System and method for preference scheduling of staffing resources
First Claim
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1. A method for scheduling a plurality of staff, comprising:
- receiving scheduling constraints;
preparing an initial schedule based on the scheduling constraints, the preparing based on a resource preference of at least one of the plurality of staff;
receiving scheduling strategies, the scheduling strategies being selectively input; and
optimizing the initial schedule based on the received scheduling strategies to produce an optimized schedule.
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Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for scheduling resources. In one respect, embodiments of the invention allow workers to indicate preferences for specific shifts during a planning horizon, within limitations imposed by the scheduling system. Embodiments of the system and method seek to meet all hard constraints, and utilize a flexible scoring technique to minimize the violation of soft constraints. Embodiments also consider the substitution of higher skilled workers in cases where there is an unmet demand for lower skilled workers.
99 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for scheduling a plurality of staff, comprising:
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receiving scheduling constraints;
preparing an initial schedule based on the scheduling constraints, the preparing based on a resource preference of at least one of the plurality of staff;
receiving scheduling strategies, the scheduling strategies being selectively input; and
optimizing the initial schedule based on the received scheduling strategies to produce an optimized schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for scheduling a plurality of staff, comprising:
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preparing a staff schedule for a first time horizon; and
optimizing the staff schedule for a second time horizon, the second time horizon being shorter than the first time horizon, the optimizing being based on a cost parameter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for optimizing a staffing schedule, comprising:
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selecting a first resource type in the staffing schedule;
generating a first alternative schedule for the first resource type;
determining whether the first alternative schedule for the first resource type meets a predetermined plurality of hard constraints; and
if the first alternative schedule for the first resource type meets the predetermined plurality of hard constraints, calculating a first penalty score based on a first deviation from a plurality of soft constraints, the plurality of hard constraints being mandatory scheduling criteria, the plurality of soft constraints being optional scheduling criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for producing a staff schedule, comprising:
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identifying a first staff schedule, the first staff schedule being a candidate to swap with a second staff schedule, the first staff schedule being associated with a first staff person, the second staff schedule being associated with a second staff person, the first staff schedule and the second staff schedule being portions of the staff schedule;
sending a private message from the first staff person to the second staff person offering a swap between at least a portion of the first staff schedule and at least a portion of the second staff schedule; and
updating the staff schedule based on the private message. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for suggesting staffing changes, comprising:
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calculating at least one of overstaffing and understaffing for a shift;
specifying at least one of a modification limit and an addition limit, the modification limit based on at least one of a skill type and a shift pattern, the addition limit based on a quantity of staff that can be one of added and reduced; and
determining whether the modification limit is zero. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving scheduling constraints;
preparing an initial schedule based on the scheduling constraints, the preparing based on a resource preference of at least one of the plurality of staff;
receiving scheduling strategies, the scheduling strategies being selectively input; and
optimizing the initial schedule based on the received scheduling strategies to produce an optimized schedule.
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20. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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preparing a staff schedule for a first time horizon; and
optimizing the staff schedule for a second time horizon, the second time horizon being shorter than the first time horizon, the optimizing being based on a cost parameter.
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21. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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selecting a first resource type in the staffing schedule;
generating a first alternative schedule for the first resource type;
determining whether the first alternative schedule for the first resource type meets a predetermined plurality of hard constraints; and
if the first alternative schedule for the first resource type meets the predetermined plurality of hard constraints, calculating a first penalty score based on a first deviation from a plurality of soft constraints, the plurality of hard constraints being mandatory scheduling criteria, the plurality of soft constraints being optional scheduling criteria.
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22. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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identifying a first staff schedule, the first staff schedule being a candidate to swap with a second staff schedule, the first staff schedule being associated with a first staff person, the second staff schedule being associated with a second staff person;
sending a private message from the first staff person to the second staff person offering a swap between at least a portion of the first staff schedule and at least a portion of the second staff schedule; and
editing the staffing schedule based on the private message.
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23. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising:
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calculating at least one of overstaffing and understaffing for a shift;
specifying at least one of a modification limit and an addition limit, the modification limit based on at least one of a skill type and a shift pattern, the addition limit based on a quantity of staff that can be one of added and reduced; and
determining whether the modification limit is zero.
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Specification