Project management systems and methods

• US 7,970,639 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diana K. Vucina, Mark A. Vucina
• Original Assignee: Diana K. Vucina, Mark A. Vucina
• Inventors: Vucina, Diana K, Vucina, Mark A
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett; Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US11/142,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,218 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8
• US Class Current: 705/7.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide improved project management systems and methods. In one embodiment the present invention includes a project management system comprising a plurality of radial task regions displayed around a focal point and a plurality of time regions displayed around the focal point, wherein each time region represents a period of time. The present invention may be implemented in software or as a project management template provided on a sheet of material such as paper.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing data in a memory of a computer system, the data corresponding to a project, the project comprising a plurality of tasks;

generating an electronic chart on the computer system based on the data in said memory, the electronic chart comprising a plurality of task regions separated by task boundaries, wherein the plurality of tasks are displayed in corresponding task regions, wherein each task region corresponds to one particular task, wherein the task regions are arranged to form a symmetric geometric shape around a geometric center, the task regions forming wedge shapes that extend outward from the center, wherein the task boundaries extend radially outward from the center between the task regions, the task boundaries representing timelines, and wherein the center represents to a point in time stored in said data corresponding to the particular project, and wherein durations of the plurality of tasks are indicated radially along the task boundaries, wherein each of the plurality of tasks is displayed between a first radial position having a first radial distance from the center corresponding to a first time and a second radial position having a second radial distance from the center corresponding to a second time; and

outputting the electronic chart to a display of the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, the electronic chart further comprising a plurality of concentric time regions around the center, wherein different boundaries of the concentric time regions intersect the task boundaries at different points, and wherein a radial distance between the boundaries of each concentric time region represents an increment of time.

3. The method of claim 1, the electronic chart further comprising one or more task identifiers for indicating the duration of a task corresponding to a task region, wherein at least one task region includes one or more task identifiers extending radially from a first point in time to a second point in time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each task region is associated with data corresponding to a task of said project.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each task boundary represents time advancing inward toward the center.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each task boundary represents time advancing outward away from the center.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the task boundaries comprise increments of time, and wherein the increments of time are defined by a user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric center comprises a central region having said geometric shape.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the central region is a circle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the geometric shape is a circle.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the center represents to a project completion date stored in said data corresponding to the project.

12. The method of claim 1, the electronic chart further comprising a plurality of concentric circles around the center, wherein the concentric circles intersect the task boundaries at different points, wherein a difference in radii of adjacent circuits represents an increment of time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the increment of time is user definable.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is stored in a database, and wherein each task has corresponding data stored in a plurality of fields in the database, and wherein a particular task region corresponding to a task is associated with the plurality of fields in the database for said task.

15. The method of claim 1, the electronic chart further comprising a description region, the description region comprising a plurality of task description records, wherein the task description records display data associated with task regions.

16. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, the instructions when executed by a computer system causing the computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

storing data in a memory of a computer system, the data corresponding to a project, the project comprising a plurality of tasks;

generating an electronic chart on the computer system based on the data in said memory, the electronic chart comprising a plurality of task regions separated by task boundaries, wherein the plurality of tasks are displayed in corresponding task regions, wherein each task region corresponds to one particular task, wherein the task regions are arranged to form a symmetric geometric shape around a geometric center, the task regions forming wedge shapes that extend outward from the center, wherein the task boundaries extend radially outward from the center between the task regions, the task boundaries representing timelines, and wherein the center represents to a point in time stored in said data corresponding to the particular project, and wherein durations of the plurality of tasks are indicated radially along the task boundaries, wherein each of the plurality of tasks is displayed between a first radial position having a first radial distance from the center corresponding to a first time and a second radial position having a second radial distance from the center corresponding to a second time; and

outputting the electronic chart to a display of the computer system.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the electronic chart further comprising a plurality of concentric time regions around the center, wherein different boundaries of the concentric time regions intersect the task boundaries at different points, and wherein a radial distance between the boundaries of each concentric time region represents an increment of time.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the electronic chart further comprising one or more task identifiers for indicating the duration of a task corresponding to a task region, wherein at least one task region includes one or more task identifiers extending radially from a first point in time to a second point in time.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein each task region is associated with data corresponding to a task of said project.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein each task boundary represents time advancing inward toward the center.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein each task boundary represents time advancing outward away from the center.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the task boundaries comprise increments of time, and wherein the increments of time defined by a user.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the geometric center comprises a central region having said geometric shape.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23 wherein the central region is a circle.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the geometric shape is a circle.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the center represents to a project completion date stored in said data corresponding to the project.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the electronic chart further comprising a plurality of concentric circles around the center, wherein the concentric circles intersect the task boundaries at different points, wherein a difference in radii of adjacent circuits represents an increment of time.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 27 wherein the increment of time is user definable.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the data is stored in a database, and wherein each task has corresponding data stored in a plurality of fields in the database, and wherein a particular task region corresponding to a task is associated with the plurality of fields in the database for said task.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, the electronic chart further comprising a description region, the description region comprising a plurality of task description records, wherein the task description records display data associated with task regions.