Computer method and apparatus for automated scheduling

• US 10,241,654 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp. (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp. (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Inventors: Meyer, Paul R., Gravatt, Curtis A., Conrad, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatia, Ajay M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Phoebe X
• Application Number:
  US14/137,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

A computer based scheduling and rescheduling method, apparatus and system for an electronic calendar. The electronic calendar illustrates a time progression of scheduled tasks in a horizontally or vertically oriented view of time. The electronic calendar and its graphical user interface (GUI) provide a viewing pattern for the user. Direction in the viewing pattern is synonymous with increasing/decreasing dates-times in the time progression of scheduled tasks. A scheduling-rescheduling engine schedules into the calendar user requested tasks and automatically reschedules impacted previously scheduled tasks. The scheduling-rescheduling engine also schedules user selected resources (e.g., people, robots, tools, etc.) per scheduled task.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing an automatic visual scheduler comprising:

using a digital processor;

providing an electronic calendar that displays scheduled tasks in a time progression and in time order of respective task start date and times, wherein the electronic calendar is displayed by the digital processor;

providing a graphical user interface to the electronic calendar that employs drag and drop technology; and

in response to user interaction with the electronic calendar as displayed by the digital processor, automatically;

(i) scheduling a user requested unscheduled task and rescheduling any affected previously scheduled tasks and associated resources in the calendar, and (ii) assigning a user requested resource to execute the user requested scheduled task, the assigning automatically determining availability of the assigned user requested resource during date and times of the user requested scheduled task,

such that the calendar maintains a logically correct schedule of resources and tasks including the user-requested task and the previously scheduled tasks, wherein the user interaction includes;

dragging and dropping a visual representation of the user requested unscheduled task into the calendar at a certain date and time, wherein the digital processor displays the dragged and dropped visual representation in the calendar at the certain date and time as the user requested scheduled task, and

dragging and dropping a working visual indication of the user requested resource onto the displayed visual representation of the user requested scheduled task in the calendar, in response to the dragging and dropping of the working visual indication of the user requested resource, the digital processor automatically determines if the user requested resource is available during the certain date and time of the user requested scheduled task, and if available, automatically displaying the dragged and dropped working visual indication in the calendar as the assigned user requested resource.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic calendar displays scheduled tasks in time order of respective start date and times such that increasing date and time of the time progression is illustrated in a same direction as increasing date and time of viewing pattern of the electronic calendar.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the direction of increasing date and time is left to right.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface to the electronic calendar implements a horizontally oriented viewing pattern by progressing views of the calendar from one side to an opposite side of a display screen to display scheduled tasks and associated dates or times into the future relative to currently displayed dates and times, and vice versa to display scheduled tasks and associated dates and times backward in time.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the user interaction includes dragging and dropping a task into a date and time position in the electronic calendar.

6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

in response to user interaction with a user-selected scheduled task displayed in the electronic calendar, automatically rescheduling the user-selected task to a user requested date and time, and automatically rescheduling any impacted other scheduled tasks in the calendar.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the automatically rescheduling of any impacted other scheduled tasks employs linear rescheduling.

8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rescheduling of any affected previously scheduled tasks is a linear rescheduling based on duration of each scheduled task and availability of valid work date-times for tasks.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the scheduled tasks are work tasks of at least one of shop order operations and manufacturing production.

10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1 wherein automatically determining the availability of the assigned user requested resource includes determining whether the assigned user requested resource is scheduled to execute another task during the date and times of the user requested scheduled task.

11. A computer system for providing an automatic visual scheduler, the computer system comprising:

a digital processor and associated memory coupled to provide at least one electronic calendar that displays scheduled tasks in a time progression oriented so as to have a viewing pattern that is synonymous with sense of time, and the electronic calendar displays scheduled tasks in time order of respective start date and times;

a graphical user interface executed by the digital processor and operatively coupled to the electronic calendar, the graphical user interface configured to employ drag and drop technology; and

a scheduling engine executed by the digital processor and operatively coupled to the graphical user interface, the scheduling engine-responsive to user interaction with the electronic calendar as displayed by the digital processor and automatically;

(i) scheduling a user requested unscheduled task and rescheduling any affected previously scheduled tasks and associated resources in the electronic calendar, and (ii) assigning a user requested resource to execute the user requested scheduled task, the assigning automatically determining availability of the assigned user requested resource during date and times of the user requested scheduled task,

such that the calendar maintains a logically correct schedule of resources and tasks including the user-requested task and the previously scheduled tasks, wherein the user interaction includes;

dragging and dropping a visual representation of the user requested unscheduled task into the electronic calendar at a certain date and time via the graphical user interface, wherein the scheduling engine displays the dragged and dropped visual representation in the calendar at the certain date and time as the user requested scheduled task, and

dragging and dropping a working visual indication of the user requested resource onto the displayed visual representation of the user requested scheduled task in the calendar, in response to the dragging and dropping of the working visual indication of the user requested resource, the scheduling engine automatically determines if the user requested resource is available during the certain date and time of the user requested scheduled task, and if available, automatically displaying the dragged and dropped working visual indication in the calendar as the assigned user requested resource;

wherein the digital processor displays views of the electronic calendar on a display monitor communicatively coupled to the digital processor.

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein increasing date and time of the time progression is illustrated in a same direction as increasing date and time of the viewing pattern.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the direction of increasing date and time is left to right.

14. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a graphical user interface coupled to the electronic calendar and implementing a horizontally oriented viewing pattern by progressing views of the calendar from one side of the display monitor to an opposite side to display scheduled tasks at dates and times into the future relative to currently displayed dates and times, and vice versa to display scheduled tasks at dates and times backwards in time.

15. The computer system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the user interaction includes dragging and dropping a task into a date and time position in the electronic calendar.

16. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the scheduling engine is further configured to, in response to user interaction with a user-selected scheduled task displayed in the electronic calendar, automatically reschedule the user-selected task to a user requested date and time, and automatically reschedule any impacted other scheduled tasks in the calendar.

17. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the scheduling engine employs linear rescheduling.

18. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the scheduled tasks are work tasks of at least one of shop order operations, and manufacturing production.

19. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 wherein automatically determining the availability of the assigned user requested resource includes determining whether the assigned user requested resource is scheduled to execute another task during the date and times of the user requested scheduled task.

20. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium holding computer code instructions thereon, the computer code instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause an automatic visual scheduler to;

provide one or more electronic calendars and support user manipulation of any of the electronic calendars;

display scheduled tasks in the electronic calendar, said display being in a time progression along a horizontally oriented viewing pattern;

provide a graphical user interface to the electronic calendar that employs drag and drop technology; and

in response to user interaction with the electronic calendar, automatically;

(i) schedule a user requested task and reschedule any impacted previously scheduled tasks and associated resources in the electronic calendar, and (ii) assign a user requested resource to execute the user requested scheduled task, the assigning automatically determining availability of the assigned user requested resource during date and times of the user requested scheduled task

such that the electronic calendar maintains a logically correct schedule of resources and tasks including the user-selected task and the previously scheduled tasks, wherein the user interaction includes;

dragging and dropping a visual representation of the user requested unscheduled task into the calendar at a certain date and time, wherein the at least one processor displays the dragged and dropped visual representation in the calendar at the certain date and time as the user requested scheduled task, and

dragging and dropping a working visual indication of the user requested resource onto the displayed visual representation of the user requested scheduled task in the calendar, in response to the dragging and dropping of the working visual indication of the user requested resource, the at least one processor automatically determines if the user requested resource is available during the certain date and time of the user requested scheduled task, and if available, automatically displaying the dragged and dropped working visual indication in the calendar as the assigned user requested resource.