Turfs and skills for multiple technicians

• US 20040111311A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pifer, Terri H., Ingman, Robert Mitchell
• Granted Patent: US 7,451,098 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 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for assigning multiple technicians to turfs and to skills. One method allows a user to interface with an Integrated Dispatch System and assign multiple technicians to a turf. The turf designates a geographic area within a telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the turf are displayed via a graphical user interface on a computer. Another method allows the user to assign multiple technicians to a skill. The skill describes a qualification for installing or for repairing elements of the telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the skill(s) are displayed via the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

allowing a user to interface with an integrated dispatch system and to assign multiple technicians to a turf, the turf designating a geographic area within a telecommunications network; and

displaying the multiple technicians and the turf via a graphical user interface on a computer.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to select at least one day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned to the turf.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying a schedule for the multiple technicians and allowing the user to select a day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned to the turf.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to highlight names of the multiple technicians.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one turf.

6. A method, comprising:

allowing a user to interface with an integrated dispatch system and to assign multiple technicians to a skill, the skill describing a qualification for at least one of i) provisioning a telecommunications network and ii) repairing the telecommunications network; and

displaying the multiple technicians and the skill via a graphical user interface on a computer.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising allowing the user to select at least one day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned to the skill.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying a schedule for the multiple technicians and allowing the user to select a day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned to the skill.

9. A method according to claim 6, further comprising allowing the user to highlight names of the multiple technicians.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising allowing the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one skill.

11. A system, comprising:

an integrated dispatch system stored in a memory device, the integrated dispatch system for managing dispatch of work orders in a telecommunications network, the integrated dispatch system allowing a user to assign multiple technicians to at least one of i) a turf and ii) a skill, the turf designating a geographic area within the telecommunications network, and the skill describing a qualification for at least one of i) provisioning a telecommunications network and ii) repairing the telecommunications network;

a processor communicating with the memory device and applying the turf and the skill to the multiple technicians.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the integrated dispatch system further allows the user to select at least one day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the integrated dispatch system further allows the user to highlight names of the multiple technicians.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the integrated dispatch system further allows the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one turf.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the integrated dispatch system further allows the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one skill.