WO2015106768A1

WO2015106768A1 - A method of displaying tasks in a timesheet

Info

Publication number: WO2015106768A1
Application number: PCT/DK2015/050013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Svend Vitting Andersen; Anders SPAABÆK
Original assignee: Pallas Care Aps
Priority date: 2014-01-20
Filing date: 2015-01-20
Publication date: 2015-07-23
Also published as: DK201470025A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of displaying tasks on a display screen and a task display system for displaying task on a display screen, wherein a time interval is illustrated as a time line, and a time indicator moving along the time interval indicates the current time, and wherein a task is illustrated as a graphical object on the time line, and wherein said task is indicated and pushed in front of the time indicator, until the task is selected. Thereby, it is easy to obtain an overview of tasks to be performed, and even overdue tasks will not disappear on the time line.

Description

A method of displaying tasks in a timesheet

The invention relates to a method of displaying tasks on a display screen and a computer program with software code adapted to perform the method

Background of the invention

When planning and performing tasks, it is essential to have an overview of tasks to be performed and thereby prioritising these tasks according to urgency.

One example of this is in connection with treatments of patients in a hospital, where specific tasks have to be performed on several patients and in the right order by the hospital staff. This could e.g. be because of patient specific treatment programs, where the order of tasks/treatments on a patient is crucial, and when treatments on specific patients have to be performed within a specific time frame.

Therefore, staff at a hospital performing these tasks has to be able to split these tasks between them and further be able to continuously keep an overview of which tasks that needs to be performed.

Further, it is important that all staff always has an overview of which tasks that need to be performed and which tasks that are more urgent than others.

A known method of handling tasks and establishing an overview of tasks to be performed is to graphically present a time line, e.g. on a computer screen. Tasks are then graphically indicated along the time line e.g. at the time position along the time line, where the task should ideally be started.

A problem with this is that due to limited space on a computer screen only a limited time interval is present at the screen, and in order to see if there are any overdue tasks needing to be performed, it is necessary to scroll backwards to identify such overdue tasks. It is therefore a risk that tasks are missed, or at least it is quite time-consuming and processor-requiring to ensure that all the staff has an overview of tasks needing to be performed, whereby no task is missed. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solution overcoming at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art or providing at least a useful alternative.

Summary of the present invention

The object of the present invention is solved by a method of displaying tasks on a display screen, wherein a time interval is illustrated as a time line, and a time indicator moving along the time interval indicates the current time, and wherein a task is illustrated as a graphical object on the time line, and wherein said task is indicated and pushed in front of the time indicator, until the task is selected. Thereby, it is easy to obtain an overview of tasks to be performed, and even overdue tasks will not disappear on the time line.

In an embodiment, the urgency of selecting a task is graphically indicated on tasks which have not been selected. Thereby, users can prioritise the next tasks to select and per- form, where more urgent tasks should be chosen prior to less urgent tasks. The graphical indication could be by using the colours red (urgent), yellow (less urgent), green (not urgent), these colours are well-known indicators for most users.

In an embodiment, a selected task is marked with a visual marker indicating that it has been selected. Thereby, it is easy to see which tasks have been selected, even if the time line has not yet passed by the selected task.

In an embodiment, a selected task is marked with an identifier identifying who selected the task. Thereby, history is obtained and if different users can select tasks, then it can easily be identified who selected a task.

In an embodiment, the time indicator is illustrated as moving along the time interval by graphically moving the time indicator along the time line as time passes. This is one way to visualise time as passing.

In an embodiment, the time indicator is illustrated as moving along the time interval by changing the time interval of the time line as time passes. Thereby, the time indicator and all graphical objects illustrating tasks do not have to be constantly updated. The updating can be both processing-demanding as well as disturbing for the users trying to obtain an overview. In an embodiment, the graphical objects illustrating the tasks are bars, and the length of the bar indicates the complexity of the task. This is a further method of obtaining an overview and selecting tasks according to the available time of the user. In an embodiment, the tasks are tasks for treatment of patients, and where they are displayed in groups, each group relating to a patient. Thereby, an overview is provided, where tasks and tasks per patient can easily be seen.

Further, the invention relates to a computer program with software code adapted to per- form the method as described above.

The invention further relates to a task display system for displaying tasks on a display screen, said system comprising

- a display screen for displaying the time line, a time indicator, and tasks as graph- ical objects,

a time indicator unit for moving the time indicator along the time line on the display screen according to the actual time,

- a task selection unit for selecting a task,

- a task position unit for management of the position of tasks on the display, based on the selection of a task, task data and the actual time, wherein the task position unit is configured to push a task in front of the time indicator until the task is selected.

Description of the drawings

Below, the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment of the sealing profile according to the invention. The invention is explained in details below with reference to the drawings in which: Figs. 1 A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where the time indicator is moved along the time interval,

Figs. 2A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where the time indicator is kept at the same position, Figs. 3A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where an urgency indicator is used,

Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment, where tasks are grouped belonging to specific patients in a patient care system.

Fig. 5 illustrates units comprised in a task display system.

Description of embodiments

Figs. 1 A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where the time indicator moves along the time interval as time passes. The time line is illustrated by the arrow 101 , and the time indicator is the dotted vertical line 103. The time indicator indicates the current time e.g. Wednesday 2 May, 1 pm, and behind the time indicator is the past, whereas in front of the time indicator is the future. In this example, the elements are shown on a screen, where the time indicator 103 moves along the time line 101 as the time passes, and different time progress is illustrated by the three figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C. In the figures, four tasks are positioned on the task schedule to be performed. In Fig. 1 A, one task 105 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross 1 13. This task 105 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining tasks to be selected are 107, 109 and 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected.

In Fig. 1 B, a second task 107 has also been selected. This task 107 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining tasks to be selected are 109 and 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected.

In Fig. 1 C, a third task 109 has also been selected. This task 109 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining task to be selected is 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected. Figs. 2A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where the time indicator is kept at the same position. The time line is illustrated by the arrow 101 , and the time indicator is the dotted vertical line 103. The time indicator indicates the current time e.g. Wednesday 2 May, 1 pm, and behind the time indicator is the past, whereas in front of the time indicator is the future. In this example, the elements are shown on a screen, where the time indicator 103 is maintained at the same position, whereas the starting point and the end point of the time interval 101 change, thereby indicating a time indicator moving along a time line 101 as the time passes, and different time progress is illustrated by the three figures 2A, 2B and 2C. In the figures, four tasks are positioned on the task schedule to be performed.

In Fig. 2A, one task 105 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross 1 13. This task 105 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining tasks to be selected are 107, 109 and 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected.

In Fig. 2B, a second task 107 has also been selected. This task 107 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining tasks to be selected are 109 and 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected.

In Fig. 2C, a third task 109 has also been selected. This task 109 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. The remaining task to be selected is 1 1 1 which will be pushed in front of the time indicator 103 moving along the time line 101 until selected.

Figs. 3A - C illustrate an embodiment according to the present invention, where a urgency indicator is used. The time line is illustrated by the arrow 101 , and the time indi- cator is the dotted vertical line 103. The time indicator indicates the current time e.g. Wednesday 2 May, 1 pm, and behind the time indicator is the past, whereas in front of the time indicator is the future.

In this example, the elements are shown on a screen, where the time indicator 103 is maintained at the same position as was the case with the example illustrated in Figs. 2A - C, whereas the starting point and the end point of the time interval 101 change, thereby indicating a time indicator moving along a time line 101 as the time passes, and different time progress is illustrated by the three figures 3A, 3B and 3C. In the figures, four tasks are positioned on the task schedule to be performed. The tasks could change appearance based on urgency.

In Fig. 3A, one task 105 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross 1 13. This task 105 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. In the illustrated example in Fig. 3A, task 107 has one appearance, which is finely shaded, e.g. indicating that the task is overdue (a starting time attached to the task has been exceeded). Alternatively, the task could also be marked with a colour, e.g. red, indicating that the task is overdue and should be selected ASAP. Until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

Task 109 is shaded more roughly, e.g. indicating that the task is due or was due within a predefined time interval (a starting time attached to the task has been exceeded but only recently or the starting time is approaching). Alternatively, the task could also be marked with a colour, e.g. yellow, indicating that the task is due soon or was just due and should be selected. Until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

Task 1 1 1 is dotted, e.g. indicating that the task is not due soon and has not been due, and further indicating that the task has not yet been selected (a starting time attached to the task is not yet close to the current time). Alternatively, the task could also be marked with a colour, e.g. green, indicating that the task is not close to being due yet. Until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

In Fig. 3B, a second task 107, which was the overdue task, has also been selected. This task 107 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed, and further the urgency indicator is removed, whereby the task no longer needs focus. Time has passed since Fig. 3A and both tasks 109 and 1 1 1 are shaded more roughly, e.g. indicating that the tasks are due or was due within a predefined time interval (a starting time attached to the task has been exceeded but only recently, or the starting time is approaching). Alternatively the tasks could also be marked with a colour, e.g. yellow, indicating that the tasks are due soon or were just due and should be selected. Until the tasks have been selected, they will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

In Fig. 3C, the third task 109 has also been selected. This task 109 is therefore also no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed, and further the urgency indicator is removed, whereby the task no longer needs focus.

Time has passed since Fig. 3B, and task 1 1 1 is now finely shaded, e.g. indicating that the task is overdue (a starting time attached to the task has been exceeded). Alternatively, the task could also be marked with a colour, e.g. red, indicating that the task is overdue and should be selected ASAP. Until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen. Fig. 4 illustrates an embodiment, where tasks are grouped belonging to specific patients in a patient care system. The time line is illustrated by the arrow 101 , and the time indicator is the dotted vertical line 103. The time indicator indicates the current time e.g. Wednesday 2 May, 1 pm, and behind the time indicator is the past, whereas in front of the time indicator is the future. Further downwards perpendicular to the time line 101 , the display is divided in fields, each field relating to one patient, whereby tasks positioned in the specific field are tasks to be performed relating to the treatment of the specific patient.

In relation to patient 1 , one task 105 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross. This task 105 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. Task 107 is overdue, task 109 is due or was due within a predefined time interval, task 1 1 1 is not due soon. In relation to patient 2, one task 401 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross. This task 401 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. Task 409 is overdue, task 405 is due or was due within a predefined time interval, tasks 403, 407, 41 1 , 413 and 415 are not due soon. In relation to patient 3, one task 421 has been selected which is visually marked on the task bar with a cross. This task 421 is therefore no longer in front of the time indicator 103 and does therefore not appear as a task which has to be performed. Tasks 417 and 419 are not due soon. In relation to patient 4, task 423 is due or was due within a predefined time interval.

Examples have been given, where the due time or starting time of the task determines the visual marking of the task. In addition, treatment of some patients might be more critical than treatment of other patients and therefore, a patient category or similar could be determining the visual markings.

In the examples, tasks are positioned along the time line, and when a new task is added, details regarding the task are given, including when the task should be performed. In relation to treatment of patients, the treatment staff could just indicate a type of treatment, and then the tasks relating to that treatment are automatically inserted along the time line at the patient.

When selecting a task, it could be by using an input device such as a mouse to move a cursor above the task and then select the task by clicking and thereby indicating the selection, followed by performing the task represented by the task bar.

An example is given where tasks are indicated as bars along a time line and in one embodiment, the length of these bars could be a relative indication of the time needed to perform the task, where short bars indicate less time than long bars. The bar shape of the tasks is just an example, and the tasks could be presented along the time line having other shapes. The graphical symbols will then be pushed in front of the time indicator, until the task is selected.

Examples are given, where the front of the task bar is adjacent the time indicator. This indicates that all tasks can be started immediately. Often, tasks should not be performed immediately, and therefore they will be positioned at other positions along the time line depending on when they can be started.

In the following, an example will be given to describe this.

A task could be generated together with a time interval within which the task should be selected. A task could e.g. be defined as follows: Description text (task identifier), earliest beginning time (e.g. 12 pm on 3 May), latest ending time (e.g. 6 pm on 3 May) and task duration (e.g. 5 minutes).

The task example above will take 5 minutes to complete and must be performed between 12 pm and 6 pm. If the current time is 10 am, then this task would be displayed along the time line two hours in front of the time indicator as a task bar starting at 12 pm.

Further, the task could be white indicating that the task the time interval for selecting the task has not yet been entered.

When current time is 12 pm, the beginning of the task bar will be adjacent the time line, and the task could be marked with a colour, e.g. green, indicating that the task time interval for selecting and performing the task has been entered. Until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

If the current time is 5.40 pm, and the task has not yet been selected, then the task could be marked with a colour, e.g. yellow, indicating that the task is overdue soon. The time, at which the colour should change to yellow, could be calculated as task duration + a security margin, e.g. 5 min + 15 min. If the current time is 6 pm, and the task has not yet been selected, then the task could also be marked with a colour, e.g. red, indicating that the task is overdue and should be selected ASAP. During the whole period and until the task has been selected, it will be pushed in front of the time indicator and thereby be maintained on the screen.

In the above embodiment, the overall idea is to position tasks along the task line at a position according to earliest beginning time, and where the colour is changed to green, when the time interval for performing the task is entered, and changed to yellow and finally red based on how close current time is to the latest time for performing the task.

The described method of displaying tasks are performed based on a task display system comprising a display screen, a processing unit and memory means storing a computer program with instructions for the processing unit, and all the elements (time line, time indicator, tasks) are displayed based on these instructions. The time interval being displayed is e.g. changed as a function of time, the position of the tasks is e.g. displayed depending of time and/or depending on a selection of a time task. A task could be selected e.g. by a touch on a touch sensitive display screen, or a selection could be via an input device such as a mouse.

Figure 5 illustrates units comprised in a task display system, where sub processes of the processing unit and memory means 502 are illustrated split into units all handled via the processing unit and memory means 502 or integrated therein. The units comprise a time indicator unit 503, a task selection unit 505 and a task position unit 507. The time indicator unit 505 is for controlling the movement of the time indicator 103 along the time line 101 on the display screen according to the actual time. The task selection unit 505 is for selecting a task 105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 e.g. via input from a user based on a touch screen or a mouse. The task position unit 507 is for management of the position of tasks on the display based on either the selection of a task 105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 , task data and/or the actual time. Further, the task position unit 507 is configured to push a task in front of the time indicator, until the task is selected.

The processing unit and memory means 502 controls the operation of respective func- tional blocks 503, 505, 507 that are comprised in a task display system. The term '-unit' as used herein means, but is not limited to, a software or hardware component, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) which performs certain tasks. Advantageously, a unit may be configured to reside on the addressable storage medium and configured to execute on one or more processors. Thus, a unit may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided for in the components and units may be combined into fewer components and units such as one processing unit or further separated into additional components and units.

Claims

1 . A method of displaying tasks (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ) on a task display system, comprising a display screen, a time indicator unit (503), a task selection unit (505) and a task position unit (507), wherein a time interval is illustrated as a time line (101 ) on said display screen, and wherein said time indicator unit moves a time indicator (103) along the time interval for indicating the current time, and wherein a task (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ) is illustrated as a graphical object on the time line (101 ) by said task position unit, and wherein said task position unit indicates and pushes said task (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ) in front of the time indicator (103), until the task is selected via the task selection unit.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the urgency of selecting a task is graphically indicated on tasks which have not been selected.

3. A method according to claims 1 -2, wherein a selected task is marked with a visual marker (1 13) indicating that it has been selected.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a selected task is marked with an identifier identifying who selected the task.

5. A method according to claims 1 -4, wherein the time indicator (103) is illustrated as moving along the time interval by graphically moving the time indicator (103) along the time line (103) as time passes.

6. A method according to claims 1 -4, wherein the time indicator (103) is illustrated as moving along the time interval by changing the time interval of the time line (103) as time passes.

7. A method according to claims 1 -5, wherein the graphical objects illustrating the tasks are bars, and the length of the bar indicates the complexity of the task.

8. A method according to claims 1 -7, wherein the tasks are tasks for treatment of patients, and wherein they are displayed in groups each group relating to a patient.

9. A computer program with software code adapted to perform the method of any one of the claims 1 -8.

10. A task display system for displaying tasks (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ) on a display screen, said system comprising

- a display screen for displaying the time line (101 ), a time indicator (103), and tasks (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ) as graphical objects,

- a time indicator unit (503) for moving the time indicator (103) along the time line (101 ) on the display screen according to the actual time,

- a task selection unit (505) for selecting a task (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ),

- a task position unit (507) for management of the position of tasks on the display, based on the selection of a task (105, 107, 109, 1 1 1 ), task data and the actual time, wherein the task position unit is configured to push a task in front of the time indicator until the task is selected.