MODIFYING AN ORDER OF PROCESSING OF A TASK PERFORMED ON A PLURALITY OF OBJECTS

• US 20080250348A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Herold, James M., Alimpich, Claudia, Varin, Amy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/809
• 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 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and computer program products are provided for modifying an order of processing of a task performed on a plurality of objects. A user selects a plurality of objects and a task to perform on the objects, and the initial order of processing of the objects is displayed to the user. The user may modify the initial order of processing to generate a modified order of processing while the task is performed on one of the objects. For example, a user may remove an object not yet processed from the order of processing. Performance of the task then continues on the remaining objects in the modified order of processing.

Claims

1. A method for modifying an order of processing of a task performed on a plurality of objects, the method comprising:

receiving user input selecting a task to be performed on the objects;

displaying an initial order of processing of the objects;

initiating performance of the task on the objects based on the initial order;

receiving user input indicating a modification to the initial order;

modifying the initial order based on the user input to generate a modified order of processing; and

continuing performance of the task on the objects based on the modified order.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the initial order further comprises:

removing at least one of the objects from the initial order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises installing the objects.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein continuing performance of the task on the objects further comprises:

displaying the modified order in a first panel; and

displaying dialog boxes for the objects in a second panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein continuing performance of the task on the objects further comprises:

displaying the modified order in a first panel; and

displaying a wizard for the objects in a second panel.

6. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium storing a computer readable program for modifying an order of processing of a task performed on a plurality of objects, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

receive user input selecting a task to be performed on the objects;

display an initial order of processing of the objects;

initiate performance of the task on the objects based on the initial order;

receive user input indicating a modification to the initial order;

modify the initial order of the objects based on the user input to generate a modified order of processing; and

continue performance of the task on the objects based on the modified order.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computer to:

remove at least one of the objects from the initial order.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the task comprises installing the objects.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computer to:

display the modified order of the objects in a first panel; and

display dialog boxes for the objects in a second panel.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the computer readable program further causes the computer to:

display the modified order of the objects in a first panel; and

display a wizard for the objects in a second panel.

11. An apparatus for modifying an order of processing of a task performed on a plurality of objects, the apparatus comprising:

an interface adapted to;

receive user input selecting a task to be performed on the objects;

a processing system coupled to the interface and adapted to;

display an initial order of processing of the objects; and

initiate performance of the task on the objects based on the initial order, and

wherein the interface is further adapted to receive user input indicating a modification of the initial order, and

the processing system is further adapted to modify the initial order of processing based on the user input to generate a modified order of processing, and further adapted to continue performance of the task on the objects in the modified order of processing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further adapted to remove at least one of the objects from the initial order of processing.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the task comprises installing the objects.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

display the modified order of the objects in a first panel; and

display dialog boxes for the objects in a second panel.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

display the modified order of the objects in a first panel; and

display a wizard for the objects in a second panel.

16. A method for modifying an order of processing of an installation task performed on a plurality of objects, the method comprising:

receiving user input selecting the plurality of objects to install;

displaying an initial order of installation of the objects in a status panel;

receiving user input indicating a modification to the initial order;

modifying the initial order based on the user input to generate a modified order of installation;

displaying the modified order in the status panel; and

installing the objects based on the modified order, and during installation of an object;

displaying a wizard for the object in a wizard panel; and

updating a status of installation of the object in the status panel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein modifying the initial order further comprises:

removing at least one of the objects from the initial order.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying the wizard for the object is performed in response to completion of installation of a previous object in the modified order.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying the wizard for the object farther comprises:

receiving user input through a wizard for the previous object indicating completion of installation of the previous object, and wherein the wizard for the object is displayed in response to the user input indicating completion of installation of the previous object.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving user input indicating a modification to the modified order of installation;

modifying the modified order based on the user input to generate a newly modified order of installation;

displaying the newly modified order in the status panel; and

continuing installing the objects based on the newly modified order.