Task execution support system

• US 6,092,048 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakaoka, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tesfamariam, Mussie
• Application Number:
  US08/963,765
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/9, 705/10, 706/47, 706/925
• US Class Current: 705/7.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/925 Business

Abstract

A task management server includes a memory unit for memorizing task information containing constituents indicated by a task property of a supported task, an action entry comprising a task, an event rule and a main task and subtask structure, and each of a plurality of client machines includes a task information display/operation unit which enables each user to operate information during a task is executed. A task execution support system supports the user such that the user can execute a task while determining the contents of action and the procedure of action in accordance with a progress of a task without defining a series of action procedure from the start to end of a task with all sorts of actions in the task listed-up as a network type flow before a task to be supported is started.

Claims

1. A task execution support system for supporting the execution of at least one task including a plurality of actions, comprising:

a server machine which memorizes and manages information concerning said task and action;

at least one client machine which enters, outputs and changes information concerning said task and action; and

a channel which connects said server machine and said client machine,

wherein said at least one client machine can access information concerning said task or action from said server machine, said at least one client machine creates an event rule including an event occurrence point condition expressed by a combination of a title of said task or action and a state transition, an event start condition expressed by a combination of states of said task or action at said event occurrence point and an event execution content expressed by a combination of operations in said task or action with reference to information concerning said task or action memorized in said server machine, said server machine receives and memorizes a plurality of event rules from said at least one client machine through said channel and completes the execution of said task by executing said task in accordance with said plurality of event rules, and

wherein said at least one client machine is one of a plurality of client machines handled by users, and each of said users creates said event rules by using a client machine with reference to information concerning said task and action memorized in said server machine.

2. A task execution support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state transition in said event occurrence point condition includes the state and completion of said task, each start and completion of said action and the change of property information of said task.

3. A task execution support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said state transition in said event start condition includes the property of said task, the state of said action and a responsible person of said task.

4. A task execution support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event execution contents include the completion of said task, the state and completion of said action, the change of the property of said task, the change of the responsible person of said task and action and the creation of new task and action.

5. A task execution support system according to claim 1, further comprising subtasks hierarchized in a main task and subtask relationship relative to said task.

6. A method of supporting the execution of at least one task including a plurality of actions, comprising the steps of:

accessing, by at least one client machine, information concerning a task or action from a server machine;

creating by said at least one client machine, an event rule including an event occurrence point condition expressed by a combination of a title of said task or action and a state transition, an event start condition expressed by a combination of states of said task or action at said event occurrence point, and an event execution content expressed by a combination of operations in said task or action with reference to information concerning said task or action memorized in said server machine;

receiving and memorizing, in said server machine, a plurality of event rules from said at least one client machine through a channel; and

completing execution of said task, in said server machine, by executing said task in accordance with said plurality of event rules,

wherein said at least one client machine is one of a plurality of client machines handled by users, and each of said users creates said event rules by using a client machine with reference to information concerning said task and action memorized in said server machine.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said state transition in said event occurrence point condition includes the state and completion of said task, each start and completion of said action and the change of property information of said task.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said state transition in said event start condition includes the property of said task, the state of said action and a responsible person of said task.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said event execution contents include the completion of said task, the state and the completion of said action, the change of the property of said task, the change of the responsible person of said task and action and the creation of new task and action.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

hierarchically ordering subtasks in a main task according to subtask relationships relative to said task.