Method and system for providing cross project commitments

• US 20060070020A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sourov, Alexander A., Paranthaman, Sundaravadivelan, Puttaswamy, Keshav Mysore, Hammer, Joseph Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for managing dependencies between projects in a project management application. The methods and systems utilize one or more project webs which are shared web-based collaborative workspaces for managing dependencies between projects.

Claims

1. A method for managing a program having one or more projects using a project management application, comprising:

generating a project schedule including scheduling data,

provisioning a web for the project, and,

providing project dependency data on the project web.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the project dependency data in a list on the project web.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a report of the project dependency data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sharing the project dependency data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising consuming the project dependency data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending program data to a server operable to manage documents.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending program data to a server operable to manage list items.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a notice to a consumer if the project dependency data changes.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the project dependency data on a web controlled by a project provider.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a remote computer to create the project dependency data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating with the project web using Extensible Markup Language (XML) protocol.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a project server to provision the project web to store one or more commitments.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using a commitment business object (CBO) module to manage communications between the project server and the project web.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising using an object link provider (OLP) to maintain links between one or more tasks and one or more commitments.

15. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer performs the method of claim 1.

16. A method for managing a program having one or more projects using a project management application, comprising:

creating a commitment related to a first project, the commitment including at least one task, a start date, and a completion date,

receiving the commitment on a project web, and

storing the commitment on the project web.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sharing the commitment with other users.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a notice to a project consumer if the commitment is modified.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a remote computer to create the commitment.

20. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer performs the method of claim 16.

21. A method for managing a program having one or more projects using a project management application, comprising:

providing a commitment related to a first project, the commitment related to at least one task, a start date, and a completion date,

sending the commitment to a project web, and

using the project web to provide the commitment to other users.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising using a commitment business object (CBO) module to manage communications between a project server and the project web.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising using an object link provider (OLP) to maintain links between one or more tasks and one or more commitments.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising creating or modifying a dependency of the commitment.

25. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer performs the method of claim 21.