Abstract:
An information exchange system provides an integrated approach to exchanging information real-time among members of a partnership. The web-based system including a server having a centralized database of business data and at least one client system facilitates a method of restricting database access only to authorized users within the partnership, providing forms stored within server as web pages for the insertion of updated business data for display within web pages displayed on a client system. The method facilitated further includes uploading updated forms for use by other authorized users within the partnership to the server, where the updated business data is stored within the database The uploaded business data is stored within server and authorized users can download web pages causing the updated business data to be displayed on a client system.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a computer network-based system and more particularly to a system and method for providing information exchange to members of a partnership on a variety of issues. 
     For partnerships having numerous partners located in multiple places worldwide, information exchange on a timely basis for partnership related business issues is a major challenge. Most partnership information exchange is paper-driven, therefore resolving issues is sometimes difficult in such business arrangements. Another challenge simply involves the time spent in assembling, formatting and submitting the information to be exchanged. Sometimes after such a lengthy gathering process, the information compiled is already outdated. In addition, much of the manual labor involved is repetitive. As with any paper driven process, archiving is another issue to be dealt with. 
     Electronic information exchange has dealt with these problems to some extent, however in diverse partnerships, legacy formatting issues and differences in procedures have left much of the inefficiencies unaffected, for example, time expended manually in gathering the information and possibly converting the information into a different format. Overall, both the traditional paper methods and known electronic methods can be very frustrating and may not necessarily facilitate resolving partnership information exchange issues. 
     It would be desirable to facilitate partnership information exchange by providing a system that allows real-time access to partnership business information, and facilitates updates to the information, while eliminating the inefficiencies of known systems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an integrated approach to providing members of a partnership with information and feedback regarding the business. The method incorporated into the web-based system includes restricting database access only to authorized users within the partnership, providing forms stored within a server as web pages for the insertion updated business data, uploading business data updates intended for use by other authorized users within the partnership to the server for storage in the database, formatting the business data for display using web pages stored within server, and downloading and displaying the web pages to authorized users. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a system block diagram; 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart giving an overview of a web-based information exchange system; 
     FIG. 3 shows a web page welcoming a registered user; 
     FIG. 4, shows a web page where a registered user may update personal and project information; 
     FIG. 5 is an exemplary example of a web page configured as a glance chart; 
     FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a web page configured as a user interface for configuration and generation of a variance report; 
     FIG. 7 is an exemplary example of a web page configured as a variance report; and 
     FIG. 8 is an exemplary example of a web page configured as an authorization for expenditure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. System  10  includes a server system  12  and a plurality of client systems  14  connected to server system  12 . In one embodiment, a client system  14  is a computer including a web browser. Server system  12  is accessible to client system  14  via the Internet. Client system  14  is interconnected to the Internet through many interfaces including dial-in-connections, cable modems, special high-speed ISDN lines and networks such as local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs). Client system  14  could be any client system capable of interconnecting to the Internet including a web-based phone or other web-based connectable equipment. Server  12  is configured with a information exchange program and associated web pages and further includes a database  16  which is configured with, for example, partnership information or data and can be accessed and updated by registered users through the web pages at one of client systems  14  by logging onto server system  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is a flowchart  20  giving an overview of an information exchange website. A user accesses  22  a home page which gives an overview of the website and the tools available. The home page also requests that the user login. A directory of registered users is maintained as part of database  16  (shown in FIG. 1) and if a user wishes to become a registered user, he or she must contact a site manager, who will confirm that the person should have access to the site before issuing a login name and password. As registered users login, an option is available for changing  24  their password or the user is flagged  26  if they have entered an invalid password. After a successful login, a partner exchange main page is displayed  28 . The main page displays all available partners, a date each of the partners last uploaded data to database  16 , and each partner&#39;s most recent accounting period. Available on all pages of the website is a link which takes  30  a user to a contact page and a second link which takes  32  a user to a website feedback page. 
     From the partner exchange main page, a registered user may choose from a variety of information exchange tools, denoted as links on the main page. Examples of information exchange tools include, for example, variance reports options  34 , choose glance charts  36 , a user information page  38 , an information page including key factors partners should be aware of  40 , an authorization for expenditure page  42 , and a policy page  44 . 
     When a user selects variance report options  34 , the user is wishing to generate  46  a variance report. Examples of variance reports to be generated include, using an oil and gas exploration partnership as an example, a choice  48  of partner variance chart, an oil field variance chart, and an oil lease variance chart. Variance charts are plotted  50  as a rate versus time curve. 
     When a user chooses to view glance charts  36 , choices might include, still using the oil and gas exploration partnership as an example, a hedge chart, a lease operating expense chart, or a production chart. When the user makes the choice, the glance chart is displayed  52 . 
     When the user information page  38  is selected from the main page, a link to an update tool is also displayed as part of the user information page. Choosing the link causes a manual update page to be displayed  54 . Still referring to the oil and gas partnership example, it is within the manual update page where a user may input, for later uploading to server  12  (shown in FIG. 1) information regarding the Council of Petroleum Accounting Society (COPAS) information or depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&amp;A) information. 
     The authorization for expenditure page  42  further includes a link where the user may add  56  additional authorizations for expenditure for partnership approval. 
     FIG. 3 is an exemplary example of a main page  70  as described above. Page  70  includes formatted information from database  16  (shown in FIG. 1) including partner names  72 , which can act as a link to an information page (described in FIG. 4 below), a date each partner last uploaded data  74  to database  16 , when was each partner&#39;s most recent accounting period  76 , and the choices of monitoring tools  78  available to each partner. Page  70  is configured such that only a partial list of the monitoring tools  78  available to the partners are displayed. 
     FIG. 4 is an exemplary example of a user information page  90 . Page  90  includes name and contact information  92  for a selected partner, load information  94  including a date that the partner last uploaded data and the end of the accounting period for the data, detail data  96 , a partner review date  98 , which is the date the selected partner last reviewed the site, and a risk factor table  100 . Risk factor table  100  is a matrix showing business indices. Using the oil and gas partnership example, risk factor table charts wells that are proved, developed and producing (PDP), proved, developed and non-producing (PDNP), and proved, undeveloped (PUD) against reserves, lease operating expenses and capital expenditures (CAPEX). An update button  102  will cause newly entered information to be uploaded to the data base  16  located in server  12  (both shown in FIG.  1 ). Reset button  104  will clear any newly entered information. 
     FIG. 5 is an exemplary example of a glance chart  110 . Glance chart page  110  is downloaded from server  12  when the user selects the choose glance chart  36  (shown in FIG. 2) tool from the main page  70  (shown in FIG.  3 ). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, page  110  includes chart  112  which indicates historical and forecast information. In the oil and gas example, chart  112  shows production information in the form of graphs for actual performance, new projections, original projections, and minimums. Risk factors  114  and reserves  116 , described above, are shown tabulated as are policy triggers  118 . 
     FIG. 6 shows an exemplary page  130 , where a user selects options to be used in generating a variance report. Page  130  is downloaded from server  12  when the user selects the variance report options  34  (shown in FIG. 2) tool from the main page  70  (shown in FIG.  3 ). In one embodiment, pull-down menus for a year  132  and month  134  select the starting date for a reporting period, in the embodiment shown, a twelve month period. A report type is also selected, in the oil and gas example, selections for total PDP reserves  136  and total reserves  138  are available. A submit button  140  causes the selections to be uploaded to server  12  for the generation of the variance report. Reset button  142  resets any user entered data to a default condition, for example January of the current year. FIG. 7 is an exemplary example of a variance report  150  for a selected twelve month period, downloaded from server  12  after selection of submit button  140 . In the oil and gas example, report  150  includes data on production  152 , pricing  154 , revenue  156 , and expenses  158 . 
     FIG. 8 is an exemplary example of an authorization for expenditure (AFE) tracking chart  190 , downloaded from server  12  when the user selects the authorizations for expenditure page  42  (shown in FIG. 2) tool from the main page  70  (shown in FIG.  3 ). In one embodiment, chart  190  lists AFE Cost  172 , actual cost  174 , and comments  176  relating to the costs. A user may enter information to be uploaded to server  12 , the uploading taking place after selection of a submit button (not shown in FIG.  8 ). 
     As above described, the information exchange website greatly reduces the time spent assembling, formatting, printing, and submitting the required reports of a business. With the electronic platform, costs of archiving and managing are reduced, increasing the productivity of an operation. Real time, on-line information, enhances communication and the need for live meetings and the associated costs in preparation for such meetings is reduced. 
     In addition, performances are enhanced as the online reports and analysis provide clearer picture of performance, enabling better previews and preparations for any arising problems to be dealt with or potential opportunities that may arise. Enhanced communications capabilities provides for better, faster response times across all facets of a business and encourages partners to be proactive regarding issues and opportunities. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.