Method and system for the management of professional services project information

Abstract

A method and system are provided for the transfer and/or aggregation of data and, in particular, integrating data used in managing a professional services practice. The invention preferably transfers and/or aggregates data relating to the identity of client and matters for whom professional services are being rendered with data relating to the work which data may be maintained in inconsistent, proprietary formats, comprising one or more of the following types of information: accounting; budgeting; docketing; time and billing; work product; word processing; records; project management; and/or other information relating to the professional services. The system of the present invention preferably comprises data storage and data processing means adapted to use the data in substantially portable and/or application-independent format, and/or and transfer or aggregate data between common, and/or proprietary data formats.

1 . A computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising:
 a. a computer network;   b. data processing means;   c. one or more distributed application means;   d. data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means;   e. data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means; and   f. project management database means cooperating with said one or more distributed application means for facilitating the communication of said data from said one or more distributed application means.   
     
     
         2 . In the computer network of  claim 1 , said case management database means further comprising data in substantially portable format. 
     
     
         3 . In the computer network of  claim 1 , said case management database means further comprising data in portable format 
     
     
         4 . In the computer network of  claim 1 , said case management database means further comprising data in substantially application-independent format 
     
     
         5 . In the computer network of  claim 1 , said case management database means further comprising data in application independent format 
     
     
         6 . In the computer network of  claim 1 , said case management database means further comprising, data selected from the group consisting of: docketing; calendaring; work processing; document management; accounting; and time and billing. 
     
     
         7 . In the computer network  claim 6 , said case management database means further comprising substantially portable data. 
     
     
         8 . In the computer network of  claim 6 , said case management database means further comprising portable data. 
     
     
         9 . In the computer network of  claim 6 , said case management database means further comprising substantially application independent data. 
     
     
         10 . In the computer net of  claim 6 , said case management database means further comprising application independent data. 
     
     
         11 . In a computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising a computer network, data processing means, one or more distributed application means, data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means, and data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means, the improvement comprising: project management database means cooperating with said one or more distributed application means for facilitating the transfer of said data from said one or more distributed application means. 
     
     
         12 . In the computer network of  claim 11 , said case management database means further comprising data in substantially portable format. 
     
     
         13 . In the computer network of  claim 11 , said case management database means further comprising data in portable format 
     
     
         14 . In the computer network of  claim 11 , said case management database means further comprising data in substantially application-independent format 
     
     
         15 . In the computer network of  claim 11 , said case management database means further comprising data in application independent format 
     
     
         16 . In the computer network of  claim 11 , said management database means further comprising data selected from the group consisting of: docketing; calendaring; word processing; document management; accounting; and time and billing. 
     
     
         17 . In the computer network of  claim 16 , said case management database means further comprising substantially portable data. 
     
     
         18 . In the computer network of  claim 16 , said case management database means further comprising portable data. 
     
     
         19 . In the computer network of  claim 16 , said case management database means further comprising substantially application independent data. 
     
     
         20 . In the computer network of  claim 16 , said case management database means further comprising application independent data. 
     
     
         21 . In a computer network for managing a professional services practice, comprising a computer network, data processing means, one or more distributed application means, data cooperating with said one or more distributed application means, and data storage means for storing said data from said one or more distributed application means, the improvement comprising:
 a. a case management database;   b. said case management database communicating with said one or more application means;   c. said case management database means being adapted to receive data from said one or more application means;   d. said data being substantially portable data.   
     
     
         22 . In the computer network of  claim 21 , said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate portable data from said one or more application means. 
     
     
         23 . In the computer network of  claim 21 , said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate substantially application-independent data with said one or more application means. 
     
     
         24 . In the computer network of  claim 21 , said case management database means further comprising being adapted to communicate application-independent data with said one of more distributed application means. 
     
     
         25 . In the computer network of  claim 21 , further comprising, data selected from the group consisting of: docketing; calendaring; word processing; document management; accounting; and time and billing. 
     
     
         26 . In the computer network of  claim 25 , said data further comprising substantially portable data. 
     
     
         27 . In the computer network of  claim 25 , said data further comprising portable data. 
     
     
         28 . In the computer network of  claim 25 , said data further comprising substantially application independent data. 
     
     
         29 . In the computer network of  claim 25 , said data further comprising application independent data. 
     
     
         30 . In the computer network of  claim 25 , said data further comprising docketing data.