Method and system for monitoring the status of a limited resource

• US 6,064,974 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Broekhuijsen, Jerome Augustine
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US08/866,532
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/9, 705/11, 345/115, 345/114, 345/146, 345/133, 707/102, 707/104
• US Class Current: 705/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring the status of a limited resource. Artificial and misleading distinctions based on different views of a single underlying resource are avoided. For instance, tasks and appointments are both treated as events which place demands on a user'"'"'s time. Resource status is manifested using intuitive visual interfaces. For instance, variations in color saturation manifest changes in the extent to which a user'"'"'s time is heavily or lightly scheduled.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring resource status based on availability and demand, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores a numeric availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores a numeric demand value in memory, and the producing step forms a ratio from the numeric availability value and the numeric demand value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the manifesting step occurs in response to a user request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the manifesting step is repeated automatically to provide a dynamic indication of the status of the limited resource without further user intervention.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a color value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a region size in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a region boundary in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the manifesting step changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

11. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying step identifies processor cycles as the limited resource, the step of creating an availability representation stores a representation of processor cycles available for use, and the step of creating a demand representation stores a representation of processor cycles which are at least tentatively allocated for use.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step identifies storage space in a computer-accessible storage medium as the limited resource, the step of creating an availability representation stores a representation of storage medium space available for use, and the step of creating a demand representation stores a representation of storage medium space which is at least tentatively allocated for use.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step identifies a supply of a currency instrument as the limited resource, the step of creating an availability representation stores a representation of the currency instrument available for use, and the step of creating a demand representation stores a representation of the currency instrument which is at least tentatively allocated for use.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the currency instrument includes a stock.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the currency instrument includes a bond.

16. A method for monitoring resource status based on availability and demand, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores an enumerated availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores an enumerated demand value in memory, and the producing step performs a lookup based on the enumerated availability value and the enumerated demand value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the manifesting step changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the manifesting step changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the manifesting step changes a region size in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the manifesting step changes a region boundary in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the manifesting step changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

23. A method for monitoring resource status based on availability and demand, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores an enumerated availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores an enumerated demand value in memory, and the producing step performs a functional mapping based on the enumerated availability value and the enumerated demand value.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the functional mapping is piecewise continuous.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the manifesting step changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the manifesting step changes a color value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the manifesting step changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

29. A method for monitoring resource status based on availability and demand, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the identifying step identifies time as the limited resource, the step of creating an availability representation stores a representation of time available for allocation between tasks and appointments, and the step of creating a demand representation stores a representation of time demanded for tasks in relation to time demanded for appointments.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein time for tasks and time for appointments are represented in separate structures which have the same format.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the manifesting step changes a region size in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the manifesting step changes a region boundary in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the manifesting step changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

35. A computer system comprising:

means for identifying a limited resource;

means for creating in a computer memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

means for creating in a computer memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

means for producing a resource status indicator by using at least a computer processor to combine the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the means for identifying identifies time as the limited resource, the means for creating an availability representation stores a representation of time available for allocation between tasks and appointments, and the means for creating a demand representation stores a representation of time demanded for tasks in relation to time demanded for appointments.

36. The computer system of claim 35, wherein the means for producing a resource status indicator produces an event density measure.

37. The computer system of claim 35, further comprising means for manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

38. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

39. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a color value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

40. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

41. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a region size in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

42. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a region boundary in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

43. The computer system of claim 37, wherein the means for manifesting the resource status indicator changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

44. A computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause at least a portion of a computer system to perform method steps for monitoring a resource, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores an enumerated availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores an enumerated demand value in memory, and the producing step performs a functional mapping based on the enumerated availability value and the enumerated demand value.

45. The storage medium of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

46. The storage medium of claim 45, wherein the manifesting step changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

47. The storage medium of claim 45, wherein the manifesting step changes a color value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

48. The storage medium of claim 45, wherein the manifesting step changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

49. The storage medium of claim 45, wherein the manifesting step changes a region size in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

50. The storage medium of claim 45, wherein the manifesting step changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

51. A computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause at least a portion of a computer system to perform method steps for monitoring a resource, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores an enumerated availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores an enumerated demand value in memory, and the producing step performs a lookup based on the enumerated availability value and the enumerated demand value.

52. The storage medium of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises the step of manifesting the resource status indicator in a visual interface, wherein the manifesting step manifests changes along a single independent axis of a hue-saturation-value multi-axial color space by changing a color saturation in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

53. The storage medium of claim 52, wherein the manifesting step changes a color hue in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

54. The storage medium of claim 52, wherein the manifesting step changes a color value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

55. The storage medium of claim 52, wherein the manifesting step changes a texture in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

56. The storage medium of claim 52, wherein the manifesting step changes a region boundary in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

57. The storage medium of claim 52, wherein the manifesting step changes a pixel alpha channel value in the visual interface to reflect changes in the resource status indicator.

58. A computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause at least a portion of a computer system to perform method steps for monitoring a resource, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a limited resource;

creating in memory an availability representation which represents the availability of the limited resource;

creating in memory a demand representation which represents the demand for the limited resource; and

producing a resource status indicator by combining the availability representation and the demand representation, wherein the step of creating an availability representation stores a numeric availability value in memory, the step of creating a demand representation stores a numeric demand value in memory, and the producing step forms a ratio from the numeric availability value and the numeric demand value.