Multi-dimensional visualization and resource evaluation system

• US 10,275,912 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Mary Elizabeth, Dyer, Taurean
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Jacinta M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doan, Phuc N
• Application Number:
  US15/798,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20190130612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/08 Globes celestial globes G09B27/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

Resource visualization, evaluation, and selection is often a difficult, complex, technically challenging endeavor. This is particularly true when there the resource set is extensive, the resources have widely varying attributes and capabilities, and the resources are also widely disbursed geographically. A multi-dimensional resource evaluation and visualization system implements technical solutions to these technical challenges.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a geographic data storage layer configured to store;

topographic rendering data for a pre-determined geography; and

time zone boundaries that divide the pre-determined geography into different time zones;

a resource data storage layer configured to store;

resource identifiers for available resources in the pre-determined geography;

resource locations for the available resources in the pre-determined geography; and

resource descriptors for the available resources;

a project data storage layer configured to store;

a project path definition comprising path waypoints;

waypoint descriptors for the path waypoints, the waypoint descriptors including;

resource reservation flags;

project input/output requirements;

timing specifiers; and

resource requirements;

virtual reality interface circuitry in communication with the geographic data storage layer, the resource data storage layer, and the project data storage layer, the virtual reality interface circuitry comprising a VR processor configured to;

control one or more control peripheral interfaces to connect with virtual reality control peripherals;

control view rendering circuitry to generate a resource analysis visualization comprising the available resources rendered on the pre-determined geography and the path waypoints rendered on the pre-determined geography;

control view guidance circuitry to;

accept guidance inputs from the virtual reality control peripherals and direct the view rendering circuitry to update the resource analysis visualization responsive to the guidance inputs; and

accept selection inputs from the virtual reality control peripherals that specify selected resources among the available resources for designated waypoints among the path waypoints; and

communication circuitry comprising a communication processor configured to control transmission of resource selection messages to the selected resources for the designated waypoints; and

path planning circuitry comprising a path planning processor configured to;

determine a waypoint distribution of at least one of the path waypoints across a selected time zone boundary and into a different time zone than other path waypoints to define a segment of continuous project flow;

and where;

the view rendering circuitry is responsive to the waypoint distribution by;

generating the resource analysis visualization to show the path waypoints located across the selected time zone boundary; and

generating the resource analysis visualization to show available resources specific to time zones in which the path waypoints are located according to the waypoint distribution.

2. A system comprising:

a data storage layer configured to store;

a project path definition comprising path waypoints located within a pre-determined geography;

geographic data representing the pre-determined geography; and

resource descriptors for available resources within the pre-determined geography; and

visualization circuitry in communication with the data storage layer, the visualization circuitry comprising a visualization processor configured to;

control view rendering circuitry to render a resource analysis visualization comprising;

the pre-determined geography represented by the geographic data;

the path waypoints rendered on the pre-determined geography; and

resource identifiers rendered on the pre-determined geography and linked to the resource descriptors;

control view guidance circuitry to;

accept guidance inputs from input devices; and

direct the view rendering circuitry to update the resource analysis visualization responsive to the guidance inputs;

path planning circuitry comprising a path planning processor configured to;

determine a waypoint distribution of at least one of the path waypoints across a selected time zone boundary and into a different time zone than other path waypoints to define a segment of continuous project flow;

where the visualization circuitry further comprises providing a control peripheral interface configured to;

connect with control peripherals;

receive the guidance inputs for the resource analysis visualization from the control peripherals; and

deliver the guidance inputs to the view guidance circuitry;

where the data storage layer comprises a geographic data storage layer configured to store;

topographic rendering data for the pre-determined geography; and

time zone boundaries that divide the pre-determined geography into different time zones;

where the view rendering circuitry is configured to respond to the waypoint distribution by one of;

generating the resource analysis visualization to show the path waypoints located across the selected time zone boundary;

or

generating the resource analysis visualization to show available resources specific to time zones in which the path waypoints are located according to the waypoint distribution.

3. The system of claim 2, where the visualization circuitry further comprises:

the control peripheral interface configured to;

connect with the control peripherals;

receive resource selection inputs with respect to the resource identifiers from the control peripherals; and

deliver the resource selection inputs to the view guidance circuitry.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

communication circuitry configured to transmit resource selection messages to selected resources corresponding to the resource selection inputs.

5. The system of claim 2, where:

the data storage layer comprises;

a resource data storage layer configured to store;

resource identifiers for the available resources in the pre-determined geography;

resource locations for the available resources in the pre-determined geography; and

the resource descriptors for the available resources.

6. The system of claim 2, where:

the data storage layer comprises;

a project data storage layer configured to store;

a project path definition comprising the path waypoints;

waypoint descriptors for the path waypoints, the waypoint descriptors including;

resource reservation flags;

project input/output requirements;

timing specifiers; and

resource requirements.

7. A method comprising:

providing a data storage layer configured to store;

a project path definition comprising path waypoints located within a pre-determined geography;

geographic data representing the pre-determined geography; and

resource descriptors for available resources within the pre-determined geography; and

providing visualization circuitry in communication with the data storage layer, the visualization circuitry comprising a visualization processor configured to;

control view rendering circuitry to render a resource analysis visualization comprising;

the pre-determined geography represented by the geographic data;

the path waypoints rendered on the pre-determined geography; and

resource identifiers rendered on the pre-determined geography and linked to the resource descriptors;

control view guidance circuitry to;

accept guidance inputs from input devices; and

direct the view rendering circuitry to update the resource analysis visualization responsive to the guidance inputs;

providing path planning circuitry comprising a path planning processor configured to;

determine a waypoint distribution of at least one of the path waypoints across a selected time zone boundary and into a different time zone than other path waypoints to define a segment of continuous project flow;

where the visualization circuitry further comprises providing a control peripheral interface configured to;

connect with control peripherals;

receive the guidance inputs for the resource analysis visualization from the control peripherals; and

deliver the guidance inputs to the view guidance circuitry;

where providing the data storage layer comprises providing a geographic data storage layer configured to store;

topographic rendering data for the pre-determined geography; and

time zone boundaries that divide the pre-determined geography into different time zones;

where the view rendering circuitry is responsive to the waypoint distribution by;

generating the resource analysis visualization to show the path waypoints located across the selected time zone boundary; and

where the view rendering circuitry is responsive to the waypoint distribution by;

generating the resource analysis visualization to show available resources specific to time zones in which the path waypoints are located according to the waypoint distribution.

8. The method of claim 7, where the visualization circuitry further comprises:

providing the control peripheral interface configured to;

connect with the control peripherals;

receive resource selection inputs with respect to the resource identifiers from the control peripherals; and

deliver the resource selection inputs to the view guidance circuitry.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing communication circuitry configured to transmit resource selection messages to selected resources corresponding to the resource selection inputs.