Abstract: Systems and methods of workforce scheduling are disclosed. One example embodiment, among others, comprises a computer-implemented method of scheduling workers. Each worker is associated with one of a set of flexibility classifications, which include non-flex-time and at least one flex-time. The method includes generating a set of shift instances to cover forecasted demand over a planning period, and assigning the shift instances to the set of workers by iterating through the each of the workers to assign at least a portion of the shift instances to a selected one of the workers. The assigning is such that total hours assigned to the selected worker depends on a number associated with the classification of the selected worker.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for project management is provided. A project manager creates sub-project data for a sub-project based on project data for a project. The project manager also modifies the project data. A sub-project manager modifies the sub-project data, wherein modification of the sub-project data enables modification of the project data. The project data and the sub-project data are displayed.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product assigns work to a software factory for implementing a project. A project model of a project is generated. Project model subcomponents are mapped to work packets that are available to a software factory, thus leading to the generation of a work plan for performing the project via an execution of the available work packets.

Abstract: Technician control, in which a control system is configured to control scheduling and dispatch operations for work orders being handled by technicians. Multiple technician devices are each associated with one or more technicians, are configured to communicate, over a network, with the control system, and also are configured to provide output in response to communications that are received from the control system and that are related to the scheduling and dispatch operations performed by the control system. A set of scheduling configuration options may be pre-defined and user input weighting at least one of the scheduling configuration options relative to other of the scheduling configuration options may be received. A scheduling application used by the control system to perform scheduling operations may be configured based on configuration data that reflects the weighting and scheduling operations may be performed using the configured scheduling application.

Abstract: A system and method for manpower planning for operating vehicles such as, for example, airplanes, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, the availability of adequate manpower to operate the vehicles over a period of time is ensured; in several exemplary embodiments, the operation of the vehicles over the period of time includes the flying of airplanes in accordance with an airline flight schedule.

Abstract: In each time period during which a facility is open, a difference is automatically checked for being greater than zero, between a minimum number of employees needed to open the facility and a current number of employees. The current number of employees is obtained based at least partially on workloads of activities in the facility, including normal activities whose workloads are determined based on forecasts and labor standards and at least one activity (“no-increment” activity) whose workload is to not be incremented. When the difference is greater than zero in any time period, an excess number of hours of minimum staffing are obtained based at least on the difference, and then allocated among the workloads of the normal activities, to obtain new workloads while keeping the workload of each no-increment activity unchanged. Therefore, workload of an no-increment activity is used in checking but the no-increment activity's workload is not incremented.

Abstract: Systems and methods of partial shift swapping are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises the steps of: receiving a partial shift swap request from an agent; determining a disposition of the partial shift swap request by applying a set of criteria associated with a validation rule to the partial shift swap request; and if the disposition indicates the partial shift swap request is approved, updating a schedule to reflect the partial shift swap request. An exemplary computer-readable medium has a computer program stored thereon. The computer program comprises computer-executable instructions for performing a computer-executed method of requesting a partial shift swap.

Abstract: A system and method for providing temporary and limited grants of calendar access is provided. An invitee or its proxy may provide an event planner or time broker with a particular grant of calendar access comprising a date range, particular days of the week, and a particular time interval. The grant of calendar access allows the event planner to more easily identify a block of time for scheduling the particular event, the invitee calendar being updated in real-time. In some embodiments, the event planner may schedule the event and place the event directly on the invitee's calendar.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for scheduling subsidiary meeting locations can include sending an invitation to a selection of invitees to a meeting in a collaborative environment for at least one primary location. The method further can include processing both complete acceptances and declinations to the meeting from individual ones of the invitees for the primary location, and also partial acceptances to the meeting from a set of the invitees in the selection. In respect to the partial acceptances, an alternative location to the primary location can be determined which has not already been designated as an acceptable subsidiary location to the meeting. In response, when a number of invitees in the set of invitees exceed a threshold value, the alternative location can be designated as an acceptable subsidiary location to the meeting. Consequently, acceptances can be processed for the set of invitees.

Abstract: A work support method is adapted to a work support apparatus having a skill information storage section to store skill information of workers, a work item information storage section to store work item information with respect to a work, and a work information storage section to store worker information of each work item with respect to the work. The work support method extracts a worker corresponding to each work item by referring to the skill information storage section and storing the extracted worker in the work information storage section, with respect to each work item stored in the work item information storage section, in response to a work order.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for managing scheduling of appointments with respect to a quorum requirement. The solution includes scheduling an appointment with each of a plurality of invitees, receiving one or more appointment management requests associated with the appointment from the invitees, the one or more appointment management requests including a change in the appointment, determining that a subset of the appointment management requests constitute a common request, determining that invitees that sent the common request satisfy the quorum constraint for the appointment, and implementing the common request in response to invitees that sent the common request satisfying the quorum constraint. The common request may include an acceptance, a cancellation notice, a cancellation request, and a re-scheduling request.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for visualizing multiple time zones can include a C&S application, an event schedule managed by the C&S application, and multiple time zone processing logic coupled to the C&S application. The multiple time zone processing logic can determine a time zone for each participant to a defined event. The multiple time zone processing logic further can render a user interface showing a local time in the determined time zone corresponding to a preferred time for the defined event for each the participant. For instance, the user interface can include an arrangement of juxtaposed time ranges for each participant, where the time ranges have a staggered appearance so that a local time for each of the time ranges corresponds to the preferred time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling appointment reminders are based on multiple conditions including estimated travel time. An estimate of the time needed to travel between the user's location and the location of the appointment can be determined by retrieving location information from a global address list (GAL), a local address book of a calendaring application, from a map service, or other location determining technology. Users can subscribe to alert service to receive information regarding recent events such as traffic problems, flight delays, weather conditions, etc., which is then used in setting or modifying reminder times. Notifications can be generated for timing conflicts based on the estimated travel time. If the estimated travel time would require the user to leave a previous appointment early, or be late for a subsequent appointment, a notification can be generated to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to assign one or more tasks to a plurality of warehouse employees. In one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises receiving an order for an item stored in a warehouse. A location of the item in the warehouse can be determined. A current location of each of the warehouse employees can be determined based on a strength of a signal from a wireless device assigned to each of the warehouse employees. The signal can be detected by at least two wireless access points at different location in the warehouse. At least one of the warehouse employees can be selected to fill the order based on the current location of each of the warehouse employees and the locations of the item.

Abstract: A computerized visitation registration and scheduling system provides the department of corrections the ability to have inmates and visitors schedule visits through an automated interface, such as a telephone interface, or the internet. The system allows, for example, the ability for potential visitors to perform a registration process with little to no manual overhead requirements of department of corrections employees. Secondly, potential visitors, once approved, are able to schedule inmate visits without necessarily having to burden department of corrections employees.

Abstract: A method of scheduling at least one meeting for a consumer involves matching the consumer to a first professional of a plurality of professionals based on information associated with the consumer and the plurality of professionals, where the first professional is qualified to provide service to the consumer, scheduling a first meeting between the consumer and the first professional, and notifying the consumer and the first professional about the first meeting using information associated with the first meeting.

Abstract: In a calendar messaging method and system, a calendar application executing on a computer receives a command to activate an out-of-office status, and receives one or more selected calendar events. The method and system further include automatically updating the calendar events, wherein the updating includes at least one of canceling the calendar events, and removing the user as an invitee of the calendar events. An out-of-office message is then automatically sent to at least one recipient indicating a type of update made to one or more of the calendar events.

Abstract: Technology is described for customer exchange, route efficiency determinations, and new customer assignments. The method of customer exchange can include identifying a customer of an originating service provider; assessing a relative proximity of the customer with respect to location; receiving input from the originating service provider regarding their permission to trade the customer; reassigning the customer to the new service provider based on permission of the originating service provider the assessed relative proximity or location; and notifying the new service provider of an exchange of the customer using the processor.

Abstract: Scheduling of activities for field service technicians may be improved by modifying availability constraints associated with appointment windows for activities. Activities may be scheduled based on a performance deadline and relevant shift times of the resources to whom the activity may be allocated, as well as a variety of parameters relating to activities, resources and/or relevant environmental conditions (e.g., weather, traffic). An activity may be moved from one calendar day to another, a location constraint at the beginning and/or the end of a technician's shift may be removed or modified, and/or information updates may be provided in real time or near real time (e.g., every five minutes or less) throughout a work day to facilitate scheduling.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for developing an optimized operational system in a network. The method includes: defining a project along with its domain and at least one set of formal development rules related to its domain with assistance from multiple users; decomposing the project into multiple tasks in a recursive up-down process with the assistance from the users, each of the tasks includes a task definition language, an associated test task, and multiple rules; publishing the multiple tasks along with their associated payment offer in the network; allocating the tasks to a number of participants based on a predefined criteria; and integrating a number of operational components into the operational system by using a recursive down-up integration process. The operational components are developed, by the participants, by completing the allocated tasks and testing each of the multiple tasks.

Abstract: A method for managing projects for a small business using a graphical user interface (GUI). The method includes receiving, at a current time, a request to schedule a new project at a location and a future time selected by a user, identifying a plurality of available workers of the small business available to work on the new project at the future time, displaying, within the GUI, a new project avatar of the new project at the location on a map and a plurality of available worker avatars corresponding to the plurality of available workers, and assigning a first available worker of the plurality of available workers to the new project.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving a time slot to gain access to a resource, such as an attraction, ride, show or event, as may be found in an amusement park. A portable module is used to determine a time when the user is able to access the resource based on reservation requests and throughput, without need for a docking station or continuous communication with a central database of all reservations and queue times.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product, comprising: scheduling teacher evaluation events for teacher-evaluator pairs over a calendar date period to comply with compliance dates, comprising: selecting teachers evaluators to form a plurality of the teacher-evaluator pairs for teacher evaluation events, based on the teacher electronic calendars, evaluator calendars, teacher categories, and a time-table; scheduling respective dates and times for evaluation events over the course of the calendar period; changing the electronic calendars of the respective evaluators and the respective teachers to add the scheduled teacher evaluation events; running a software routine to wait for receipt of data indicating a new conflict event and changing date and/or time for evaluation events and/or forming new teacher-evaluator pairs; and changing the respective electronic calendars.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for electronically generating a virtualized work schedule based on a composite of data gathered from multiple work planning, scheduling and other management information systems utilized in structured maintenance projects for a large-scale assets during a scheduled maintenance period. The system can include a schedule management system configured to facilitate communications among workers and managers during the scheduled maintenance period and expedite completion of the structured maintenance project.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including software tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, involve a future deadline for completion of a project milestone. An estimate of an amount of time slippage associated with the future deadline is received. A probability of missing the future deadline is calculated based on the estimated amount of time slippage and an amount of time remaining until the future deadline.

Abstract: In a remote technical support system, a technical support controller receives an indication of a maximum number of support sessions to be serviced by a remote technician. Thereafter, the technical support controller receives a service request for a user device, which service request is classified into a category and added to a preliminary queue corresponding to the category. The technical support controller determines if handling of the service request by the remote technician would cause the number of support sessions currently being handled by the remote technician to exceed the previously-indicated maximum number of support sessions. If not, the service request is added to a work queue for the remote technician and removed from the preliminary queue.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and corresponding methods for facilitating scheduling of an event among plurality of users. The system may include various modules to received scheduling information corresponding to the event. The system may determine logical consequences corresponding to the schedule of the event based on predetermined plans of the users. The scheduling information may be shared among the plurality of users for enabling the users to update the scheduling information iteratively. The system may finalize the event automatically based on the updated scheduling information when each of the plurality of users approves the updated scheduling information. The system facilitates the scheduling of events with possibly limited resources by allowing incremental shared input from all participants and possibly by sharing their personal calendar information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for allocating appointment time windows. The steps of this method include creating a statistical estimate of a daily schedule comprising a series of estimated service orders. An actual service order is then received. This actual service order is inserted into the daily schedule by using a set of scheduling instructions for determining the least cost to employ the available service resources. At this point, this actual service order does not have a system imposed time window. The set of scheduling instructions is used to determine a time window surrounding this insertion point. If the customer accepts this time window, then the closest estimated service order is replaced by this actual service order, and the daily schedule is recomputed based upon the revised set of service orders to yield a revised daily schedule.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for realtime occupancy detection of vehicles approaching a retail site for predictive ordering. A restaurant or other retail site can maintain access areas, such as a drive through lane or parking area, which vehicles can approach to order food or other items. A set of sensors can detect the vehicles, and estimate the number of occupants in those vehicles. Detection techniques can include face detection technology, seat detection technology, thermal imaging, or others. The number of occupants can be estimated and sent to a production management engine monitoring the site. That engine can responsively issue production instructions, such as a number and type of food items to prepare, and when. By integrating an operational model of the site, including projected order amounts and types, with the realtime occupant count, more accurate matching of food or other production to customer demand can be achieved.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a meeting notification and automatic modification service. A system may be configured to identify an appointment in a calendar application, identify a geographic location of the appointment, and identify, before the appointment time, a geographic location of a first participant of the appointment. Based on the geographic information, the system may identify a route extending from the geographic location of the first participant to the geographic location of the appointment, and may identify a travel time associated with the route. Based on the travel time and the appointment time, the system may determine whether the first participant is estimated to arrive at the appointment on time and, based on the determination, the system may send a message to participants of the appointment or dynamically reschedule the appointment.

Abstract: There is a system for performing scheduling. The system includes a processor to perform dynamic priority scheduling based on a schedule including one or more flexible events associated with a flexible event object. The flexible event object includes a FlexibleDueTime and at least one of a FlexibleStartTime and a FlexibleEventDuration. The processor generates a priority value associated with the flexible event based on a time, the FlexibleDueTime, and at least one of the FlexibleStartTime and the FlexibleEventDuration. The system determines a priority assignment for the flexible event utilizing the generated priority value. There are also associated methods and computer-readable mediums for performing scheduling.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a meeting notification and automatic modification service. A system may be configured to identify an appointment in a calendar application, identify a geographic location of the appointment, and identify, before the appointment time, a geographic location of a first participant of the appointment. Based on the geographic information, the system may identify a route extending from the geographic location of the first participant to the geographic location of the appointment, and may identify a travel time associated with the route. Based on the travel time and the appointment time, the system may determine whether the first participant is estimated to arrive at the appointment on time and, based on the determination, the system may send a message to participants of the appointment or dynamically reschedule the appointment.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a meeting notification and automatic modification service. A system may be configured to identify an appointment in a calendar application, identify a geographic location of the appointment, and identify, before the appointment time, a geographic location of a first participant of the appointment. Based on the geographic information, the system may identify a route extending from the geographic location of the first participant to the geographic location of the appointment, and may identify a travel time associated with the route. Based on the travel time and the appointment time, the system may determine whether the first participant is estimated to arrive at the appointment on time and, based on the determination, the system may send a message to participants of the appointment or dynamically reschedule the appointment.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: A system for directing behavior of a first patient of a plurality of patients towards a behavioral objective includes a patient behavioral path calculator, a patient goal calculator, and a patient monitoring processor. The system also includes an information communication processor and a statistical processor. The patient behavioral path calculator calculates a patient behavioral path based on a statistical profile. The patient goal calculator calculates patient goals along the patient behavioral path toward a behavioral objective. The statistical processor can modify the statistical profile based on a response to a targeted message sent by the information communication processor.

Abstract: A system and method for managing requests for services, in particular via the use of the Internet, where requests for service may be refined before they are accepted. In response to the receipt of a service request from a service requester, a work order is created and routed to one or more of the service providers for the purpose of having one or more of the selected service providers indicate an acceptance of the work order. This work order can be later refined, for example if changes need to be made, especially in response to queries from the service providers.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing future job information. According to embodiments, a method for providing future job information is provided. According to the method, a number of non-dispatched jobs within a future time frame for a plurality of buckets and a plurality of turfs is determined. A numeric indicator indicating the number of non-dispatched jobs associated with at least one turf and at least one bucket is displayed.

Abstract: User events scheduled during a user absence period are managed by identifying a user absence period and a buffer period on a user calendar. At least one calendaring repository is searched to determine whether there are user events with a due date coming due during the user absence period that were scheduled prior to a user defining the user absence period and a response is made to each located user event. Moreover, at least one calendaring repository is searched to determine whether there are user events with a due date coming due during the buffer period that were scheduled prior to the user defining the buffer period and a response is made to each located user event in a manner differently from responding to user events coming due during the user absence period.

Abstract: A system and methods for managing dynamic teams and workflows is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system and methods include processes for dynamically creating and modifying a team-based workflow. In one instance, the system and methods may include processes for defining a plurality of generic roles, assigning participants to the team, defining focus items, associating the focus items with the plurality of generic roles, and assigning each of the participants at least one of the plurality of generic roles. Additionally, the system and methods may include processes that manage workflows by providing interactive prompts that provide information to direct participants to perform certain actions and providing mechanisms to communicate responses to the interactive responses to other participants based on their assigned generic roles.

Abstract: A method for workforce scheduling by a computer system is provided. The method includes receiving a first workforce schedule describing initial assignments of a plurality of workers to a plurality of shifts, each shift comprising one or more work activities, each work activity comprising an activity and a time interval, and storing the first workforce schedule in a memory. The method also includes receiving a cell size associated with each activity, and determining a quantity of workers in each work activity associated with each activity in the first workforce schedule. The method further includes determining cell size violations by dividing the quantity of workers assigned to each work activity by the cell size for the activity associated with the work activity. The method also includes modifying the first workforce schedule to minimize cell size violations, resulting in a second workforce schedule, and storing the second workforce schedule in the memory.

Abstract: A labor resource decision support system, in which labor resource data is maintained across multiple units within an organization using a standardized data record format. A demand measurement for a first type of labor resource having a unique combination of values for fields of the standardized data record format is determined based on input describing forecasted demand for the first type of labor resource within the organization and a supply measurement for the first type of labor resource is determined based on input describing forecasted supply for the first type of labor resource within the organization and the labor resource data. A gap measurement is calculated based on the determined demand measurement and the determined supply measurement and an output is provided based on the calculated gap measurement.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a meeting notification and automatic modification service. A system may be configured to identify an appointment in a calendar application, identify a geographic location of the appointment, and identify, before the appointment time, a geographic location of a first participant of the appointment. Based on the geographic information, the system may identify a route extending from the geographic location of the first participant to the geographic location of the appointment, and may identify a travel time associated with the route. Based on the travel time and the appointment time, the system may determine whether the first participant is estimated to arrive at the appointment on time and, based on the determination, the system may send a message to participants of the appointment or dynamically reschedule the appointment.

Abstract: Systems, computer-readable media, and methods are presented for selecting a service entity that utilize a processor, a memory connected to the processor, and program instructions storable in the memory and executable by the processor. Program instructions can execute to receive information from a first entity regarding a particular set of attributes of a second entity, a set of services to be performed by the second entity, and a predetermined compensation for the services. Program instructions can execute to transmit a communication to a second entity that contains the particular set of attributes, the set of services to be performed, and the predetermined compensation. Program instructions can execute to identify a number of second entities to perform the set of services by matching a number of the particular set of attributes received from the first entity. Additionally, program instructions can execute to receive a selection from the first entity of at least one of the number of second entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling overtime and time-off for a workforce. In one embodiment, a method of workforce scheduling to handle an expected workload comprises, in an instruction execution system, receiving a first workforce schedule describing existing assignments of a plurality of workers to a plurality of shifts, each of the shifts being associated with a time range and a day; in response to a variance in the expected workload, selecting a modification to the first workforce schedule required to handle the variance in the expected workload during the day; and producing a second workforce schedule that modifies the length of at least one of the plurality of shifts to accommodate the modification to the first workforce schedule.

Abstract: Operator authorizations are autonomically adjusted in many ways to automatically account for many different variables. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to an operator's past activity record so previous experience is not lost when the operator is rehired. Operator authorization may be adjusted according to the operator's quality and performance. Operator authorization may also be adjusted by recognizing similar operations to those the operator is authorized to perform, and authorizing the operator to perform one or more similar operations. Operator authorization may also be adjusted to a lesser level or may be revoked for an operation based on the passage of time. A manufacturing system may efficiently track operators taking into account different activity periods, the passage of time, the operator's performance, and similar operations to autonomically adjust the authorization of the operators as needed.

Abstract: Methods and systems of managing meetings may involve scheduling a meeting, and monitoring one or more invitee communications prior to the meeting. In addition, a prioritization may be conducted of one or more attributes of the meeting based on the one or more invitee communications.

Abstract: A method for creating, executing and communicating customized, automated checklists may include dynamically creating a customized checklist including a plurality of checklist items. The method may also include transmitting a notification to a predetermined recipient that the customized checklist is available. The method may additionally include displaying the customized checklist on an interface device in response to the customized checklist being selected by the recipient. The method may additionally include updating a status of each checklist item in response to each checklist item being completed. The method may further include determining if a new checklist is available during execution of an existing checklist and allowing a user to switch to the new checklist during the execution of the existing checklist.

Abstract: A method for scheduling workers in a business day. The method includes obtaining a scheduled worker distribution specifying an amount of work to be performed by the workers during a business day, where each worker is assigned a schedule within a work window, which includes a core component and a flex component. The method further includes obtaining a forecasted demand distribution for an amount of work to be performed by the workers during the business day and comparing the scheduled worker distribution with the forecasted demand distribution for the business day. The method further includes creating a new schedule for a worker when the scheduled worker distribution and the forecasted demand distribution are not substantially equal, where the new schedule is within the work window associated with the worker, and notifying, a predetermined amount of time in advance of the business day, the worker of the new schedule.

Abstract: A system for providing feedback to a chairperson in an electronic meeting scheduling system to enable improved meeting resource management, in which a chairperson can indicate the attendance modes that are permitted for specific invitees to a meeting. The meeting invitations indicate to the invitees the attendance modes they are permitted to use. Meeting invitees are presented with user interface options allowing them to select from potentially multiple attendance modes, determined in response to inputs from the chairperson, and/or in response to information describing resources. As meeting resources are allocated to accepting invitees, those resources become unavailable for selection by subsequently accepting invitees. Meeting acceptances are collected such that indications of how accepting attendees will attend the meeting are made available in a chairperson interface so that the chairperson can adjust resources allocated for the meeting to reflect how accepting attendees are planning to attend.