Method and system to manage tasks

• US 20060107265A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Sadiq, Wasim, Schulz, Karsten A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,302,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and system to manage tasks are described. The method may comprise providing a graphical user interface to a user, receiving user input via the graphical user interface to identify a composite task and at least two individual tasks, and associating the at least two individual tasks with the composite or virtual task. An operation performed on the composite task may be automatically performed on the individual tasks.

Claims

1. A method of managing a plurality of tasks using a computer, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface to a user;

receiving user input via the graphical user interface to identify a composite task and at least two individual tasks;

associating the at least two individual tasks with the composite tasks;

monitoring an operation performed on the composite task; and

automatically executing the operation on the at least two individual tasks when the operation is performed on the composite task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each individual task is a conceptual abstraction of work to be done to achieve a defined goal and the composite task is a virtual task associating the at least two individual tasks.

3. The method of claim 1, which comprises automatically associating the at least two individual tasks based on composite task criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

receiving user input via the graphical user interface to identify at least one further composite task and associating the further composite task with at least one of an individual tasks and a composite task; and

automatically performing an operation on the at least one individual tasks and at least one composite task when the operation is performed on the further composite task.

5. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

providing a composite task drop zone identifying the composite task;

allowing a user to drag and drop a plurality of individual tasks and at least one composite task into the composite task drop zone; and

defining a new composite task that includes the plurality of individual tasks and at least one composite task.

6. The method of claim 1, which comprises batch processing all individual tasks in the composite task when the operation is performed on the composite task.

7. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

monitoring a completion indication of the composite task from the user; and

automatically completing all individual tasks in response to receiving the completion indicator.

8. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

monitoring an approval indication of a composite task; and

selectively approving the individual tasks associated with the composite task in response to the approval indication.

9. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

monitoring selection of the composite task by the user;

providing a graphical user interface to allow a user to select operations to be performed on each individual task associated with the composite task; and

automatically performing the operations on the individual tasks associated with the composite task.

10. A machine-readable medium including instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A system to facilitate management of a plurality tasks, the system comprising:

an interface module to;

provide a graphical user interface to a user;

receive user input via the graphical user interface to identify a composite task and at least two individual tasks; and

a processor module to;

associate the at least two individual tasks with the composite tasks;

monitor an operation performed on the composite task; and

automatically execute the operation on the at least two individual tasks when the operation is performed on the composite task.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each individual task is a conceptual abstraction of work to be done to achieve a defined goal and the composite task is a virtual task associating the at least two individual tasks.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least two individual tasks are automatically associated based on composite task criteria.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

user input is received via the graphical user interface to identify at least one further composite task and the further composite task is associated with at least one of an individual tasks and a composite task; and

an operation is automatically performed on the at least one individual tasks and at least one composite task when the operation is performed on the further composite task.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a composite task drop zone is provided to identify the composite task;

a user is allowed to drag and drop a plurality of individual tasks and at least one composite task into the composite task drop zone; and

a new composite task is defined that includes the plurality of individual tasks and at least one composite task.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein all individual tasks in the composite task are batch processed when the operation is performed on the composite task.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a completion indication of the composite task from the user is monitored; and

all individual tasks are automatically completed in response to receiving the completion indicator.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein:

an approval indication of a composite task is monitored; and

the individual tasks associated with the composite task are selectively approved in response to the approval indication.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein:

selection of the composite task by the user is monitored;

a graphical user interface is provided to allow a user to select operations to be performed on each individual task associated with the composite task; and

the operations on the individual tasks associated with the composite task are automatically performed.

20. A computer-based system to facilitate management of a plurality tasks, the system comprising:

means for providing a graphical user interface to a user;

means for receiving user input via the graphical user interface to identify a composite task and at least two individual tasks;

means for associating the at least two individual tasks with the composite tasks;

means for monitoring an operation performed on the composite task; and

means for automatically executing the operation on the at least two individual tasks when the operation is performed on the composite task.