System, method and article of manufacture for enhanced visibility during installation management in a network- based supply chain environment

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for interacting with a client user in a network-based environment during installation management in order to enhance visibility. A user is identified and information about the user is collected, wherein the information relates to the installation of a service. A profile of the user is built based on the collected information and a plurality of different contents are managed. The profile and the contents are analyzed in order to match attributes of the profile of the user and attributes of the contents. The contents which have attributes that match the attributes of the profile of the user are then selected and delivered to the user. The user is allowed to manually select which of the delivered contents are depicted on a display. The user is also allowed to selectively position the delivered contents on the display.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method to provide installation management of a service, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a service provider via a network, information relating to a service provided by a service provider;   receiving, from a manufacturer via a network, information relating to manufacturer offerings by a manufacturer;   using and evaluating the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer to match the service to the manufacturer offerings, evaluating factors that include cost and service provider requirements; and   providing installation management between the manufacturer and the service provider, based on the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer.   
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , comprising:
 identifying a business entity user;   collecting information about the business entity user, wherein the information relates to the installation of a service;   building a profile of the business entity user based on the collected information, including storing the collected information externally, checking the collected information for omissions, errors, and duplications, and processing the collected information to produce the profile;   selecting contents which have attributes that match the attributes of the profile of the business entity user; and   delivering the selected contents to the business entity user.   
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , comprising:
 identifying a time when the business entity user last viewed the contents; and   indicating portions of the contents that have been modified or added since the time when the business entity user last viewed the contents.   
     
     
         22 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , further including the business entity user by using a cookie, receiving user input, and digital certificates. 
     
     
         23 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising: allowing the business entity user to rate the contents. 
     
     
         24 . A system for providing installation management of a service, the system comprising:
 a non-transitory memory storing instructions; and   a processor executing the instructions to cause the system to perform a method comprising:
 receiving, from a service provider via a network, information relating to a service provided by a service provider; 
 receiving, from a manufacturer via a network, information relating to manufacturer offerings by a manufacturer; 
 using and evaluating the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer to match the service to the manufacturer offerings, evaluating factors that include cost and service provider requirements; and 
 providing installation management support between the manufacturer and the service provider, based on the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer. 
   
     
     
         25 . A system as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a business entity user;   collecting information about the business entity user, wherein the information relates to the installation of a service;   building a profile of the business entity user based on the collected information, including storing the collected information externally, checking the collected information for omissions, errors, and duplications, and processing the collected information to produce the profile;   selecting contents which have attributes that match the attributes of the profile of the business entity user; and   delivering the selected contents to the business entity user.   
     
     
         26 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the method further comprises analyzing the profile in real time. 
     
     
         27 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a time when the business entity user last viewed the contents; and   indicating portions of the contents that have been modified or added since the time when the business entity user last viewed the contents.   
     
     
         28 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , further including the business entity user by using a cookie, receiving user input, and digital certificates. 
     
     
         29 . A system as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the method further comprises:
 allowing the business entity user to rate the contents.   
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed on a processor, perform a method comprising:
 receiving, from a service provider via a network, information relating to a service provided by a service provider;   receiving, from a manufacturer via a network, information relating to manufacturer offerings by a manufacturer;   using and evaluating the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer to match the service to the manufacturer offerings, evaluating factors that include cost and service provider requirements; and   providing installation management between the manufacturer and the service provider, based on the information provided by the service provider and the manufacturer.   
     
     
         31 . A computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a business entity user;   collecting information about the business entity user, wherein the information relates to the installation of a service;   building a profile of the business entity user based on the collected information, including storing the collected information externally, checking the collected information for omissions, errors, and duplications, and processing the collected information to produce the profile;   selecting contents which have attributes that match the attributes of the profile of the business entity user; and   delivering the selected contents to the business entity user.   
     
     
         32 . A computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 identifying a time when the business entity user last viewed the contents; and   indicating portions of the contents that have been modified or added since the time when the business entity user last viewed the contents.   
     
     
         33 . A computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 31 , further including the business entity user by using a cookie, receiving user input, and digital certificates. 
     
     
         34 . A computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises:
 allowing the business entity user to rate the contents.