Interactive and web-based Gantt Chart

• US 20040119713A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Meyringer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Computer-implemented methods and computer program products implement techniques for representing a project in a web application. The techniques include generating, through a Web server, a description of a project in HTML code, creating a graphic display of at least a portion of the project in the form of a chart in a browser, receiving user input manipulating the HTML element in the graphic display of the chart, and dynamically updating the graphic display of the chart in response to the user input with a plurality of instructions that manipulate the document object model of the browser. The browser includes a document object model and the chart includes a graphic representation of an HTML element.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for representing a project in a web application, the method comprising:

generating, through a Web server, a description of a project in HTML code;

creating a graphic display of at least a portion of the project in the form of a chart in a browser, the browser including a document object model, the chart including a graphic representation of an HTML element;

receiving user input manipulating the HTML element in the graphic display of the chart; and

dynamically updating the graphic display of the chart in response to the user input with a plurality of instructions that manipulate the document object model of the browser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chart is a Gantt Chart representing the project in the web application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions are contained within a computer program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer program is written in a scripting language.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the scripting language comprises a JavaScript programming language.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a description of a project in HTML Code includes:

generating HTML code that registers scripting language functions to handle events and that contains elements for interaction dialog with the user in the browser.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the events are user input actions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the scripting language functions store information about kind and parameters of the user input actions in hidden HTML input elements and sends a request to the Web server for updating the HTML code of the Gantt Chart.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the events are state changes of HTML elements.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the elements comprise hidden elements not to be displayed in the browser and visible elements to be displayed in the browser.

13. The product of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions are contained within a computer program.

14. The product of claim 13, wherein the computer program is written in a scripting language.

15. The product of claim 14, wherein the scripting language comprises a JavaScript programming language.

11. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for representing a project in a web application, the product comprising instructions to cause a processor to:

generate, through a Web server, a description of a project in HTML code;

create a graphic display of at least a portion of the project in the form of a chart in a browser, the browser including a document object model, the chart including a graphic representation of an HTML element;

receive user input manipulating the HTML element in the graphic display of the chart; and

dynamically update the graphic display of the chart in response to the user input with a plurality of instructions that manipulate the document object model of the browser.

12. The product of claim 11, wherein the chart is a Gantt Chart representing the project in the web application.

16. The product of claim 11, wherein the instructions to cause a processor to create a description of a project in HTML Code include instructions to cause a processor to:

generate HTML code that registers scripting language functions to handle events and that contains elements for interaction dialog with the user in the browser.

17. The product of claim 16, wherein the events are user input actions.

18. The product of claim 17, wherein the scripting language functions store information about kind and parameters of the user input actions in hidden HTML input elements and sends a request to the Web server for updating the HTML code of the Gantt Chart.

19. The product of claim 16, wherein the events are state changes of HTML elements.

20. The product of claim 16, wherein the elements comprise hidden elements not to be displayed in the browser and visible elements to be displayed in the browser.