Abstract: A service for pricing items of inventory contained in a searchable database is available for access via the Internet. Where multiple items can satisfy a consumer's request, it is typical for a service to perform an inventory search for items that match a consumer's request. When the inventory is stored in an inventory database, the inventory database is queried for the purpose of retrieving a result set which matches the consumer's request. A separate fare server database containing inventory recently known to be available, located local to the Internet server for fast and efficient access, can also be provided for performing searches related to the consumer's request. Some inventory, even though recently known to have been available, is filtered out before being stored in the fare server database and inventory is removed when outdated, no longer available or purchased.

Abstract: A service for pricing items of inventory contained in a searchable database is available for access via the Internet. Where multiple items can satisfy a consumer's request, it is typical for a service to perform an inventory search for items that match a consumer's request. When the inventory is stored in an inventory database, the inventory database is queried for the purpose of retrieving a result set which matches the consumer's request. A separate fare server database containing inventory recently known to be available, located local to the Internet server for fast and efficient access, can also be provided for performing searches related to the consumer's request. Some inventory, even though recently known to have been available, is filtered out before being stored in the fare server database and inventory is removed when outdated, no longer available or purchased.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility to improve the management of project schedules containing prioritized tasks. The project management facility allows a user to create one or more work packages by selecting tasks from one or more existing projects. Each work package is a collection of tasks that are to be executed out of order from the project or projects from which the tasks were selected. At the same time, the facility maintains the prioritization of the tasks in the original project or projects from which the tasks were selected. When tasks are added to a work package, the facility recalculates the work package schedule and any impacted project schedules to reflect the re-prioritization of the task. In some embodiments, the facility generates a link between each task that is contained in a work package and the project from which the task was selected.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility to improve the management of project schedules containing prioritized tasks. The project management facility allows a user to create one or more work packages by selecting tasks from one or more existing projects. Each work package is a collection of tasks that are to be executed out of order from the project or projects from which the tasks were selected. At the same time, the facility maintains the prioritization of the tasks in the original project or projects from which the tasks were selected. When tasks are added to a work package, the facility recalculates the work package schedule and any impacted project schedules to reflect the re-prioritization of the task. In some embodiments, the facility generates a link between each task that is contained in a work package and the project from which the task was selected.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility for managing project schedules having inherent uncertainty. The facility allows users to create hierarchical data structures to model projects and other collective efforts. The hierarchical data structures contain work items that can represent tasks, collections of tasks and collections of collections and tasks. Each work item can have associated with it an estimate provided by a user, such as a ranged estimate of the amount of work remaining before the work item is completed. Based at least in part on the provided estimate, the facility can calculate expected start and finish dates for each work item. By calculating expected start and finish dates for all or most of the work items in a project, the facility is able to calculate an expected end date for the entire project. By basing the calculation on ranged estimates, the facility can account for the uncertainty inherent in projects.

Abstract: A software and/or hardware facility for graphically displaying schedule uncertainty inherent in projects. In some embodiments, the facility generates uncertainty bars for display to users that express the uncertainty inherent in work items, such as projects and/or tasks. An uncertainty bar can visually indicate the work item's earliest start date, earliest expected finish date, expected finish date, latest expected finish date and latest finish date, as calculated by the facility. For a project that has multiple component tasks, the facility can generate an uncertainty bar for each component task. The facility can also generate an uncertainty bar for the entire project. In some embodiments, the facility generates graphs that display the history of uncertainty for work items.