Scheduling integration for providing business automation

• US 20080167911A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hatakeda, Darrin N.
• Application Number:
  US11/651,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167911A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

Scheduling integration is provided for business automation. Schedules and rules are set up for entities of a service business. When scheduling modifications are received, the schedules and rules for the service entities are considered for conflict. When a conflict does not exist, the scheduling modifications are associated with the schedules for the service entities. The scheduling histories are tracked and the tracked scheduling histories are leveraged by business automation utilities to provide automated tools-to the service business. In this manner, global scheduling is automated, scheduling modifications are automated and scheduling histories are leverage by business automation utilities. Thus, business efficiency increases and customer experience is enhanced.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing integrated business automation tools through schedule integration, the method comprising:

providing a business service schedule and a business service rule for a business service, wherein the business service rule includes a rule governing the allocation of reservations to employees of the business;

providing an employee schedule for an employee of the business;

receiving a reservation from a customer, wherein the reservation includes a time and date for a service;

automatically updating the business service schedule with the time and date for the service; and

automatically updating the employee schedule with the time and date for the service, wherein the time and date are updated to the employee schedule in accordance with the business service rule.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an employee rule associated with the employee of the business;

receiving a modification to the employee schedule;

automatically determining whether the modification conflicts with the employee rule;

automatically rejecting the modification when the modification conflicts with the employee rule; and

automatically allowing the modification when the modification does not conflict with the employee rule.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

notifying the customer according to a customer rule when the modification is allowed.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a resource schedule for a resource of the business; and

updating the resource schedule with the time and date for the service, wherein the time and date are updated to the resource schedule in accordance with the business service rule.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a resource rule associated with the resources of the business;

receiving a modification to the resource schedule;

automatically determining whether the modification conflicts with the resource rule;

automatically rejecting the modification when the modification conflicts with the resource rule; and

automatically allowing the modification when the modification does not conflict with the resource rule.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

notifying the customer according to a customer rule when the modification is allowed.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the reservation includes a customer rule that indicates a mode of notification.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the business service schedule and employee schedule to generate customized reports associated with a business automation utility.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a resource schedule for resources of the business;

updating the resource schedule with the time and date for the service, wherein the time and date are updated to the resource schedule in accordance with the business service rule;

providing an employee rule associated with the employee of the business;

providing a resource rule associated with the resources of the business;

receiving an employee modification to the employee schedule;

automatically determining whether the employee modification conflicts with the employee rule;

automatically rejecting the employee modification when the employee modification conflicts with the employee rule;

automatically allowing the employee modification when the employee modification does not conflict with the employee rule;

receiving a resource modification to the resource schedule;

automatically determining whether the resource modification conflicts with the resource rule;

automatically rejecting the resource modification when the resource modification conflicts with the resource rule; and

automatically allowing the resource modification when the resource modification does not conflict with the resource rule.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the business includes an online presence service for providing online reservation utilities to the customer.

11. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for providing integrated business automation tools through schedule integration, the instructions comprising:

providing a business service schedule and a business service rule for a business service, wherein the business service schedule includes the hours and dates of operation of the business service, wherein the business service rule includes a rule governing the allocation of reservations to employees of the business;

providing an employee schedule and an employee rule for an employee of the business, wherein the employee schedule includes work shifts for the employee, wherein the employee rule includes an employee schedule modification rule governing modification of the employee schedule;

providing a resource schedule and a resource rule for resources of the business, wherein the resource schedule includes resource availability for the resources, wherein the resource rule includes a resource modification rule governing modification of the resource schedule;

receiving a reservation from a customer, wherein the reservation includes a time and date for a service;

updating the business service schedule with the time and date for the service;

updating the employee schedule with the time and date for the service, wherein the time and date are updated to the employee schedule in accordance with the business service rule; and

updating the resource schedule with the time and date for the service, wherein the time and date are updated to the resource schedule in accordance with the business service rule.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a modification to the business service schedule;

automatically modifying the employee schedule according to the modification;

automatically modifying the resource schedule according to the modification;

automatically notifying the employee of the business according to an employee notification rule; and

automatically notifying customers according to a customer notification rule.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a modification to the employee schedule;

automatically determining whether the modification conflicts with the employee rule;

automatically denying the modification when the modification conflicts with the employee rule; and

automatically setting the modification in the employee schedule when the modification does not conflict with the employee rule.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising:

notifying the customer according to a customer rule when the modification is allowed.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a modification to the resource schedule;

automatically determining whether the modification conflicts with the resource rule;

automatically denying the modification when the modification conflicts with the resource rule; and

automatically setting the modification in the resource schedule when the modification does not conflict with the resource rule.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

notifying the customer according to a customer rule when the modification is allowed.

17. A system for providing integrate business automation tools through schedule integration, the instructions comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having computer executable instructions associated therewith, wherein the computer executable instructions are configured to;

provide a business service schedule and a business service rule for a business service;

provide an employee schedule and an employee rule for an employee of the business;

provide a resource schedule and a resource rule for resources of the business;

receive a reservation from a customer, wherein the reservation includes a time for a service;

automatically update the business service schedule with the time for the service;

automatically update the employee schedule with the time for the service, wherein the time is updated to the employee schedule in accordance with the business service rule;

automatically update the resource schedule with the time for the service, wherein the time is updated to the resource schedule in accordance with the business service rule;

monitor the business service schedule, the employee schedule and the resource schedule to generate schedule history data; and

utilizing the schedule history data to generate a reservation specific report.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the reservation specific report includes at least one member of a group comprising:

a calendar report, a chart report, a spreadsheet report, a survey, a coupon and a reward report.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the reservation includes a customer identification a customer notification rule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the customer notification rule includes a rule requiring customer notification by at least one member of a group comprising:

an email, a text message, a telephone call, and regular mail.