Systems and methods for remote role-based collaborative work environment

Abstract

There is disclosed, for use in connection with a network that provides communications between customers generating service requests and vendors capable of electronically fulfilling the service requests, a system for monitoring, controlling, and administering role-based work flows associated with the service requests. Work flows may be controlled and performed through role-based collaboration, allowing anonymity of vendors and customers and providing a template by which a generic work flow can be reapplied. The system comprises: a main controller for creating a first work flow record used to control a first work flow associated with a first service request and for storing the first work flow record in a storage device associated with the main controller. The main controller also receives messages, data files, software applications, and documents from a first customer and a first vendor associated with the first work flow, stores the messages, data files, software applications, and documents in the storage device, and transfers the messages, data files, software applications, and documents to the first customer and the first vendor. The system also comprises an accounting controller associated with the main controller that identifies fees associated with the first work flow and stores fee data associated with the fees in the first work flow record.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . For use in connection with a network capable of providing communications between a plurality of customers generating service requests and a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling said service requests, a system for monitoring and controlling work flows-associated with said service requests between said plurality of customers and said plurality of vendors comprising: 
 a main controller capable of creating a first work flow record used to control a first work flow associated with a first service request and storing said first work flow record in a storage device associated with said main controller, wherein said main controller is further capable of receiving from a first customer and a first vendor associated with said first work flow at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents, storing said at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents in said storage device, and transferring at least one of said at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents to at least one of said first customer and said first vendor; and    an accounting controller associated with said main controller capable of identifying at least one fee associated with said first work flow and storing fee data associated with said at least one fee in said first work flow record.    
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first work flow record comprises a plurality of work flow definitions defining at least one process step to be performed by at least one of said main controller, said accounting controller, a first customer processing device associated with said first customer, and a first vendor processing device associated with said first vendor.  
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein at least one of said plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by said first customer.  
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein at least one of said plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by said first vendor.  
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first work flow record comprises a primary work flow record associated with said first service request and a secondary work flow record associated with a second work flow associated with said first work flow.  
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said second work flow is associated with a second service request generated by said first vendor in response to said first service request generated by said first customer.  
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said accounting controller is further capable of identifying at least one additional fee associated with said second work flow and storing second fee data associated with said at least one additional fee in said first work flow record.  
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said accounting controller stores fee data associated with said first work flow in said primary work flow record and stores fee data associated with said second work flow in said secondary work flow record.  
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein a first service associated with said first service request is performed by a customized computer-executable application generated by said first vendor, wherein said customized computer-executable application performs specific operations designed by said first vendor to meet unique requirements of said first customer.  
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said main controller is capable of transferring said customized computer-executable application from a first data processing device associated with said first vendor to at least one of a second data processing device associated with said main controller and a third data processing device associated with said customer, wherein said main controller transfers said customized computer-executable application to said at least one of said second data processing device and said third data processing device to cause said customized computer-executable application to execute more efficiently.  
     
     
         11 . A network comprising; 
 a plurality of customer data processing devices-capable generating service requests created by a plurality of customers;    a plurality of vendor data processing devices associated with a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling said service requests; and    a system for monitoring and controlling work flows associated with said service requests between said plurality of customers and said plurality of vendors comprising: 
 a main controller capable of creating a first work flow record used to control a first work flow associated with a first service request and storing said first work flow record in a storage device associated with said main controller, wherein said main controller is further capable of receiving from a first customer and a first vendor associated with said first work flow at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents, storing said at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents in said storage device, and transferring at least one of said at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents to at least one of said first customer and said first vendor; and  
 an accounting controller associated with said main controller capable of identifying at least one fee associated with said first work flow and storing fee data associated with said at least one fee in said first work flow record.  
   
     
     
         12 . The network as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said first work flow record comprises a plurality of work flow definitions defining at least one process step to be performed by at least one of said main controller, said accounting controller, a first customer processing device associated with said first customer, and a first vendor processing device associated with said first vendor.  
     
     
         13 . The network as set forth in  claim 12  wherein at least one of said plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by said first customer.  
     
     
         14 . The network as set forth in  claim 12  wherein at least one of said plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by said first vendor.  
     
     
         15 . The network as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said first work flow record comprises a primary work flow record associated with said first service request and a secondary work flow record associated with a second work flow associated with said first work flow.  
     
     
         16 . The network as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said second work flow is associated with a second service request generated by said first vendor in response to said first service request generated by said first customer.  
     
     
         17 . The network as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said accounting controller is further capable of identifying at least one additional fee associated with said second work flow and storing second fee data associated with said at least one additional fee in said first work flow record.  
     
     
         18 . The network as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said accounting controller stores fee data associated with said first work flow in said primary work flow record and stores fee data associated with said second work flow in said secondary work flow record.  
     
     
         19 . The network as set forth in  claim 11  wherein a first service associated with said first service request is performed by a customized computer-executable application generated by said first vendor, wherein said customized computer-executable application performs specific operations designed by said first vendor to meet unique requirements of said first customer.  
     
     
         20 . The network as set forth in  claim 19  wherein said main controller is capable of transferring said customized computer-executable application from a first data processing device associated with said first vendor to at least one of a second data processing device associated with said main controller and a third data processing device associated with said customer, wherein said main controller transfers said customized computer-executable application to said at least one of said second data processing device and said third data processing device to cause said customized computer-executable application to execute more efficiently.  
     
     
         21 . For use in a network capable of providing communications between a plurality of customers generating service requests and a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling the service requests, a method of monitoring and controlling work flows associated with the service requests between the plurality of customers and the plurality of vendors comprising the steps of: 
 creating a first work flow record used to control a first work flow associated with a first service request;    storing the first work flow record in a storage device;    receiving from a first customer and a first vendor associated with the first work flow at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents;    storing the at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents in the storage device, and transferring at least one of the at least one of messages, data files, software applications, and documents to at least one of the first customer and the first vendor; and    identifying at least one fee associated with the first work flow and storing fee data associated with the at least one fee in the first work flow record.    
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the first work flow record comprises a plurality of work flow definitions defining at least one process step to be performed by at least one of a first network processing device associated with the network, a first customer processing device associated with the first customer, and a first vendor processing device associated with the first vendor.  
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in  claim 22  wherein at least one of the plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by the first customer.  
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 22  wherein at least one of the plurality of work flow definitions is modifiable by the first vendor.  
     
     
         25 . The method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein the first work flow record comprises a primary work flow record associated with the first service request and a secondary work flow record associated with a second work flow associated with the first work flow.  
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the second work flow is associated with a second service request generated by the first vendor in response to the first service request generated by the first customer.  
     
     
         27 . The method as set forth in  claim 25  including the further steps of: 
 identifying at least one additional fee associated with the second work flow; and  
 storing second fee data associated with the at least one additional fee in the first work flow record.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method as set forth in  claim 27  wherein fee data associated with the first work flow is stored in the primary work flow record and fee data associated with the second work flow is stored in the secondary work flow record.  
     
     
         29 . The method as set forth in  claim 21  wherein a first service associated with the first service request is performed by a customized computer-executable application generated by the first vendor, wherein the customized computer-executable application performs specific operations designed by the first vendor to meet unique requirements of the first customer.  
     
     
         30 . The method as set forth in  claim 29  including the further step of transferring the customized computer-executable application from a first data processing device associated with the first vendor to at least one of a second data processing device associated with the network and a third data processing device associated with the customer, wherein the customized computer-executable application is transferred to the at least one of the second data processing device and the third data processing device to cause the customized computer-executable application to execute more efficiently.  
     
     
         31 . For use in connection with a communication network capable of providing communications between a plurality of customers generating service requests and a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling said service requests, a system for brokering said service requests between said plurality of customers and said plurality of vendors comprising: 
 a main controller capable of receiving a first service request from a first of said plurality of customers, generating a first record associated with said first service request, and storing said first record in a storage device associated with said main controller;    wherein said main controller is further capable of determining a nature of a first requested service associated with said first service request, and in response to said nature of said first requested service, allowing at least one of said plurality of vendors to access said first record in said storage device.    
     
     
         32 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said main controller transmits a notification associated with said first service request to said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         33 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said at least one vendor comprises at least one vendor capable of performing said first requested service.  
     
     
         34 . The system as set forth in  claim 33  wherein said main controller selects said at least one vendor from a list of suitable vendors capable of performing said first requested service.  
     
     
         35 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said main controller is further capable of determining if said at least one vendor has accepted said first service request, and in response to said determination, transmitting an acceptance notification to said first customer.  
     
     
         36 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said first service request comprises customer price information indicating an amount said first customer is willing to pay for performance of said first requested service.  
     
     
         37 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said main controller stores in said storage device documents associated with said first service request.  
     
     
         38 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said main controller stores in said storage device customer associated with said first service request.  
     
     
         39 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said main controller is further capable of transferring messages between said first customer and said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         40 . The system as set forth in  claim 31  further comprising an accounting controller associated with said main controller, wherein said accounting controller is capable of tracking invoice data and payment data transmitted between said first customer and said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         41 . A network comprising; 
 a plurality of customer data processing devices capable generating service requests created by a plurality of customers;    a plurality of vendor data processing devices associated with a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling said service requests; and    a system for brokering said service requests between said plurality of customers and said plurality of vendors comprising: 
 a main controller capable of receiving a first service request from a first of said plurality of customers, generating a first record associated with said first service request, and storing said first record in a storage device associated with said main controller;  
   wherein said main controller is further capable of determining a nature of a first requested service associated with said first service request, and in response to said nature of said first requested service, allowing at least one of said plurality of vendors to access said first record in said storage device.    
     
     
         42 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said main controller transmits a notification associated with said first service request to said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         43 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said at least one vendor comprises at least one vendor capable of performing said first requested service.  
     
     
         44 . The network as set forth in  claim 43  wherein said main controller selects said at least one vendor from a list of suitable vendors capable of performing said first requested service.  
     
     
         45 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said main controller is further capable of determining if said at least one vendor has accepted said first service request, and in response to said determination, transmitting an acceptance notification to said first customer.  
     
     
         46 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said first service request comprises customer price information indicating an amount said first customer is willing to pay for performance of said first requested service.  
     
     
         47 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said main controller stores in said storage device documents associated with said first service request.  
     
     
         48 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said main controller stores in said storage device customer associated with said first service request.  
     
     
         49 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said main controller is further capable of transferring messages between said first customer and said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         50 . The network as set forth in  claim 41  further comprising an accounting controller associated with said main controller, wherein said accounting controller is capable of tracking invoice data and payment data transmitted between said first customer and said at least one vendor.  
     
     
         51 . For use in connection with a network capable of providing communications between a plurality of customers generating service requests and a plurality of vendors capable of fulfilling the service requests, a method for brokering the service requests between the plurality of customers and the plurality of vendors comprising steps of: 
 receiving a first service request from a first of the plurality of customers;    generating a first record associated with the first service request;    storing the first record in a storage device;    determining a nature of a first requested service associated with the first service request; and    in response to the nature of the first requested service, allowing at least one of the plurality of vendors to access the first record in the storage device.    
     
     
         52 . The method as set forth in  claim 51  including the further step of transmitting a notification associated with the first service request to the at least one vendor.  
     
     
         53 . The method as set forth in  claim 51  wherein the at least one vendor comprises at least one vendor capable of performing the first requested service.  
     
     
         54 . The method as set forth in  claim 53  including the further step of selecting the at least one vendor from a list of suitable vendors capable of performing the first requested service.  
     
     
         55 . The method as set forth in  claim 51  including the steps of determining if the at least one vendor has accepted the first service request, and in response to the determination, transmitting an acceptance notification to the first customer.