Information processing apparatus for project management and its computer software

• US 20030179241A1
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yokota, Takeshi, Nonaka, Hisanori, Araki, Kenji, Sakimura, Shigetoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

The information processing apparatus for project management comprises: a function of displaying on a screen a task area 12 where a symbol 123 representing a document relating to a task constituting a project is displayed; and a function of performing document work according to an operation instruction for the symbol 125 representing the document displayed in the task area 12.The task area 12 has a work area 121 which displays a symbol 123 representing the document, and an output area 122. When a symbol 126 representing a document is moved within the output area 122, the output area 122 displays a symbol representing the document in a task area of another associated task constituting the project.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus for project management comprising:

a function of displaying, on a screen, a task area used to display symbols, wherein the symbols represent a document relating to at least one task constituting a project and task, respectively; and

a function of performing document work according to an operation instruction for the symbol representing the document displayed in the task area;

wherein the task area has a work area where a symbol representing a document of a task and a symbol representing task other than output work are displayed, and an output area; and

wherein the output area displays, in the output area of the task area on the screen, a symbol representing a document in a task area of another associated task constituting the project when the symbol representing the document is moved within the output area.

2. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, wherein the task area displays a revision history of the document represented by the symbol, the move operation of which has been performed, and displays an associated destination.

3. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a function which enables a user to open, edit, save, copy, and delete a document according to an operation instruction for a symbol representing the document displayed in the work area and the output area.

4. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a function of creating a new document and a symbol representing the new document according to a given operation instruction in the work area.

5. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a function of transmitting a file, which has been moved to the output area, to an address, a folder, or a database, which have been specified for this area beforehand.

6. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, wherein the work area has a reference area which displays a symbol representing a document for reference only, and a general work area which displays a symbol representing the other documents.

7. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising an independent guidance area for displaying guidance about execution steps of the task.

8. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a display area for displaying a symbol hyperlinked to a file, a database, or a home page, which should be referred to when executing the task.

9. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying a task in a project as a progress schedule chart such as a Gantt chart or an arrow diagram, where selecting an arbitrary task on the progress schedule chart permits a work area and an output area, which are associated with the task, to be displayed.

10. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 1, further comprising a function of distributing a document and an icon relating to a task, data in a display area, and a function of the data operation, as unified object data.

11. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 10, further comprising a function by which when the work for the distributed object data is started, the information processing apparatus for project management, which has distributed the object data, is notified of the starting of the work.

13. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a function which enables a user to open, edit, save, copy, and delete a document according to an operation instruction for a symbol representing the document displayed in the work area and the output area.

14. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a function of creating a new document and a symbol representing the new document according to a given operation instruction in the work area.

15. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a function of transmitting a file, which has been moved to the output area, to an address, a folder, or a database, which have been specified for this area beforehand.

16. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, wherein the work area has a reference area which displays a symbol representing a document for reference only, and a general work area which displays a symbol representing the other documents.

17. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising an independent guidance area for displaying guidance about execution steps of the task.

18. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a display area for displaying a symbol hyperlinked to a file, a database, or a home page, which should be referred to when executing the task.

19. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a function of displaying a task in a project as a progress schedule chart such as a Gantt chart or an arrow diagram, where selecting an arbitrary task on the progress schedule chart permits a work area and an output area, which are associated with the task, to be displayed.

20. An information processing apparatus for project management according to claim 2, further comprising a function of distributing a document and an icon relating to a task, data in a display area, and a function of the data operation, as unified object data.

12. Computer software used for an information processing apparatus for project management, said information processing apparatus for project management comprising:

a function of displaying, on a screen, a task area used to display symbols, wherein the symbols represent a document relating to at least one task constituting a project and task, respectively; and

a function of performing document work according to an operation instruction for the symbol representing the document displayed in the task area;

wherein the task area has a work area and an output area; and

wherein said computer software includes a program allowing a computer to display, in the work area of the task area on the screen, a symbol representing a document of a task and a symbol representing task other than output work, and to display, in the output area of the task area on the screen, a symbol representing a document in a task area of another associated task constituting the project when the symbol representing the document is moved within the output area.