Patent ID: 7493591

Claim:
A computerized method in a data processing system including a user input device, a secondary storage device for storing edited versions of a workflow or plan including edits, and a display device in communication with a computer having a memory and a processor executing a workflow modeling and project planning integration software tool that includes software instructions for retrieving and displaying an animation of graphical representations of versions of the workflow or plan, the method comprising the steps of: copying the graphical representations of versions of the workflow or plan from the secondary storage device to the computer memory; receiving via the user input device an indication to navigate forwardly or backwardly through the computer memory to display the graphical representations of versions of the workflow or plan; receiving an indication of a rate of display; setting a time period equal to a reciprocal of the rate; determining the direction of the indication to navigate via the processor; and displaying via the display device, the graphical representations of versions of the workflow or plan from an earlier version, forward in time through newer versions if it is determined the direction of the indication to navigate is forward: removing the edits from the plan, displaying the plan, and for each of the edits, applying the edit to the plan, displaying the plan, pausing for the time period, determining whether to adjust the rate of display, and when it is determined that the rate of display will be adjusted, receiving an indication of a new rate of display, and setting the time period equal to a reciprocal of the new rate; else displaying via the display device, the graphical representations of versions of the workflow or plan from a later version, backward in time through older versions if it is determined the direction of the indication to navigate is backward: displaying the plan, and for each of the edits, removing the edit from the plan, displaying the plan, pausing for the time period, determining whether to adjust the rate of display, and when it is determined that the rate of display will be adjusted, receiving an indication of the new rate of display, and setting the time period equal to the reciprocal of the new rate.