Automated resource management system

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (eg, physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

1 . A RESOURCE management system, comprising: 
 a) Multiple SERVERs, each serving one or more PCs; and    b) means for allowing 
 i) all PCs to store PROFILEs of RESOURCEs into a SERVER; and  
 ii) all PCs to search all PROFILEs.  
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 c) means for allowing any PC to load a downloadable RESOURCE into its respective SERVER.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , and further comprising: 
 d) means for allowing all PCs to download any RESOURCE contained in any SERVER.    
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , and further comprising 
 c) means for storing a PROFILE which contains information about a user of a SERVER; and    d) means for restricting the user's access to RESOURCEs, based on data contained in the user's PROFILE.    
     
     
         5 . A RESOURCE management system, comprising: 
 a) multiple LOCAL SERVERs, each serving one or more PCs; and    b) means for allowing 
 i) all PCs to store PROFILEs of RESOURCEs into one or more REGIONAL SERVERs; and  
 ii) all PCs to search all PROFILEs.  
   
     
     
         6 . A RESOURCE management system, comprising: 
 a) multiple SERVERs, 
 i) each serving one or more PCs; and  
 ii) each storing a catalog of PROFILEs, which describe RESOURCEs; and  
   b) search means for allowing any PC to search any PROFILE contained in any SERVER.    
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  in which the search means allows Boolean key-word searching.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 6  in which the search means allows a user of a PC to order a search of PROFILEs to be done at a future time.  
     
     
         9 . A method of managing RESOURCEs, comprising the following steps: 
 a) maintaining the RESOURCEs at multiple sites;    b) maintaining PROFILEs for the RESOURCEs, each PROFILE containing information relating to its RESOURCE; and    c) allowing a user to search, from a single site, all PROFILEs.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which 
 d) some RESOURCEs take the form of downloadable computer data; and    e) some RESOURCEs take the form of information which is not downloadable.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , in which 
 f) some RESOURCEs take the form of physical objects.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which some of the RESOURCEs take the form of downloadable data, and further comprising 
 d) means for allowing a user to download selected downloadable RESOURCEs to the user'site.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which all PROFILEs are stored at a single site.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which multiple collections of PROFILEs are each stored at a different site, and each collection contains substantially all PROFILEs.