Interlinked change-request computer system and method having role-based tabular interface

Computer apparatus for providing individual user to-do lists of actions in a repository based software change management system managing software changes of a subject software system, comprising:

• a repository coupled in communication with a processor and storing in memory one or more change request objects of a software bug, each change request object representing a user's request to make a software change to a given software system, there being a different change request object for each different user making a respective user request;
• a partitioning member executed by the processor and accessing the repository, for each change request object, the partitioning member partitioning the change request object into a respective issue hierarchy of issue objects, a task hierarchy of task objects and an activity hierarchy of activity objects, wherein each issue object represents a respective issue, each task object defines work needed to address a respective issue and each activity object tracks respective work performed, and wherein each change request object has an issue hierarchy object type, a task hierarchy object type and an activity hierarchy object type;
• and
• a tabular user interface executable by the processor in response to interaction by a user, the tabular user interface including a table representation of the respective issue hierarchy, task hierarchy and activity hierarchy of a change request object stored in the repository, the table representation serving as a to-do list of actions for the user and displaying issue objects, task objects and activity objects as a function of user role, wherein the processor determines user role of the user and uses user role in selecting one of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type in the change request object as primary for the user, and different ones of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type serving according to user role as corresponding categories to the issue hierarchy of issue objects, task hierarchy of task objects and activity hierarchy of activity objects of the partitioning of the change request object;
• wherein the table representation is formed of a respective row for each change request object, one or more first columns in the respective row holding and displaying fields of an issue object, task object or activity object of the change request object as a primary object according to user role, and one or more second columns in the respective row holding and displaying information about issue objects in the issue hierarchy, task objects in the task hierarchy and activity objects in the activity hierarchy of the change request object and that are linked to the primary object as sub-objects, and
• wherein the information displayed by one or more of the second columns further includes summary values for a given row, each summary value resulting from a respective summary function of field values of corresponding sub-objects;
• in response to command by the user, the processor expanding the given row and displaying a sub-table having contributing values from the field values of corresponding sub-objects used by the respective summary functions that produced the summary values of the given row, and wherein the sub-table has one or more rows, each row representing a respective sub-object linked to the primary object of the change request object according to user role for the user, and
• the processor expanding other rows of the table representation, in response to user command, row by row and displaying respective sub-tables.

Computer program product comprising:

• a non-transient computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed by a digital processor causes a computer to:
• (a) form a change request object of a software bug to represent a user's request to make a software change to a given software system;
• (b) partition the change request object into hierarchies of objects and sub-objects including at least a first hierarchy of respective first objects and sub-objects, and a second hierarchy of respective other objects and sub-objects, wherein the first objects, sub-objects and other objects of the first and second hierarchies include issue objects, task objects and activity objects, and wherein each issue object represents a respective issue, each task object defines work needed to address a respective issue and each activity object tracks respective work performed, and
• wherein each change request object has an issue hierarchy object type, a task hierarchy object type and an activity hierarchy object type;
• (c) according to user role of a user, represent the hierarchies of objects and sub-objects in a table such that the table serves as a to-do list of actions for the user;
• (d) display contents of the table as a function of user role by using user role to select one of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type in the change request object as primary for the user, and different ones of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type serving according to user role as corresponding categories to the issue hierarchy of issue objects, task hierarchy of task objects and activity hierarchy of activity objects of the partitioning of the change request object,
• wherein the table representation is formed of a respective row for each change request object, one or more first columns in the respective row holding and displaying fields of an issue object, task object or activity object of the change request object as a primary object according to user role, and one or more second columns in the respective row holding and displaying information about issue objects in the issue hierarchy, task objects in the task hierarchy and activity objects in the activity hierarchy of the change request object and that are linked to the primary object as sub-objects, and
• wherein the information displayed by one or more of the second columns further includes respective summary values for a given row, each summary value resulting from a respective summary function of field values of corresponding sub-objects;
• and
• (e) in response to command by the user, expand the given row, including displaying a sub-table having constituent values of the summary values of the given row, the constituent values for a given summary value being contributing values from the field values of corresponding sub-objects used in the respective summary function that produced the given summary value, and wherein the sub-table has one or more rows, each row representing a respective sub-object linked to the primary object of the change request object according to user role, and
• wherein said expanding is repeated upon user command for other rows of the table representation, expanding row by row and displaying respective sub-tables.

Computer apparatus coupled with a processor for providing individual user to-do lists of actions from a software change management repository for managing software changes to a subject software system, the repository storing a set of changes requested by developers and end users, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for forming and storing in the repository a change request object of a software bug in response to user request, the change request object representing a user's request to make a software change to the subject software system;
• (b) means for providing hierarchies of objects and sub-objects for each change request object by partitioning the change request object in response to the user's request, the objects and sub-objects of the hierarchies resulting from said partitioning including issue objects, task objects and activity objects, wherein each issue object represents a respective issue, each task object defines work needed to address a respective issue and each activity object tracks respective work performed, and
• wherein each change request object has an issue hierarchy object type, a task hierarchy object type and an activity hierarchy object type, and
• (c) manager means responsive to a user interacting with the repository and representing the hierarchies of objects and sub-objects in a table as a function of user role of the user, including the manager means displaying contents of the table as a function of user role, the manager means using user role to select one of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type in the change request object as primary for the user, and different ones of the issue hierarchy object type, task hierarchy object type and activity hierarchy object type serving according to user role as corresponding categories to the issue hierarchy of issue objects, task hierarchy of task objects and activity hierarchy of activity objects in the partitioning of the change request object;
• wherein the table is formed of a respective row for each change request object, one or more first columns in the respective row holding and displaying fields of an issue object, task object or activity object of the change request object as a primary object according to user role, and one or more second columns in the respective row holding and displaying information about issue objects in the issue hierarchy, task objects in the task hierarchy and activity objects in the activity hierarchy of the change request object and that are linked to the primary object as sub-objects, and
• wherein the information displayed by one or more of the second columns further includes summary values for a given row, each summary value resulting from a respective summary function of field values of corresponding sub-objects;
• in response to command by the user, the manager means expanding the given row, said expanding displaying a sub-table having constituent values of the summary values of the given row, the constituent values for a given summary value being contributing values from the field values of corresponding sub-objects used in the respective summary function that produced the given summary value, and wherein the sub-table has one or more rows, each row representing a respective sub-object linked to the primary object of the change request object according to user role, and
• wherein the manager means upon user command expands other rows of the table, expanding row by row and displaying respective sub-tables.