US 8,302,009 B2 · System and method for task management

Abstract

A method of assigning tasks is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes displaying, on a user interface, one or more representations of tasks and a calendar of dates, each representation being indicative of a task to be completed. The method also includes receiving a user input indicative of a selected date from the calendar of dates and receiving a user input indicative of a selected representation of the one or more representations. The selected representation corresponds to a selected task. The selected date is assigned to the selected task. Further, the method also includes displaying on the user interface a list of constituents as a function of the selected date, receiving a user input indicative of a selected one or more constituents from the list, and assigning the selected one or more constituents to the selected task.

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Claims18

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

displaying, on a user interface, one or more representations of tasks and a calendar of dates, each representation being indicative of a task to be completed and an estimated time required for completing the task;
receiving a user input indicative of a selected date from the calendar of dates;
receiving a user input indicative of a selected representation of the one or more representations, wherein the selected representation corresponds to a selected task;
assigning the selected date to the selected task, wherein the selected data is the date the task is scheduled to be performed;
displaying on the user interface a list of employees scheduled to work on the selected date, and displaying on the user interface at least one generic employee representation, the generic employee representation being representative of an employee that is not on the list of employees scheduled to work on the selected date, wherein each entry in the list of employees includes at least a first field containing a number of hours the employee is scheduled to work on the selected data and a second field containing a number of hours the employee has been assigned to perform tasks on the selected date;
receiving a user input indicative of the at least one generic employee representation from the list;
assigning the at least one generic employee representation to the selected task;
updating the second field of the selected at least one generic employee representation to include the estimated time required to complete the selected task;
and
assigning the generic employee representation to a specific employee not in the list of employees after the at least one generic employee representation is assigned the selected task,
wherein the step of displaying one or more representations of tasks comprises displaying categories of tasks arranged by date, displaying a ratio of a number of tasks in each category that have been assigned to a total number of tasks in the respective category, and displaying a number of hours from a total number of hours needed to perform the tasks in the respective category that have been assigned.

8 more elements

A computer-readable non-volatile medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing a user interface including a plurality of user interface controls;
displaying in the user interface a plurality of selectable dates and a list of selectable task entries, wherein each task entry represents a task to be completed and an estimated task completion time;
receiving an indication of a selected date from the plurality of selectable dates;
displaying in the user interface a list of selectable employee entries that are scheduled to work on the selected date, wherein each employee entry includes a number of hours that the employee is scheduled to work on the selected date and a number of hours the employee has been assigned tasks on the selected date;
receiving an indication of a selection of multiple employees from the list of selectable employees;
receiving an indication of a selected task entry from the list of selectable task entries and, in response, modifying the selected task entry to include an indication that the selected task entry has been assigned to the selected date and the selected multiple employees;
updating each of the employee entries of the selected multiple employees by adjusting the number of hours the employee has been assigned tasks on the selected date to include the estimated task completion time of the selected task entry, wherein the estimated task completion time is divided evenly among the selected multiple employees;
color-coding each task entry in the list of selectable task entries with a first color if the task entry has not been assigned to a date and an employee;
color-coding each task entry in the list of selectable task entries with a second color if the task entry has been assigned to a date but has not been assigned to an employee;
and
color-coding each task entry in the list of selectable task entries with a third color if the task entry has been assigned to a date and an employee, wherein the first, second, and third colors are different,
wherein the step of displaying one or more representations of tasks comprises displaying categories of tasks arranged by date, displaying a ratio of a number of tasks in each category that have been assigned to a total number of tasks in the respective category, and displaying a number of hours from a total number of hours needed to perform the tasks in the respective category that have been assigned.

9 more elements

A method comprising:

selecting a task representation that represents a selected task that is to be completed from a list of task representations displayed in a task window of a user interface;
selecting a date from a plurality of selectable dates displayed on a calendar in a calendar window of the user-interface, the calendar including a plurality of selectable dates for each day of a selected month and wherein the selected date is highlighted after being selected;
selecting an employee from a list of employee entries displayed in an employee window of the user interface to assign both the selected date and the selected employee to the selected task without selecting any other representation in the user interface, each entry including a number of hours the employee has been assigned tasks on the selected date;
updating the number of hours the selected employee has been assigned tasks on the selected date to include the estimated task completion time of the selected task entry;
wherein the task window, the calendar window, and the employee window are displayed in the user interface at the same time while the steps of selecting the task representation, selecting the date and selecting the employee are performed;
defining and displaying categories of tasks arranged by date;
determining a ratio of a number of tasks in each category that have been assigned to a total number of tasks in the respective category;
and
displaying a number of hours from a total number of hours needed to perform the task in the respective category that have been assigned.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,173 words

Summary430 words

#The present disclosure relates generally to planning and management of tasks, and in particular, but not limited to, a user interface for providing a task planning and management tool.

#Task planning and management are important aspects for many organizations such as businesses, schools, governmental entities, to name a few. For example, in a business context, task planning and management involves the planning, organization and management of resources to complete specific goals and objectives. Tasks are often a part of a set of actions to accomplish a particular job, problem, assignment, etc. In many instances, task planning and management may be constrained by parameters, such as work schedules, abilities, certifications, as well as parameters relating to the task, such as scope, quality, quantity, budget, to name a few.

#In the context of a retail sales environment, one example of tasks to be performed is the setting of products and signage in store aisles. The arrangement of products and signs is often represented by “planograms.” In general, planograms (“POGs”) define placement and display of products and signs in a store. A planogram can include any level and specificity of information including, for instance, visual diagrams, drawings, photos, and/or flow charts. Further, planograms can include tables having entries identifying attributes for a product-related task, such as product placement within a retail store, for example. The planogram can include department, product information, and/or location information. To facilitate completion of the tasks represented by the planograms, in one example the tasks represented by the planograms are assigned to employees of a company and/or to a date for completion.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#FIG. 1 illustrates a user interface for a task planning and management tool, under one embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method of assigning tasks, under one embodiment.

#FIG. 3A is a flow diagram of a method of assigning tasks, under one embodiment.

Detailed description6,622 words

#The concepts described herein are directed to a system and method for task planning and management. In one embodiment, a user interface is provided for assigning parameters to tasks, including, but not limited to, assigning date(s) and constituent(s) to tasks. For example, in one embodiment, visual representations of tasks, such as planograms (POGs), are provided to a user through a user interface. The user selects one or more tasks from the representations. The user utilizes the user interface to assign date(s) and/or employee(s) for completing the selected task(s).

#In accordance with one embodiment, FIG. 1 illustrates a user interface 100 for a task planning and management tool configured to be utilized by a user to plan, manage, and/or complete tasks. User interface 100 is illustratively a user interface that provides a plurality of controls for interaction with a user. User interface 100 includes a number of selectable tabs 102, 104, and 106 for accessing various modules and components of the task planning and management tool.

#In FIG. 1, a task planning portion 109 of user interface 100 is illustrated and includes a task window 110, a date window 160, and a constituent window 170. Task window 110 includes a portion 111 for displaying visual representations or entries of tasks. A plurality of representations or entries 112-1, 112-2, 112-3, and 112-4 (collectively referred to as representations 112) are illustrated in FIG. 1. Visual representations 112 of tasks are illustratively representations of planograms. Although representations 112 are illustrated as representing planograms, it is noted that any type of tasks and task representation format is within the scope of the concepts described herein.

Facts

Application

12/121,425Filed 15 May 2008

Published

US 2009/0288030 A119 Nov 2009

Granted

30 Oct 2012

Term ends

28 Dec 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 957 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G06Q 10/06
Administration; Management: resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation…
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial

Timeline

15 May 2008Application filedUS 12/121,425
15 May 2008Assigned to Target Brands, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
19 Nov 2009PublishedUS 2009/0288030 A1
30 Oct 2012GrantedUS 8,302,009 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
28 Dec 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 957 days of adjustment

System and method for task management

Life of this patent

System and method for task management

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims18

Description7,173 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,173 words