Patent ID: 8280756
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of scheduling software development project milestones, comprising: operating a calculation component stored on a computer readable storage medium and executed by a processor to estimate a minimum duration of a software development project based on an estimated level-of-effort of the software development project, wherein the minimum duration of the software development project includes a safety factor that increases the minimum duration of the software development project by a percentage or a fixed duration, wherein the minimum duration of the software development project is rounded up to a next highest integer amount when the minimum duration of the software development project is a non-integer amount, and wherein the estimated level-of-effort of the software development project is an estimate of a number of hours that are to be expended to complete the software development project from start to finish; operating a milestone scheduler component stored on a computer readable storage medium and executed by a processor to determine a time constraint of the software development project, wherein the time constraint comprises a relative portion of the minimum duration of the software development project to pass until a code drop date of the software development project is projected to occur plus a duration of a planning phase of the software development project; operating the milestone scheduler component to compare the time constraint of the software development project with a plurality of pre-established software release cycles to identify a candidate pre-established software release cycle within which the software development project will fit, wherein the time constraint of the software development project is less than or equal to a time remaining until a code drop date of the candidate pre-established software release cycle, wherein each of the plurality of pre-established software release cycles are scheduled at a predetermined time and comprise a plurality of pre-scheduled milestones, including a code drop milestone at a preset calendar date, and wherein a type of software release cycle of the candidate pre-established software release cycle is a major type of software release cycle or a minor type of software release cycle; operating the milestone scheduler component to select the candidate pre-established software release cycle as a selected pre-established software release cycle in which to release the software development project, based on a constraint on a type of release cycle in which the software development project is released and the type of software release cycle of the candidate pre-established software release cycle; operating the milestone scheduler to set the code drop date of the software development project to be coincident with the code drop date of the selected pre-established software release cycle; operating the milestone scheduler to schedule a start date of the software development project to be on a date proximately subsequent to completion of the planning phase of the software development project; and operating the milestone scheduler component, with the code drop date of the software development project set by the selected pre-established software release cycle and the start date of the software development project scheduled, to schedule each of a plurality of additional project milestones that delimit phases of the software development project based on a phase duration schedule that defines the duration of each of the phases of the software development project as a percentage of total project duration of the software development project, wherein the phase duration schedule is derived from averages calculated from data collected from completed projects, and wherein the phases of the software development project are selected from the group consisting of requirements analysis, design, development, test, deployment, and warranty.