Budget information, analysis, and projection system and method

Abstract

A budget information and creation system includes a budgetary information database that has numerical data and textual identifiers imported from a remote site. The numerical data are extracted from the remote site into a spreadsheet application, and the textual identifiers are extracted from the remote site into a word processing application. An interface with a user for permitting the user to create a budget for a subdivision of the remote site uses at least some of the numerical data and textual identifiers. The created budget is transmitted to the remote site. A budget projection system permits the user to import and view a prior budget for a subdivision of the remote site using at least some of the numerical data and textual identifiers. The user is permitted to enter a projection variable, and the system calculates a projected budget based upon the projection variable and the prior budget.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . A budget information and creation system comprising: 
 a processor having means for connecting with a network;    a budgetary information database accessible by the processor via the network, the database comprising numerical data and textual identifiers imported from a plurality of remote sites, each site housing data for an aspect of a budget for a plurality of subdivisions of a unitary organization, the numerical data extracted from the remote sites into a spreadsheet application, the textual identifiers extracted from the remote sites into a word processing application, the database configured into a coherent hierarchical format having accessible links to budget data for the plurality of subdivisions;    a budgetary information software system resident on the processor comprising: 
 a code segment for interfacing with a user remote from the database over a network;  
 a code segment for permitting the user to create a budget for one of the subdivisions using at least some of the numerical data and textual identifiers;  
 a code segment for transmitting the created budget to a predetermined remote site via the network; and  
 a code segment for presenting to the user a link for automatically notifying a contact agent within the organization that the created budget has been transmitted to the predetermined remote site, the contact agent appropriate to the subdivision.  
   
     
     
         2 . A budget information system comprising: 
 a budgetary information database comprising numerical data and textual identifiers imported from a plurality of remote sites, each site housing data for an aspect of a budget for a plurality of subdivisions of a unitary organization, the numerical data extracted from the remote sites into a spreadsheet application, the textual identifiers extracted from the remote sites into a word processing application, the database configured into a coherent hierarchical format having accessible links to budget data for the plurality of subdivisions;    means for receiving a keyword selected by a user remote from the database over a network;    means for matching data in the database with the keyword and for outputting at least one subdivision related to the keyword;    means for receiving a user selection of at least one subdivision for tracking;    means for formatting and outputting matched budget data and a textual identifier found from the database search commensurate with the selected subdivision; and    means for automatically updating the budget data and textual identifier of the selected subdivision upon subsequent user access.    
     
     
         3 . The budget information system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the system further comprises software installable on a processor, the software adapted to output a list of database subdivisions, the keyword selectable from the list of subdivisions, and to perform the database search.  
     
     
         4 . The budget information system recited in  claim 3 , wherein the database subdivisions comprise government agencies and the budget data comprise fiscal year budgeted amounts.  
     
     
         5 . The budget information system recited in  claim 4 , wherein a first database subdivision comprises a plurality of line items, each line item having a separate budget, the sum of the line items equaling a total budget for the first database subdivision.  
     
     
         6 . The budget information system recited in  claim 3 , wherein the software comprises: 
 means for importing the output budget data into a spreadsheet application;    means for importing text material related to the output budget data into a word processing program; and    means for correlating the text material and the output budget data for presentation on a unitary screen.    
     
     
         7 . The budget information system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the output budget data are selected from a group consisting of previous time period data, current time period data, and proposed future time period data.  
     
     
         8 . The budget information system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the software further comprises means for calculating and presenting a percentage of a total budget appropriated for each subdivision.  
     
     
         9 . The budget information system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the software further comprises means for importing with the budget data a number of personnel positions associated with each subdivision.  
     
     
         10 . The budget information system recited in  claim 6 , wherein the software further comprises means for importing with the budget data a contact agent associated with each subdivision, and for presenting a name of the contact agent and contact information for the contact agent.  
     
     
         11 . The budget information system recited in  claim 10  , wherein the presented contact information comprises a direct contact electronic linkage therewith.  
     
     
         12 . A method for accessing and searching a remote budget database for data in a desired category, the method comprising the steps of: 
 entering an electronic user site remote from the user, the user site adapted to present a list of budgetary subdivisions;    electronically selecting one of the subdivisions, each subdivision electronically linked to budget data therefor;    viewing the subdivision budget data, the budget data selected from a group consisting of previous time period data, current time period data, and proposed future time period data;    if desired, selecting an option to view more detailed data on the subdivision budget data;    if desired, selecting an option to view additional information on the subdivision in textual form; and    if desired, selecting an option to create an electronic file containing a link to a selected subdivision for tracking budget data therefor, a subsequent accessing of the created electronic file automatically causing an updating of the selected subdivision tracked budget data and a presentation thereof.    
     
     
         13 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the subdivision data comprise budget data as proposed by a plurality of entities.  
     
     
         14 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the additional information in textual form comprises spending authorization information and justification for funding.  
     
     
         15 . The method recited in  claim 12 , wherein the budget database comprises governmental funding data and the subdivisions comprise government agencies.  
     
     
         16 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the steps, following with subdivision budget data viewing step, of: 
 viewing a breakdown of the selected subdivision budget data into line items;    electronically selecting a desired line item; and    viewing the line item budget data.    
     
     
         17 . A method for building a budget information system comprising the steps of: 
 accessing from a remote site a database containing raw budget data and textual information on a plurality of budgetary subdivisions;    compiling a list of titles of at least some of the budgetary subdivisions;    creating a first computer screen containing the list of titles;    retrieving a numerical record on a selected budget subdivision into a spreadsheet application;    retrieving a textual record on the selected budget subdivision into a word processing application;    formatting a second screen containing the numerical record and the textual record in tabular form;    providing a first link between a title of the subdivision on the first screen with the second screen;    creating a third screen containing an option to select at least one of the titles for tracking budget data on the respective subdivision;    providing a second link between the respective subdivision and the budget data therefor;    creating an electronic folder containing the second link;    creating a fourth screen containing the respective subdivision and updated budget data therefor.    
     
     
         18 . The system recited in  claim 2 , further comprising means for creating an electronic folder containing an electronic link to the selected subdivision.  
     
     
         19 . The system recited in  claim 18 , further comprising means for receiving user comments and for storing the received user comments in the electronic folder.  
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of, if desired, entering user comments into the created electronic file.