Context based configuration management system

• US 7,672,969 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USA As Represented By The Administrator Of The NASA
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Mederos, Luis A., Gurram, Mohana M., Gawdiak, Yuri O., Maluf, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shmatov; Alexey
• Application Number:
  US11/513,429
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A computer-based system for configuring and displaying information on changes in, and present status of, a collection of events associated with a project. Classes of icons for decision events, configurations and feedback mechanisms, and time lines (sequential and/or simultaneous) for related events are displayed. Metadata for each icon in each class is displayed by choosing and activating the corresponding icon. Access control (viewing, reading, writing, editing, deleting, etc.) is optionally imposed for metadata and other displayed information.

Claims

1. A method for configuring and displaying information on changes in, and present status of, a collection of events associated with a project, the method comprising programming a computer:

to provide and display a first collection of N1 visually perceptible and distinguishable event icons representing N1 different activities, numbered n1=1, . . . , N1 (N1≧

2), associated with the project, where the first collection comprises N1 icons from a group including;

a first icon representing a decision made or to be made, concerning the project;

a second icon representing a demonstration associated with the project;

a third icon representing a fire drill activity associated with the project;

a fourth icon representing a generic activity associated with the project;

a fifth icon representing at least one “

lesson learned”

that is associated with the project;

a sixth icon representing a reorganization activity associated with the project;

a seventh icon representing a review activity associated with the project;

an eighth icon representing a workshop activity associated with the project;

a ninth icon representing a procurement/selection activity associated with the project; and

a tenth icon representing initiation or deployment of at least a portion of the project;

to provide a time line, having at least a first dimension and a second laterally oriented dimension, and associating first and second event icons, with selected time values, t=t_L1 and t=t_L2, respectively, along the time line, with t_L1≦

t_L2;

to provide a connector line, oriented lateral to the first dimension, connecting the first and second event icons, when the first and second event icons have a time relationship relative to each other;

to provide a visually perceptible display of the time line and of the first and second decision icons and the connector line at a selected location along the time line;

to provide a second collection of N2 visually perceptible icons representing N2 configurations numbered n2=1 . . . , N2 (N2≧

2), associated with the project where the second collection comprises N2 icons from a group including;

a first icon of the second collection representing a budget for at least a portion of the project;

a second icon of the second collection representing an agreement or contract associated with the project;

a third icon of the second collection representing a collection of at least one document associated with the project;

a fourth icon of the second collection representing a metric associated with the project;

a fifth icon of the second collection representing an organization associated with the project;

a sixth icon of the second collection representing a policy associated with the project;

a seventh icon of the second collection representing one or more requirements associated with the project;

an eighth icon of the second collection representing at least one risk associated with the project;

a ninth icon of the second collection representing at least one model or simulation parameter or associated with the project;

a tenth icon of the second collection representing at least one result or prediction of a simulation associated with the project;

an eleventh icon of the second collection of the second collection representing at least one strategy or plan associated with the project;

a twelfth icon of the second collection representing at least one value associated with the project;

a thirteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one goal associated with the project;

a fourteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one procedure associated with the project;

a fifteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one roadmap associated with the project;

a sixteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one milestone or schedule associated with the project;

a seventeenth icon of the second collection representing at least one estimate associated with the project;

an eighteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one option associated with the project;

a nineteenth icon of the second collection representing at least one mitigation action available that is associated with the project;

a twentieth icon of the second collection representing at least one facility associated with the project;

a twenty-first icon of the second collection representing at least one person associated with the project;

a twenty-second icon of the second collection representing at least one portfolio asset associated with the project;

to associate first and second configuration icons with selected time values, t=t_L3 and t=t_L4, respectively, along the time line, with t_L3≦

t_L4;

to provide a second connector line, oriented lateral to the first dimension, connecting the first and second configuration icons, when the first and second configuration icons have a time relationship relative to each other;

to provide a visually perceptible display of the second connector line and of the first and second configuration icons, at a second selected location along the time line;

to associate a third event icon and a third configuration icon, with selected time values, t=t_L5 and t=t_L6, respectively, along the time line, and to provide a third connector line, oriented lateral to the first dimension, connecting a third event icon and the third configuration icon, when the third event icon and the third configuration icon have a time relationship relative to each other; and

to provide a visually perceptible display of the third connector line and of the third decision icon and the third configuration icon, at a third selected location along the time line.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming said computer:

to provide, upon receipt of an event metadata activation signal associated with a selected event icon from among said N1 event icons, metadata information in a visually perceptible format in an under-layer associated with the selected event icon, on at least one event associated with the selected icon, including information on history of events associated with the selected icon, where the metadata information further includes;

at least one of time and date associated with at least one event;

time and date the selected icon was created and was last modified;

author(s) of the selected icon;

at least one of phone number and e-mail address for contact of one or more authors of the selected icon;

a change log for the selected icon and the associated information change;

one or more user reference links;

location(s) of the at least one event;

at least one person responsible for the at least one event;

rationale for the at least one event;

links from at least one other location to the selected icon;

feedback links; and

link statistics.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising programming said computer:

to receive access control information on at least one user of said computer and to restrict or preclude activity by the user in at least one of viewing, reading, writing, deleting and editing of said selected event icon under-layer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming said computer:

to provide, upon receipt of a configuration metadata activation signal associated with a selected icon from among said N2 configuration icons, configuration metadata information in a visually perceptible format in an under-layer associated with the selected configuration icon, on at least one configuration associated with the selected icon, including information on history of decisions associated with the selected icon, where the metadata information further includes at least one of;

time and date of creation and of last modification of the at least one configuration;

summary of configuration;

at least one author of the configuration;

at least one of phone number and e-mail address for contact of one or more authors of the configuration;

at least one subscriber;

at least one comment on configuration by said at least one user;

recommended action on configuration and rationale;

at least one option for routing a configuration; and

description of present version of the configuration.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising programming said computer:

to receive access control information on at least one user of said computer and to restrict or preclude user activity in at least one of viewing, reading, writing, deleting and editing of said selected configuration icon under-layer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming said computer:

to provide a third collection of N3 visually perceptible icons representing N3 feedback mechanisms associated with decision processes, numbered n3=1 . . . N3 (N3≧

2), where the third collection comprises N3 icons from a group including;

a first note/tag icon from the third collection representing at least one unresolved question associated with said project;

a second question icon of the third collection representing at least one portfolio asset associated with said project;

a third icon of the third collection representing at least one unresolved question associated with said project;

a fourth waste/inefficiency icon of the third collection representing at least one wasteful or inefficient procedure associated with said project;

a fifth issue/warning icon of the third collection representing at least one warning concerning a dangerous procedure associated with said project;

a sixth disconnect icon of the third collection representing at least one disconnect or inconsistent response associated with said project;

to associate first and second feedback icons, with selected time values, t=t_L5 and t=t_L6, respectively, along said time line, with t_L5≦

t_L6;

to provide a second connector line, oriented lateral to said first dimension, connecting the first and second feedback icons, when the first and second feedback icons have a time relationship relative to each other;

to provide a visually perceptible display of the second connector line and of the first and second feedback icons, at a second selected location along said time line;

to associate a third event icon and a third configuration icon, with selected time values, t=t_L7 and t=t_L8, respectively, along said time line, and to provide a third connector line, oriented lateral to said first dimension, connecting the third event icon and the third configuration icon, when the third event icon and the third configuration icon have a time relationship relative to each other; and

to provide a visually perceptible display of the third connector line and of the third event icon and the third configuration icon, at a third selected location along said time line;

to associate a fourth event icon and a fourth feedback icon, with selected time values, t=t_L9 and t=t_L10, respectively, along said time line, and to provide a fourth connector line, oriented lateral to said first dimension, connecting the fourth event icon and the fourth feedback icon, when the fourth event icon and the fourth feedback icon have a time relationship relative to each other;

to provide a visually perceptible display of the fourth connector line and of the fourth event icon and the fourth feedback icon, at a fourth selected location along said time line;

to associate a fifth configuration icon and a fifth feedback icon, with selected time values, t=t_L11 and t=t_L12, respectively, along said time line, and to provide a fifth connector line, oriented lateral to said first dimension, connecting the fifth configuration icon and the fifth feedback icon, when the fifth configuration icon and the fifth feedback icon have a time relationship relative to each other; and

to provide a visually perceptible display of the fifth connector line and of the fifth configuration icon and the fifth feedback icon, at a fifth selected location along said time line.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising programming said computer:

to provide, upon receipt of a feedback metadata activation signal associated with a selected feedback icon from among said N3 feedback icons, feedback metadata information in a visually perceptible format in an under-layer associated with the selected feedback icon, on feedback associated with the selected icon, including information on history of feedback associated with the selected icon, where the metadata information includes at least one of;

object type or class;

time and date of feedback event;

date and time the feedback event icon was created and was last modified;

icon author(s);

phone number and e-mail address for contact of one or more authors;

subscribers;

user comments;

feedback target(s);

recommended feedback actions and rationales;

options for routing a feedback communication;

feedback links and link statistics; and

parent and child links.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising programming said computer:

to receive access control information on a user of said computer and to restrict or preclude user activity in at least one of viewing, reading, writing, deleting and editing of said selected icon under-layer.