Patent ID: 7103615

Claim:
A distributed system for observing processes, comprising: a database server; an administration module in communication with said database server for providing observation criteria information to said database server; a process evaluation module in communication with said database server for obtaining said observation criteria information from said database server and collecting process data based on said observation criteria information, said process evaluation module utilizing a personal digital assistant (PDA); and a data display module in communication with said database server, including a website for viewing collected process data in a desired metrics form, said data display module also for providing desired editing and modification of said collected process data; wherein the connectivity established by said database server to said administration module, said process evaluation module, and said data display module, minimizes the requirement for manual input of said collected process data; wherein said process evaluation module, comprises: a data synchronization nib-module for said obtaining of said observation criteria information from said database server; and a data collection sub-module for said collecting of said process data based on said observation criteria information and for providing said collected process data to said data synchronization sub-module for uploading to said database sewer; and wherein said data synchronization sub-module comprises a computer implementable program for providing the steps of: executing a synchronization program for said obtaining of said observation criteria information from said database server; attempting to download said observation criteria information from said database server determining if there is any of said collected process data; downloading said observation criteria information to said data collection sub-module if there is no collected process data) and providing a synchronization, said collected process data being uploaded to said database server; prompting a user to upload said collected process data if there is collected process data; and uploading said collected process data obtained from said downloading and prompting steps if there is collected process data.