Abstract: A dispatch control system includes a data store with records of previously-attended geographical positions of a mobile unit indicating at least a duration of attendance. The dispatch control system is configured to calculate one or more stochastic characteristics for the durations of attendance representative of a variability of the durations of attendance at said past geographical positions, and generate data indicative of an order of attendance for the mobile unit based on travel and estimated durations of attendance. This data is re-ordered and volatility metrics for each set of modified data are determined. The set of volatility metrics is used to modify the data indicative of an order of attendance for the mobile unit. The dispatch control system is configured to transmit to the mobile unit data indicative of geographical positions corresponding to said modified generated data for use in generating routing instructions.

Abstract: Examples are described relating to control of a geographical position of a mobile unit in time. In one example, a dispatch control system is provided. The dispatch control system has a data store with records of previously-attended geographical positions. These records indicate at least a duration of attendance. The dispatch control system is arranged to calculate one or more stochastic characteristics for the durations of attendance based on the records stored in the data store, the one or more measured stochastic characteristics being representative of a variability of the durations of attendance at said past geographical positions. It is also arranged to generate data indicative of an order of attendance for a mobile unit based on travel and estimated durations of attendance. This data is re-ordered and volatility metrics for each set of modified data are determined. The set of volatility metrics is used to modify the data indicative of an order of attendance for a mobile unit.

Abstract: In a method for scheduling tasks for a mobile resource, task schedule data for a mobile resource is accessed. The task schedule data comprises a scheduled location of the mobile resource, and the task schedule data is planned before initiation of the task. The task schedule data and the real-time location data of the mobile resource are correlated. An alert is transmitted in real-time based on correlating the task schedule data and the real-time mobile resource location data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are concerned with allocating resources to tasks and have particular application to situations where the availability of resources and the tasks to be performed change dynamically and the resources are mobile. When dealing with a mobile resource such as a field technician, typically a series of tasks, known for example as a “tour” of tasks, is allocated to the resource. A known factor in scheduling tasks in a tour is travel time between tasks, and as a result the geographical position of the tasks can be a factor in building a tour. If a resource reports in and the scheduling system adjusts the provisional schedule, for example by adding one or more tasks to a tour, those tasks will be chosen at least in part with regard to the geographical location of the resource and that of existing tasks in the tour.

Abstract: A core for a multi-phase transformer includes a body made of two or more rings having a common central axis. Each ring consists of a strip of magnetic permeable material wound about the central axis. The body is provided with a plurality of radially disposed windows, each window being bound by opposed axially extending legs and opposed circumferentially extending branches. The branches of each window are provided in respective axially adjacent rings, so that the branches and legs of each window define a closed magnetic circuit of substantially uniform magnetic permeability through which magnetic flux can circulate about the windows.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a Cockcroft ring for producing a magnetic field having lines of flux extending in a first direction through an air gap. A disc capable of at least two-dimensional motion in a plane relative to the Cockcroft ring provides a plurality of conductive paths, each path having a segment that extends through the magnetic field in a second direction so that interaction with an electric current passing through a particular segment produces a thrust force acting on the disc via that segment. A multiphase toroid shaped transformer induces electric currents to flow in the conductive paths and thus through the corresponding segments. The direction and magnitude of the respective thrust forces and thus the motion of the disc relative to the Cockcroft ring can be controlled by varying the magnitude and/or phase relationship of the electric currents flowing through the segments.

Abstract: A core for a multi-phase transformer includes a body made of two or more rings having a common central axis. Each ring consists of a strip of magnetic permeable material wound about the central axis. The body is provided with a plurality of radially disposed windows, each window being bound by opposed axially extending legs and opposed circumferentially extending branches. The branches of each window are provided in respective axially adjacent rings, so that the branches and legs of each window define a closed magnetic circuit of substantially uniform magnetic permeability through which magnetic flux can circulate about the windows.

Abstract: Tasks (T) such as repair jobs on a telecommunications system, that are to be performed by a plurality of resources such as field engineers (E), at different locations in a geographical area (2), are scheduled by means of a scheduler (10) at a work manager server (5). The scheduler provides schedule data (11) corresponding to schedules of the tasks that individual ones of the resources are to carry out, from task data (4) concerning the tasks to be carried out and resource data (6) concerning characteristics of resources available to carry out the tasks over a given period. Not all the tasks are scheduled, resulting in unscheduled task data (11a). The schedule data (11) is downloaded to a workstation (7) together with the unscheduled task data. The downloaded data is analysed at the workstation to determine a candidate resource (E) to perform the task (T) corresponding to the unscheduled task data.

Abstract: An electric motor 10.sub.vi includes a Cockcroft ring 12 for producing a magnetic field having lines of flux extending in the first direction through an air gap 18. A disc 14 capable of at least two dimensional motion in a plane relative to the Cockcroft ring 12 provides a plurality of conductive paths C.sub.A -C.sub.E. Each path C.sub.A -C.sub.E has a segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E respectively that extends through the magnetic field in a second direction so that interaction with an electric current passing through a particular segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E, produces a thrust force acting on the disc 14 via that segment 16.sub.A -16.sub.E. A multi phase toroid shaped transformer 40 induces electric currents to flow in the paths C.sub.A -C.sub.E and thus through the corresponding segments 16.sub.A -16.sub.E. One of the segments, for example 16.sub.A is located relative to a second segment for example 16.sub.E, so that their respective thrust forces do not lie in the same axis.

Abstract: A primary member for a linear induction machine comprises a magnetic core having four parallel limbs with a respective pole face on each limb. Thus the core is similar to an E-core with an additional limb. Windings are preferably disposed only on the inner two limbs so that there are effectively no end windings, all windings coupling with the core.

Abstract: A layer of metal is cast on a surface of a metal backing and while the cast metal is still molten, a varying electromagnetic force is generated along an edge of the strip which induces electric currents in the molten metal. The resulting mechanical force exerted in the molten metal is such that the metal is restrained from flowing to the edge of the strip.

Abstract: A linear induction motor primary has the winding conductors on at least part of its working face arranged in two nonparallel groups of mutually parallel conductors. All the windings on the working face, including end windings and cross over windings, are closely coupled to the magnetic material of the core of the primary.