Abstract:
This invention creates a structure, relative to the user&#39;s core competencies, for professional researchers of available technology projects, to systematically identify, qualify and assess the feasibility and risk involved with the design, planning, implementation, operations and management of a project type that is modeled using the method, process and apparatus detailed in the description of the invention. No other method, process or apparatus models or creates core-competency relations of the values that are outputted from the invention.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The applicant claims the benefit of the provisional application of this invention, which was made on Dec. 4, 2000, application No. 60/250,967. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    The following application gives the project non-dependent (or universal) systems notations and their respective definitions, estimation methods and a working example of how the process and method functions in a specific industry project type. The working example project type which is applied to the process and method detailed in this application is for the project types within  The Records Imaging Acquisition, Processing, Data Migration to Workflow and Output Industry,  as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Under the NAICS 514210, under Information Services. The apparatus is defined as the interface and embodiment of the research structure using the method and the process. The process is the research product or output values using the apparatus.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
         [0004]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The field of endeavor that pertains to this invention is information technology projects planning, design, operations and management. This invention is a system that is used to solve for the relationships between empirical technical project requirements and dependent concepts, and core competencies of the users. The results of using the system is a three dimensional structure that depicts the solved relationships. There are no known documents which are related to my invention, and therefore no known problems with any prior art.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    This invention is a system and method to calculate which specific data is required to be understood in order to conduct degrees of professional diligence, based upon the level of understanding that the user has. The invention generates a structure, by which, the data is ordered which enables an incremental path towards more complex data (degrees of subtlety) to be assimilated by the user. The data structure generated by the system results are three dimensional, which enables dependent concepts, degrees of subtlety and concept relationships to be visualized. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    The three drawings included with this application depict examples of the structural relationships that the system produces.  
         [0008]    Drawing  1 . shows the relationship between the array of available technologies (At n  values), types and corresponding ranges of subtleties between the array values and the area that defines the category of information that is based upon a task specificity, or (Ct n  value). These are categories of information (data) based upon process task specificity, which is defined by the points a-i for the three Ct n  values shown. The exact definitions for each Ct n  value are given on page 6 and 7 of this application. Also depicted in Drawing  1 . are juxtaposition (J n  values), which are perimeters in information categories that enclose areas that involve a high incidence of applied project knowledge. These terms are explained in detail on page 7 of this application.  
         [0009]    Drawing  2 . depicts the scale of knowledge required to conduct degrees of diligence using horizon generated nadir projections from Ct n  values, their altitude is calculated from the threshold graduations for diligence based upon the Dtn′ values or mean threshold interface, given in detail on page 8 of the application.  
         [0010]    Drawing  3 . depicts the same information as Drawing  2 , in addition to the Ct n  value base plots in three dimensions, which are given in 2 dimensions in Drawing  1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    The process and method relates and solves for the values of system needs, or requirements, and business or government process needs or requirements, for a specific available technology or set of available technologies, given by:  
         
       S 
       n 
       =Bp 
       n and 
       , Bp 
       n 
       =Bpr 
       n 
       +Rf . . .  
     
         [0012]    Where,  
         [0013]    S n =System needs  
         [0014]    Bp n =Business or Government process needs  
         [0015]    Bpr n =Business or Government process requirements (constrained by factors of resources, competency, business rules and, or compliancy)  
         [0016]    Rf=the mean (σ) phase at which an available technology (given by, At) process is likely to occur in a given type of project  
         [0017]    The project type system array of available technologies are expressed as At n  or available technology types. Degrees of subtlety within a specific available technology type is expressed as an approach range or →rng n    
         [0018]    Abstracts and, or empirical content components, include project management tools; charts, diagrams and calculations. These Abstracts tend to span At n  boundaries. An example of how abstract values span At n  boundaries using the working example project type is how photomensuration or photometric calculations can be used for estimating all of the following:  
         [0019]    1. Area and, or dimensions of formats and image characteristics  
         [0020]    2. resolution at the capture, processing and output phases  
         [0021]    3. data collection characteristics for quality determinations  
         [0022]    Abstracts given by A, are related to At n (s) in the following way:  
         
       A=Ct 
       n 
       +C+Bmps+Bpr 
       n  
     
         [0023]    Where,  
         [0024]    Ct n =The category of information (data) based upon process task specificity. The nth value is the proportion of competency, which is the value applied to the complexity or detail of information that the given abstract encompasses, as it relates to a process cycle that spans a particular category of information. C is expressed as the core competency value when project resources are estimated.  
         [0025]    Bmps=Best management practices  
         [0026]    Ct n  values are not derived from At n  values themselves, but rather from the intersections of At n  values. For example, the project considerations for optical capture specifications at the phase of resolution in recognition and output and display are given as:  
         
       At 
       1 
       rng 
       2 
       +At 
       3 
       rng 
       4 
       +At 
       8 
       rng 
       2 
       =Ct 
       16  
     
         [0027]    Ct 16  is plotted as points a+b+c in drawing  1 .  
         [0028]    and, Ct 17  is defined as the interpretive resolution at the phase of data entry verification and image database analysis, given as:  
         
       At 
       1 
       →rng 
       2 
       +At 
       4 
       rng 
       3 
       +At 
       13 
       →rng 
       11 
       =Ct 
       17  
     
         [0029]    Ct 17  is plotted as points d+e+f in drawing  1 .  
         [0030]    The area of Ct 17  enclosed by Ct 16  encompasses the combinant relevant A value considerations for each of the Ct n  values, viz., image processing through pattern recognition phases e.g., the interface along the length of points At 1 →rng 2  and At 4 →rng 3  enclosed by Ct 16  defines the juxtaposition of the value of J 8 .  
         [0031]    The points that define the length of (the interface) intersections describe the perimeters of the juxtapositions, or J n  values. The greatest length of intersection of Ct n  areas is the base or b line segment of the Ct n , indicated by the length of ψ in Drawing  1 . J n  values are perimeters in information categories that enclose areas that involve a high incidence of applied project knowledge. The areas that are enclosed by J n  values are expressed as juxtaposition areas of JA n  area values.  
         [0032]    The J n  defines areas or JA n  values which are themselves requirements for Abstracts or At n  values. J n  values are integral to building cognitive and resource-mechanical advantages for conducting feasibility, risk assessments and diligence of projects that encompass the requisite range of At n(s) .  
         [0033]    J 11  is defined by the interface along the length of points At 5 →rng 5  and At 7.4 →rng 6  enclosed by Ct 20 .  
         [0034]    Ct 20  is defined as image capture calibration at the phase of display for image database comparison and verification purposes, given as:  
         
       At 
       1 
       →rng 
       6 
       +At 
       8 
       →rng 
       6 
       +At 
       13 
       &gt;rng 
       3 
       =Ct 
       20  
     
         [0035]    Ct 20  is plotted as points g+h+i in drawing  1 .  
         [0036]    The set of Ct n  values (Ct 16 , Ct 17 , Ct 20 ) are categories of information that occur primarily in the production phases of project processes and therefore, themselves share the same range order values, viz., 16-20.  
         [0037]    Method for establishing the mean (σ) and threshold values for the scale of knowledge required to conduct degrees of diligence are calculated by:  
             Rf                 …     2     -   Rf     =     Dt   n   n                           
 
         [0038]    Where,  
         [0039]    Dt=Diligence threshold  
         [0040]    Rf=The estimation values for establishing the mean (σ) phase at which At processes are likely to occur in a given type of project, and therefore the mean level of probable adoption of the At as a dependent component in the project being modeled.  
         [0041]    And Rf is calculated by:  
           R   C     ·   t   ·   Ad     =   Rf                         
 
         [0042]    Where,  
         [0043]    Ad=Adoption weighting (general or average technology adoption rate) expressed as a percentage.  
         [0044]    R=Resources weighting, excepting time, or t (within average resources) expressed as an integer value of 1-10, 1 being the least quantity of resources required.  
         [0045]    C=Competency weighting (potential for concept to be applied) expressed as an integer value of 1-10, 1 being the least amount of competency required.  
         [0046]    t=Time weighting (probable period between conception and operational relevancy to the project) expressed as an integer value of 1-10, 1 being the least amount of time required.  
         [0047]    The diligence threshold range values for Ct 16, 17 and 20  are expressed as:  
         Dt n   1-4    
         [0048]    Where,  
         [0049]    Dt n =The range order value which establishes the altitude of the intersection of the zenith of a nadir projection of a Ct n  along the horizon of the relative diligence scale or Z axis. The range order value or altitude is estimated by calculating:  
           Dt   n                   or                 Δ     =         Rf   ∑       Ad   ∑       ·   SO                           
 
         [0050]    Where,  
         [0051]    Δ=Level of competency required to apply the most elemental concepts of Ct n , calculated as an integer on a scale of 0-15, 0 being the least complexity required.  
         [0052]    SO=subjective complexity level observation, expressed as an integer on a scale of 0-15, 0 being the least complexity involved with applying the Ct n  concepts.  
         [0053]    AdΣ=Adoption weighting sum of Ct n .  
         [0054]    RfΣ=Sum of resource factors.  
         [0055]    The Dtn′ or Δ range order values are calculated for Ct 16, 17 and 20 , as follows:  
           Dt   n                   or                 Δ     =         Rf   ∑       Ad   ∑       ·   SO                                  1.                   Dt   16   n                   n   =         8.3     .8   +   .7   +   .9       ·   0     =         3.46                 or                 4     ∴     Dt   16   n       =     Dt   16   4                                                    2.                   Dt   17   n                 n   =     10.5     .8   +   .9   +   .65               ·   0     =         4.47                 or                 5     ∴     Dt   17   n       =     Dt   17   5                   3.                   Dt     20        
       n                 n   =         7.3     .55   +   .7   +   .8       ·   2.2     =         7.8                 or                 8     ∴     Dt     20                n       =     Dt   20   8                                     
 
         [0056]    The scale of knowledge required to conduct degrees of diligence is relative to the altitude of the Ct n  projection from nadir to its&#39; respective zenith along the z axis scales&#39; horizon, and is plotted relative to the range of Rf n  values that are used to estimate the Diligence Threshold, or Dt n  value for the Ct n . The resulting Dt n  defines the mean value from which it is plotted along the length of altitude of a projection of Ct n  (as plotted in drawing  2  and  3 ). The Dt n , or (σ) establishes the midpoint between the ranges of threshold graduations for diligence, given as:  
         [0057]    Threshold I=The point at which any degree of diligence can be performed.  
         [0058]    Threshold II=The point at which task-specific sets of operational diligence can be performed.  
         [0059]    * The Dtn, or (σ) is the interface of Threshold II and III (shown on Drawing # 2 ).  
         [0060]    Threshold III=The point at which task specific sets of project planning diligence can be performed.  
         [0061]    Threshold IV=The point at which design integrity testing diligence can be performed.  
         [0062]    The Dt n  for the Ct n  is estimated by calculating:  
       Ctn   =           Rf1   +   Rf2   +   Rf3     2     -     Rf   ∑       =   Dtn                           
 
         [0063]    The Ct n  resource weighting factors Rfn are calculated for the range, as follows:  
         1.                   Ct   16       =     At1   -&gt;       rng2   +   At3     -&gt;       rng4   +   At8     -&gt;   rng2                           a   .              At1     -&gt;     rng2   :              R   C     ·   t   ·   Ad         =   Rf                      or                              5   6     ·   7          (   .8   )       =   4.7                            Rf   1     =     4.7      σ                               b   .              At3     -&gt;     rng4   :              4   5     ·   4   ·     (   .7   )           =   2.2                          Rf   2                =     2.2      σ                               c   .              At8     -&gt;     rng2   :              3   4     ·   2   ·     (   .9   )           =   1.4                          Rf   3     =     1.4      σ                                   Rf   1     +     Rf   2     +     Rf   3       2     -     Rf   ∑       =            Dt   n                       4.7   +   2.2   +   1.4     2     -   8.3     =            Dt   16                        or                          -   4.2        σ                                 
 
         2.                   Ct   17       =     At1   -&gt;       rng2   +   At4     -&gt;       rng3   +   At13     -&gt;   rng1                           a   .                             At1     -&gt;     rng2   :              R   C     ·   t   ·   Ad         =   Rf                      or                            5   6     ·   7   ·     (   .8   )       =   4.7                            Rf   1     =     4.7      σ                               b   .              At4     →     rng3   :                3   4     ·   4          (   .9   )           =   2.7                                       Rf   2     =     2.7                 σ                                      c   .              At13     →     rng11   :                8   10     ·   6          (   .65   )           =   3.1                          Rf   3     =     3.1                 σ                                         
  Ct   20   =At   1   →rng   6   +At   8   →rng   6   +At   13   →rng   3  
         3.                   Ct   20       =       At   1     →       rng6   +   At8     →       rng6   +   At13     →   rng3                           a   .              At1     -&gt;     rng6   :              R   C     ·   t   ·   Ad         =   Rf                      or                            5   7     ·   4   ·     (   .55   )       =   1.6                            Rf   1     =     1.6      σ                               b   .              At8     -&gt;     rng6   :                4   5     ·   3          (   .7   )           =   1.7                          Rf   2     =     1.7      σ                       c   .              At13     -&gt;     rng3   :                5   6     ·   6          (   .8   )           =   4                          Rf   3     =     4      σ                                   Rf   1     +     Rf   2     +     Rf   3       2     -     Rf   ∑       =            Dt   n                       1.6   +   1.7   +   4     2                -   7.3     =            Dt   20                        or                          -   3.7        σ                                 
 
         [0064]    The Dtn mean points represent the altitude above the Ct n  base i.e., ascending from the totality of information, and discreetly cuts the Ct n  projected solid forms to indicate the Area in which the other threshold graduations reside (pls. see pp. 10 and 11 of this application for the threshold graduation definitions).