Time management workflow software

• US 6,256,651 B1
• Filed: 06/20/1997
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raja Tuli
• Original Assignee: Raja Tuli
• Inventors: Tuli, Raja Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paula, Cesar B.
• Application Number:
  US08/879,795
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 707/103, 707/503, 707/101, 707/501, 707/526, 364/401.R, 364/401, 705/8, 705/9, 705/7, 705/203, 468/0.05, 345/440, 345/443
• US Class Current: 715/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A workflow system and program for organizing the time and priorities of a user, wherein the information input by a user into a spreadsheet is generated by the program into a bar graph. It is possible for a user to revise the spreadsheet at any time, and the program will update the bar graph accordingly. In a further embodiment, it is possible for multiple users to be connected together via a computer network. Some users are classified as secondary users, and are primarily employees. Secondary users have access to their respective spreadsheets and bar graphs. One user is classified as a primary user, and is generally a manager. The primary user has access to two windows. In the first window, all of the spreadsheets of the secondary users are displayed. The primary user can modify the data in the spreadsheets and the program will update the bar graphs accordingly. The primary user has access to a second window wherein the bar graphs of the secondary users are displayed such that the progress of any task that is divided between multiple secondary users is evident.

Claims

1. A workflow software method implemented on a computer comprising steps of:

data input by a user into a spreadsheet is generated by the (application)workflow software method into a (bar graph) graphical display;

(five columns of the spreadsheet contain items to be performed by the user,) items input into the spreadsheet include items to be performed, (the) a priority of each item, (the) and a time required to perform each item (if each item is continuous, the deadline for each item);

after the user has input all of the data into the spreadsheet, the computer generates a time chart in the form of a (bar graph) graphical display according to all of the said input variables of the spreadsheet;

the (bar graph) graphical display shows when the user is to begin and to finish each (task) item.