System and method for collaborative action

• US 20020156671A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Gerald C., Libra, Douglas F.
• Application Number:
  US10/008,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of reducing the overall time required for more than one party to collaboratively perform a number of tasks, where each task requires a series of collaborative actions, said method comprising the steps of recording the series of collaborative actions into a script of database; and displaying a status of the actions taken in each of the tasks, wherein the status of each task may be simultaneously viewed, and wherein each party may view the status of each task.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the overall time required for more than one party to collaboratively perform a number of tasks, where each task requires a series of collaborative actions, said method comprising the steps of:

recording the series of collaborative actions into a script of database;

displaying a status of the actions taken in each of the tasks, wherein the status of each task may be simultaneously viewed, and wherein each party may view the status of each task.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of recording into the script database includes:

ordering each of the actions into a series of sequential steps; and

assigning an individual, group, machine, or combination thereof of one party to perform each of the actions.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step of recording into the script database further includes:

designating the dates that one or more actions will be performed; and

indicating the location where each of the actions is to be performed.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of recording includes inputting the script database into an electronic file.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the status of the tasks is performed by providing access to the status via the Internet.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the status of the tasks includes:

indicating two or more tasks and whether a part of one of the tasks has not started, is in work, or has been completed.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of displaying the status of the tasks further includes indicating the last action completed within each of the tasks that are in work.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said step of displaying the status of the tasks further includes:

displaying the total number of actions in each of the tasks; and

displaying the percentage of the number of actions completed for each of the tasks.

9. A method of testing the interactivity of computing systems of two or more parties, said method comprising the steps of:

electronically storing a test script for each test of the computing systems; and

transmitting a status of each of the tests to any of the parties.

10. The method of testing according to claim 9 wherein said step of electronically storing the test script includes:

inputting one or more actions to be performed to carry out the test; and

associating a sequential step with each of said one or more actions.

11. The method of testing according to claim 10 wherein said step of storing the test script further includes:

inputting an entity or computing device to perform a particular one of said actions for each of said one or more actions.

12. The method of testing according to claim 11 wherein said step of storing the test script further includes:

inputting a site where a particular one of said actions will be performed; and

inputting a day or range of days when a particular one of said actions will be performed.

13. The method of testing according to claim 9 wherein said step of transmitting the status of each of the tests includes:

transmitting an overall test status having a total number of tests to be performed between the parties;

number of the tests not yet started, a total number of the tests in work, and a total number of tests failed.

14. The method of testing according to claim 9 wherein said step of transmitting the status of each of the tests includes:

providing an identification of each test script to be performed between the parties and whether the particular test associated with each test script was either in work, not started, or was completed.

15. The method of testing according to claim 9 wherein said step of transmitting the status of each of the tests includes:

indicating the last action to have been completed for each test script.

16. The method of testing according to claim 15, wherein said step of transmitting the status of each of the tests further includes:

identifying whether the last action to have been completed failed or passed in the particular test script.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said step of transmitting includes:

providing the total actions required for each test; and

indicating a percentage of the actions that have been completed for each particular test.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the means for recording comprises:

means for ordering each of the actions into a series of sequential steps; and

means for assigning an individual, group, machine, or combination thereof, of one party to perform each of the actions.

20. The system according to claim 19 wherein said means for recording further comprises:

means for designating the date that one or more actions will be performed; and

means for indicating the location where each of the actions will be performed.

21. The system according to claim 18 wherein said displaying means comprises:

means for indicating the last action completed within each of the tasks that are in work.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein said displaying means further comprises:

means for indicating the last action completed within each of the tasks that are in work.

23. The system according to claim 22 wherein said displaying means further comprises:

means for displaying the total number of actions in each of the tasks; and

means for displaying the percentage of the number of actions completed for each of the tasks.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein said electronic storing means comprises:

means for inputting one or more actions to be performed to carry out the test; and

means for associating a sequential step with each of said one or more actions.

26. The system according to claim 25 wherein said electronic storing means further comprises:

inputting means for entering an entity or computing device to perform a particular one of said actions for each of said one or more actions.

27. The system according to claim 26 wherein said electronic storing means further comprises:

means for inputting a location where a particular action will be performed; and

means for inputting a day or range of days when a particular action will be performed.

28. The system according to claim 24 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

means for transmitting an overall test status including a total number of tests to be performed between the parties;

a number of the tests in work; and

a total number of tests failed.

29. The system according to claim 24 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

means for providing an identification of each test script to be performed between the parties and for determining whether the particular test associated with each test script was either in work, not started, or was completed.

30. The system according to claim 24 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

means for indicating the last action to have been completed for each test script.

31. The system according to claim 30 wherein said transmitting means further comprises:

means for identifying whether the last action to have been completed, failed or passed in the particular test script.

32. The system according to claim 30 wherein said transmitting means comprises:

means for providing the total actions required for each test; and

means for indicating the percentage of the actions that have been completed for each particular test.

18. A time management system for reducing the overall time required for more than one party to collaborate on a number of tasks, where each task requires a series of collaborative actions, said system comprising:

a script database;

means for recording the series of collaborative actions into said script database; and

means for displaying a status of the actions taken in each of the tasks to each party, wherein each party may view the status of each task.

24. A system for testing the interactivity of computing systems of two or more parties, said system comprising:

means for electronically storing a test script for each of the computing systems; and

means for transmitting a status of each of the tests to any of the parties.

33. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

recording a plurality of tasks that are collaboratively performed between parties, wherein each of said tasks includes a series of actions;

recording the series of actions;

displaying a status of the actions taken in each of tasks;

providing immediate access to each party to allow viewing of the status of each task, thereby reducing the overall time required for the parties to perform the collaborative tasks.

34. The medium according to claim 33 wherein the step of recording the series of actions comprises:

ordering each of the actions into a series of sequential steps;

assigning an individual, group, machine, or combination thereof of one of the parties to perform each of the actions;

designating the date that one or more of the actions will be performed; and

indicating the location where each of the actions is to be performed.

35. The medium according to claim 33 wherein the step of displaying the status of the tasks comprises:

indicating two or more tasks and whether a particular one of the tasks is not started, is in work, or has been completed;

indicating the last action completed within each of the tasks that are in work;

displaying the total number of actions in each of the tasks; and

displaying the percentage of the number of actions completed for each of the tasks.

36. A memory for storing data for access by a process, which is used to assist in the testing of computing system of two or more parties, being executed by a processor, the memory comprising:

a test script used by each of the computing systems, said script including;

one or more actions to be performed by one of the parties to carry out the test;

a sequential step associated with each of said one or more actions;

a performer of a particular one of said actions for each of said one or more actions;

a location where a particular one of said actions will be performed; and

a range of days when a particular one of said actions will be performed; and

a status of each of the tests including;

a last action to have been completed for each test script;

indication of whether the last action to have been completed failed or passed in the particular test script;

total actions required for each test; and

percentage of the actions that have been completed for each particular test.