Automating time sequenced tasks
First Claim
1. A computer system including a processor for automating a sequence of tasks, comprising:
- object model components, including;
an action date component having an associated date property that specifies a point in time;
an action component having an associated task method;
an instance of the action date component referred to herein as a parent action date component;
another instance of the action date component referred to herein as a child action date component;
means for associating the child action date component with the parent action date component;
means for setting the point in time specified in the date property of the child action date component by offsetting from the point in time specified in the date property of the parent action date component by an offset value associated with the child action date component;
means for associating an instance of the action component with at least one instance of the action date component;
means for executing the task method associated with the instance of the action component based on the point in time specified in the date property of the instance of the action date component to which the instance of the action component is associated; and
wherein the association of a component with another component includes making the component aware of the other component such that the component can access certain of the properties, methods or events associated with the other component.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided to develop and use complex automated tasks sequences. The tasks sequences are assembled graphically by assigning Actions to ActionDates. An Action is a component that performs a specific task such as preparing a document or making a database entry. An ActionDate includes the date on which an Action is to be performed. Actions and ActionDates may be grouped using an ActionList. Graphic representations of these ActionList can be added to ActionDates so that groups of tasks and the dates on which they are to be performed can be added to the task sequence for activities that are repeated at different points in the task list. The dates set in the ActionDate are computed and set dynamically from the ActionDate'"'"'s relationship with other ActionDates in the task sequence. Once the task sequence is graphically assembled, instances of it are used to automatically perform the task sequence. Generally, the automated task sequence is displayed as an automated checklist with which as user can interact.
51 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer system including a processor for automating a sequence of tasks, comprising:
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object model components, including; an action date component having an associated date property that specifies a point in time; an action component having an associated task method; an instance of the action date component referred to herein as a parent action date component; another instance of the action date component referred to herein as a child action date component; means for associating the child action date component with the parent action date component; means for setting the point in time specified in the date property of the child action date component by offsetting from the point in time specified in the date property of the parent action date component by an offset value associated with the child action date component; means for associating an instance of the action component with at least one instance of the action date component; means for executing the task method associated with the instance of the action component based on the point in time specified in the date property of the instance of the action date component to which the instance of the action component is associated; and wherein the association of a component with another component includes making the component aware of the other component such that the component can access certain of the properties, methods or events associated with the other component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for programming automated task lists to be performed by a computer system, comprising:
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providing an object model, including an action date object and an action object; the action date object having an associated date property that specifies a point in time; the action object having an associated task method; associating an instance of the action object with an instance of the action date object, wherein the association of a component with another component includes making the component aware of the other component such that the component can access certain of the properties, methods or events associated with the other component; configuring the action object to perform a specific task method; providing a graphical user interface having; a graphic representation of the action date object; and a graphic representation of the action object; generating an instance of the action date object when the graphic representation of the action date object is selected, the instance of the action date object having a corresponding graphic representation of the instance of the action date object displayed in the graphical user interface; generating an instance of the action object when the graphic representation of the action object is selected, the instance of the action object having a corresponding graphic representation of the instance of the action object displayed in the graphical user interface; assembling a bolt that graphically represents the automated task list by associating the graphic representation of the instance of the action object with the graphic representation of the instance of the action date object by way of the graphical user interface; and storing information pertaining to associated instances of the object model objects as an automated task list. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for programming automated task lists to be performed by a computer system, comprising:
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providing an object model, including an action date object, an action list object and an action object; the action date object having an associated date property that specifies a point in time; the action object having an associated task method; associating an instance of the action list object with the instance of the action date object; associating an instance of the action object with the instance of the action list object, thereby associating the instance of the action object with the instance of the action date object through the action list object; configuring the action object to perform a specific task method; storing information pertaining to associated instances of the object model objects as an automated task list; and wherein the association of a component with another component includes making the component aware of the other component such that the component can access certain of the properties, methods or events associated with the other component. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for performing an automated task list with a computer, comprising:
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providing an automated task list, including; a parent action date component having an associated parent date property; a child action date component having an associated child date property; the child action date component associated with the parent action date component; an action component associated with an action date component in a bolt, the action component performing a pre-configured task method when executed; setting the date property of action date components in the bolt by iterating the bolt from parent action date component to child action date component and adding an offset value associated with the child action date to the value of the date property associated with the parent action date, wherein the offset value is either a positive or negative unit of time; leaving the value of date property as previously set if the date property is marked as a bard date; and executing each action component associated with the action date component based on the point in time specified in the date property of the action date component. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification