Patents by Inventor Michael E. Bechtel

Michael E. Bechtel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9298815
    Abstract: A system is described for providing an interface for collaborative innovation. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, primary responses, secondary responses and ratings. The interface may communicate with users and a content provider and may allow the users to create primary responses associated with the item, create secondary responses associated with the primary responses and rate the primary and secondary responses. The processor may receive the item from the content provider and provide the interface to the users. The processor may receive the primary and secondary responses from the users, and may display a graphical hierarchical representation of the item and the responses. The processor may allow the users to rate the primary and secondary responses through the graphical hierarchical representation. The processor may provide the primary and secondary responses to the content provider, ordered based on the ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sean R. Kampas
  • Patent number: 9258375
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards
  • Patent number: 9208262
    Abstract: A system is described for displaying a plurality of associated items in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store items, each item associated with another item. The processor may provide the graphical representation of the items to a user where each item is represented by a shape. The processor may receive a request to associate a first metric of the items with a size of each shape and a request to associate a second metric of the items with a color of each shape. The processor may transform the graphical representation such that the size of each shape is based on the value of the first metric of each item, and the color of each shape is based on the value of the second metric of each item. The processor may provide the transformed graphical representation to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Erin E. Hsu, Brian H. Richards
  • Patent number: 9009601
    Abstract: A system is described for managing a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store items provided by users in a collaborative environment. Each item may be related to at least one other item. The processor may identify the collaborative environment and may receive a request from a user to flag an item in the collaborative environment. The request may include a reason for flagging the item and a description of the reason. The processor may determine a priority level of a plurality of priority levels for handling the item based at least on the reason. Each priority level may be associated with an action to be performed on the item. The processor may perform the action associated with the determined priority level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian J. Leslie, Brian H. Richards, Erin E. Hsu
  • Publication number: 20150074200
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards
  • Patent number: 8930520
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards
  • Publication number: 20140122615
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards
  • Publication number: 20140108083
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of team members may define a task by providing data concerning a task to a centralized controller, wherein each task may be assigned any other team member of the plurality of team members. The controller may receive task event information from a first team member of the plurality of team members regarding a task, which task is associated within the controller with the first team member and a second team member. The controller subsequently sends updated task information, based on the task event information, to both the first team member and the second team member. Relevant to any given task, the task event information may comprise a task delegation indication, which may further comprise a non-delegation indication such that further delegation of the task in not permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: David T. NGUYEN, Jordan K. BULLER, Andrew E. FANO, Michael E. BECHTEL, Patrick LAI
  • Patent number: 8660977
    Abstract: A system for managing a knowledge model defining a plurality of entities is provided. The system includes an extraction tool for extracting data items from disparate data sources that determines if the data item has been previously integrated into the knowledge model. The system also includes an integration tool for integrating the data item into the knowledge model that integrates the data item into the knowledge model only if the data item has not been previously integrated into the knowledge model. Additionally, a relationship tool for identifying, automatically, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of entities may also be provided. The system may also include a data visualization tool for presenting the plurality of entities and the plurality of relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sanjay Mathur, Jordi Aragp
  • Patent number: 8645516
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards
  • Patent number: 8645178
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of team members may define a task by providing data concerning a task to a centralized controller, wherein each task may be assigned any other team member of the plurality of team members. The controller may receive task event information from a first team member of the plurality of team members regarding a task, which task is associated within the controller with the first team member and a second team member. The controller subsequently sends updated task information, based on the task event information, to both the first team member and the second team member. Relevant to any given task, the task event information may comprise a task delegation indication, which may further comprise a non-delegation indication such that further delegation of the task in not permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: David T. Nguyen, Jordan K. Buller, Andrew E. Fano, Michael E. Bechtel, Patrick Lai
  • Patent number: 8356036
    Abstract: A method for integrating a data item into a knowledge model is provided. The method may include retrieving the data item from a data source, determining if the data item has been previously integrated into the knowledge model, and integrating the data element into the knowledge model if the data item has not been previously integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sanjay Mathur, Jordi Arago
  • Publication number: 20120278117
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of team members may define a task by providing data concerning a task to a centralized controller, wherein each task may be assigned any other team member of the plurality of team members. The controller may receive task event information from a first team member of the plurality of team members regarding a task, which task is associated within the controller with the first team member and a second team member. The controller subsequently sends updated task information, based on the task event information, to both the first team member and the second team member. Relevant to any given task, the task event information may comprise a task delegation indication, which may further comprise a non-delegation indication such that further delegation of the task in not permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: David T. Nguyen, Jordan K. Buller, Andrew E. Fano, Michael E. Bechtel, Patrick Lai
  • Patent number: 8239228
    Abstract: A system for valuating users and user generated content in a collaborative environment is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an item, responses to the item, and ratings for each response. The processor may receive responses from the users based on the item provided by the content provider. The processor may receive ratings from the users for each of the responses. The processor may determine a response quality score for each response if the number of users who viewed the response satisfies a view threshold. The response quality score may be based on the ratings received for each response and the number of users who viewed each response. The processor may transform each response and the response quality score of each response into a graphical representation and may provide the graphical representation to the content provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian J. Leslie
  • Patent number: 8010581
    Abstract: A system including a knowledge model is provided. The system includes an interface for presenting a relationship between two entities of a knowledge model. The interface includes a method that accepts a first input representative of a selection of a first interface item, the first interface item associated with an entity of the knowledge model. The method also includes presenting, in response to the acceptance, a second interface item, the second interface item associated with a second entity of the knowledge model, wherein the second entity has a relationship with the selected entity and the relationship has a relationship type selected from the group consisting of a direct relationship type or a derived relationship type. Finally, the method also includes presenting a relationship indicia representative of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sanjay Mathur, Jordi Arago
  • Publication number: 20110131209
    Abstract: A system for managing a knowledge model defining a plurality of entities is provided. The system includes an extraction tool for extracting data items from disparate data sources that determines if the data item has been previously integrated into the knowledge model. The system also includes an integration tool for integrating the data item into the knowledge model that integrates the data item into the knowledge model only if the data item has not been previously integrated into the knowledge model. Additionally, a relationship tool for identifying, automatically, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of entities may also be provided. The system may also include a data visualization tool for presenting the plurality of entities and the plurality of relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Michael E. BECHTEL, Sanjay MATHUR, Jordi Arago
  • Patent number: 7904411
    Abstract: A system for managing a knowledge model defining a plurality of entities is provided. The system includes an extraction tool for extracting data items from disparate data sources that determines if the data item has been previously integrated into the knowledge model. The system also includes an integration tool for integrating the data item into the knowledge model that integrates the data item into the knowledge model only if the data item has not been previously integrated into the knowledge model. Additionally, a relationship tool for identifying, automatically, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of entities may also be provided. The system may also include a data visualization tool for presenting the plurality of entities and the plurality of relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sanjay Mathur, Jordi Arago
  • Publication number: 20100185498
    Abstract: A system for relative performance based valuation of responses is described. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store responses related to an item and scores of the responses. The interface receives the responses and communicates with devices of users. The processor may receive the responses related to the item. The processor may provide, to devices of the users, pairs of the responses. For each pair of responses, the processor may receive, from the devices of the users, a selection of a response. The processor may calculate scores for each response based on the number of times each response was presented to the users for selection, the number of times each response was selected by the users, and an indication of the other responses of the plurality of responses each response was presented with. The processor may store the scores in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES GMBH
    Inventor: Michael E. Bechtel
  • Publication number: 20090282346
    Abstract: A system is described for managing a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store items provided by users in a collaborative environment. Each item may be related to at least one other item. The processor may identify the collaborative environment and may receive a request from a user to flag an item in the collaborative environment. The request may include a reason for flagging the item and a description of the reason. The processor may determine a priority level of a plurality of priority levels for handling the item based at least on the reason. Each priority level may be associated with an action to be performed on the item. The processor may perform the action associated with the determined priority level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES GMBH
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian J. Leslie, Brian H. Richards, Erin E. Hsu
  • Publication number: 20090265430
    Abstract: A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES GMBH
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Brian H. Richards