Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A system is provided for sharing data among cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. Each contributor maintains a database with information therein which pertains to monitored entities. The information is arranged in data fields. In each database, a contributor-specific subset of the data fields is identified which contains information about the monitored entities which is uniquely associated with a particular one of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. For each database, a monitored-entity subset of data fields is identified which contains information about the monitored entities which is not uniquely associated with one of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors, and which appears in the databases. A viewing prioritization rule set is derived for each of the cooperating but independently-operating data-gathering contributors. A record management program is provided which is executed by a data processing system. The record management program includes a search routine which responds to a search query of a particular contributor by retrieving data. The data processing system further includes a view routine which assembles data for display in accordance with the viewing prioritization rule set associated with the contributor, and which automatically resolves conflicts between information in the monitored-entity subset of data fields in accordance with the viewing prioritization rule set.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim