IP Library Patent Application 11704099
Patent Application
App. No. 11/704,099

Techniques to manage cost resources

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/704,099
Abstract

Techniques to manage cost resources are described. An apparatus comprises a project management program arranged to schedule resources for a project. The project management program includes multiple resource types with one of the resource types comprising a cost resource type. The cost resource type may have multiple defined cost resources each representing a cost value independent of a volume of work for a task or a duration for the task. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims (29)

1 . A method, comprising:

defining a task for a project;

defining multiple cost resources each representing a cost value independent of a volume of work for said task or a duration for said task; and

assigning said multiple cost resources to said task.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising assigning said cost resource to said task over multiple time intervals.

3 . The method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval, said first portion and said second portion having equal values.

5 . The method of claim 1 , comprising assigning a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval, said first portion and said second portion having unequal values.

6 . The method of claim 1 , comprising displaying a view of said task and assigned cost resources.

7 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

defining said multiple cost resources each representing an estimated cost value independent of a volume of work for said task or a duration for said task;

receiving an actual cost value for one or more estimated cost values; and

comparing said actual cost value with said estimated cost value.

8 . An article comprising a storage medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to:

define a task for a project;

define multiple cost resources each representing a cost value independent of a volume of activity or a duration of activity; and

assign said multiple cost resources to said task.

9 . The article of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to assign said cost resource to said task over multiple time intervals.

10 . The article of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to assign a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval.

11 . The article of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to assign a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval, said first portion and said second portion having equal values.

12 . The article of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to assign a first portion of a cost resource to a first time interval and a second portion of said cost resource to a second time interval, said first portion and said second portion having unequal values.

13 . The article of claim 8 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to generating a report with said task and assigned cost resources.

14 . An apparatus comprising a project management program arranged to schedule resources for a project, said project management program including multiple resource types with one of said resource types comprising a cost resource type, said cost resource type having multiple defined cost resources each representing a cost value independent of a volume of work for a task or a duration for said task.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a task definition component to define a task for said project.

16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a resource definition component to define said cost resources for said project.

17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a resource assignment component to assign multiple cost resources to a task.

18 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a resource assignment component to assign said cost resource to said task over multiple time intervals.

19 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a resource assignment component to assign a first portion of a cost resource to a task for a first time period, and a second portion of a cost resource to said task for a second time period, said first portion and said second portion having identical values.

20 . The apparatus of claim 14 , comprising a resource assignment component to assign a first portion of a cost resource to a task for a first time period, and a second portion of a cost resource to said task for a second time period, said first portion and said second portion having different values.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2015
From: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 034766/0509 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2007
From: SNAPKAUSKAS, DARIUS; IYER, RAJU; VRIES, BRAM DE; DUCOLON, DAVID; OLFORD, WILLIAM JOHN
To: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019284/0942 →