Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments for providing management of activities of a project plan associated with a computer application are described. In one embodiment, a calendar view of an activity is edited to change a number of calendar time units over which the activity is to be performed. In response to updating the calendar view of the activity, resource data structures are updated for multiple resources assigned to the activity. The resource data structures are updated to reflect the change in the number of calendar time units for each assigned resource. For each assigned resource, the number of calendar time units corresponds to a period of time for which the resource is assigned to the activity.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments are disclosed that are configured to automatically complete the generation of task structures in a project plan. In one embodiment, user data is generated by monitoring interactions of a user with a computer user interface when forming a task structure in a project plan. The user data is compared to learned behavior data. The learned behavior data represents reusable patterns derived from information associated with user creation of previous task structures. If, based on the comparison, the user data matches a reusable pattern of the learned behavior data, a prompt is displayed to the user indicating an option to accept or reject automated completion of the task structure. In response to receiving an acceptance from the user, the forming of the task structure is automatically completed in the project plan based on the matching reusable pattern.

Abstract: A system is provided that visualizes soft constraints among tasks. The system displays a chart within a user interface, where the chart includes a timeline including one or more time units. The system further displays task indicators that correspond to tasks within the timeline of the chart. The system further determines a soft constraint among a first task and a second task of the tasks. The system further displays a soft connector that corresponds to the soft constraint within the timeline of the chart, where the soft connector connects a first task indicator that corresponds to the first task with a second task indicator that corresponds to the second task.

Abstract: A resource staffing manager is provided that manages resource staffing of project teams. A resource demand profile is provided including requirements for roles to be staffed for a project team and an allocated budget for staffing the project team. Based on the resource demand profile, the manager displays a project level graphical user interface that includes a pie chart and a donut chart. The pie chart includes a slice for each of the roles and the donut chart indicates the amount of the allocated budget remaining. Upon selection of a resource to be staffed to one of the roles, the manager updates the slice of the pie chart corresponding to the role to graphically indicate that the selected resource has been selected to be staffed to that role. Based on the selection of the resource, the manager updates the donut chart to indicate the amount of the allocated budget remaining.

Abstract: Content such as a customized advertisement or message may be presented to a user at a pickup location. The content may be presented utilizing an audiovisual or other device of the pickup location, or on a user's mobile device when the user arrives at the pickup location. An advertisement that is presented to the user may be selected based on factors such as past purchases made by the user, a current item in an order or an item available for purchase in a store that is near the pickup location. A message that is presented to the user may be from a gift purchaser who ordered an item for the user, a manufacturer or vendor of an item, or the user with a reminder for a task that is to be performed when the user is at the pickup location.

Abstract: A system is provided that visualizes an allocation of resources. The system displays a chart, where the chart includes a list of tasks and a timeline including time units. The system further displays task indicators within the timeline of the chart, where a task indicator includes task indicator segments, and where an area of a task indicator segment is proportional to a work scope of a resource allocated to a corresponding task. The system further receives a user interaction that includes a movement of the task indicator segment from a first task indicator that corresponds to a first task to a second task indicator that corresponds to a second task. The system further allocates the resource from the first task to the second task. The system further modifies the display of at least one task indicator within the timeline of the chart based on the allocation of the resource.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments are disclosed that are configured to automatically complete the generation of task structures in a project plan. In one embodiment, user data is generated by monitoring interactions of a user with a computer user interface when forming a task structure in a project plan. The user data is compared to learned behavior data. The learned behavior data represents reusable patterns derived from information associated with user creation of previous task structures. If, based on the comparison, the user data matches a reusable pattern of the learned behavior data, a prompt is displayed to the user indicating an option to accept or reject automated completion of the task structure. In response to receiving an acceptance from the user, the forming of the task structure is automatically completed in the project plan based on the matching reusable pattern.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments for providing management of activities of a project plan associated with a computer application are described. In one embodiment, a calendar view of an activity is edited to change a number of calendar time units over which the activity is to be performed. In response to updating the calendar view of the activity, resource data structures are updated for multiple resources assigned to the activity. The resource data structures are updated to reflect the change in the number of calendar time units for each assigned resource. For each assigned resource, the number of calendar time units corresponds to a period of time for which the resource is assigned to the activity.

Abstract: A resource staffing manager is provided that manages resource staffing of project teams. Requirements for one or more positions to be staffed for a project team and a budget for staffing the project team are received. For each position, eligible resources that meet the requirements of the position are selected. Based on a selected optimization method, optimal resource assignments for the project team are determined such that the optimal resource assignments include, for each position, a resource assignment of one of the corresponding eligible resources to the position. A GUI is displayed that includes the positions, the optimal resource assignments, and the eligible resources. Modified requirements for a position can be received, and, in response, the eligible resources are updated, updated optimal resource assignments are determined based on the updated eligible resources, and the GUI is updated to reflect the modified position requirements and display the updated optimal resource assignments.

Abstract: An unplanned leave manager is provided that predicts the impact of unplanned leaves on a project. Historical unplanned leave data corresponding to one or more project team members is provided. The manager determines, for each of the project team members, a mean time between unplanned leaves and a rate of unplanned leaves based on the member's corresponding historical unplanned leave data. The manager predicts a cost impact of future unplanned leaves of the project team members, based on at least one of: the mean time between unplanned leaves; and the rate of unplanned leave. The manager selects one or more of the project team members based, at least in part, on at least one of: the determined mean time between unplanned leaves; the determined rate of unplanned leaves; or the predicted cost impact. The manager then staffs the project with the selected members.

Abstract: A system is provided that visualizes soft constraints among tasks. The system displays a chart within a user interface, where the chart includes a timeline including one or more time units. The system further displays task indicators that correspond to tasks within the timeline of the chart. The system further determines a soft constraint among a first task and a second task of the tasks. The system further displays a soft connector that corresponds to the soft constraint within the timeline of the chart, where the soft connector connects a first task indicator that corresponds to the first task with a second task indicator that corresponds to the second task.

Abstract: A resource staffing manager is provided that manages resource staffing of project teams. A resource demand profile is provided including requirements for roles to be staffed for a project team and an allocated budget for staffing the project team. Based on the resource demand profile, the manager displays a project level graphical user interface that includes a pie chart and a donut chart. The pie chart includes a slice for each of the roles and the donut chart indicates the amount of the allocated budget remaining. Upon selection of a resource to be staffed to one of the roles, the manager updates the slice of the pie chart corresponding to the role to graphically indicate that the selected resource has been selected to be staffed to that role. Based on the selection of the resource, the manager updates the donut chart to indicate the amount of the allocated budget remaining.

Abstract: A project team creator is provided that recommends project teams. The project team creator provides a project demand profile and generates a plurality of suggested project teams, the generating including building a graph of each of the plurality of suggested project teams. The project team creator determines a compatibility metric for each of the plurality of suggested project teams and determines a ranking of each of the plurality of suggested project teams based on the corresponding compatibility metric. The project team creator then outputs the ranking of each of the plurality of suggested project teams and the graph of each of the plurality of suggested project teams.

Abstract: A system is provided that visualizes an allocation of resources. The system displays a chart, where the chart includes a list of tasks and a timeline including time units. The system further displays task indicators within the timeline of the chart, where a task indicator includes task indicator segments, and where an area of a task indicator segment is proportional to a work scope of a resource allocated to a corresponding task. The system further receives a user interaction that includes a movement of the task indicator segment from a first task indicator that corresponds to a first task to a second task indicator that corresponds to a second task. The system further allocates the resource from the first task to the second task. The system further modifies the display of at least one task indicator within the timeline of the chart based on the allocation of the resource.

Abstract: New methods for improving thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride based materials are described. Constrained deformation, such as by canned/sandwich, or encapsulated, rolling and plane strain channel die compression, particularly at temperatures above 80% of the melting point of the material on an absolute temperature scale, changes the crystallographic texture and grain size to desirably increase the values of both the thermoelectric power factor and the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT for the material.

Abstract: A portable telecommunications system (PTS) allows mobility and rapid deployment with minimal on-site configuration. PTS systems exchange multicast packets including location and identification information. A protocol manager sets up these communications channels, manages exchanges between PTS systems, and passes the data to or from internal system nodes. The PTS system detects when another PTS system is operating in close physical proximity and automatically perform actions, such as adjustment of transmission power level, to maintain service to the user base.

Abstract: A portable telecommunications system (PTS), and discovery and update protocol provides an ad-hoc system in which PTS systems can detect one another over a wide area network (WAN). The system may be compact in a way that allows mobility and rapid deployment with minimal on-site configuration. PTS systems exchange multicast packets and peer-to-peer data exchanges. A protocol manager sets up these communications channels, manages exchanges between PTS systems, and passes the data to or from internal system nodes. The protocol manager also performs key oversight functions such as signaling to other systems that a PTS is joining or leaving the community, keeping track of which other PTS systems are in the community and active, and determining when data needs to be updated and exchanged.

Abstract: A portable telecommunications system (PTS), and discovery and update protocol provides an ad-hoc system in which PTS systems can detect one another over a wide area network (WAN). The system may be compact in a way that allows mobility and rapid deployment with minimal on-site configuration. PTS systems exchange multicast packets and peer-to-peer data exchanges. A protocol manager sets up these communications channels, manages exchanges between PTS systems, and passes the data to or from internal system nodes. The protocol manager also performs key oversight functions such as signaling to other systems that a PTS is joining or leaving the community, keeping track of which other PTS systems are in the community and active, and determining when data needs to be updated and exchanged.

Abstract: A portable telecommunications system (PTS) allows mobility and rapid deployment with minimal on-site configuration. PTS systems exchange multicast packets including location and identification information. A protocol manager sets up these communications channels, manages exchanges between PTS systems, and passes the data to or from internal system nodes. The PTS system detects when another PTS system is operating in close physical proximity and automatically perform actions, such as adjustment of transmission power level, to maintain service to the user base.

Abstract: A method of processing a billet of metallic material in a continuous manner to produce severe plastic deformation. The billet is moved through a series of CSPD dies in one operation to efficiently produce a billet characterized by a controlled grain structure. The long billets of metal stock are moved along the processing path through the CSPD dies with plural sets of pinch rolls which grip the billet and push it into the entry channel of the dies. Other sets of pinch rolls pull the billet from the exit channel of the dies.