US 8,553,039 B1Granted

System and method for computer visualization of project timelines

OwnerGina L. Boice, James L. Blackinventors

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Abstract

A computer-implemented method for collecting, animating in chronological sequence, and presenting the progression of events is disclosed. The method includes providing a set of event data to form a database, the data relating to events that constrained, summarized, or led up to some of the events. Then presenting the database graphically to allow user selection and editing of the Event data in the database to create a set of Events to be presented in an animated manner, and then assigning properties to the manner of presentation of the set of Events to be presented in an animated manner to create a movie. The movement of the movie is provided by an engine that moves a cursor along the timeline to represent the forward or backward change of time and displaying a marker representing an Event from Event data contained in the database.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for collecting and presenting a progression of related Events on a screen, the method comprising:

providing a computer having memory, non-transient data storage, a processor and a computer screen;
generating a timeline representing a range of calendar dates from a project plan;
presenting the timeline on the screen;
providing a set of Event data about the project plan, the Event data comprising a description about a set of project tasks that occurred or are to occur on at least one date, information corresponding to when changes occur in the project plan, and information corresponding to changes in Event times for the tasks, to form a database and storing the database in non-transient data storage, the database having a schema comprising:
a base-events table comprising a plurality of tasks occurring in the project plan;
a snapshots table, comprising a plurality of snapshot times at which the project plan changes along the time line;
a snapshot-events table comprising the Event times for a plurality of tasks in the base-events table and for a plurality of snapshot times from the snapshots table;
displaying a cursor time along said timeline on the computer screen, the cursor time being selectable by the user;
displaying Events positioned horizontally in relation to the timeline based upon a start time and an end time computed by the processor from the snapshot whose snapshot interval contains the cursor time.

6 more elements

A computer system comprising a computer with a computer screen, a processor, memory and non-transient data storage, the data storage having stored thereon computer-readable instructions, the instructions when executed by the processor cause the computer to:

(i) present a timeline on the computer screen, the timeline being generated by the computer and representing a range of times from a project plan;
(ii) create a database based on a provided set of data pertaining to a plurality of events within the project plan, the data comprising a description about events that have occurred or are to occur at a time within the range of times, information corresponding to when changes occur to the project plan, and information corresponding to changes in event times for the tasks;
(ii) store the database in the computer wherein the database includes,
(a) a base-events table comprising a plurality of events occurring in the project plan,
(b) a snapshots table, comprising a plurality of snapshots at which the project plan changes along the time line,
(c) a snapshot-events table comprising the event times for a plurality of tasks in the BaseEvents table and for a plurality of snapshots from the snapshots table;
(iii) provide a cursor on said timeline as displayed on the computer screen, the cursor being movable along said timeline to designate a cursor time within the range of times;
(iv) display each event shown on the computer screen horizontally in relation to the timeline based upon a start time and an end time computed from an applicable snapshot of the plurality of snapshots for a selected cursor time.

5 more elements

A non-transient computer storage device having stored thereon computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions when executed on a computer having a computer screen cause the computer to perform the following steps:

(i) present a timeline on the computer screen, the timeline being generated by the computer and representing a range of times from a project plan;
(ii) create a database based on a provided set of data pertaining to a plurality of events within the project plan, the data comprising a description about events that have occurred or are to occur at a time within the range of times, information corresponding to when changes occur to the project plan, and information corresponding to changes in event times for the tasks;
(ii) store the database in the computer wherein the database includes,
(a) a base-events table comprising a plurality of events occurring in the project plan,
(b) a snapshots table, comprising a plurality of snapshots at which the project plan changes along the time line,
(c) a snapshot-events table comprising the event times for a plurality of tasks in the base-events table and for a plurality of snapshots from the snapshots table;
(iii) provide a cursor on said timeline as displayed on the computer screen, the cursor being movable along said timeline to designate a cursor time within the range of times;
(iv) display each event shown on the computer screen horizontally in relation to the timeline based upon a start time and an end time computed from an applicable snapshot of the plurality of snapshots for a selected cursor time.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.