Method and system for making resources available

• US 7,240,288 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Patton, Daniel C., Allor, Jason M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong; Truc T.
• Application Number:
  US09/739,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,388 Days
• Field of Search: 345/749, 345850-855, 345/781, 715/750, 715/765, 715/853, 709/223
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method and system for making resources available is provided, in which a hierarchy, such as a tree having expandable and collapsible branches, is presented on a user interface. The hierarchy represents a logical arrangement of resources that available to a user. The hierarchy may be organized in a variety of ways, such as by resource category, functional area, project, sub-project, or task grouping. The resources made available may, for example, allow employees of an organization to perform tasks. When a user selects a node on the hierarchy, a group of links that are usable to open files or execute programs is presented. These links may be used to access the available resources and, for example, accomplish tasks of the organization.

Claims

1. At least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method to enable a plurality of users to collaborate, the method comprising:

displaying in a first pane a graphical hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes adapted to make, upon selection, one or more resources accessible for a collaboration;

in response to user selection of a node of the plurality of nodes, presenting in a second pane one or more links, each respective link of the one or more links associated with a respective resource of the one or more resources;

wherein activation of a link of the one or more links enables access to an associated resource;

displaying in a third pane a plurality of computer representations, each respective computer representation of the plurality of computer representations corresponding to a respective computer that can be used to contribute to the collaboration;

in response to user selection of a computer representation of the plurality of computer representations, presenting in a fourth pane a work queue for a respective computer that corresponds to the selected computer representation;

wherein the work queue includes multiple tasks that are assigned to be performed, at least partly, by the respective computer that corresponds to the selected computer representation; and

adding a task to the multiple tasks of the work queue when a link of the one or more links from the second pane is dropped at the fourth pane.

2. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a user to cause the respective computer to execute a task of the multiple tasks from the work queue.

3. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a first user to add at least one task to the multiple tasks included in the work queue.

4. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the enabling further comprises at least one of:

dragging at least one link of the one or more links from the second pane and dropping the at least one dragged link at the fourth pane;

or

dragging a node of the plurality of nodes from the first pane and dropping the dragged node at the fourth pane.

5. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a second user to cause the respective computer to execute the at least one task that is added by the first user to the multiple tasks of the work queue.

6. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein each resource of the one or more resources comprises a data file or a computer program.

7. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein activation of a link comprises opening a data file or executing a computer program.

8. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the graphical hierarchy is organized by at least one of resource category, functional area, project, sub-project, or task grouping.

9. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the collaboration comprises a testing project and the one or more resources comprise testing-related data files or computer programs.

10. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein activation of a link results in at least one of displaying test documentation, running a test program, installing software to perform a test, or emailing a developer or owner of a test.

11. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the graphical hierarchy is organized by category, including by product being tested and test type being performed.

12. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each task of the multiple tasks comprises at least part of a test;

and wherein the method further comprises;

executing, by the respective computer that corresponds to the selected computer representation, the at least part of a test for each task of the multiple tasks that are included in the work queue of the respective computer.

13. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the presenting in a fourth pane a work queue comprises:

presenting the multiple tasks of the work queue in the fourth pane, each task of the multiple tasks including at least a name of the task and a stabs or last result of the task.

14. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a user to add a link to, to delete a link from, or to modify a link of the one or more links that are presented in the second pane and that are respectively associated with resources of the one or more resources.

15. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the user tat is enabled to add, delete, or modify links has an appropriate access permission but other users with at least read access permission can activate the one or more links presented in the second pane.

16. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a plurality of titles of a plurality of contact persons responsive to selection of a node of the plurality of nodes; and

in response to user selection of a title of the plurality of titles, presenting contact information for the contact person of the selected title.

17. At least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method to enable a plurality of members of an organization to collaborate, the method comprising:

displaying in a first pane a graphical hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes adapted to make, upon selection one or more resources accessible for a collaboration;

in response to user selection of a node of the plurality of nodes, presenting in a second pane one or more links, each respective link of the one or more links associated with a respective resource of the one or more resources;

wherein activation of a link of the one or more links enables access to an associated resource;

displaying in a third pane a plurality of member representations, each respective member representation of the plurality of member representations corresponding to a respective member of the plurality of members that are to contribute to the collaboration;

in response to user selection of a member representation of the plurality of member representations, presenting in a fourth pane a work queue for a respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation;

wherein the work queue includes multiple tasks that are assigned to be performed, at least partly, by the respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation; and

adding a task to the multiple tasks of the work queue when a link of the one or more links from the second pane is dropped at the fourth pane.

18. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a first member to add at least one task to the multiple tasks included in the work queue.

19. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the enabling further comprises at least one of:

dragging at least one link of the one or more links from the second pane and dropping the at least one dragged link at the fourth pane;

or

dragging a node of the plurality of nodes from the first pane and dropping the dragged node at the fourth pane.

20. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling the respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation to perform the at least one task that is added by the first member to the multiple tasks of the work queue.

21. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein each resource of the one or more resources comprises a data file or a computer program.

22. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein activation of a link comprises opening a data file or executing a computer program.

23. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the graphical hierarchy is organized by at least one of resource category, functional area, project, sub-project, or task grouping.

24. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the organization comprises a company, and the plurality of members comprise a plurality of employees.

25. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein activation of a link results in at least one of displaying a manual or installing software.

26. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the graphical hierarchy is organized by category, including by product being tested and test type being performed.

27. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein each task of the multiple tasks comprises at least part of a testing task;

and wherein the method further comprises;

causing, by the respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation, performance of the at least part of a testing task for each task of the multiple tasks that are included in the work queue of the respective member.

28. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

enabling a managing member to add a link to, to delete a link from, or to modify a link of the one or more links that are presented in the second pane and that are respectively associated with resources of the one or more resources.

29. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the managing member is permitted to add, delete, or modify links that are presented in the second pane and that are associated with resources but other members with at least read permission can activate the one or more links presented in the second pane.

30. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying a plurality of titles of a plurality of contact members responsive to selection of a node of the plurality of nodes; and

in response to user selection of a title of the plurality of titles, presenting contact information for the contact member of the selected title.

31. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the presenting in a second pane one or more links comprises:

presenting at least a file name and a friendly name for the one or more links.

32. The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein tasks of the multiple tasks included in the work queue may be performed by the respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation by running a program or reading a file.

33. A system configured to effectuate actions comprising:

displaying in a first pane a graphical hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes adapted to make, upon selection, one or more resources accessible for a collaboration;

in response to user selection of a node of the plurality of nodes, presenting in a second pane one or more links, each respective link of the one or more links associated with a respective resource of the one or more resources;

wherein activation of a link of the one or more links enables access to an associated resource;

displaying in a third pane a plurality of computer representations, each respective computer representation of the plurality of computer representations corresponding to a respective computer that can be used to contribute to the collaboration;

in response to user selection of a computer representation of the plurality of computer representations, presenting in a fourth pane a work queue for a respective computer that corresponds to the selected computer representation;

wherein the work queue includes multiple tasks that are assigned to be performed, at least partly, by the respective computer that corresponds to the selected computer representation; and

adding a task to the multiple tasks of the work queue when a link of the one or more links from the second pane is dropped at the fourth pane.

34. A system configured to effectuate actions comprising:

displaying in a first pane a graphical hierarchy having a plurality of nodes, each node of the plurality of nodes adapted to make, upon selection, one or more resources accessible for a collaboration;

in response to user selection of a node of the plurality of nodes, presenting in a second pane one or more links, each respective link of the one or more links associated with a respective resource of the one or more resources;

wherein activation of a link of the one or more links enables access to an associated resource;

displaying in a third pane a plurality of member representations, each respective member representation of the plurality of member representations corresponding to a respective member of the plurality of members that are to contribute to the collaboration;

in response to user selection of a member representation of the plurality of member representations, presenting in a fourth pane a work queue for a respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation;

wherein the work queue includes multiple tasks that are assigned to be performed, at least partly, by the respective member that corresponds to the selected member representation; and

adding a task to the multiple tasks of the work queue when a link of the one or more links from the second pane is dropped at the fourth pane.