Patent ID: 7302436

Claim:
A computer system with a database application operating on a computer and communicating with other computers via a network, comprising: a database server interacting with the other computers via the network, said database server including a processor and a memory device for storing database data containing a table of fields, including: a task identification field to provide a unique item identification associated with an open item; personnel identification fields to identify personnel involved in the task, inchxiing at least an originator of the task; a text field to provide comments regarding the task; and a status field to indicate a current status of the task, said status field including a status indicating closure of the task, said closure status being access restricted to said personnel other than the originator; a graphical user interface routine which when invoked on one of the other computers creates a graphical user interface on that other computer, and the graphical user interface including interface window data corresponding to the task identification, personnel identification, text, and status fields in the table; and the computer system further including processors at the other computers with at least the processor at the database server or at one of the other computers invoking a notification engine to automatically notify at least one personnel other than the originator when the task is created and at least the originator when the status of the task is altered thereafter and wherein said computer system mandates that the originator is the only one authorized to close and end a task, a data receiving routine which when invoked by the computer system records information from task originators reflecting newly entered business tasks; and a data compilation routine which when invoked by the computer system coordinates preparation of data tables including: (a) a task table comprising unique identifiers for newly opened business tasks recorded into the data receiving routine, the task table keying each unique identifier to at least three fields comprising: an identification of an associated task originator, an identification of a responsible group performing the newly opened business tasks, and a textual description of the newly opened business tasks; and (b) a history table also with the same unique identifiers corresponding to the newly opened business tasks, the history table keying each unique identifier to at least two fields including the status field, and a textual description of actions taken with respect to a task; wherein the status field is modification-precluded for said responsible group.