Representations of processes
(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Representations of processes (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) G06F 017/60 G06T 015/00 (21) Application No: 2003236991 (22) Application Date: 2003 .05.30 (87) WIPO No: WO03/102719 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/159,591 2002.05.31 (33) Country US 200510277 (43) Publication Date : 2003.12.19 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004 .02.12 (71) Applicant(s) SAP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (72) Inventor(s) Behre, Christian; Hanmann, Thomas;Clemot, Martine; Lang, Robert (-1-1) Application NoAU2003236991 A8(19)AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title Representations of processes (51)6 International Patent Classification(s) G06F 017/60 G06T 015/00 (21) Application No: 2003236991 (22) Application Date: 2003 .05.30 (87) WIPO No: WO03/102719 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 10/159,591 2002.05.31 (33) Country US 200510277 (43) Publication Date : 2003.12.19 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004 .02.12 (71) Applicant(s) SAP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (72) Inventor(s) Behre, Christian; Hanmann, Thomas;Clemot, Martine; Lang, Robert-1- A computer-based method for representing a project includes accessing a description of the project and displaying, based on the description, at least a portion of the project in a perspective representation that generally resembles a path. A computer program product includes instructions that cause a processor to convert a description of the project into display instructions for displaying at least a portion of the project in a perspective representation, displaying relative progress of the project relative to an expected progress of the project, and displaying a relative rate of progress of the project relative to an expectation of a rate of progress. The computer program product is tangibly stored on machine readable media. A computer-based method for representing a project includes receiving a project identification identifying the project, accessing the description of the project identified by the project identification, identifying an element of the project from the description of the project, and displaying the element of the project in a perspective representation of the project. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A computer-based method for representing a project, comprising: accessing a description of the project ; and displaying, based on the description, at least a portion of the project in a perspective representation that generally resembles a path.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: dynamically updating the perspective representation in response to a change in the description of the project.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein dynamically updating the perspective representation comprises: dynamically updating the perspective representation to indicate progress in the project.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying an indication of an approach to an end of the project in the perspective representation.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the indication of the approach to the end of the project comprises : displaying a sign alongside the path to indicate the approach to the end of the project.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: displaying a time remaining in the project on the sign.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a current position in the project along the perspective representation of the project.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying an element of the project on the path.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the element comprises: displaying a task in the project. <Desc/Clms Page number 13> 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: marking the element to indicate a characteristic of the element.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein marking the element comprises: marking the element to indicate who is responsible for the element.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein marking the element comprises: marking the element to indicate a degree of completion of the element.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: displaying a second element of the project on the path; and displaying a linkage between the first element and the second element.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein displaying the linkage comprises: indicating a dependency between the first element and the second element.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein indicating the dependency comprises: indicating a flow of information from the first element to the second element.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein indicating the dependency comprises: indicating a flow of material from the first element to the second element.
17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying a date indicator indicating a particular date in the project.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying the date indicator comprises: displaying a decision indicator indicating a decision date on which a decision is made.
19. A computer program product, tangibly stored on machine readable media, for representing a project, the product comprising instructions that cause a processor to convert a description of the project into display instructions for: displaying at least a portion of the project in a perspective representation; displaying relative progress of the project relative to an expected progress of the project; and displaying a relative rate of progress of the project relative to an expectation of a rate of progress. <Desc/Clms Page number 14> 20. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: dynamically updating at least one of the displayed project, relative progress of the project, and relative rate of progress of the project as the description of the project changes.
21. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying relative progress of the project relative to, but independently of, an expectation of progress; and displaying a relative rate of progress of the project relative to, but independently of, an expectation of a rate of progress.
22. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying the relative progress and the relative rate of progress using an indicium ; and framing the indicium in a gauge to assist a user in determining one of the relative progress and the relative rate of progress.
23. The product of claim 22, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying the relative progress and the relative rate of progress in an arrow indicium that generally resembles an arrow; and framing the indicium in a speedometer gauge that generally resembles a speedometer. <Desc/Clms Page number 15> 24. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying the project in a perspective representation of a path.
25. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying an indication of an approach to an end of the project in the perspective representation.
26. The product of claim 25, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying a sign alongside the path; and displaying text in the sign indicating the approach to the end of the project.
27. The product of claim 19, wherein the instructions also cause the processor to convert the description of the project into display instructions for: displaying an element of the project on the path; and marking the element to indicate a characteristic of the element.
28. A computer-based method for representing a project, comprising: receiving a project identification identifying the project; accessing the description of the project identified by the project identification; identifying an element of the project from the description of the project; and displaying the element of the project in a perspective representation of at least a portion of the project.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: receiving a user identification identifying a user; and marking the element of the project in accordance with an involvement of the identified user with the element.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein marking the element comprises: marking the element based on a management of the element by the identified user. <Desc/Clms Page number 16> 31. The method of claim 28, further comprising: marking the element of the project in accordance with a degree of completion of the element.
32. The method of claim 28, wherein displaying the element comprises: displaying the element on a path perspective representation that generally resembles a path.
33. The method of claim 28, further comprising: identifying a second element of the project from the description of the project; and displaying a linkage between the first element and the second element.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein displaying the linkage comprises: indicating a flow of information from the first element to the second element with the linkage.
35. The method of claim 28, further comprising: determining relative progress in the project and a relative rate of progress in the project; and displaying the relative progress and the relative rate of progress.
36. The method of claim 28, further comprising: determining relative progress for the element and a relative rate of progress for the element; and displaying the relative progress for the element and the relative rate of progress for the element.
37. The method of claim 28, further comprising: dynamically updating the display as the description of the project changes.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein dynamically updating the display comprises: dynamically updating a marking of the element as the description of the element changes.