Collaborative network-based graphical progress management

Abstract

A network-based graphical progress management tool generates information for providing a graphical user interface to a plurality of users using a plurality of processing devices on a network, to enable a user to create a graphical representation of a process, and to enable the plurality of users to view and edit the graphical representation of the process collaboratively via the network. The tool further receives, from at least one of the plurality of users, user input specifying progress made in performance of the process, and updates the graphical representation to indicate the progress visually, in response to the user input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating, in a processing system, information for providing a graphical user interface to a plurality of users using a plurality of processing devices on a network, to enable a first user of the plurality of users to create a graphical representation of a process, and to enable the plurality of users to view and edit the graphical representation of the process collaboratively via the network;   receiving, from at least one of the plurality of users, user input specifying progress made in performance of the process; and   updating the graphical representation to indicate the progress visually, in response to the user input, to create different types of visible distinctions between operations that have been completed, operations having execution in-progress, and operations having future execution to be performed.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a timeline-based to-do list. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein generating the graphical user interface comprises enabling the plurality of users to comment on the process by inputting comments on the graphical representation. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation spaces out the operations having future execution to be performed for a future region of a timeline based on amounts of time between their user-specified “Progress by” dates, and the graphical representation spaces out the operations that have been completed for a past region of the timeline according to amounts of time elapsed between their completion dates, wherein positioning a pointer over a junction between any two operations causes the graphical representation to display elapsed amount of time between the completion dates of the operations or display elapsed amount of time between specified “Progress by” dates of the operations. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein updating the graphical representation to indicate the progress comprises updating the graphical representation based on the user input, to indicate when and by whom a particular operation was completed. 
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 enabling a user to associate a resource with a operation in the process, by user input directed to the graphical representation.   
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the resource comprises at least one of: a document, a hyperlink, a graphical object, a still image, an audio clip or a video clip. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing, in each said displayable object, a data input field designated to receive user input specifying instructions, to be displayed to one or more of the users, on how to perform the corresponding operation;   receiving first user input from a first user, the first user input directed to the first field in one of the displayable objects that represents a corresponding one of the operations, the first user input specifying instructions on how to perform said one of the operations;   associating the instructions with said one of the operations in response to the first user input;   receiving second user input from a second user, the second user input being directed to said one of the visual objects; and   in response to second user input, causing the instructions to be displayed to the second user.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein generating a graphical representation of the process flow further comprises visually indicating a present point in time in relation to the process flow. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising enabling a user to assign roles and access privileges to other users in relation to the graphical representation of the process flow, by:
 enabling the user to designate another user as a collaborator for the process flow, wherein a collaborator is an individual authorized to comment on and edit the graphical representation of the process flow; and   enabling the user to designate another user as an observer of the process flow, wherein an observer has more restricted access than a collaborator to the graphical representation of the process flow, wherein an observer is an individual authorized to comment on, but not edit, the graphical representation of the process flow.   
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein generating a graphical representation of the process flow further comprises providing an interface by which a user can specify a dependency of a operation in the process flow upon another operation in the process flow. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising enabling a user to provide input to assign a operation in the process flow to another user and specify at least one of: a date by which progress is to be shown on the operation or a date by which the operation is to be completed. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one of:
 automatically sending a notification to a particular user to whom a operation has been assigned in response to the operation being assigned to said particular user; or   automatically sending a notification to a particular user to whom a operation has been assigned at a predetermined amount of time prior to a specified date by which progress is to be shown on the operation or a specified date by which the operation is to be completed.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a process that comprises:
 generating, in a processing system, information for providing a graphical user interface to a plurality of users using a plurality of processing devices on a network, to enable a first user of the plurality of users to create a graphical representation of a process, and to enable the plurality of users to view and edit the graphical representation of the process collaboratively via the network;   receiving, from at least one of the plurality of users, user input specifying progress made in performance of the process; and   updating the graphical representation to indicate the progress visually, in response to the user input, to create different types of visible distinctions between operations that have been completed, operations having execution in-progress, and operations having future execution to be performed.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a timeline-based to-do list. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the graphical representation spaces out the operations having future execution to be performed for a future region of a timeline based on amounts of time between their user-specified “Progress by” dates, and the graphical representation spaces out the operations that have been completed for a past region of the timeline according to amounts of time elapsed between their completion dates, wherein said modifying the graphical representation to indicate the progress comprises updating the graphical representation based on the user input, to indicate when and by whom a particular operation was completed. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the process further comprises:
 enabling a user to associate a resource with a operation in the process, by user input directed to the graphical representation, wherein the resource comprises at least one of: a document, a hyperlink, a graphical object, a still image, an audio clip or a video clip;   providing, in each said displayable object, a data input field designated to receive user input specifying instructions, to be displayed to one or more of the users, on how to perform the corresponding operation;   receiving first user input from a first user, the first user input directed to the first field in one of the displayable objects that represents a corresponding one of the operations, the first user input specifying instructions on how to perform said one of the operations;   associating the instructions with said one of the operations in response to the first user input;   receiving second user input from a second user, the second user input being directed to said one of the visual objects; and   in response to second user input, causing the instructions to be displayed to the second user, wherein generating a graphical representation of the process flow further comprises visually indicating a present point in time in relation to the process flow.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the process further comprises:
 enabling a user to assign roles and access privileges to other users in relation to the graphical representation of the process flow, by:   enabling the user to designate another user as a collaborator for the process flow, wherein a collaborator is an individual authorized to comment on and edit the graphical representation of the process flow; and   enabling the user to designate another user as an observer of the process flow, wherein an observer has more restricted access than a collaborator to the graphical representation of the process flow, wherein an observer is an individual authorized to comment on, but not edit, the graphical representation of the process flow.   
     
     
         19 . A processing system comprising:
 a communications interface through which to communicate with a plurality of remote processing devices, each associated with a separate one of a plurality of users;   a memory; and   a processor coupled to the communications interface and the memory and configured to execute operations that include generating information for providing a graphical user interface to the plurality of users using the plurality of processing devices on a network, to enable a first user of the plurality of users to create a graphical representation of a process, and to enable the plurality of users to view and edit the graphical representation of the process collaboratively via the network;   receiving, from at least one of the plurality of users, user input specifying progress made in performance of the process; and   updating the graphical representation to indicate the progress visually, in response to the user input, to create different types of visible distinctions between operations that have been completed, operations having execution in-progress, and operations having future execution to be performed.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein generating a graphical representation of the process flow further comprises providing an interface by which a user can specify a dependency of a operation in the process flow upon another operation in the process flow. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute operations to enable a user to provide input to assign a operation in the process flow to another user and specify at least one of: a date by which progress is to be shown on the operation or a date by which the operation is to be completed.