# US 8,561,012 B1 · Transitioning between iterations in agile software development

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- Number: US 8,561,012 B1
- Document ID: US8561012B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/247,939
- Filed: 2008-10-08
- Granted: 2013-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2008-10-08
- Assignees: Versionone, Inc.
- Applicants: Robert Holler; Ian Culling; Rajiv Delwadia; Pavel Mamut; Mark Crowe; Donald Hanson; Patrick Boudreaux; Dan Gilkerson; Julie Brooks; Eric Farr; Jerry Odenwelder
- Inventors: Robert Holler; Ian Culling; Rajiv Delwadia; Pavel Mamut; Mark Crowe; Donald Hanson; Patrick Boudreaux; Dan Gilkerson; Julie Brooks; Eric Farr; Jerry Odenwelder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8561012B1

## CPC

- G06F 8/70: Software maintenance or management
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 8/30: Creation or generation of source code
- G06F 9/44: Arrangements for executing specific programs
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A computer-implemented method of managing work items associated with agile software development includes displaying a first group of incomplete work items associated with a current iteration of an agile software development project. In response to a first user input, a first incomplete work item of the first group is transferred from the current iteration to a subsequent iteration of the agile software development project. A determination is made that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration. The current iteration is closed and the subsequent iteration is activated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
in a user interface of an agile software development environment,
displaying, at a first location in the user interface, a first group of incomplete work items associated with a current iteration of agile software development; wherein an iteration corresponds to a software release under development within the agile software development environment, and work items include features or defects associated with a planned software release;
in response to a first predefined user action on a second location in the user interface, the second location corresponding to a subsequent iteration of the agile software development,
transferring a first incomplete work item of the first group from the current iteration to a subsequent iteration of agile software development, including ceasing to display, at the first location in the user interface, the first incomplete work item;
determining, without user intervention, that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration;
closing the current iteration, including ceasing to display incomplete work items associated with the current iteration; and
activating the subsequent iteration, including displaying the first incomplete work items.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first group of incomplete work items includes features and defects associated with the current iteration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
displaying an indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration;
wherein the first predefined user action comprises dragging and dropping the first incomplete work item from the first group onto the indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
in response to determining that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration, displaying a close iteration icon; and
detecting user selection of the close iteration icon;
wherein the current iteration is closed and the subsequent iteration is activated in response to user selection of the close iteration icon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
after activating the subsequent iteration, displaying work items associated with the subsequent iteration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to determining that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration:
in response to a second predefined user action, closing a second incomplete work item of the first group and removing the second work item from the first group.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:
in response to the second predefined user action, ceasing display of the second incomplete work item in the first group.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:
the second incomplete work item is a defect associated with the second iteration; and
closing the second incomplete work item comprises updating a status of the defect to indicate that the defect has been resolved.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein:
the second incomplete work item is a feature associated with the second iteration; and
closing the second incomplete work item comprises updating a status of the feature to indicate that the feature has been implemented.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:
while displaying the first group, simultaneously displaying a second group of complete work items associated with the current iteration; and
in response to the second user input, ceasing display of the second work item in the first group and displaying the second work item in the second group.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a second incomplete work item comprises a plurality of constituent work items, including one or more incomplete constituent work items and one or more complete constituent work items, the method further comprising, prior to determining that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration:
in response to a second user input:
dividing the second incomplete work item into a new work item and an original work item, the new work item comprising the one or more incomplete constituent work items; and
associating the new work item with the subsequent iteration, wherein the original work item is associated with the current iteration.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:
the original work item comprises the one or more complete constituent work items; and
a status of the original work item indicates that no work remains to be done for the original work item.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:
the second incomplete work item is a feature or defect associated with the current iteration; and
the plurality of constituent work items comprises a task associated with the feature or defect.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein:
the second incomplete work item is a feature or defect associated with the current iteration; and
the plurality of constituent work items comprises a test associated with the feature or defect.

### Claim 15

A system comprising:
memory;
a display;
one or more processors; and
one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including:
instructions to display, at a first location in a user interface of an agile software development environment, a first group of incomplete work items associated with a current iteration of an agile software development project, wherein an iteration corresponds to a software release under development within the agile software development environment, and work items include features or defects associated with a planned software release;
instructions to transfer, in response to a first predefined user action on a second location in the user interface, the second location corresponding to a subsequent iteration of the agile software development, a first incomplete work item of the first group from the current iteration to a subsequent iteration of agile software development, including ceasing to display, at the first location in the user interface, the first incomplete work item;
instructions to determine, without user intervention, that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration;
instructions to close the current iteration, including ceasing to display incomplete work items associated with the current iteration; and
instructions to activate the subsequent iteration, including displaying the first incomplete work items.

### Claim 16

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by a computer system, the one or more programs comprising:
instructions to display, at a first location in a user interface of an agile software development environment, a first group of incomplete work items associated with a current iteration of an agile software development project; wherein an iteration corresponds to a software release under development within the agile software development environment, and work items include features or defects associated with a planned software release;
instructions to transfer, in response to a first predefined user action on a second location in the user interface, the second location corresponding to a subsequent iteration of the agile software development, a first incomplete work item of the first group from the current iteration to a subsequent iteration of agile software development, including ceasing to display, at the first location in the user interface, the first incomplete work item;
instructions to determine, without user intervention, that no incomplete work items remain associated with the current iteration;
instructions to close the current iteration, including ceasing to display incomplete work items associated with the current iteration; and
instructions to activate the subsequent iteration, including displaying the first incomplete work items.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the first group of incomplete work items includes features and defects associated with the current iteration.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions to:
display an indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration;
wherein the first predefined user action comprises dragging and dropping the first incomplete work item from the first group onto the indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first group of incomplete work items includes features and defects associated with the current iteration.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions to:
display an indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration;
wherein the first predefined user action comprises dragging and dropping the first incomplete work item from the first group onto the indicator corresponding to the subsequent iteration.