Method and system for making resources available

• US 20020075325A1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Patton, Daniel C., Allor, Jason M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,240,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method and system for making resources available is provided, in which a hierarchy, such as a tree having expandable and collapsible branches, is presented on a user interface. The hierarchy represents a logical arrangement of resources that available to a user. The hierarchy may be organized in a variety of ways, such as by resource category, functional area, project, sub-project, or task grouping. The resources made available may, for example, allow employees of an organization to perform tasks. When a user selects a node on the hierarchy, a group of links that are usable to open files or execute programs is presented. These links may be used to access the available resources and, for example, accomplish tasks of the organization.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for making resources available to an organization, the method comprising:

presenting a hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one of the nodes represents resources for performing tasks of the organization; and

presenting a link group associated with at least one of the nodes, wherein the link group comprises one or more links through which to open files or execute programs to access the resources and accomplish at least one of the tasks.

2. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the link group is extensible to allow a plurality of users to add links and thereby add to the available resources

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

organizing the resources into functional areas;

representing each functional area by a node of the plurality; and

, receiving a user selection of at least one of the nodes, wherein the one or more links of the presented link group are usable to open files or execute programs to access resources of the functional area represented by the selected node.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the presented link group comprises a link to a web site regarding the functional area represented by the selected node.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the presented link group comprises a link to a document regarding the functional area.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the presented link group comprises a link to set up an email to a person responsible for the functional area.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the presented link group comprises a link to a software useful in performing work in the functional area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is a tree, wherein the node to which the link group is associated is a child node, and wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is a parent of the child node.

10. A method for enabling a plurality of users to collaborate on a project, the method comprising:

presenting a graphical hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, each node representing one or more sub-projects into which the project is divided; and

, in response to user selection of a node of the plurality, presenting one or more links, wherein the links are selectable to open files or execute programs for use by one or more of the plurality of users to contribute to the one or more sub-projects represented by the selected node.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 10.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying at least one representation of a task associated with a node of the plurality of nodes;

displaying at least one representation of a computer that is to be used to work on the project, wherein the computer has a work queue; and

, in response to a user of the plurality moving the task representation to the computer representation, adding the represented task to the work queue of the represented computer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying at least one representation of a task associated with a node of the plurality of nodes;

displaying at least one representation of a user of the plurality of users, wherein the represented user has a work queue; and

, in response to a transfer of the task representation to the user representation, adding the represented task to the work queue of the represented user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the graphical hierarchy is a tree, and is presented in a first pane of a user interface, and wherein the links are presented in a second pane of the user interface.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical hierarchy is a tree, and is presented in a first pane of a user interface, the links are presented in a second pane of the user interface, and the work queue is represented in a third pane of the user interface.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the graphical hierarchy is a tree, and is presented in a first pane of a user interface, the links are presented in a second pane of the user interface, and the work queue is represented in a third pane of the user interface.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 17.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

presenting one or more representations of computers; and

;

in response to dragging a node of the plurality of nodes over to at least one of the representations, adding the set of software tests represented by the dragged node to the computer represented by the representation.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

presenting the graphical hierarchy in a first pane of a user interface; and

, presenting the group of links in a second pane of the user interface.

17. A method for making software testing resources available, the method comprising:

presenting a graphical hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a set of software tests; and

, in response to a user selection of at least one of the nodes, presenting a group of links, wherein the links are activatable by the user to open files or execute programs to assist the user in conducting the set of software tests represented by the selected node.

21. A system for making resources available, the system comprising:

a means for organizing the resources into categories;

a means for displaying the categories in a hierarchy;

a means for associating a group of links with at least one of the categories, wherein the link group comprises one or more links through which to open files or execute programs to access the resources; and

, a means for displaying, in response to user selection of the category, the group of links associated with the category, wherein the link group is extensible to allow a plurality of users to add links and thereby add to the resources published.

22. A computer display device having rendered thereon a user interface for enabling a plurality of users to collaborate on a project, wherein the project is divided into a plurality of sub-projects, the user interface comprising:

a first pane for displaying a hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents a sub-project of the plurality of sub-projects; and

, a second pane for presenting, in response to a user selection of a node, one or links associated with the sub-project represented by the selected node, wherein the links are selectable to open files or execute programs for use by one or more of the plurality of users to contribute to the sub-project associated with the node.

23. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 22.

24. The computer display device of claim 22, wherein at least one pair of the plurality of nodes has a parent-child relationship.

25. The computer display device of claim 22, wherein at least one node of the plurality of nodes has at least one child node that represents a sub-project of the plurality of sub-projects.

26. The computer display device of claim 22, wherein at least one of the nodes in the hierarchy represents at least one task to be performed in furtherance of a sub-project of the plurality of sub-projects.