Managing work in a computing application

• US 5,893,906 A
• Filed: 08/13/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, Brett L., Daffin, Terrance A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRECCA, MICHELE S
• Application Number:
  US08/696,307
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/29, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 364/468.06
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An automated system (30) is provided for managing work in a computing application. The system (30) includes an interface (32, 38) which can receive inventory information (11) for the computing application. The interface (32, 38) also may receive a work order configuration. A memory (36), which is coupled to the interface (32, 38), stores the inventory information (11). A processor (40) is coupled to the memory (36) and the interface (32, 38). The processor (40) automatically generates a work order (28) in response to the work order configuration, such work order (28) specifying at least a portion of the inventory information (11). The processor (40) tracks the work order (28) as actions are taken pursuant to the work order (28), thereby managing work in the computing application.

Claims

1. An automated system for managing work in connection with computer applications programming, comprising:

an interface for receiving inventory information pertaining to said computer applications programming and for receiving a work order configuration that identifies a specified program of said applications programming;

an inventory memory coupled to the interface, said inventory memory operable to store the inventory information, said inventory information representing programs that constitute said applications programming and representing data pertaining to said programs;

a program memory, in data communication with said interface, which stores said programs that constitute said applications programming;

a routing processor coupled to said inventory memory, to said interface, and to said program memory, said routing processor having stored work management programming that generates a work order in response to the work order configuration, the work order specifying at least a portion of the inventory information, that tracks the work order as actions are taken pursuant to the work order, that receives data identifying said specified program, and that links said work order to said specified program.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further generates a work history specifying details for actions taken pursuant to the work order.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further generates a checklist corresponding to the work order.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said work management programming further determines when a portion of the corresponding checklist has been completed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further determines when an action relating to the work order has been completed and updates a work history for the work order in response to the determination.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is further displays the generated work order.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further determines whether the generated work order has been accepted.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said work management programing further generates notification about the acceptance of the work order.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further downloads a program specified by the work order.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said work management programming further provides a status of the work order.

11. A method performed by a computer for managing work in connection with computer applications programming, comprising the steps of:

receiving inventory information pertaining to said applications programming and describing a number of programs that constitute said applications programming;

receiving a work order configuration that identifies at least one specified program of said programs that constitute said applications programming;

generating a work order in response to the work order configuration, the work order specifying at least a portion of the inventory information;

linking said work order to said specified program;

tracking the work order as actions are taken pursuant to the work order; and

storing said specified program in a form resulting from actions pursuant to said work order.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of generating a work history specifying details for actions taken pursuant to the work order.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of generating a checklist corresponding to the work order.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of generating notification when work pursuant to the work order has been completed.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of generating a prompt to accept or reject the work order.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of downloading a program specified by the work order.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a graphical interface object on said work order for accessing said inventory information pertaining to said specified program.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said graphical interface object is a button.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a menu listing said specified program, in response to activation of said graphical interface object.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a graphical interface object on said work order for routing said work order to a specified location.