Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A computer-based method for dynamic path regeneration in a production environment as a function of stochastic event-driven parameters and constraints is described. The method includes examining existing status codes, for a plurality of remaining production jobs, to determine a current status for a production unit, applying at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships for the remaining production jobs to the existing status codes, analyzing historical job performance statistics for a number of previous production units based on production job performance data associated with the previous production units, and providing a user interface that depicts the remaining production jobs in order of criticality, the order of criticality determined based on the existing status codes, the at least one of predecessor relationships and successor relationships, and the analysis of the historical job performance statistics.

Abstract: A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancelation code is sent to the employee. The cancelation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled.

Abstract: An appointment tracking and dynamic modification system is provided that is associated with an appointment scheduling application. A registered attending client/customer is assigned an appointment with a service provider and appointment data associated with the assigned appointment, including data indicating the location of the appointment and the time of the appointment, is obtained. The physical location and/or status of the registered attending client/customer, and/or service provider, is then monitored to calculate an estimated arrival time, and/or availability, of the registered attending client/customer, and/or service provider, at the appointment time and location.

Abstract: A system and method for aircraft maintenance planning according to which an optimized bill of work is generated for a line maintenance station at which one or more airplanes are parked or are expected to be parked.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device are provided. The data comprises a list of events, the computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device. Context data is processing at the processing unit to determine a priority ranking for each of the items, wherein processing the context data to determine a priority ranking comprises at least one of processing attendance data, location, event data, and telephone record data. Respective areas of the display device are controlled to provide visual representations of each of the events, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking.

Abstract: A method of acclimatizing a user to a scheduling pattern change includes, in a calendar system implemented by at least one processor, determining an anticipated scheduling pattern change from a current scheduling pattern to a new scheduling pattern for the user; and establishing with the calendar system an acclimatization period to transition the user to the scheduling pattern change.

Abstract: A system and method of managing business process calendars. A method of managing a process includes defining at least one process to be performed by a first entity for at least one second entity, and associating a first subset of a plurality of tasks of the at least one process with the first entity. The method further includes associating a second subset of the plurality of tasks with the at least one second entity, and creating a process calendar based upon the at least one process and the plurality of tasks. The method additionally includes displaying the process calendar.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a dispatcher and/or a service technician to achieve an optimized schedule for a few or a large number of service technicians performing repairs in the field based on an analysis of past data, methodologies and formulas, wherein a scheduling program is displayed to the dispatcher on a monitor of a computer or any other processing device, using the scheduling program the dispatcher calls up or accesses the current schedule of all the technicians, and the technicians can simultaneously view their entire current schedule and agree to a proposed appointment, even placing blocks on dates and times that they are not available for scheduling so that optimized or near optimized schedules are obtained quickly and economically.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate scheduling and managing a project. In some embodiments, the system includes a quoting module, a product data module, and a project planning module executing on at least one processor of a server. The product data module may be configured to store at least one product. The product stored in the project module may have a product class indicating that the product is a labor product, parts product, or agreements product. The system may be configured to copy products from the product data module to the quoting module. The system may be configured to also copy products from the product data module to the project planning module, and generate tasks for the project planning module based on the products.

Abstract: A computer and method formulate, for inclusion in a constraint to be used in scheduling employees to perform an activity a within a time slot s, a sum of a sequence of variables that are defined based on new workload levels, created to model a gap between: a number of employees needed to perform activity a in time slot s, and the number of employees to be scheduled to perform activity a in time slot s. The computer and method further prepare, for inclusion in a function to be optimized during scheduling, a scalar product of the sequence of variables and a sequence of values. Each value in the sequence of values depends on a distance between: the number of employees needed to perform activity a in the time slot s and a new workload level indicated by the corresponding variable with which the value is multiplied.

Abstract: Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and software for mobile collaborative workforce scheduling. An apparatus can include at least one processor and a storage device, a work schedule saved to the storage device, a communications module operable to communicate the work schedule to a plurality of mobile devices and receive a request to change the work schedule from the mobile devices, and a user interface module to execute on the processor and to provide authorized personnel access to operations performed by the at least one processor, the operations including approving and denying the request to change the work schedule.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for allocating tasks within a hybrid workforce which includes staff technicians and outsourced technicians in a facilities management computing environment. The method includes: identifying a geographic market where a new staff technician is needed; adding the new staff technician to a pool of staff technicians; assigning pending preventive maintenance (PM) tasks and pending service request (SR) tasks to the pool of staff technicians; calculating routes for the pool of staff technicians and dynamically establishing schedules for the pool based on the calculated routes; assigning an additional SR to the pool of staff technicians if the staff technician schedules are full; and assigning the additional SR to the outsourced technician if all of the staff technician schedules are not full.

Abstract: A crew planning system includes a demand forecasting module and an optimization module. The system forecasts anticipated reserve demand levels, and determines suitable reserve staffing approaches to meet anticipated reserve demand. The forecasting is based upon probabilistic distribution models which take into account variability associated with reserve demand for a particular day. Via use of the crew planning system, reserve staffing expenses may be reduced and/or reserve demand may be met with a higher degree of probability.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating service representatives' self-scheduling of work. Work may be released for a given work period (e.g., one week) in multiple rounds, with the period being broken into multiple timeslots, each timeslot having one or more seats for representatives. A representative may be limited as to the number of timeslots he can commit to in a given scheduling round. A representative operates a user interface to access his personalized schedule, which indicates the status of each timeslot through different appearances (e.g., colors, line patterns). The representative commits to timeslots that have work available for which he is qualified, and the schedule is updated in real-time as work availability changes. Seats may be distributed among multiple virtual rooms in a timeslot, and a representative may need to be qualified to sit in a special room.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, software and methods for automatic event matching, the method including receiving time, location and duration data of planned events from a plurality of individual users and to store the data in a database, dynamically adjusting the data associated with each user to define individual dynamic user-data based profile rankings; minimizing total duration data responsive to the profile rankings and outputting future individualized events schedules responsive to the minimizing step.

Abstract: A method, system and software for determining a final staffing schedule in a ticketing system by scheduling a plurality of staffing resource units (SRUs) of multiple classes into one or more shift(s). The method includes finding a simulated staffing schedule for some sub-set of class(es), where the sub-set of class(es) is: (i) less than the total number of classes; and (ii) can accomplish all tasks that may come in during the shift(s) being scheduled. The schedule for the sub-set of classes is then converted into a schedule including SRUs of every class based on historical data relating to historical proportions between SRUs of various classes and/or incoming tasks of various types.

Abstract: A method, system and software for determining a final staffing schedule by scheduling a plurality of staffing resource units (SRUs) into a plurality of shifts. The method includes the following steps (not necessarily in the following order except as explicitly indicated): (i) determining an initial staffing schedule; (ii) iteratively-adding SRUs to the staffing schedule until it is determined that the staffing schedule meets a feasibility condition; (iii) iteratively-subtracting SRUs from the staffing schedule until it is determined that the staffing schedule meets at least one improper condition; and (iv) subsequent to the subtracting step, adding a single SRU to the staffing schedule to yield the final staffing schedule.

Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A method for exchanging one or more employees includes providing access to a resource system to at least one offerer and at least one requester, the access being provided over an electronic network, allowing the offerer to post within the resource system data associated with one or more employees currently under the employ of the offerer, and allowing the requester to view, in response to a search within the resource system, a data record associated with the posted one or more employees of the offerer. The method further includes facilitating, within the resource system, an agreement process between the offerer and the requester to exchange the employee from the offerer to the requester for a limited time, the resource system being owned by a resource service entity that is separate from the offerer and the requester.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for establishing, maintaining, distributing, and modifying an employee schedule. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a scheduling system programmed in software and configured to run on a scheduling computer. One or more remotely located overhead displays and one or more remotely located employee interfaces or kiosks communicate with the scheduling computer to disseminate schedule data to employees. The kiosks are additionally configured to provide an interactive interface for employees to utilize system features. One exemplary system feature comprises computerized posting of sheets requesting worker sign-up for additional or reduced work hours based on projected workload. Another exemplary system feature comprises a shift pool wherein employees may post one or more of their work shifts to an employee accessible pool. Other employees may then accept the posted shift via an employee interface thereby facilitating automated work shift changes.

Abstract: A cost metric is associated with each of a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event. A calendar event cost projection is determined based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters. The calendar event cost projection is compared to a calendar event budget. At least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters is selected based upon, at least in part, the comparison of the calendar event cost projection to the calendar event budget.

Abstract: A reserve agent management system allows users, such as contact center agents or administrators, to access and edit reserve schedules for agents. In various embodiments, a reserve schedule indicates times, called reserve times, during a particular agent's off-hours when the agent is willing to receive a recall invitation and potentially return to work. Thus, when a determination is made that additional agent resources are needed, agents having compatible reserve times are notified and invited to be recalled. Agents agreeing to be recalled are then scheduled to work at certain recall times to address the need for additional agent resources. In other embodiments, agents' break times may be shifted to potentially accommodate unexpected changes in required agent resources. Thus, in various embodiments, the reserve agent management system provides administrators and agents with flexibility in adapting agents' schedules to accommodate unplanned needs for agent resources.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for automatically rescheduling one or more meetings in order to make a time slot available for scheduling of a meeting, e.g., a high priority urgent meeting. At a server that manages calendars for a plurality of users, a request is received to schedule a meeting between a first user and one or more other users. It is determined whether there is at least one other meeting involving any of the one or more other users that conflicts with the meeting. If so, the at least one other meeting is automatically rescheduled to another time.

Abstract: The invention provides a system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating the execution of one or more tasks. Task data pertaining to a plurality of tasks and worker data pertaining to one or more workers may be saved to a computer system. Each worker may be provided with an electronic device capable of determining and transmitting its geographical location (and thus the worker's geographical location) to the computer system via one or more computer networks. In one embodiment, task data and worker data may be analyzed and compared in order to identify eligible workers for each task. Once eligible workers have been identified, they may be assigned to one or more tasks and notified accordingly. In one embodiment, the task data and worker data stored by the computer system may be dynamically updated to reflect worker assignments and completed tasks.

Abstract: Automated methods for correcting the remaining portion of a project schedule in order to reflect actual performance to date are provided. For some embodiments, the remaining schedule is corrected by applying factors that are extrapolated from the actual completion times of project milestones in comparison to the scheduled times for the same milestones. This approach results in a project schedule that is more accurate, and thus enables improved management of the project.

Abstract: Provided herein are data structures, processes and systems to facilitate scheduling of complex work orders to a mobile workforce. Complex work orders are comprised of several distinct sub-orders that require coordinated scheduling because the start of one sub-order is dependent on the start or completion of another. The data structure provided herein identifies a set of member sub-orders required for completing complex work orders and relates those sub-orders to one another by precedence criteria that establish which sub-orders are dependent on which other sub-orders. This data structure is used in computer processes integrated with workforce management systems to permit such systems to schedule and/or assign individual work orders in a coordinated manner to satisfy the precedence criteria.

Abstract: A method of operation of a navigation system includes: receiving a start location and a destination location; receiving a first start time associated with a first event; receiving a second start time associated with a second event with the first start time subsequent to the second start time and the first event closer to the start location than the second event; and generating an event route, for displaying on a device, from the start location to the second event to the first event to the destination location based on the first start time relative to the second start time.

Abstract: Event management systems, methods, and computer program products. The event management system receives data defining participants and dates for an event, such as a business meeting. The system may determine the availability of the participants on the proposed dates based on data received from one or more calendar applications, if available. The system may then generate a plurality of event options based on participant availability and option costs. An event organizer may then select options from the plurality of options, and cause the selected options to be sent to the participants. The participants classify the received options as preferred, acceptable, or unacceptable. Based on these classifications, the system determines acceptable options which may include a “best option”. The event organizer selects one or more acceptable options for confirmation by the participants. In response to the participants confirming an option, the option may be booked by the event management system.

Abstract: An electronic device connects to a cloud server. The cloud server stores information of a first worker and a second worker. The second worker does work handover with the first worker. When it is time to do work handover by the second worker, the second worker uses the electronic device to touch the electronic device of the first worker. The information of the second worker of the electronic device is compared with the information of the second worker stored in the cloud server. When the information of the electronic device is the same as the information stored in the cloud server, a display device connected to the cloud server displays job contents stored in the cloud server.

Abstract: This invention relates to providing a system for project planning and scheduling which supports simplified, interactive, graphics-based project planning and scheduling using new planning concepts, new scheduling concepts and new graphics-based software systems. Further, this invention permits an inexperienced user to simultaneously plan and schedule a project including establishing appropriate relationship (or dependency) links between activities, also commonly referred to as tasks, and between activities and milestones. This invention offers the simplest possible scheme of thought that can tie together activities, relationships and milestones, with or without deadlines, to yield a complete, correct network project schedule in the shortest possible time.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event includes an electronic calendar program having the capability of establishing a recurring event with a predetermined end date. A processor is operative for notifying an organizer of the event at a predetermined time of the end date for the recurring event and permitting the organizer to modify the end date of the recurring event if the event is to continue. The electronic calendar program and processor is operative in a mobile wireless communications device that includes a housing and radio frequency (RF) transceiver contained within the housing such that notifications of the new end date can be transmitted to and received by attendees of the event, including any changed meeting information.

Abstract: Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments for processing and recording defects. In one embodiment, an application is executed in a server that processes and records defects detected by a user at a receiving station client. Based on a retrieved vendor profile, the application selects an inspection sequence for a user to execute. The inspection sequence is selected based on a history of defects specified in the vendor profile. The application also determines whether supervision is needed based on the performance of the user.

Abstract: A system and method for managing workflow including the ability to manage system-level workflow strategy, manage individual workflow activity, and provide suggestions to optimize individual workflow activity, is provided. The system may provide suggestions to workers based on their schedules and activities that the workers have to perform. Users of the system may configure the criteria used in determining which suggestions to provide to workers. The system may refine the suggestions provided to workers based on feedback received regarding the suggestions previously provided.

Abstract: A method for managing a shift schedule, involving obtaining employee data for employees, a payroll constraint for a time period, and an employer requirement for the shift schedule, and collecting an employee availability schedule from each employee. The method further involves generating shift schedules based on the payroll constraint, employee data, employer requirement, and employee availability schedules, determining a payroll budget associated with each shift schedule, ranking the shift schedules based on the payroll budget to obtain a ranked list of shift schedules, and presenting the ranked list of shift schedules to an employer.

Abstract: A scheduling management system including a computer and a terminal device, and further containing a calculation unit to calculate the cost of work on the work target; a decision unit to decide if reorganization of the work schedule is needed or not; and a schedule generator unit to generate the work schedule; and in which the decision unit finds the progress of the work by comparing the work schedule with the work results, and decides if reorganization of the work schedule is needed based on the degree of divergence between the work schedule and the work progress; and the calculation unit calculates the work group cost generated by unifying the work groups for the combination of the work groups; and the schedule generator unit reorganizes the work schedule by comparing the calculated costs, and unifies the work groups based on results from the cost comparison.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and financial close management system are provided that manage a schedule. A schedule is a core object of the financial close management system, and is an expression of a template. Managing a schedule can include creating a new schedule, modifying an existing schedule, deleting an existing schedule, duplicating an existing schedule, validating an existing schedule, creating a template from an existing schedule, setting a status of an existing schedule, and importing and exporting an existing schedule. In addition, managing a schedule can include defining task type parameters that can be set during scheduling and setting task parameters of a schedule at a schedule level rather than a task level.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for the sale of consumer services. Predictions are made based on the behaviors, preferences, assets, identifying characteristics, and other attributes associated with customers and merchants. In one implementation, a prediction is made as to whether a customer is likely to request a service and whether a merchant is likely to be selected by the customer to provide the service. In another implementation, the calendars of a merchant and customer are automatically updated to account for the customer's late arrival to an appointment at the merchants location. In yet another implementation, a customer purchases an appointment for a service from another customer that has the appointment scheduled with a merchant providing the service.

Abstract: A method in a computer system for paperless business work-flow review and management includes the steps of: creating an interactive document electronically; entering the interactive document into a document entry stage; electronically submitting the interactive document to a first approval level from the document entry stage, when such approval is required by a set of business rules; approving the submitted interactive document; for N levels of approval, iteratively submitting the interactive document electronically to the next approval level, up to level N, when the interactive document is approved at the previous approval level; returning the interactive document to the document entry stage when the interactive document is rejected at any of the first through N approval levels; electronically processing the interactive document at the processing level when the interactive document is approved at all required approval levels; verifying the electronic processing of the interactive document; and archiving the

Abstract: A change management system for an IT environment or other enterprise level environment may comprise a server comprising memory and a controller. A change management application comprising machine readable instructions may be stored in the memory. The change management application may be arranged to perform the following steps: receive a plurality of work orders via a network to be performed during a maintenance period, concatenate the plurality of work orders to generate a master plan for performing the work orders during the maintenance period, and receive status updates for the work orders during the maintenance period down to the individual step level. A display may display a view of the master plan during the maintenance period. The view may include information related to the work orders and a status of the work orders. The status may be updated automatically based on status updates received by the change management application.

Abstract: A method of allocating a location-related order to one of a number of mobile agents, such as taxicabs, delivery or repair vehicles. The method involves the following steps: a) holding current order details which identify at least the location and time at which each agent is expected to become free to fulfill new orders; b) keeping a listing of locations, where each location in the listing is prioritised for an agent according to the availability of the agent to reach that location after the agent becomes free; c) receiving a new order and recording the location and time at which this order is to be fulfilled; d) deciding, based on the prioritised listing of locations, which agent(s) are most suitable to take the new order; and e) allocating the new order to the identified agent(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing interaction of multiple business process events by nesting the information from prerequisite events into a business process that is dependent on those processes to transact. In one embodiment, a business process comprises a dependent event that is launched by users, completed events or application calls and one or more prerequisite events that are launched by dependent events. The dependent event, rather than the prerequisite event, manages a set of rules used to evaluate nested information, determine if an exception is required and who needs to approve exceptions. Nested information is used by a dependent event to automatically monitor the progress of each prerequisite event. Nesting allows prerequisite events to be free of business rules, so they can be reused by many dependent processes without duplication. A library of prerequisite events can be kept so new business processes can be quickly constructed using already existing events.

Abstract: A controller of gaming machines that permit wagering on wagering games includes a first memory location that stores a first time-based schedule of gaming actions to be taken by the gaming machines that are located remote from the controller. A second memory location stores identities of first gaming machines. One of the first and second memory locations stores a pointer that links the other of the first and second memory locations and associates the first gaming machines with the first schedule so that one of the first schedule and first gaming machines can be modified independent of and without modifying the other of the first schedule and the first gaming machines. A data transmitter transmits instructions corresponding to the gaming actions defined by the first schedule to the first gaming machines.

Abstract: A user of a telecommunications or other computing device may notify his or her contacts of an event of interest, which event may be modified by the user's contacts without requiring the permission of the originating user to do so. In this regard, an event organizing service receives an event notification request from a user of a telecommunications device (e.g., a mobile telephone), automatically identifies the user's contacts to whom the event notification is to be published, and publishes the event notification to the automatically identified contacts. A contact who receives the event notification may update the event, e.g., by modifying data describing the event, without the permission of the originating user. Accordingly, a contact who has received the event notification may modify the event (e.g., change the date/time, change the location, etc.

Abstract: A computer system obtains monetary item deposit information and reader failure information from the money handling device and generates data that accumulates to represent an historical pattern of a ratio of a number of deposited monetary items (e.g., deposited checks) to reader failure incidents. The transaction computer then generates a service indicator that is indicative of servicing the money handling device based on the pattern. The transaction computer may project the ratio to obtain a projected ratio at a subsequent (future) time and may track the ratio to determine whether the ratio is trending differently from the ratio.

Abstract: Computer-based apparatuses and computer-implemented methods for providing an automated computer network-based, or online, appointment scheduling service through which registered customers are individually capable of scheduling an appointment with a plurality of businesses that are also registered with the online appointment scheduling service. The application describes a reliability rating for each registered customer that is based on the reliability of the customer showing for scheduled appointments for all (or several) of the businesses registered with the online appointment scheduling service, not just one business.

Abstract: Managing shared hardware assets within an organization includes determining a shared hardware asset utilized by at least one invitee to a meeting and calculating a workload for the shared hardware asset for each of a plurality of proposed meeting times for the meeting. The proposed meeting times are ranked according to a comparison of the workload for each proposed meeting with a shared hardware asset objective.