098]    [0098]FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an on-line welding certification check-list, according to the present invention.  
         [0099]    [0099]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of list of essentials variables for welding certification, according to the present invention.