Project management over a network with automated task schedule update

A method for managing a schedule for a development project, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• detecting an update to schedule data for a particular task from a plurality of tasks specified for the development project and organized as a hierarchy of interdependent tasks;
• in response to the update, traversing the hierarchy to determine whether an update to schedule data for one or more other tasks from the plurality of tasks is required, by:
• following a reference up the hierarchy from reference data associated with the particular task to reference data associated with a parent task, wherein the parent task relies on completion of the particular task for completion;
• following a reference down the hierarchy from reference data associated with the parent task to schedule data associated with each of one or more tasks that must be completed for completion of the parent task;
• comparing the schedule data of the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual start date that is the earliest actual start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual end date that is the latest actual end date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to a planned start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned start date that is the earliest planned start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• and
• if an update to a planned end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned end date that is the latest planned end date associated with the one or more tasks.

A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for generating a hierarchy used in managing a schedule for a development project, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• generating reference data for a task in the hierarchy, the reference data referencing one or more other tasks at other levels in the hierarchy, wherein the hierarchy specifies relationships among tasks related to completion of the development project;
• wherein the step of generating reference data comprises:
• receiving specification of one or more tasks assigned to at least one specified project participant, wherein the one or more tasks are assigned through use of a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• and
• receiving specification of one or more detail tasks hierarchically related to at least one of the one or more tasks, wherein the detail tasks are sub-tasks requiring completion to complete the at least one task, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified using a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• generating schedule data for the task, the schedule data including one or more schedule dates associated with the task;
• wherein the schedule data includes (a) historical schedule data that includes one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task if a corresponding planned schedule date associated with the task has been changed, and (b) one or more current schedule dates associated with the task;
• storing the schedule data and the reference data in a database accessible over a network via a web browser;
• and
• causing a web server to display the schedule, including causing concurrent display of both the one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task and the one or more current schedule dates associated with the task.

A computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for managing a schedule for a development project, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• detecting an update to schedule data for a particular task from a plurality of tasks specified for the development project and organized as a hierarchy of interdependent tasks;
• in response to the update, traversing the hierarchy to determine whether an update to schedule data for one or more other tasks from the plurality of tasks is required, by:
• following a reference up the hierarchy from reference data associated with the particular task to reference data associated with a parent task, wherein the parent task relies on completion of the particular task for completion;
• following a reference down the hierarchy from reference data associated with the parent task to schedule data associated with each of one or more tasks that must be completed for completion of the parent task;
• comparing the schedule data of the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual start date that is the earliest actual start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual end date that is the latest actual end date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to a planned start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned start date that is the earliest planned start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• and
• if an update to a planned end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned end date that is the latest planned end date associated with the one or more tasks.

A computer-readable storage medium carrying data that represents one or more data items, each data item being associated with a task related to completion of a development project, the data comprising:

• reference data that references one or more other data items associated with tasks at other hierarchical levels of a hierarchy that represents relationships between development project tasks,
• wherein generating the reference data comprises:
• receiving specification of one or more tasks assigned to at least one specified project participant, wherein the one or more tasks are assigned through use of a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• and
• receiving specification of one or more detail tasks hierarchically related to at least one of the one or more tasks, wherein the detail tasks are sub-tasks requiring completion to complete the at least one task, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified using a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• and
• schedule data that includes one or more current schedule dates and one or more obsolete schedule dates associated with completion of the task associated with the particular data item;
• wherein, in response to an update from a web browser to the schedule data associated with a particular task, a computer processor can automatically update the schedule data associated with one or more other tasks hierarchically related to the particular task to reflect the change to the schedule data associated with the particular task, at least in part by following, in the hierarchy, references in the reference data.

A computer apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to execute one or more sequence of instructions for generating a hierarchy used in managing a development project, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
• generating reference data for a task in the hierarchy, the reference data referencing one or more other tasks at other levels in the hierarchy, wherein the hierarchy specifies relationships among tasks related to completion of the development project;
• wherein the step of generating reference data comprises:
• receiving specification of one or more tasks assigned to at least one specified project participant, wherein the one or more tasks are assigned through use of a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• and
• receiving specification of one or more detail tasks hierarchically related to at least one of the one or more tasks, wherein the detail tasks are sub-tasks requiring completion to complete the at least one task, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified using a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• generating schedule data for the task, the schedule data including one or more schedule dates associated with the task;
• wherein the schedule data includes (a) historical schedule data that includes one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task if a corresponding planned schedule date associated with the task has been changed, and (b) one or more current schedule dates associated with the task;
• storing the schedule data and the reference data in a database accessible over a network via a web browser;
• and
• causing a web server to display the schedule, including causing concurrent display of both the one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task and the one or more current schedule dates associated with the task.

A computer apparatus comprising:

• means for generating reference data for a task in the hierarchy, the reference data referencing one or more other tasks at other levels in the hierarchy, wherein the hierarchy specifies relationships among tasks related to completion of the development project, said means comprising:
• means for receiving specification of one or more tasks assigned to at least one specified project participant, wherein the one or more tasks are assigned through use of a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• and
• means for receiving specification of one or more detail tasks hierarchically related to at least one of the one or more tasks, wherein the detail tasks are sub-tasks requiring completion to complete the at least one task, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified using a computer generated web browser interface communicatively coupled to a project database over the network, and wherein the one or more detail tasks are specified with an associated hierarchical level;
• means for generating schedule data for the task, the schedule data including one or more schedule dates associated with the task;
• wherein the schedule data includes (a) historical schedule data that includes one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task if a corresponding planned schedule date associated with the task has been changed, and (b) one or more current schedule dates associated with the task;
• means for storing the schedule data and the reference data in a database accessible over a network via a web browser;
• and
• means for causing a web server to display the schedule, including causing concurrent display of both the one or more obsolete planned schedule dates associated with the task and the one or more current schedule dates associated with the task.

A computer apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to execute one or more sequence of instructions for generating a hierarchy used in managing a development project, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
• detecting an update to schedule data for a particular task from a plurality of tasks specified for the development project and organized as a hierarchy of interdependent tasks;
• in response to the update, traversing the hierarchy to determine whether an update to schedule data for one or more other tasks from the plurality of tasks is required, by:
• following a reference up the hierarchy from reference data associated with the particular task to reference data associated with a parent task, wherein the parent task relies on completion of the particular task for completion;
• following a reference down the hierarchy from reference data associated with the parent task to schedule data associated with each of one or more tasks that must be completed for completion of the parent task;
• comparing the schedule data of the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual start date that is the earliest actual start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to an actual end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated actual end date that is the latest actual end date associated with the one or more tasks;
• if an update to a planned start date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned start date that is the earliest planned start date associated with the one or more tasks;
• and
• if an update to a planned end date of the parent task is required, then determining an updated planned end date that is the latest planned end date associated with the one or more tasks.