System and method employing capacity/demand management for human-factor resources

• US 10,115,076 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goalassist Corporation
• Original Assignee: Goalassist Corporation
• Inventors: Hammann, Jerald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rines, Robert D
• Application Number:
  US98/403,32
• Time in Patent Office: 6,399 Days
• Field of Search: 705 7- 10, 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer-based system and method loads data for individual resources and composite resources from a resource revenue management system into a yield management system. The individual resources include human-factor resources. Each composite resource includes a collection of individual resources. Internal data structures are constructed for linking each of the resources to their associated composite resources and for linking each of the composite resources to their associated resources. Yield management techniques are used to interpret the data and to provide a set of revenue-maximizing transaction parameters under which a resource network offers its composite resources for transactions with users. The transaction parameters are transferred from the yield management system into the resource revenue management system. The resource revenue management system communicates with users, creating transactions for the composite resources using the values calculated by the yield management system.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for capacity/demand management, comprising:

accepting from a first party transaction parameter values for composite resources, wherein each composite resource has associated therewith at least a service location, a service date, a service time and a transaction price parameter, via a computer device containing a first program with a first program routine programmed to accept transaction parameter values;

transmitting the accepted transaction parameter values through a computer-based communication from the first party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored a second program;

receiving the transmitted transaction parameter values into the second program with a set of program routines programmed to receive (first routine), access (second routine) and store (third routine) transaction parameter values into one or more data stores stored in memory on one or more computer devices, said program configured to accept and said one or more data stores configured to contain transaction parameter values from at least two differentiable first parties;

storing the received transaction parameter values and information differentiating the first party, through use of the third routine of the second program into the one or more data stores;

accepting from a second party at least one user-selected search criterion, via a computer device containing a third program with a first program routine programmed to accept search criteria;

transmitting the accepted search criteria through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored the second program;

receiving the transmitted search criteria into the second program with a fourth program routine programmed to perform a comparison;

comparing the received search criteria to the stored transaction parameter values for composite resources contained within the one or more data stores through the fourth program routine of the second program;

transmitting at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the second party'"'"'s search criteria through a computer-based communication from the computer device containing the fourth program routine of the second program performing the comparison to the second party'"'"'s device;

receiving the transmission into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device with a second program routine programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party;

communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the third program to the second party;

accepting from the second party a reservation request for at least one composite resource from the communicated transmission, via a computer device containing the third program with a third program routine programmed to accept reservation requests;

transmitting the reservation request through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices containing the second program;

receiving the transmitted request into the second program with program routines programmed to evaluate the status of any requested resources to indicate whether they are available for reservation or not (fifth routine), and whether suitable composite resources with alternate transaction parameter values are available, said suitability determined by the program based on program instructions accessing decision rules entered by the program administrator, the first party or the second party (sixth routine), said program also able to determine an acceptable match between requested and available resources (seventh routine), said program also able to determine a reasonable counter-offer given the available composite resources, the reservation request and the results of any previous counter-offers (eighth routine), and, said program also able to determine appropriate transmissions for the acceptance, counter-offer or rejection of the reservation request (ninth routine);

performing the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations;

transmitting based on the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations at least one of a confirmation of the reservation request, a counter-offer to the reservation request and a rejection of the reservation request, through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device;

receiving the transmitted confirmation, counter-offer or rejection into the third program with program routines programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party (fourth routine), to offer for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine) and to iterate the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made (sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

communicating the transmission through the third program to the second party (fourth routine of the third program);

offering for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine of the third program) and, if the offer is not accepted, iterating the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made (sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

modifying through a tenth routine of the second program, in response to an acceptable match, at least one of the availability status of the composite resource and a measure of the remaining available capacity of the composite resource;

storing through an eleventh routine of the second program any modification to the availability status or measure in the one or more data stores;

storing through a twelfth routine of the second program information relating to the reservation, including information relating to the first and second parties, in the one or more data stores;

transmitting through an thirteenth routine of the second program one or more links to the information stored in the one or more data stores through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the first and third programs -contained on the first (first program) and second (third program) party'"'"'s devices;

receiving the transmitted links into the first and third programs containing program routines (second and ninth, respectively) programmed to communicate the links;

communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the first program and ninth program routine of the third program to the first (first program) and second (third program) parties;

wherein the function of the first transmission by the first party is to;

     1) increase demand through more favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     2) decrease demand through less favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     3) increase capacity through more favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     4) reduce capacity through less favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     5) increase capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     6) reduce capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     7) obtain employment or independent contractor opportunities;

or,

     8) implement two or more of the above functions at the same time;

wherein the at least one service date and service time is a date and time point or range measure indicating a present or future first date and time when the service is available;

wherein the service availability date and time is related to the availability of at least one service provider resource comprising in part the at least one composite resource;

wherein the at least one service provider resource is a human resource.

2. A computer-based capacity/demand management system, comprising:

means for accepting from a first party transaction parameter values for composite resources, wherein each composite resource has associated therewith at least a service location, a service date, a service time and a transaction price parameter, via a computer device containing a first program with a first program routine programmed to accept transaction parameter values;

means for transmitting the accepted transaction parameter values through a computer-based communication from the first party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored a second program;

means for receiving the transmitted transaction parameter values into the second program with a set of program routines programmed to receive (first routine), access (second routine) and store (third routine) transaction parameter values into one or more data stores stored in memory on one or more computer devices, said program configured to accept and said one or more data stores configured to contain transaction parameter values from at least two differentiable first parties;

means for storing the received transaction parameter values through use of the third routine of the second program into the one or more data stores;

means for accepting from a second party at least one user-selected search criterion, via a computer device containing a third program with a first program routine programmed to accept search criteria;

means for transmitting the accepted search criteria through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored the second program;

means for receiving the transmitted search criteria into the second program with a fourth program routine programmed to perform a comparison;

means for comparing the received search criteria to the stored transaction parameter values for composite resources contained within the one or more data stores through the fourth program routine of the second program;

means for transmitting at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the second party'"'"'s search criteria through a computer-based communication from the computer device containing the fourth program routine of the second program performing the comparison to the second party'"'"'s device;

means for receiving the transmission into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device with a second program routine programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party;

means for communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the third program to the second party;

means for accepting from the second party a reservation request for at least one composite resource from the communicated transmission, via a computer device containing the third program with a third program routine programmed to accept reservation requests;

means for transmitting the reservation request through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices containing the second program;

means for receiving the transmitted request into the second program with program routines programmed to evaluate the status of any requested resources to indicate whether they are available for reservation or not (fifth routine), and whether suitable composite resources with alternate transaction parameter values are available, said suitability determined by the program based on program instructions accessing decision rules entered by the program administrator, the first party or the second party (sixth routine), said program also able to determine an acceptable match between requested and available resources (seventh routine), said program also able to determine a reasonable counter-offer given the available composite resources, the reservation request and the results of any previous counter-offers (eighth routine), and, said program also able to determine appropriate transmissions for the acceptance, counter-offer or rejection of the reservation request (ninth routine);

means for performing the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations;

means for transmitting based on the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations at least one of a confirmation of the reservation request, a counter-offer to the reservation request and a rejection of the reservation request, through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device;

means for receiving the transmitted confirmation, counter-offer or rejection into the third program with program routines programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party (fourth routine), to offer for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine) and to iterate the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made (sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

means for communicating the transmission through the third program to the second party (fourth routine of the third program);

means for offering for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine of the third program) and, if the offer is not accepted, iterating the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made (sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

means for modifying through a tenth routine of the second program, in response to an acceptable match, at least one of the availability status of the composite resource and a measure of the remaining available capacity of the composite resource;

means for storing through an eleventh routine of the second program any modification to the availability status or measure in the one or more data stores;

means for storing through a twelfth routine of the second program information relating to the reservation, including information relating to the first and second parties, in the one or more data stores;

means for transmitting through a thirteenth routine of the second program one or more links to the information stored in the one or more data stores through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the first and third programs contained on the first (first program) and second (third program) party'"'"'s devices;

means for receiving the transmitted links into the first and third programs containing program routines (second and ninth, respectively) programmed to communicate the links;

means for communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the first program and ninth program routine of the third program to the first (first program) and second (third program) parties;

wherein the function of the first transmission by the first party is to;

     1) increase demand through more favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     2) decrease demand through less favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     3) increase capacity through more favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     4) reduce capacity through less favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     5) increase capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     6) reduce capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     7) obtain employment or independent contractor opportunities;

or,

     8) implement two or more of the above functions at the same time;

wherein the at least one service date and service time is a date and time point or range measure indicating a present or future first date and time when the service is available;

wherein the service availability date and time is related to the availability of at least one service provider resource comprising in part the at least one composite resource;

wherein the at least one service provider resource is a human resource.

3. A capacity/demand management system comprising:

a first storage device storing a program;

at least one processor connected to the storage device and controlled by the program, the at least one processor operative with the program to receive from a first party transmitted transaction parameter values and to access and store them into one or more data stores said program configured to accept and said one or more data stores configured to contain transaction parameter values from at least two differentiable first parties, to receive from a second party transmitted search criteria, to compare the received search criteria to the stored transaction parameter values for composite resources contained within the one or more data stores, to transmit at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the second party'"'"'s search criteria to the second party'"'"'s device, to receive from the second party transmitted reservation requests relating to the previously-transmitted transaction parameter values, to evaluate the status of any requested resources to indicate whether they are available for reservation or not, and whether suitable composite resources with alternate transaction parameter values are available, to evaluate the suitability of alternate composite resources based on program instructions accessing decision rules entered by the program administrator, the first party or the second party, to determine an acceptable alternate match between requested and available resources, to determine a reasonable counter-offer given the available composite resources, the reservation request and the results of any previous counter-offers, to determine appropriate transmissions for the acceptance, counter-offer or rejection of the reservation request, to transmit to the second party based on the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations at least one of a confirmation of the reservation request, a counter-offer to the reservation request and a rejection of the reservation request, to iterate the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made or the program or the second user determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation, to modify, in response to an acceptable match, at least one of the availability status of the composite resource and a measure of the remaining available capacity of the composite resource, to store any modification to the availability status or measure in the one or more data stores, to store information relating to the reservation, including information relating to the first and second parties, in the one or more data stores, and, to transmit one or more links to the stored information to the first and second party'"'"'s devices;

one or more second storage devices storing a program;

at least one processor connected to the one or more storage devices and controlled by the program, the at least one processor operative with the program to accept from a first party transaction parameter values for composite resources, wherein each composite resource has associated therewith at least a service location, a service date, a service time and a transaction price parameter, to transmit the accepted transaction parameter values to the first program, to receive transmitted links relating to the transaction parameter values, and to communicate the information contained in the transmitted links to the device user;

a third storage device storing a program; and

at least one processor connected to the storage device and controlled by the program, the at least one processor operative with the program to accept at least one user-selected search criterion relating to transaction parameter values for composite resources, to transmit the accepted search criteria to the first program, to receive a transmission containing at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the search criteria, to communicate the transmission to the device user, to accept a reservation request for at least one composite resource from the communicated transmission, to transmit the reservation request to the first program, to receive a transmission containing a confirmation, counter-offer or rejection, to communicate the transmission to the device user, to offer for acceptance by the device user any counter-offered composite resources and to iterate the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made or the program or the user determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation, to receive transmitted links relating to the transaction parameter values, and to communicate the information contained in the transmitted links to the device user;

wherein the function of the first transmission by the first party from the second program is to;

     1) increase demand through more favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     2) decrease demand through less favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     3) increase capacity through more favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     4) reduce capacity through less favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     5) increase capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     6) reduce capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     7) obtain employment or independent contractor opportunities;

or,

     8) implement two or more of the above functions at the same time;

wherein the at least one service date and service time is a date and time point or range measure indicating a present or future first date and time when the service is available;

wherein the service availability date and time is related to the availability of at least one service provider resource comprising in part the at least one composite resource;

wherein the at least one service provider resource is a human resource.

4. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing program instructions for controlling a computer to perform a method comprising:

accepting from a first party transaction parameter values related to individual resources and associated composite resources, wherein the associated composite resources each include a collection of at least two of the individual resources, wherein the associated composite resources each have associated therewith at least a service location, a service date, a service time and a transaction price parameter;

storing the data related to the individual resources and the associated composite resources;

constructing internal data structures which link each of the individual resources to associated composite resources and link each of the composite resources to associated individual resources, and which like each composite resource to the first party;

indicating when a capacity of a composite resource exceeds a demand for the composite resource;

modifying, in response to the indication, a transaction price parameter for the composite resource;

accepting from a second party, via computer, at least one user-selected search criterion;

comparing the at least one user-selected search criterion accepted to the accepted transaction parameter values for composite resources;

communicating to the second party at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the potential user'"'"'s at least one user-selected search criterion;

receiving a responding communication from the second party attempting to reserve at least one composite resource with specified transaction parameter values;

evaluating the status of any requested resources to indicate whether they are available for reservation or not, and whether suitable composite resources with alternate transaction parameter values are available;

evaluating the suitability of alternate composite resources based on program instructions accessing decision rules entered by the program administrator, the first party or the second party, to determine an acceptable alternate match between requested and available resources;

determining a reasonable counter-offer given the available composite resources, the reservation request and the results of any previous counter-offers;

determining appropriate transmissions for the acceptance, counter-offer or rejection of the reservation request communicating to the second party to the second party based on the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations at least one of a confirmation of the reservation request, a counter-offer to the reservation request and a rejection of the reservation request;

iterating the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made or the program or the second user determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation;

modifying in response to an acceptable match, at least one of the availability status of the composite resource and a measure of the remaining available capacity of the composite resource;

storing any modification to the availability status or measure in the one or more data stores;

storing information relating to the reservation, including information relating to the first and second parties, in the one or more data stores, and,

transmitting one or more links to the stored information to the first and second party'"'"'s devices;

wherein the function of the first transmission by the first party is to;

     1) increase demand through more favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     2) decrease demand through less favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     3) increase capacity through more favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     4) reduce capacity through less favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     5) increase capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     6) reduce capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     7) obtain employment or independent contractor opportunities;

or,

     8) implement two or more of the above functions at the same time;

wherein the at least one service date and service time is a date and time point or range measure indicating a present or future first date and time when the service is available;

wherein the service availability date and time is related to the availability of at least one service provider resource comprising in part the at least one composite resource;

wherein the at least one service provider resource is a human resource.

5. A computer-based method for producing composite resource transactions, the method comprising:

accepting from a first party transaction parameter values for composite resources, wherein each composite resource has associated therewith at least a service location, a service date, a service time and a transaction price parameter, via a computer device containing a first program with a first program routine programmed to accept transaction parameter values;

transmitting the accepted transaction parameter values through a computer-based communication from the first party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored a second program;

receiving the transmitted transaction parameter values into the second program with a set of program routines programmed to receive (first routine), access second routine) and store (third routine) transaction parameter values into one or more data stores stored in memory on one or more computer devices, said program configured to accept and said one or more data stores configured to contain transaction parameter values from at least two differentiable first parties;

storing the received transaction parameter values through use of the third program routine of the second program into the one or more data stores;

accepting from a second party at least one user-selected search criterion, via a computer device containing a third program with a first program routine programmed to accept search criteria;

transmitting the accepted search criteria through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to one or more computer devices upon which is stored the second program;

receiving the transmitted search criteria into the second program with a fourth program routine programmed to perform a comparison;

comparing the received search criteria to the stored transaction parameter values for composite resources contained within the one or more data stores through the fourth program routine of the second program;

transmitting at least a portion of the transaction parameter values for at least one available composite resource related to the second party'"'"'s search criteria through a computer-based communication from the computer device containing the fourth program routine of the second program performing the comparison to the second party'"'"'s device;

receiving the transmission into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device with a second program routine programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party;

communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the third program to the second party;

accepting from the second party a reservation request for at least one composite resource from the communicated transmission, via a computer device containing the third program with a third program routine programmed to accept reservation requests;

transmitting the reservation request through a computer-based communication from the second party'"'"'s device to the computer device containing the second program;

receiving the transmitted request into the second program with program routines programmed to evaluate the status of any requested resources to indicate whether they are available for reservation or not (fifth routine), and whether suitable composite resources with alternate transaction parameter values are available, said suitability determined by the program based on program instructions accessing decision rules entered by the program administrator, the first party or the second party (sixth routine), said program also able to determine an acceptable match between requested and available resources (seventh routine), said program also able to determine a reasonable counter-offer given the available composite resources, the reservation request and the results of any previous counter-offers (eighth routine), and, said program also able to determine appropriate transmissions for the acceptance, counter-offer or rejection of the reservation request (ninth routine);

performing the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations;

transmitting based on the availability, suitability, counter-offer and transmission determinations at least one of a confirmation of the reservation request, a counter-offer to the reservation request and a rejection of the reservation request, through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the third program contained on the second party'"'"'s device;

receiving the transmitted confirmation, counter-offer or rejection into the third program with program routines programmed to communicate the transmission to the second party (fourth routine), to offer for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine) and to iterate the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

communicating the transmission through the third program to the second party (fourth routine of the third program);

offering for acceptance by the second party any counter-offered composite resources (fifth routine of the third program) and, if the offer is not accepted, iterating the above reservation request steps until a suitability match is successfully made (sixth routine) or the program (seventh routine) or the second user (eighth routine) determines that no suitable composite resource exists for reservation (ninth routine);

modifying through a tenth routine of the second program, in response to an acceptable match, at least one of the availability status of the composite resource and a measure of the remaining available capacity of the composite resource;

storing through an eleventh routine of the second program any modification to the availability status or measure in the one or more data stores;

storing through a twelfth routine of the second program information relating to the reservation, including information relating to the first and second parties, in the one or more data stores;

transmitting through a thirteenth routine of the second program one or more links to the information stored in the one or more data stores through a computer-based communication from the computer device into the first and third programs contained on the first (first program) and second (third program) party'"'"'s devices

receiving the transmitted links into the first and thirda programs containing program routines (second and ninth, respectively) programmed to communicate the links;

communicating the transmission through the second program routine of the first program and ninth program routine of the third program to the first (first program) and second (third program) parties,

wherein the function of the first transmission by the first party is to;

     1) increase demand through more favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     2) decrease demand through less favorable transaction parameter values to potential users of the composite resources;

     3) increase capacity through more favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     4) reduce capacity through less favorable transaction parameter values to service provider resources;

     5) increase capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     6) reduce capacity through changing the composition of resources within the composite resource;

     7) obtain employment or independent contractor opportunities;

or,

     8) implement two or more of the above functions at the same time;

wherein the at least one service date and service time is a date and time point or range measure indicating a present or future first date and time when the service is available;

wherein the service availability date and time is related to the availability of at least one service provider resource comprising in part the at least one composite resource;

wherein the at least one service provider resource is a human resource.