System and method for updating project management scheduling charts

• US 6,901,407 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rick D. Curns, Russell Borman
• Original Assignee: Rick D. Curns, Russell Borman
• Inventors: Borman, Russell, Curns, Rick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, KHANH B
• Application Number:
  US09/917,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/204, 717/101, 717/120, 715/506
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A computer system for updating graphic-oriented project management scheduling charts (GOPMSCs) includes an Update Module for linking chart data elements in the GOPMSCs to multiple data elements in one or more data sources, selecting one of the multiple data elements for each chart data element for use in generating updated versions of the GOPMSCs, and generating updated versions of the GOPMSCs using the selected data elements. The chart data elements are linked to the multiple data elements using maps containing information linking the chart data elements to the multiple data elements and information identifying one of the multiple data elements to be used when generating updated versions of the GOPMSCs. The computer system generates updated versions of the GOPMSCs by reading the maps, selecting one of the multiple data elements linked to each chart data element, and generating updated versions of the GOPMSCs using the selected data elements.

Claims

1. A method of generating an updated version of a project management scheduling chart using a computer system, the chart containing a plurality of chart data elements to be updated, comprising the steps of;

selecting one of multiple source data elements in one or more data sources linked to each chart data element for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart;

linking each chart data element to be undated to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources by assigning chart identification numbers to each chart data element to be updated and linking the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources,

the step of assigning chart identification numbers to each chart data element to be updated including the steps of importing the chart data elements to be updated into a database and assigning chart identification numbers to each chart data element in the database,

the step of linking the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources including the step of linking the chart identification numbers to unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources;

the step of linking the chart identification numbers to unique identification numbers including the steps of creating maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart; and

generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart data element for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart includes the step of:

reading the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources to identify one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart identification number for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart.

3. A computer system for generating an updated version of a project management scheduling chart containing a plurality of chart data elements to be updated, comprising;

a first memory for storing the project management scheduling chart containing the plurality of chart data elements to be updated;

a second memory for storing information linking each of the chart data elements to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources and identifying one of the multiple source data elements for each chart data element for use in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart the information linking each of the chart data elements to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources including chart identification numbers associated with each chart data element to be updated and unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements;

the one or more data sources containing the multiple source data elements linked to the chart data elements and including the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements;

an Update Module adapted to be used to select one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart data element for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart, to generate the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements, to link each chart data element to be updated to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, to assign the chart identification numbers to each chart data element to be updated and to link the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, to import the chart data elements to be updated into the second memory and to assign chart identification numbers to each chart data element in the second memory, and to link the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements; and

wherein

the information linking the chart data elements to multiple source data elements further includes maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart; and

the Update Module is further adapted to be used to create the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the Updated Module is adapted to be used to read the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources to identify one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart identification number for use in generating the updated project management scheduling chart.

5. A method of generating a comparison project management scheduling chart for a project management scheduling chart containing a plurality of original chart data elements using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of multiple source data elements in one or more data sources linked to one or more chart data elements to be compared for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart;

linking the one or more chart data elements to be compared to multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources by assigning chart identification numbers to the one or more chart data elements to be compared and linking the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources;

the step of assigning chart identification numbers to the one or more chart data elements to be compared including the steps of importing the one or more chart data elements to be compared into a database and assigning chart identification numbers to the one or more chart data elements in the database;

the step of linking the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources including the step of linking the chart identification numbers to unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources;

the step of linking the chart identification numbers to unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources including the step of creating maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart; and

generating the comparison project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements and the plurality of original chart data elements.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selecting one of the multiple source data elements linked to the one or more chart data elements to be compared for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart includes the step of:

reading the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources to identify one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart identification number for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart.

7. A computer system for generating a comparison project management scheduling chart for a project management scheduling chart containing a plurality of criminal chart data elements, comprising:

a first memory for storing the project management scheduling chart containing the plurality of original chart data elements;

a second memory for storing information linking one or more of the original chart data elements to be compared to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources and identifying one of the multiple source data elements for each of the one or more original chart data elements to be compared for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart, the information linking the one or more original chart data elements to be compared to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources including chart identification numbers associated with each of the one or more original chart data elements to be compared and unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements;

the one or more data sources containing the multiple source data elements linked to the one or more original chart data elements and including the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements;

an Update Module adapted to be used to select one of the multiple source data elements linked to each of the one or more original chart data elements to be compared for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart, to generate the comparison version of the project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements and the plurality of original chart data elements, to link the one or more original chart data elements to be compared to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, to assign the chart identification numbers to the one or more original chart data elements to be compared and to link the chart identification numbers to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, to import the one or more original chart data elements to be compared into the second memory and to assign chart identification numbers to the one or more original chart data elements in the second memory, and to link the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements; and

wherein

the information linking the one or more original chart data elements to be compared to multiple source data elements further includes maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart; and

the Update Module is further adapted to be used to create the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the Update Module is adapted to be used to read the maps linking the chart identification numbers to the unique identification numbers associated with the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources to identify one of the multiple source data elements linked to each chart identification number for use in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart.

9. A method for generating an updated version of a project management scheduling chart using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

inputting into the computer system information identifying a project management scheduling chart to be updated, the chart containing a plurality of chart data elements to be updated;

inputting into the computer system information identifying one or more data sources containing multiple source data elements to be used to generate an updated version of the project management scheduling chart;

inputting into the computer system a request for the computer system to generate the updated version of the project management scheduling chart; and

wherein the computer system performs the step of;

locating maps associated with the identified project management scheduling chart, each map containing information identifying multiple source data elements contained within the one or more data sources and linked to each of the chart data elements, each map further containing information identifying a type of source data element to be used when selecting one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in updating each chart data element;

reading the maps and identifying a type of source data element to be used to update each chart data element;

retrieving the identified type of source data element for each chart data element from the one or more data sources; and

generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the retrieved source data elements.

10. A computer system for generating an updated version of a project management scheduling chart, comprising:

an input means for inputting into the computer system information identifying a project management scheduling chart containing a plurality of chart data elements to be updated, information identifying one or more data sources containing multiple source data elements to be used to generate the updated version of the project management scheduling chart, and a request for the computer system to generate the updated version of the project management scheduling chart;

the one or more data sources containing multiple source data elements to be used to generate an updated version of the project management scheduling chart;

a memory for storing the identified project management scheduling chart containing the plurality of chart data elements to be updated and for storing maps associated with the identified project management scheduling chart, each map containing information identifying multiple source data elements contained within the one or more data sources and linked to each of the chart data elements, each map further containing information identifying a type of source data element to be used when selecting one of the linked multiple source data elements for use in updating each chart data element; and

an Update Module for reading the maps and identifying a type of source data element to be used to update each chart data element, retrieving the identified type of source data element for each chart data element from the one or more data sources, and generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the retrieved source data elements.

11. A method of generating and updating a project management scheduling chart using a computer system, comprising the steps of:

generating a project management scheduling chart by activating a GOPMSC Module for use in creating the project management scheduling chart and creating the project management scheduling chart using the GOPMSC Module, the project management scheduling chart including a plurality of chart data elements;

linking each chart data element to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources by importing each chart data element into a database in the computer system, assigning chart identification numbers to each chart data element, and creating maps in the database linking each chart identification number to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the multiple source data elements to be used in generating an updated version of the project management scheduling chart;

selecting one source data element for each chart data element for use in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart; and

generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting one source data element for each chart data element includes the step of reading the maps containing information identifying one of the multiple source data elements to be used in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

linking one or more of the chart data elements to be compared to multiple new source data elements in one or more new data sources;

selecting one new source data element for each chart data element to be compared; and

generating a comparison project management scheduling chart using the plurality of data elements and the one or more selected new source data elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of linking one or more of the chart data elements to be compared includes the step of creating new maps linking each chart identification number associated with the one or more chart data elements to be compared to the multiple new source data elements in the one or more new data sources, each new map containing information identifying one of the multiple new source data elements to be used in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selecting one new source data element for each chart data element to be compared includes the step of reading the new maps containing information identifying one of the multiple new source data elements to be used in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart.

16. A computer system for generating and updating project management scheduling charts, comprising:

a GOPMSC Module for generating a project management scheduling chart, the project management scheduling chart including a plurality of chart data elements;

an Update for activating the GOPMSC Module, linking each chart data element to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources, selecting one source data element for each chart data element for use in generating an updated version of the project management scheduling chart, and for generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart using the selected source data elements;

a memory for storing the project management scheduling chart and information linking each chart data element to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources and identifying one of the multiple source data elements for each chart data element for use in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart;

the one or more data sources containing the multiple source data elements; and

wherein

the computer system further includes a database; and

the Update Module is further operable to link each chart data element to multiple source data elements in one or more data sources by importing each chart data element into the database, assigning chart identification numbers to each chart data element, and creating maps in the database linking each chart identification number to the multiple source data elements in the one or more data sources, each map containing information identifying one of the multiple source data elements to be used in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the Update Module is operable to select one source data element for each chart data element by reading the maps containing information identifying one of the multiple source data elements to be used in generating the updated version of the project management scheduling chart.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein:

the computer system includes one or more new data sources containing multiple new source data elements; and

the Update Module is further operable to link one or more of chart data elements to be compared to the multiple new source data elements in one or more new data sources, select one new source data element for each chart data element to be compared, and generate a comparison project management scheduling chart using the plurality of selected source data elements and the one or more selected new source data elements.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the Update Module is operable to link the one or more of the chart data elements to be compared by creating new maps linking each chart identification number associated with the one or more chart data elements to be compared to the multiple new source data elements in the one or more new data sources, each new map containing information identifying one of the multiple new source data elements to be used in generating the comparison the project management scheduling chart.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the Update Module is operable to select one new source data element for each chart data element to be compared by reading the new maps containing information identifying one of the multiple new source data elements to be used in generating the comparison project management scheduling chart.