Creating ad hoc relationships between entities

US8468170B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Andrew Bybee · Redmond, US
• Derik Stenerson · Redmond, US
• Denis Seniuc · Kenmore, US
• Kalmadi Santhosh Rao · Redmond, US
• Shashi Ranjan · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 2008
• Grant date: Jun 18, 2013
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/10
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Users are enabled to quickly and easily associate records representing entities such as themselves, other users, contacts, accounts, teams/groups, and similar ones employing a record of the association and assign each entity a role or other attributes as a part of this association. Relationship records and attributes preserving entity association information allow teamwork, communication, and collaboration for effective management of business processes. The records and attributes also enable visualization and facilitate deeper understanding of the relationships between people, data, and business processes.