Graphical user interface for project data

• US 20030137541A1
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinoza Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spinoza Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Flotree, David M., Kuhn, William G., Meuret, Henry L. III, Massengale, Randy
• Granted Patent: US 6,854,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/764
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment

Abstract

A project management display method and system in which a user logs on to a server from a client computer over a network to display a graphical interface associated with a project. The graphical interface allows the user to view, edit and navigate project data. The graphical interface includes a graphical object that looks similar to a radar screen. The radar screen further includes one or more design objects that provide to the user indicators to those objects that are most important. The indicators change color or position to indicate to the user the urgency associated with a project or task. The graphical interface provides the user the ability to edit project data and have those edits reflected through the graphical interface. The graphical interface also provides the user the ability to navigate through the displayed project and the radar screen view is update accordingly.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for displaying project status information, comprising:

a graphical display workspace; and

one or more graphical elements contained within the workspace, wherein each graphical element represents a project attribute, and the position of the one or more elements within the work space is indicative of the attentiveness the element requires.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the workspace comprises one or more concentric circles representing a continuum of attentiveness.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the concentric circles are divided into one or more wedge-shaped segments to indicate an attribute of a project or task.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 3, wherein the segments are colored to indicate an attribute of a project or task.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising an outer ring containing the name of a project or task.

6. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising a ring having a graphical progress bar that graphically represents the progress toward completion of a project or task.

7. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising a navigation area having a hierarchal list of iconic folders.

8. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising an editing area having one or more editing panels for entering and editing projects and tasks.

9. The graphical user interface of claim 1, wherein the one or more elements comprise one or more icons.

10. The graphical user interface of claim 9, wherein an attribute of the one or more icons is indicative of the status of a project or task.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is icon size.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is animation.

13. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is color.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is sound.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein the one or more icons are associated with an audible alarm that sounds when a threshold attentiveness level is reached.

16. A system for managing one or more projects comprising:

(a) a server having an associated memory for storing project data;

(b) a remote client capable of communicating with the server over a network; and

(c) a memory associated with the remote client containing stored program instructions that cause remote client to display a graphical interface, the graphical interface comprising;

(i) a graphical display workspace; and

(ii) one or more graphical elements contained within the workspace,

wherein each graphical element represents a project attribute, and the position of the one or more elements within the work space is indicative of the attentiveness the element requires.

17. The graphical user interface of claim 16, wherein the workspace comprises one or more concentric circles representing a continuum of attentiveness.

18. The graphical user interface of claim 17, wherein the concentric circles are divided into one or more wedge-shaped segments to indicate an attribute of a project or task.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 18, wherein the segments are colored to indicate an attribute of a project or task.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising an outer ring containing the name of a project or task.

21. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising a ring having a graphical progress bar that graphically represents the progress toward completion of a project or task.

22. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising a navigation area having a hierarchal list of iconic folders.

23. The graphical user interface of claim 16, further comprising an editing area having one or more editing panels for entering and editing projects and tasks.

24. The graphical user interface of claim 16, wherein the one or more elements comprise one or more icons.

25. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein an attribute of the one or more icons is indicative of the status of a project or task.

26. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is icon size.

27. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is animation.

28. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is color.

29. The graphical user interface of claim 24, wherein the attribute of the one or more icons is sound.

30. The system of claim 16, further comprising one or more users from one or more remote clients accessing the one or more projects to add, edit, or change one or more attributes of the projects or tasks.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the one or more users grants access privileges to one or more other users.

32. A graphical user interface for displaying project status information, comprising:

a graphical display workspace; and

one or more graphical elements contained within the workspace, wherein each graphical element represents a project attribute, and the position of the one or more elements relative to the center of the work space is indicative of the attentiveness the element requires.