Methods and systems for assigning multiple tasks

• US 20040111313A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dennis, Gary J., Garris, Charlie, Ingman, Robert Mitchell, Primelles, Oscar J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,434 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 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for assigning multiple tasks to a technician. One method allows a user to interface with an Integrated Dispatch System and assign multiple tasks to at least one technician. Each task describes a repair of a telecommunications network. The method displays a graphical user interface on a computer, and the graphical user interface indicates the assignment of the multiple tasks.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

allowing a user to interface with an integrated dispatch system;

assigning multiple tasks to at least one technician, each task describing at least one of provisioning and repair of a telecommunications network; and

displaying a graphical user interface on a computer, the graphical user interface indicating the assignment of the multiple tasks.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the multiple tasks are assigned independent of the technician'"'"'s schedule.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the multiple tasks are assigned independent of a duration of the task.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician, the quantity of tasks to be completed by a predefined time.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising reassigning any tasks not completed by a predefined time.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning multiple tasks comprises assigning at least one service order for the telecommunications network.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning multiple tasks comprises assigning at least one repair order for the telecommunications network.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning multiple tasks comprises assigning similar tasks to the at least one technician.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning similar tasks to the at least one technician comprises assigning a job type to the at least one technician.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the multiple tasks to at least one technician comprises assigning the multiple tasks to a group of technicians.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the multiple tasks to at least one technician comprises assigning the multiple tasks by geographic area.

13. 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 tasks to at least one technician, each task describing a repair of a telecommunications network; and

a processor communicating with the memory device.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System further allows the user to select at least one day for which the multiple technicians will be assigned.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System assigns the multiple tasks independent of the technician'"'"'s schedule.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System assigns the multiple tasks independent of a duration of the task.

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System allows the user to specify a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician.

18. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System allows the user to specify a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician, the quantity of tasks to be completed by a predefined time.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System reassigns any tasks not completed by a predefined time.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein the Integrated Dispatch System assigns the multiple tasks by geographic area.