Abstract:
The method is for analyzing and searching in a network. A first screen displays a plurality of business segments. Each business segment has sensor points representing subgroups. The conditions of each subgroup are determined by allocating a color to each subgroup. A radar line is swept across the business segments. Each subgroup lights up in the allocated color when the radar line extends across the subgroup. The display may also display a schematic tree structure for the business segments.

Description:
PRIOR APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a U.S. national phase application based on International Application No. PCT/US03/05485, filed Feb. 24, 2003, claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/360,163 filed Feb. 25, 2002. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a method for navigating, communicating and working in a network, such as an intranet of an organization or the Internet.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It has become quite common for employees and other members of organizations such as companies to work in complicated networks. The networks are often very large and cumbersome to handle. Employees often do not have a good overview of the network and what it can offer. The currently available monitors do not provide a good overview in a clear natural way. There is a need for a more effective method of navigating, communicating and working in a network. The companies of today have become two-dimensional and consist nowadays of both the traditional and the digital dimensions. The digital dimension is out of adequate steering-model for effective understanding, use, collaboration, steering etc. Traditional steering-models take years of implementation before they work, if they ever do, because they are often living a life outside the ordinary operations. The present invention is a new sort of company common steering-model in the shape of a common world of conception or communicative language-structure integrated as a support-model in daily work tools for the new two-dimensional company.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The method of the present invention provides a solution to the above-outlined problems. More particularly, the method of the present invention is for a user to navigate in a network. When the system  10  is in a learning mode, a square display system is displayed that has fields that are each associated with separate screens. A screen may be activated by pressing a control key plus a corresponding numerical key such as the digit  1  for the first field. The user may switch from one screen to another by pressing the control command plus the numerical key. The first row of fields are focused on providing tools for the user including tools for a) navigating and search, b) for adjustment of inflow and addition of information, news, reports etc. c) for communication and collaboration. The second row of fields are focused on providing company context such as motivators and steering (plans and results), individualized and role-based information and the third row of fields are focused on providing company content such as product, knowledge and client information. The invention may be reversed and could be provided with standard mode and standard sorting method e.g. role-mode and latest used method. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a 9-dimensional screen system;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic detailed view of a navigation screen associated with a first field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic detailed view of a news screen associated with a second field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic detailed view of a communicator screen associated with a third field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic detailed view of a motivator and steering screen associated with a fourth field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic detailed view of an individualized screen associated with the fifth field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic detailed view of a role-based screen associated with a sixth field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic detailed view of products/service associated with a seventh field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic detailed view of a competence screen associated with an eighth field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic detailed view of client information associated with a ninth field of the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     With reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , the method of the present invention has a nine-dimensional screen system  10  with a top row  12 , a middle row  14  and a bottom row  16 . The row  12  includes a set of tools for individual navigation and for obtaining news and for all kinds of communication. The row  14  is generally related to the work place of the user such as every day business and working tasks. The row  16  is generally related to company content information such as product, knowledge and client information.  
         [0000]     The innovation may be built on the following facts:  
         [0000]    
       
          1. That information, knowledge and tools has its natural places, relations, demarcation and teamwork with each other and that the box with three rows and columns is probably the most outstanding and most complete structure to use for this purpose.  
          2. That the human being only can remember about seven things at the same time. The field for the individual in the middle with 8 surrounding fields will be the closest you could come to this fact without sacrificing other critical requirements of the invention.  
          3. That there is a built-in natural intuitive concept in the triad.  
          4. That the user can create an intuitive picture of the connection between the three rows and the three columns. 
 
 In this way, the invention makes it easy to handle large network and makes it easier for all participants to co-operate, collaborate and communicate with each other in and around the digital room and it will increase the precision of aim in the decision-process. 
 
       
     
         [0020]     It should be noted that the system  10  is not shown to the user unless the user is using an education module of the present invention. The system  10  may be used to navigate, communicate and work within a digital workplace or network such as an intranet system of an organization or the Internet. Each sub-screen of the screen system  10  may be reached from anywhere and enlarged by pressing, for example, the control key  17  on a conventional keyboard  13  and then a numeral key  19  such as the digit  1  to display a navigation screen  18 . Of course, any other suitable command may be used to activate the screen  18 , as desired. Similarly, by activating the control key  17  and the numeral key  21 , that represents the digit  2 , the news screen  20  is displayed. In this way, all sub-screens can be reached by using the control key  17  and then different numeral keys so that the last screen  34  may be reached by the activating the control key  17  and the numeral key  23  for the digit  9 . It is also possible to click on one of the fields  1 - 9  with a cursor to activate the corresponding screens  18 - 34 . The user may activate the system of the present invention by, for example, pressing the control key on the keyboard and the desired page number. The system may be deactivated by pressing, for example, the escape key to go back to the original page or just deactivate the frames of system  10 .  
         [0021]     An important advantage of the present invention is that it provides a good overview of the available functions for navigation, communication and work on an intranet or the Internet without being unduly limited by the screen size of just one screen. The screen system  10  gives the feel of having nine screens that may be numbered from 1-9 like a telephone or a remote control. An important feature of the present invention is that the system is always available to the user and that it is easy to get into and out of the systems as desired.  
         [0022]     A majority of Internet users have problems with navigating and communicating on the Internet and other networks because conventional screens are functionally very limited. For example, it is sometimes complicated to reduce and enlarge screen views to obtain an overall view of the functional features that are available on a network. The screen system  10  of the present invention provides a metaphor of standardized tools and work place displays that make it easier for employees to navigate on the network and communicate with others while having access to motivating information such as employee contribution data, sales results etc.  
         [0023]     The digital components of the company may be displayed in the screens of the present invention to give the employees a very good standardized overall view while providing access to detailed information, as required. The specific display of the screens may be customized to the position and roles of the different groups of employees. This means that the different groups see certain standardized screen displays, customized for their working-role i.e. role-menus. In this way, a new employee such as a private financial advisor can take advantage of the work done by other private financial advisors so as to get up to speed quickly since the best and most useful tools are immediately available. It should be understood that the private financial advisor may customize some of the screen displays as required. Some of the screens may be common for all employees/positions within a company. One important feature of the present invention is the associative learning process. The employees learn how to use the features by using the invention and may discover more features and knowledge as the invention is being used.  
         [0024]     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the screen  18  includes tools related to searching and navigation according to the principle of the invention that frequently used information should be easy to access. It is also important that all searching and navigation tools are easy to learn and presented to give the user a good overview. The screen  18  may be displayed from any other screen view by activating the control key  17  and then the desired numeral key that is associated with the desired screen. The screen  18  may have conventional search engines or quick search engines that have been customized to the specific needs of a company or profession. It may also be possible to weigh each search word in view of the importance of the search words. It is advantageous if the navigation/search tools are somewhat standardized so that the tools are easy to use and uniformly used by most employees of a company.  
         [0025]     More particularly, the screen  18  is a schematic detailed view that has a quick search function  220  and tool bars  52 ,  54 . The tool bar  52  has an indicator  56  that indicates which screen is being enlarged and a heading  58  so that the user can see which mode version  59 , such a navigator screen  18 , are being displayed. The mode version  59  may include general  63 , role  65 , individual  67  and customer related  69  menus. On the left of the screen  18  is an overview function  60  with a display option  62  and a hide option  64  to hide the toolbar  54  and its content. The screen  18  has a sorting function  66  that could be in an alphabetical order  68  or according to subject matter areas  70 , the most frequently used search and navigation function  72 , the new search and navigation functions  74 , the optimal search function  76 , the most recently used search and navigation function  78  or a schematic view etc.  
         [0026]     An added feature is that the menus in the sorting function may change depending upon whether the screen is in general mode  63 , role mode  65 , individual mode  67  and customer related mode  69 . The general mode  63  may be a general or standard mode that could be used by all the employees. The role mode  65  is a mode that is focused on a certain role in the company, so the menus for that specific role also are focused for that specific role task. By activating the role mode  65 , the user may select from a list of pre-defined roles in a menu  71  such as accounting  73 , financial advisor  75 , controller  77  etc. The individual mode  67  is a customized screen so that the sorting function shown in the bar  54  have been customized to the individual needs of the employee. The customer mode  69  shows menus that have been customized when the employee does work that relate to a particular customer of the company.  
         [0027]     The alphabetical function  68  may, for example, include the categories advanced search  210 , agent search  212 , index search  214 , map search  216 , subject matter search  218 , quick search  220 , standard search  222  and weighted search  224 . The search, such as the quick search  220 , when highlighted by the user may appear in a main screen  226 , so that searches may be displayed in a search display  228 . The quick search  220  may be used to take the user directly to the desired information page without going through traditional search engines and hit lists. In other words, the user first selects the type of search from the tool bar  54  and then the selected search appears in the screen  226 . More particularly, the selected search appears in the quick search  220  and the user types in the search words and then presses enter to activate the search.  
         [0028]     Finally, the screen  18  may have a short-cut activator  208  with content related to this particular screen. It may provide access to all kinds of databases sorted from different point of views depending on the mode of the screen including general, role, individual or customer related mode. When the user returns to a screen it may show the latest mode and alternative as the user left it  
         [0029]     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the screen  20  may be related to news, business intelligence information and other information obtained from outside worldwide information sources as well as sources specific to the company. The user may use the screen  20  for adjustment or setting of the inflow and additional of information, news and reports etc. One function of the screen  20  is to be the recipient of news and other information that are important for the employee when the screen  20  is in the role mode  65  or individual mode  67 . When the screen  20  is in the general mode  63 , news that is important to all employees is displayed. The business intelligence may be related to the monitoring of competitors, reports and news within a certain business field. The screen may also include information related to research information in addition to traditional news from newspapers, magazines and database updates.  
         [0030]     The screen  20  is very similar to the basic layout of the screen  18 . The functions of the screen  20  may be customized to the specific needs of the profession or categories of the employees. The indicator  56  may be set to mark the screen  20  so the user know which screen is being used and the news and business intelligence may be shown in the bar  58 . The screen  20  may have a short-cut activator  208  with content related to this particular screen.  
         [0031]     The screen  20  has the tool bars  52  and  54  including the sorting function  66 . The sorting function  66  may have the sub-categories alphabetical  68 , subject matter areas  70 , frequently used  72 , new  74 , optimal  76  and recently used  78 . The alphabetical sorting  68  may include categories such as Bloomberg&#39;s news source  230 , direct news source  232 , Observer news source  234 , Reuters news source  236  and other suitable news sources. The subject matter  70  may include the sub-categories indicators  238 , company  240 , country  242 , reports  244  and research  246 . The highlighted news source, such as the Observer  234 , may appear in the screen  226  with news texts appearing in a display  248 . The text that is displayed may be focused on news about competitors and the employee&#39;s company. The screen may also have an on-line updated barometer  250  that has the latest financial information such as the interest rates, stock prices and stock market indexes.  
         [0032]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the communicator screen  22  may be related to standardized communication tools such as e-mail, chat rooms, group messaging, instant messaging and other communication tools for direct and indirect communication. The user selects the required sorting by activating one of the sorting modes  68 - 78 . More particularly, the screen  22  has the alphabetical sorter  68  that may include the address register  103 , chat-room  104 , digital meeting  106 , discussion group  108 , e-mail  110 , fax  111 , group messaging  112 , instant messaging  114 , market places  116 , mobile phone  118 , ordering  120 , short message services (SMS)  122  and telephone  124 . By highlighting one of the communication tools, the selected method, such as telephone  124 , may be displayed in the screen  226 . When the telephone  124  is selected, the screen  226  may display a telephone register in a display  252  that may be connected to a database of all the employees of the company or any other suitable telephone database. The database may enable the user to send email and SMS messages directly from the register displayed in the display  252 . By selecting the desired role menu version  65 , the communication tools provided may be customized so that, for example, sales letters, invoices and tools for administration, are customized according to the role version  65  selected.  
         [0033]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the screen  24  may be related to steering-instrument, plans, results, motivators etc. More particularly, the alphabetical sorter  68  may include the sub-categories budgets  142 , business plans  144 , business goals  148 , mission  150 , results  152 , strategies  158 , values  160  ,and vision  161 . The alphabetical sorter  68  may include any other suitable segments, as required. If, for example, the result segment  152  is high lighted, a more detailed view of this segment is displayed in the main display  226  including a display  254  with information related to the role  168 , the district  170 , the region  172 , the country  174 , sales budget  176  and other suitable items.  
         [0034]     An important function of the screen  24  is to include motivating tools to encourage the user/employee to perform better. The screen  24  may also display the total contribution/profit by the employee to the company. Preferably, the screen  24  shows key indicators for the company at different organizational levels.  
         [0035]     The screen  24  may include an individual result module  164  that shows the result of the employees&#39; sales performance and a top-ten module  166  that shows the results of the top ten employees&#39; sales performance of the company. The screen  24  may also have a winner of the month display  165  that shows the name of the best performance during a certain time period e.g. the last month.  
         [0036]     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the screen  26  may be considered the main screen and could be customized to the specific needs of the company and its employees. It should be noted that the screen  26  does not have a general mode because this screen is customized to the individual user. For example, the screen  26  may include components as aggregated information from screens surrounding the screen  26  and shown in the indicator  56 . The screen  26  may, for example, include a list of the latest emails sent or received by the employee, company news and other worthwhile information. More particularly, the screen  26  may have a setting segment  288  that may be used to set the size and content of each and every display area of the screen  26 . The screen  26  has a quick search display  290  that is identical to the quick search  220  of the screen  18  and a calculator  292 . The screen also has a sales result  294  that is the same as the result display  152  of the screen  24 , and. The screen  26  has customer information  298  that corresponds to the customer segment  146  of screen  34 . The screen  26  also has a products segment  300  that lists the products available of the company. A schedule  302  may be used to plan meetings etc. and a to-do list  304  to list upcoming commitments and tasks that may have deadlines. The screen  26  further has a chronological news list  306  that lists all incoming news in a chronological order. A filter may be applied to the list  306  so that only relevant news, indicators and business intelligence are shown. The list  306  receives the same information as the screen  20  but all information, regardless of the available sources listed in the screen  20 , is shown chronologically. The content of the list  306  is affected by the individual selection  67 . The screen  26  also has an effective communicator box  308  that lists all communications received by the employee from others. All correspondence tools, such as email, fax,. voice-mail, SMS etc. are together listed chronologically on the list  308 . Preferably, communication tools listed in the screen  22  may be included in the list  308 . Finally, the screen  26  may have a short-cut activator  208  that may provide access to relevant individual tools such as templates etc.  
         [0037]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the role-based screen  28  may be related to the specific roles and role tools for the specific employee as well as an overall view of all existing roles in the company including the project-role  79 . The screen  28  shows the most important information in aggregated form for the specific working role e.g. a sales method  194 . A working role can be either horizontal or vertical. For example, if the role of the employee is a financial advisor, the role menu may include information such as stock exchange information, business news, stock and company information and other information specified to the work of a private financial advisor. The role menu may be customized to the specific needs of the user within certain predetermined parameters. The role menu for a corporate financial advisor is to be different from the menu displayed for the private financial advisor.  
         [0038]     The bar  54  may have the alphabetical sorter  68 , sales methods  194 , selling tip  196 , a list of projects  256   a - h.  The subject matter category  70  may include external projects  172 , internal projects  174 , information technology projects  176 , marketing projects  178 , PA-projects  180 , sales projects  182  and all projects  184 . The bar  54  may also include a project model  183 . When an item in the bar  54 , such as all projects  184 , has been activated, text related to all project may appear in a text box  258  on the screen  226 . The screen  28  may be designed so that different project lists are displayed depending upon which role menu  65  is activated.  
         [0039]     With reference to  FIG. 8 , the screen  30  may be related to company products and services. It may describe the product process used for each product and the best method for each product.  
         [0040]     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the screen  32  may be related to company knowledge and competence and include information and tools related to individual competence development (my personal development). More particularly, the alphabetical sorter  68  may include the sub-categories business learning model  260 , career development plan  262 , competence assessment  264 , development speech  266 , competence management  268 , competence market  270 , competence network  272 , competence register (skills database)  274 , competence scorecard  276 , competence strategy  278 , competence tools  280 , GAP-analysis  282 , talent matching  284  and CV  286 . The sorter  68  may include any other suitable segments, as required. If for example, the competence market  270  is highlighted, a more detailed view of this segment is displayed in the main display  226  including a sub-screen  299  with information related to internal competence alternatives  288  such as embedded e-learning  289 , training and learning program  290 , coaching and mentoring program  291 , courses  292 , seminars  293 , trainee-program  294  and external alternatives  295  such as IHM 296 and IIR 297.  
         [0041]     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the screen  34  may be related to customer relationship management (CRM) that includes customer information such as customer data, sales data, profit, products sold to customer, customer development plans agreements and customer/client information that could be a list of customers and products/contact information for each customer. More particularly, the alphabetical sorter  68  may include the sub-categories customer register  146 . It may describe the sales process used for each client and the best method for each client  
         [0042]     It is possible to organize the fields  1 ,  2 ,  3  of row  12  so that the corresponding screens  18 ,  20 ,  22  all relate to tool activities such as searching/navigating, adjustments of inflow and addition of news, information, reports etc. and communication of the individual. Similarly, the fields  4 ,  5 ,  6  of row  14  may be organized to relate to the context of the company such as plans/result/motivators, individual and role-based information while the fields  7 ,  8 ,  9  of row  16  are organized to relate to company contents such as products/services, company databases/knowledge and customer information. It is also possible to organize the fields so that the fields  3 ,  6 ,  9  relate to front-office customers/sales, the fields  2 ,  5 ,  8  related to individual/company information/knowledge/competence and the fields  1 ,  4 ,  7  relate to company back-office/business support for the fields  3 ,  6 ,  9  and the fields  2 ,  5 ,  8 . With the above-outlined horizontal and vertical organization of the fields and rows, there is or appears to be a natural connection between and within the rows where the context-row is the steering-row.  
         [0043]     While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.