System and method for scheduling events and associated products and services

• US 20020016729A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aramark Services, Inc. (Aramark)
• Original Assignee: Aramark
• Inventors: Matranga, John J., Low, Marty, Breitenbach, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method that allows an individual event participant to schedule and/or status an event and the provisions of one or more ancillary tasks associated with the event. The scheduling of the provisions of the event and ancillary tasks and sub-tasks associated with the event are performed by the event participant without the intervention of a centralized event planner using a system that provides for integrated scheduling of resources and calendaring of people within a common event-based scheduling system. The event-based scheduling system provides vertical integration of multiple sub-tasks within an individual task and horizontal integration of each sub-tasks across multiple tasks. The event-based scheduling system and method include an event-based scheduling application which automates and integrates all the task and sub-tasks required to plan, conduct, status, and report a complex event or process. The system and method allow real time scheduling and status monitoring of the event and the products and services associated with the event. The system components and subsystems are interconnected via a network and may be accessible via, for example, the Internet.

Claims

1. An event-based scheduling system that allows individual event participants to schedule an event and the provisions of at least two tasks associated with said event, comprising:

an event scheduling interface that accepts data from an individual event participant relating to said event; and

an event-based scheduling system responsive to data from said event scheduling interface, said data relating to at least two tasks associated with said event, said event-based scheduling system scheduling the provisions of said at least two tasks at the request of said event participant and linking each of said at least two tasks to said event within said event-based scheduling system,

whereby said scheduling of said provisions of said event and said at least two tasks are performed by said individual event participant at a computing platform without the intervention of a centralized event planner.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides for the integrated scheduling of at least two tasks and at least two sub-tasks, wherein each of said at least two tasks comprises a service that is a component to said event and wherein each of said at least two sub-tasks comprises common steps which an event participant would need to go through in order to complete each of said tasks.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides horizontal integration of each sub-task across each and every task such that the functionality of each sub-task is provided across multiple tasks and also provides vertical integration of multiple sub-tasks within each task such that the functionality of said multiple sub-tasks is provided within each task.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides for interoperability between and across multiple providers of said tasks and multiple providers of said sub-tasks.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides for the scheduling of resources and calendaring of people.

6. The system of claim 1, said event-based scheduling system provides for the scheduling of a plurality of related events comprising a process, wherein said process comprises an integration of said plurality of related events over a period of time.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein data relating to said process is collected, correlated, and aggregated by said event-based scheduling system so as to be used for at least one of pattern recognition, benchmarking, and business process improvement.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system comprises a hosted and centralized processing and data collection system for scheduling events, aggregating data relating to said scheduled events, and reporting said aggregation of data relating to said events.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system comprises a distributed system having decentralized processing and data collection system for scheduling events, aggregating data relating to said scheduled events, and reporting said aggregation of data relating to said events, wherein said distributed system comprises a plurality of remote servers each having an event scheduling interface and each remote server being connected through a communication link for communicating event data among said plurality of remote servers.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of service provider interfaces that allow individual service providers to access and interact with said event-based scheduling system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said event-based scheduling system and said service provider interfaces are connected together via at least one of an Internet, an Intranet, an Extranet, a Web-based network, a WAN, a LAN, a wired network, a wireless network, and a virtual private network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system has an open system architecture capable of interacting with multiple outside business partners that are enabled through said event-based scheduling system for at least one of service procurement, fulfillment, and reporting.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein said tasks and said sub-tasks further comprise a plurality of service modules, wherein each service module provides at least one product or service typically associated with said event and wherein each of said service modules is linked to said event.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides a modularity function whereby at least one incumbent resource scheduling or personnel calendaring system may be accommodated as one of said tasks or said sub-tasks.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said tasks are associated with and made dependent upon said event when said event and said tasks are scheduled such that said tasks are automatically modified when characteristics of said event are modified.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said event-based scheduling system automatically makes changes to appropriate provisions of all tasks associated with a particular event in response to a change in said characteristics of said particular event.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system further provides for real-time status monitoring of said event and said tasks associated with said event.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said data relating to said event comprises data describing any meeting or gathering of, or communication between, more than one person at a specific time, including but not limited to an in-person meeting, a telephonic meeting, an electronic meeting, an audio meeting, and a visual meeting.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said tasks comprise a collection of predetermined products and services typically needed for events in a trade.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said tasks are grouped into at least one module, wherein each module is selected from a group comprising:

a conference room module including meeting room location, room capacity, and room availability;

a catering module;

an audio/visual module;

a copying module;

a maintenance and repair module;

a calendaring module;

a travel module;

a janitorial module;

a mail room and mail distribution module;

a hotel module;

a temporary labor module;

a temporary office space module;

a concierge module;

a personal assistant service module;

a parking module; and

an office equipment and office supplies module.

21. The system of claim 2, wherein said sub-tasks are grouped into at least one module, wherein each module is selected from a group comprising:

an order module;

a transmit order module;

a status/confirm order module;

a delivery module;

a bill order module, a pay order module;

a report module, a customer survey module; and

an accounting module.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said event scheduling interface allows individual event participants to access, schedule, and/or status monitor in real time said event and said tasks associated with said event.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one back end interface that provides access to said event-based scheduling system to allow one of a service provider and an outside vendor to perform at least one of acknowledge receipt of, accept, and status monitor a request for at least one task associated with said event.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one administrator user interface that provides access to said event-based scheduling system to allow an administrator to manage and administer said scheduling system by performing at least one of prioritizing, allocating, resolving conflicts, and approving said events and said associated tasks within said scheduling system.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said event scheduling interface comprises at least one of a home page, a navigation bar for navigating through said event-based scheduling system, a listing of a plurality of modules each containing information relating to at least one of said tasks available within said event-based scheduling system, and an event calendar.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system comprises:

a processor that receives, processes, and monitors the status of said event data and at lease two tasks associated with said event; and

an output device coupled to said processor for outputting said event data and said tasks associated with said event for use in scheduling and status monitoring of said event and said tasks associated with said event.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides a conflict resolution system that resolves conflicts among at least one event participant in scheduling said event and said tasks associated with said event based on a predefined system hierarchy.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said predefined system hierarchy is based on one of an event participant title, an event participant rank, an event participant seniority, and an event priority.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein said computing platform comprises at least one of a personal computer, a wired or wireless phone, a PDA, and a handheld computer.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein said tasks are performed by at least one of a resource management system, a financial system, a communication system, a calendaring system, an email system, and a scheduling application integrated with and interoperable with said event-based scheduling system.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system automatically notifies event participants identified in a scheduled event and at least one service provider associated with said scheduled event of scheduling changes associated with said scheduled event in response to a change to said scheduled event.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system determines an optimal selection and best fit for said event and said tasks associated with said event based on said data inputted by said event participant and an availability of said tasks.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides access to a plurality of independent product and service providers for fulfillment of one or more of said tasks, wherein said product and service providers are pre-selected and data relating to each product and service provider is stored by said event-based scheduling system and can be accessed by said event participant from said computing platform.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein said event-based scheduling system provides for requesting at least one product or service typically associated with said event from one of an internal service provider, an external service provider, and a third party service vendor.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a multi-directional communication link with said internal service provider, said external service provider, and said third party service vendor that facilitates communications of one of:

confirmation of receipt of said request at one of said product/service providers;

acceptance to fulfill said request;

communication of status information regarding said requested event and any products and services associated with said event; and

confirmation of fulfillment of said request.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

prompting said event participant to input sub-task data relating to at least two common sub-tasks of said at least two tasks required to support said event;

storing said sub-task data in said database and linking said sub-task data to said event; and

scheduling each of said at least two sub-tasks using said sub-task data input by said event participant.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said step of storing and linking said sub-task data further comprises the steps of:

vertically linking each task to said event and multiple sub-tasks within each task, wherein said vertical linking provides for one or more of data collection, data aggregation, and data reporting of the provisions of said tasks and sub-tasks required to support said event; and

horizontally linking multiple sub-tasks across said at least two tasks, wherein said horizontal linking integrates the functionality of each sub-task across said at least two tasks.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of scheduling said at least two tasks further comprises the steps of:

scheduling availability of a resource at said event;

calendaring personnel who are to attend said event; and

calendaring personnel who are to provide services in support of said event.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of automatically modifying said tasks and said sub-tasks associated with said event based on a change to said event.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of providing real-time status information relating to said event, and said tasks and sub-tasks associated with said event.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of notifying a provider of said tasks and said sub-tasks of the time and place of said event.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

collecting data relating to said event, and resources and personnel associated with said event;

aggregating said collected data; and

generating reports relating to said event, and said resources and said personnel associated with said event using said collected and aggregated data.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein said prompting steps further comprise the steps of:

prompting the event participant to select said tasks from a menu selection or input said tasks into an input field; and

processing said selected tasks to ensure no conflict exists with a previously scheduled event or tasks.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said transmitting step further comprises the steps of transmitting a request/order over a communication network to a provider of a selected task or sub-task.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said communication network is the Internet.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein said step of associating said ancillary tasks and sub-tasks with said event further comprises the steps of:

integrating said tasks and sub-tasks with said event; and

integrating said sub-tasks across each of said individual tasks, wherein each individual sub-task controls a common function across a plurality of tasks.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of a request/order sent to a task provider; and

receiving an acceptance of said request/order from said task provider, indicating that said task provider promises to fulfill said request/order.

50. The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of generating a bill and receiving payment for said requested/ordered tasks based on at least one of said event participant, a location of said computing platform where said request/order was generated, and billing/payment data stored in said database.

36. A method of scheduling an event and ancillary tasks associated with said event using an event-based scheduling system, the method comprising the steps of:

prompting an event participant to input event data relating to the time and place of an event;

storing said inputted event data in a database in connection with said event;

scheduling the time and place of said event based on said event data inputted by said event participant;

prompting said event participant to input task data relating to at least two tasks required to support said event;

storing said task data in said database and linking said task data to said event; and

scheduling each of said at least two tasks using said task data input by said event participant.

45. In a computerized system, an event-based method of scheduling an event, and at least two tasks and at least two sub-tasks associated with said event, said method comprising:

establishing a computing platform for use by an event participant in scheduling an event and at least two ancillary tasks and sub-tasks associated with said event, said computing platform including a processor and a database of providers of said tasks and said sub-tasks;

scheduling an event using event data received from said event participant at said computing platform;

providing said event participant with a selection of said tasks and said sub-tasks from said database based on said event data received from said event participant;

scheduling said ancillary tasks and sub-tasks based on selections received from said event participant at said computing platform;

associating said ancillary tasks and sub-tasks with said event;

generating a request/order to a provider for each of said tasks and sub-tasks based on said selections; and

transmitting each request/order to each provider of each selected task and sub-task.

51. A server system for operating an event-based scheduling application that allows an event participant to schedule an event and at least two tasks comprising ancillary products and services associated with said event, said server system comprising:

a server interface for receiving data relating to said event and said at least two tasks associated with said event from an event participant;

a server connected to said server interface, said server comprising a database for storing said received data and an operating system connected to said database; and

an event-based scheduling application operable by said operating system to cause said server to receive said event and task data from said server interface and to store said event and task data in said database, to process said event and task data in order to schedule said event and said tasks, and to associate said at least two tasks with said event in said database.

52. The server system of claim 51, further comprising a network for connecting a plurality of computing platforms to said server interface, said network allowing real-time scheduling of said event and said at least two tasks and allowing status monitoring of scheduled events and tasks by individual event participants at one of said plurality of computing platforms.

53. The server system of claim 51, wherein said event-based scheduling application comprises at least two task modules, wherein each of said at least two task modules comprise one of:

a conference room module comprising meeting room location, room capacity, and room availability;

a catering module;

an audio/visual module;

a copying module;

a maintenance and repair module;

a calendaring module;

a travel module;

a janitorial module;

a mail room and mail distribution module;

a hotel module;

a temporary labor module;

a temporary office space module;

a concierge module;

a personal assistant service module;

a parking module; and

an office equipment and office supplies module, wherein said event-based scheduling application provides for scheduling, generating requests, canceling/modifying, and status monitoring for each task module.

54. The server system of claim 51, wherein said event-based scheduling application further comprises at least two sub-tasks, wherein each of said at least two sub-tasks comprise one of:

an order entry sub-task module for ordering said ancillary products and services of said tasks;

an order transmittal sub-task module for transmitting an order to one of an internal service provider, an external service provider, and a third party vendor;

a status/confirm order sub-task module for confirming an order has been transmitted and to check the status of a transmitted order;

a deliver order sub-task module for accepting to fulfill said transmitted order;

a bill order sub-task module for generating a bill for said delivered products and services;

a pay bill sub-task module for affecting payment of said bill for said delivered products and services; and

a report sub-task module for collecting and reporting data relating to said event and said tasks associated with said event.

55. The server system of claim 51, wherein said event-based scheduling application further comprises a linking function that links each task to said event, multiple sub-task modules within each task module, and multiple sub-task modules across multiple task modules.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising reporting fulfillment of said transmitted requests/orders based on a response from said provider of said product or service.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising integrating each of said at least two tasks with said event so that said tasks are automatically changed when said event is changed.

59. The method of claim 56, further comprising integrating each of the at least two sub-tasks within and across each task so that each sub-task fulfills its functionality within each individual task and also across multiple tasks.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising collecting and aggregating data relating to said event, said at least two tasks, and at least two sub-tasks for use by one of said event participant and said providers of said products and services in benchmarking performance and improving a business process.

56. A method that allows an event participant to schedule an event and at least two ancillary products and services associated with said event, said method comprising:

establishing at least one server having a database of providers of products and services and a processor for processing data received from said event participant;

providing a server interface that allows said event participant to access said server to schedule an event and to select among available ancillary products and services associated with said event;

receiving via said server interface data relating to an event entered by said event participant;

displaying a selection of said products and services from said database to said event participant based on said received event data;

receiving selections of said ancillary products and services associated with said event selected by said event participant via said server interface;

generating at least one request/order for said selected products and services based on said selection by the event participant; and

transmitting said generated request/order to a corresponding product/service provider.