Method and apparatus for visual synchronizations between graphical representations of an organization

• US 6,774,911 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mood Enterprises Limited (CACI International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MooD International Limited (CACI International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Whittington, Richard, Hodgson, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US10/201,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/645, 345/764, 345/853, 345/854, 345/855, 345/738
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of graphical representations of an organization, said displays generated on a display screen and representing the organization or portions thereof in terms of a graphical; model and a hierarchical structure. The invention allows synchronization of the two types of display, with both being regenerated to mirror and indicate changes made to the same in response to an alteration, typically following a user selection, made to the other of the displays.

Claims

1. A method for creating and allowing user interaction with at least one graphical representation of an organization;

said method comprising the following steps;

constructing a collection of graphical representations of the organization;

creating a model describing at least one aspect of the behavior of the organization by selecting capabilities of the organization which are required for the said model;

establishing directed linkages between the selected capabilities to indicate required interactions between the capabilities;

displaying the model in a graphical manner;

constructing a hierarchical structure of organization capabilities to illustrate the component structure of the organization setting at least some of the capabilities in the context of their superior and subordinate capabilities;

displaying the hierarchical structure in a graphical manner; and

matching and positioning the capabilities included within the said model display relative to the other capabilities in the model with reference to the hierarchical structure display.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capabilities within said model are consistent with the hierarchy display in that for each capability within said model which is defined as a superior capability in said hierarchical structure, all of the required defined subordinate capabilities are included within the model display.

3. A method according to claim 2 including the step of enabling reorganization of the hierarchical structure by allowing user relocation of a component and the subordinate components against a different parent or group in the structure.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the reorganization involves a component that has been moved being removed from the model of its previous parent or group and inserted into the model describing its new parent or group.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein a link is generated to indicate all of the graphical representations of the organization which are affected by the reorganization and all of the identified graphical representations are amended so as to maintain consistency between the graphical representations.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein a contextual analysis of a component selected by the user from the graphical model is performed by the indication in the hierarchical structure display of the user selected component and the position of the same in the hierarchical representation.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the contextual graphical analysis of the component is achieved within the hierarchical display by highlighting the selected component.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein in that the contextual synchronization by the user between the graphical representation of a selected component and its hierarchical location is achieved by means of a mechanism which regenerates the hierarchical structure display to indicate to the user the position of the selected component following the selection of the component from the graphical model display.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the contextual synchronization is achieved between the selected component within said hierarchical structure display and the graphical model display by means of a mechanism that generates the model display indicating the selected component or components.

10. An apparatus for navigation through graphical representations of a model of at least part of an organization and the hierarchical structure of the organization;

said apparatus comprising;

a processing means for displaying both the hierarchical structure and model of the organization on a display screen connected to processing means, said representations each including details representing organization parents or groups, components of the organization and elements of the components;

processing means allowing the user selection to display on a display screen at least one from the group consisting of the hierarchical structure or organizational model displays and to select from said displays from the group consisting of a parent, component or element; and

a mechanism is provided which, upon selection of a component by the user from one of the organizational model or hierarchic structure displays, allows the generation of a display of the other of the organizational model or hierarchical representation with the user selected component indicated on the same.