Task manager and task support windows

The Task Manager Window is a computer software component used in real-time telecommunications network monitoring and maintenance. The Task Manager Window organizes and presents to a network operator, a user of a decision support system, task packages corresponding to events of possible concern in a telecommunications network. These task packages organize, contain and allow access to all information relevant to resolution of a particular network problem.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The disclosed invention relates generally to a computer system having a 
windowing environment for control and monitoring of operational tasks, and 
more particularly to a computer system for control and monitoring of 
operational tasks which consist of a grouping of individual events in a 
telecommunications environment wherein a network operator, responsible for 
controlling the network, may configure and manipulate the tasks rather 
than the underlying individual information. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The current public switched telephone network employs thousands of 
switches, multiplexors, and other telecommunications devices that must 
work in concert in order to provide for the connection and completion of 
the ordinary telephone call. Many of these devices provide for status 
information which is sent back over the network to control centers 
regarding the health of the network. 
Different methods have been utilized in the past to present information 
from telecommunications network equipment to a network operator who is 
responsible for monitoring and controlling the operation of that 
equipment. The most common of these methods used computers that provide 
information to the network operator, responsible for controlling the 
network, in a simple text-based presentation of the equipment activity as 
provided by the equipment manufacturer. The presentations are typically 
chronological reports of equipment activity which may not be relevant to 
the network operators needs. Moreover, a network operator is unable to 
tailor the presentation to address new needs corresponding to a changed 
operational environment. 
Further, historical information is not available in concert with real-time 
information, and in some systems historical information is not available 
at all. 
In another approach, telecommunication network maintenance and monitoring 
is addressed with the use of a computer support system, typically using 
computer displays called "awareness screens" or "alarm monitors." The 
computer support system extracts information available from the 
telecommunications equipment and delivers it to a network operator on a 
computer display. However, these displays are inflexible, in -that a 
network operator cannot tailor the display for the assessment of the 
current problem. Again, historical and real-time information is not 
combined. 
This inflexibility presents difficulties for the network operator in that 
he has to look for information about events in different locations and 
manually, perhaps on paper, combine the different information in order to 
understand the complete picture. 
Additionally, there are currently no existing techniques for providing 
telecommunication operators or network operators with the ability to group 
certain information regarding the status of the telecommunications network 
into packages called tasks and provide for a common location for retrieval 
and viewing on a computer display. The information must be grouped 
according to its relevancy to the problem at hand, and may change 
dynamically over time. 
What is desirable is single, common presentation of all pertinent 
information, whether real-time or historical, for dynamically controlling 
a telecommunications operating environment that dynamically allows a 
network operator to group or combine relevant information in a task 
package and manipulate that package as a whole rather than the underlying 
information. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a primary of this invention to obviate the above noted 
and other disadvantages of the prior art. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel means of 
grouping relevant information about the status of a telecommunications 
network into task packages while displaying the task information in a 
highly ergonomic fashion. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide for a means of 
selectively tailoring diverse information for grouping into task packages 
for presentation on a computer display. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide for a means of 
selecting and grouping both historical and real-time information into task 
packages for presentation on a computer display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In one aspect of the invention, the Task Manager Window allows the 
presentation of information relating to the operation of a 
telecommunications network in a task-based fashion. Tasks group together 
information into a single structure for easier access. Further, the 
network operator can access all information that is associated with a task 
from a single display window. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the Task Support Window allows for 
the manipulation of tasks consisting of individual events of information 
and provides a way of working with several pieces of information 
simultaneously rather than single pieces of information in a sequential 
fashion. Advantageously, network operators can access all the information 
associated with a task at the same time, thus limiting the effort required 
to locate information relevant to their current activities. Network 
operators do not need to tediously search for all the bits and pieces of 
information that need to be processed to solve a particular problem. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is embodied as a computer program running on a 
conventional computer system. This computer system includes a processing 
unit, internal memory for storing instructions to be executed by the 
processing unit, external memory for storing the computer program of the 
invention and informational data, and a computer display for presenting 
the computer screens of the instant invention. The computer system further 
comprises a telecommunications capability for communicating with external 
telecommunications devices such as telephone switches, multiplexes, and 
the like. As will become apparent in the following description, 
information from these telecommunications devices is processed by the 
computer program of the instant invention in order to present information 
for monitoring and controlling these devices. 
One of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand how to create the 
computer program of the invention from the description herein. 
The Functionally of the Task Manger window is explained below with 
reference to FIG. 1. 
The portion of the Task Manager window indicated by numeral 102 corresponds 
to the Title Bar of the Task Manger Window. The Title Bar indicates: 
1. This is the Task Manger Window 
2. The identity of the network operator operating the Window 
Menu bar 104 allows a network operator to select the File, Edit, View and 
Options operations. Each of these menus is described below. 
The file menu, shown in FIG. 2, illustrates that the network operator can 
open or close a particular Task Manager Window. With the Edit menu, shown 
in FIG. 3, a network operator can open the Task Manager Window Editor, 
which is a separate software component used to edit the content of the 
Task Manager Window. The View menu as shown in FIG. 4. allows network 
operators to decide whether certain items are to be displayed in the Task 
Manager window, and can sort the contents of the Task Manager Window. 
After selecting the Show option in the View Menu, a second, cascading menu 
appears to the right of the arrow, as shown in FIG. 5. Through the use of 
a pointing device, a network operator can click on the options in the 
cascading portion of the menu (i.e., Icons and Labels). When the network 
operator clicks on the options, a box to the left of the option appears 
and disappears. When the box is present, the option is "turned on" in the 
Task Manager Window. When the box is not present, the option is turned off 
in the Task Manager Window. 
A second View Menu is the Sort by menu option, shown in FIG. 6. Selecting 
the Sort by menu option, a second, cascading menu appears showing the 
characteristics of the information on which the tasks can be sorted in the 
Task Manager Window. Tasks in the Task Manager Window can be sorted 
according to one of the three following criteria. First, tasks can be 
sorted according to a severity level which is indicated by the color of 
the icon representing each task of the Task Manager Window, as is further 
described below. Further, tasks can be sorted according to the time in 
which they became apparent as tasks by the underlying support system. 
Tasks can also be sorted by the task type. 
The Options menu offers the following functionality as depicted in FIG. 7. 
The Set Automation menu option in the Options menu allows network 
operators to choose what tasks will be assigned to automated processes and 
what tasks will be assigned to network operators for intervention. The Set 
Label menu option in the Options menu allows network operators to choose a 
label to depict a task displayed in the Task Manager Window. The concept 
of a label is described below. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the client area 106 of the Task Manager Window 
represents through icons the status of current tasks that are being 
managed. The following status areas are provided for: 
1. The New Task area; 
2. The Acknowledged Tasks area; and 
3. The Monitor area. 
The New Task 108 portion of the Task Manager Window shows the icons 
representing tasks identified by the system, which have not yet been 
reviewed, or acknowledged, by the network operator. The Acknowledged Task 
112 portion of the Task Manager Window shows the icons representing tasks 
identified by the system or by the network operator which have been 
reviewed, or acknowledged, by the network operator. 
The Monitor Task 110 portion of the Task Manager Window shows the icon 
representing a unique task named the Monitor Task. The Monitor Task shows 
all of the information required by the network operator to maintain an 
overview of the network. 
Task icons 114 are now described. The task icon 114 is the visual 
representation of an information package that comprises the relevant 
information, analyses and evaluations for a particular type of task. The 
task icon 114 is comprised of four main components as shown in FIG. 8: 
1. The icon background; 
2. The task symbol; 
3. The task icon label; and 
4. The task icon status bar. 
Each task icon 114 is configured with the task symbol 122 superimposed over 
the task icon background 120, and has a label 124 directly beneath the 
background with the status bar 126 to the right. A task icon has an 
associated background color which is associated with the severity level 
assigned to the task. The same color is associated with that task as long 
as that task appears in the task window and retains the same severity 
level. Further, the same color is associated with all subsequent windows 
that appear on the screen as associated with that task. 
The task symbol 122 is utilized to represent the task type. The task 
symbols as used in FIG. 1 are exemplary of any symbol which may be used to 
indicate tasks of a specific type. However, the tasks, and hence the 
symbols, are specific to the network that is monitored. 
The task icon label 124 is a text representation of the task type. The task 
icon label indicates any or all of the following fields: 
1. Task type; 
2. Task severity level; 
3. Task status; 
4. Task time; 
5. Task shared status indicating whether the task is shared with another 
network operator or with an automated system;, and 
6. Task responsibility indicating whether the task has been assigned to an 
automated system. 
These options are depicted in FIG. 8, and explained below. 
Task Type is the name associated with a particular type of task. Names are 
defined by the types of tasks identified during a system configuration 
process. Task Severity Level indicates the impact this task has or will 
have on the network. There are three severity classifications, minor, 
major and critical. Task Status reveals current state of the task. A task 
can be either not acknowledged or acknowledged. A situation assessment, or 
diagnosis, may be made, an action may be taken and the outcome of an 
action may be evaluated. 
Task Time indicates the time the task was posted to the Task Manager 
Window. Task Shared Status represents whether the task has been shared 
with another network operator, a supervisor, or an automated system, and 
provides a list of the I.D.'s of the other network operators or 
supervisors with whom the task is shared. Task Responsibility shows the 
entity with primary responsibility for resolving this task. Primary 
responsibility may reside with the network operator who first owned the 
task, another network operator with whom the task was shared or an 
automated system. The I.D. of the network operator or supervisor with 
primary responsibility for the task is shown. 
The task icon status bar which indicates the current status of the task in 
terms of progress toward resolution. There are five possible status 
levels: 
1. not acknowledged; 
2. acknowledged; 
3. a situation assessment is or was being made; 
4. a decision to take an action was or is being made; and 
5. the outcome of an action is being or was evaluated. 
Status bar 128 shows the "not acknowledged" status level displayed in the 
task icon status bar. The question mark in the lowest box indicates that 
the task has been acknowledged by either the network operator or any 
automated system. It is important to note, that the box represents 
acknowledgment by either an automated system or the network operator. 
However, until the network operator reviews the task information package, 
the task remains in the New Task portion of the client area. In another 
representative status bar 130 the "Situation Assessment" status level is 
shown. When in the New Task portion of the client area, the SA symbol 
indicates that an automated system is assessing or has assessed the 
current situation related to that task. 
Status bar 132 shows the "Choice of Action(s)" level displayed in the task 
icon status bar. When in the New Task 108 portion of the client area 106, 
the CA symbol indicates that an automated system is choosing or has chosen 
an action to take related to that task. Status bar 134 shows the 
"Evaluation of Outcome" status level displayed in the task icon bar. When 
in the New Task 108 portion of the client area 106, the EO symbol 
indicates that an automated system is evaluating or has evaluated the 
outcome of a chosen action as related to that task. Status bar 136 shows 
the "Situation Assessment" status level displayed in the task icon status 
bar with a task that has been acknowledged or reviewed by the network 
operator. When in the Acknowledged Task portion of the client area, the SA 
symbol indicates that an automated system or a network operator is 
assessing or has assessed the current situation related to that task. 
Status bar 138 shows the "Choice of Action(s)" status level in the task 
icon status bar associated with a task that has been acknowledged or 
reviewed by the network operator. When in the Acknowledged Task portion of 
the client area, the CA symbol indicates that a network operator or an 
automated system is choosing or has chosen an action to take related to 
that task. Finally, Status bar 140 shows the "Evaluation of Outcome" 
status level displayed in the task icon status bar when the task has been 
acknowledged or reviewed by the network operator. When in the Acknowledged 
Task portion of the client area, the EO symbol indicates that a network 
operator or an automated system is choosing or has chosen an action to 
take related to that task. 
While the task manager has been described in relation to the control and 
operation of a telecommunications network, the concepts and principles 
described are applicable to many other operations where there is a need to 
support an computer operator or network operator in a task-based fashion. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the Task Support Manager is now 
described with reference to FIG. 9. 
The Title Bar of the Task Support Window is shown as 902. The Title Bar 902 
indicates that the Task Support Window is operating on the behalf of "Task 
X," a specific task type. 
There are four sub menus 904 in the Menu Bar: File, Edit, View, and 
Options. The functionality provided by each menu option is novel in the 
context of the Task Support Window. Each of these menus is described 
below. 
The file menu, shown in FIG. 11 offers five primary functions for the 
network operator. The network operator may clear the current task, 
indicating that the network operator no longer requires the information 
package associated with this task to appear on the screen. The current 
information package associated with the task represented by this Task 
Support Window can be saved as a report with the current task type name. 
Optionally, the report can be saved providing a name for the report. The 
report may be printed, and lastly the task can be closed providing that 
the entire information package associated with this task, including the 
Task Support Window, will be stored and shown as an icon elsewhere on the 
screen. 
The Edit menu, shown in FIG. 11, allows the network operator to open the 
Task Support Window Editor, which is used to edit the content of the Task 
Support Window. The Task Support Window Editor is not described here. With 
the View menu a network operator can choose the display of the Task 
Support Window in a horizontal or a vertical orientation. 
Referring to FIG. 12, the Options menu provides the following 
functionality. The Set Defaults . . . option in the Options menu allows an 
operator to set the default window settings for individual windows 
contained in the Task Support Window. Additionally, the Set View Formats . 
. . menu option in the Options menu allows network operators to choose how 
information will be presented within the confines of the Task Support 
Window. 
The client area 906 of the Task Support Window is divided into three main 
partitions corresponding to Situation Assessment 908, Choice of Actions 
910, and Impact Assessment 912. Each of these three main partitions is 
further divided into three sub-partitions corresponding to Evaluation 914, 
Analysis 916, and Information 918. The client area retains the background 
color of the task for which services are provided. 
At 920, 922, and 924 the title bar for the Situation Assessment partition, 
the Choice of Actions partition, and the the Impact Assessment partition 
are respectively shown. The color of the window may indicate whether the 
window is currently opened. Through the use of a pointing device, a 
network operator can click on these title bars and consequently open or 
close the partitions. 
The window for Situation Assessment partition is shown at 908. The window 
contains an information package necessary to support the network 
operator's situation assessment activities for the current task. 
Additionally, information may be accessed through one of three 
sub-partitions, Evaluation 914, Analysis 916, and Information 918. All of 
the three primary partitions support these three sub-partitions. 
At 914 the Evaluation sub partition is shown. From this sub-partition, 
underlying support systems provide evaluations of the information 
collected from the network, and specify possible explanations of the 
problems encountered. The most likely problem cause appears at the top 
with additional problem causes appearing in descending order of 
probability. A scroll bar 926 appears to the right side of the box and 
allows the network operator to scroll through the window. Additionally, 
the network operator may open an additional window 928 allowing the 
network operator to "Browse" through all of the potential problems causes 
which may be related to the current task but are not listed in the 
evaluation window. 
The Analysis 916 sub partition is now described. From this sub-partition, 
underlying support systems provide an analyses of the information 
collected from the network elements. Three types of analysis support are 
provided: 
1. Reasoning 
2. Function 
3. Description 
The Reasoning 930 functionality opens a window that provides an analysis 
for the explanations provided above in the Explanation window. The 
Function 932 option opens a window that provides an analysis of the 
collected information from the network in terms of the function of the 
presumably faulty network component related to this task. The Description 
934 option offers a description of the information relevant to this task. 
From the Information 918 sub-partition, a network operator can open 
assorted views 936 to examine the information package associated with this 
task. The name of each view appears in the box. If there are more views 
than will fit in the box, a scroll bar appears to the right side of the 
box and allows the network operator to scroll through the window. The 
"Other Views" 938 heading indicates that the content of the box below it 
contains a list of views that the network operator can access, but are not 
necessarily related to the task represented in the Task Support Window. 
The network operator may wish to see these views in the context of the 
current task. Again the name of each view appears in the box. If there are 
more views than will fit in the box, a scroll bar appears to the right 
side of the box and allows the network operator to scroll through the 
window. The Choice of Actions window 910 is now described. 
The Choice of Actions partition 910 provides information necessary to 
support the network operator's selection of an action to remedy the 
situation identified in the Situation Assessment partition 908 for the 
current task. Similar to the Situation Assessment partition, information 
pertinent to the choice of an appropriate action 940 may be accessed 
through one of three sub-partitions, When a partition is closed, as shown, 
none of its sub-partitions are visible. However, a summary of the activity 
that has taken place within that sub-partition is visible. 
If, there was some activity within a closed partition, and some "Info 
Views" or "Other Views" were opened, then the "Show Views" push button 
appears to the right of the activity summary. The "Show Views" push button 
allows the network operator to reopen all of the views that were opened 
when that partition was opened, without having to reopen that entire 
partition. 
The Impact Assessment partition 912 is now described. This partition 
contains information to support the network operator's evaluation of an 
action taken in response to the situation identified in the Situation 
Assessment partition 908. As in the Situation Assessment 908 and Choice of 
Action partition 910, information pertinent to the evaluation of the 
outcome of an action may be accessed through one of three sub-partitions, 
Evaluation, Analysis, and Information. 
When a partition is closed none of its sub-partitions are visible. However, 
a summary of the activity that has taken place within that sub partition 
is visible. The case of no activity having occurred is indicated the 
phrase "No Impact" 944. If, there was some activity within a closed 
partition, and "Info Views" or "Other Views" were opened, then the "Show 
Views" option 946 appears to the right of the activity summary. The "Show 
views" option allows the network operator to reopen all of the views that 
were opened when that partition was opened without having to reopen that 
entire partition. 
While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the 
preferred embodiment of the invention it will be obvious to those skilled 
in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein 
without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.