Post facto identification and prioritization of causes of buffer consumption

• US 8,776,008 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Realization Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Realization Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Ajai, Shankar, Ravi, Yuan, Xiangting, Hoang, Anthony H., Pati, Prakash K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWIFT, CHARLES M
• Application Number:
  US12/610,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20110107333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: 717/100, 717/101, 717/102, 717/103
• US Class Current: 717/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and techniques for collecting task status information. During operation, the system can receive a status update for a task from a task manager through a GUI. Next, the system can determine whether the first status update for the task indicates that the task is delayed. If the status update indicates that the task is delayed, the system can request the task manager to indicate the help needed to resolve the task delay. Next, the system can receive a help needed descriptor from the task manager. Subsequently, the system can receive another status update for the task from the task manager, wherein the status update indicates that the help specified in the help needed descriptor is no longer required. Next, the system can determine an amount of delay associated with the help needed descriptor.

Claims

1. A computer-executed method for associating a delay with a help needed descriptor, the method comprising:

receiving a first status update and a first remaining duration value for a task from a task manager, wherein the first status update indicates that the task is delayed;

receiving a help needed descriptor for the task from the task manager, wherein the help needed descriptor specifies the help needed to resolve the task delay;

receiving a second status update and a second remaining duration value for the task from the task manager, wherein the second status update indicates that the help specified in the help needed descriptor is no longer required;

determining an amount of delay associated with the help needed descriptor based on a time duration between receiving the first status update and receiving the second status update and a difference between the first remaining duration value and the second remaining duration value; and

storing, in a database, the association between the help needed descriptor and the amount of delay.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting the task manager to indicate the help needed to resolve the task delay by presenting a questionnaire to the task manager which includes hierarchical help needed options.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving the first update for the task, the method further comprises presenting the task'"'"'s current status to the task manager.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first status update for the task indicates that the task is delayed if the first remaining duration value is not consistent with the task'"'"'s planned execution time.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for associating a delay with a help needed descriptor, the method comprising:

receiving a first status update and a first remaining duration value for a task from a task manager, wherein the first status update indicates that the task is delayed;

receiving a help needed descriptor for the task from the task manager, wherein the help needed descriptor specifies the help needed to resolve the task delay;

receiving a second status update and a second remaining duration value for the task from the task manager, wherein the second status update indicates that the help specified in the help needed descriptor is no longer required;

determining an amount of delay associated with the help needed descriptor based on a time duration between receiving the first status update and receiving the second status update and a difference between the first remaining duration value and the second remaining duration value; and

storing, in a database, the association between the help needed descriptor and the amount of delay.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, further comprising requesting the task manager to indicate the help needed to resolve the task delay by presenting a questionnaire to the task manager which includes hierarchical help needed options.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein prior to receiving the first update for the task, the method further comprises presenting the task'"'"'s current status to the task manager.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the first status update for the task indicates that the task is delayed if the first remaining duration value is not consistent with the task'"'"'s planned execution time.

9. A computer system for associating a delay with a help needed descriptor, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions comprising;

instructions for receiving a first status update and a first remaining duration value for a task from a task manager, wherein the first status update indicates that the task is delayed;

instructions for receiving a help needed descriptor for the task from the task manager, wherein the help needed descriptor specifies the help needed to resolve the task delay;

instructions for receiving a second status update and a second remaining duration value for the task from the task manager, wherein the second status update indicates that the help specified in the help needed descriptor is no longer required;

instructions for determining an amount of delay associated with the help needed descriptor based on a time duration between receiving the first status update and receiving the second status update and a difference between the first remaining duration value and the second remaining duration value; and

instructions for storing, in a database, the association between the help needed descriptor and the amount of delay.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for requesting the task manager to indicate the help needed to resolve the task delay by presenting a questionnaire to the task manager which includes hierarchical help needed options.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for presenting the task'"'"'s current status to the task manager.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the first status update for the task indicates that the task is delayed if the first remaining duration value is not consistent with the task'"'"'s planned execution time.