Automatic project documentation updates

• US 20030212586A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Majd, Mahdad, Santosuosso, John Mathew
• Granted Patent: US 7,286,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• 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 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method of managing a task of a project in an integrated development environment. The task is typically comprised of a plurality of events. In aspect, the method comprises receiving a set of data from a project management tool, the set of data comprising an identifier corresponding to the task; and managing a process of the task associated with the identifier tool.

Claims

1. A method of managing a task of a project in an integrated development environment, the task comprising a plurality of events, the method comprising:

receiving a set of data from a project management tool, the set of data comprising an identifier corresponding to the task; and

managing a process of the task associated with the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring an amount of time expended on the task associated with the identifier; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring one or more periods of time expended on the plurality of events;

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

waiting for each of the plurality of events to initiate;

determining whether each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier;

if each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier, measuring one or more periods of time expended on each of the plurality of events; and

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the at least one data corresponding to a status field for indicating a status of the task.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended on the task;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule;

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the project management tool is part of the integrated development environment.

11. A signal bearing medium comprising a program which when executed by a processor, performs a method for managing a task of a project in an integrated development environment, the method comprising:

receiving a set of data from a project management tool, the set of data comprising an identifier corresponding to the task; and

managing a process of the task associated with the identifier.

12. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring an amount of time expended on the task associated with the identifier; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

13. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring one or more periods of time expended on the plurality of events;

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

14. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

waiting for each of the plurality of events to initiate;

determining whether each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier;

if each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier, measuring one or more periods of time expended on each of the plurality of events; and

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time.

15. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria.

16. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the at least one data corresponding to a status field for indicating a status of the task.

17. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule.

18. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended on the task;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

19. The signal bearing medium of claim 11, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule;

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

20. A computer, comprising:

a memory containing an integrated development environment task-management program; and

a processor which, when executing the integrated development environment task-management program, performs an operation comprising;

receiving a set of data from a project management tool, the set of data comprising an identifier corresponding to the task; and

managing a process of the task associated with the identifier.

21. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring an amount of time expended on the task associated with the identifier; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

22. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

measuring one or more periods of time expended on the plurality of events;

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time; and

transferring the amount of time to the project management tool.

23. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

waiting for each of the plurality of events to initiate;

determining whether each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier;

if each of the plurality of events comprises the identifier, measuring one or more periods of time expended on each of the plurality of events; and

adding the one or more periods of time to generate an amount of time.

24. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria.

25. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a distinctive manner relative to other data in the set to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the at least one data corresponding to a status field for indicating a status of the task.

26. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule.

27. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended on the task;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

28. The computer of claim 20, wherein managing the process of the task comprises:

displaying at least one data of the set of data in a highlighted color to indicate that the task associated with the at least one data has met a certain criteria, the certain criteria being defined as one of the task being in a critical path and the task being behind schedule;

issuing an inquiry signal inquiring a validation of an amount of time expended;

receiving a response signal indicating whether the amount of time expended has been validated;

setting a validation flag in response to the response signal, the validation flag being part of the set of data; and

transferring the validation flag to the project management tool.

29. A computer program product, comprising:

(a) a project management tool configured to perform a method of collecting project management information, the method comprising;

1) receiving a plurality of task identifiers for a project; and

2) automatically associating an event with at least one of the plurality of task identifiers; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the project management information comprises a length of time worked on the event.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, further comprising automatically associating the event with at least two of the plurality of task identifiers.

32. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein automatically associating comprises:

(i) detecting the event;

(ii) determining an event identifier associated with the event; and

(iii) correlating the event identifier to the at least one task identifier.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the event comprises:

making active a window displaying a file.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the event comprises:

opening a file.

35. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises:

(3) tracking an amount of time expended on a task associated with the at least one of the plurality of task identifiers.