Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing Notification of a Last Job Dispatch

• US 20090024435A1
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cole, Robert, Ingman, Robert, Miller, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/778,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024435A1
• 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 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide a notification of a last job dispatch. According to embodiments, a method for providing a notification of a last job dispatch is provided. According to the method, whether a technician is dispatched to a last job is determined. In response to determining that the technician is dispatched to the last job, a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job is provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing a notification of a last job dispatch, comprising:

determining whether a technician is dispatched to a last job; and

in response to determining that the technician is dispatched to the last job, providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a technician is dispatched to a last job comprises:

retrieving a work list for the technician; and

determining, from the work list, whether a next job is scheduled after the technician completes a currently dispatched job.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving a work list for the technician comprises receiving the work list from an Integrated Dispatch System (IDS).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job comprises providing the visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job only if the technician has a given amount of available time.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the available time by subtracting an estimated amount of time to complete a currently dispatched job from an amount of time left in a work shift of the technician.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job comprises highlighting a cell in a graphical user interface (GUI), the cell indicating a number of technicians that are dispatched.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

accessing the cell to view a window, the window providing an identification of each technician that is dispatched.

8. A system for providing a notification of a last job dispatch, comprising

a memory for storing a program containing code for providing a notification of a last job dispatch;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to;

determine whether a technician is dispatched to a last job; and

in response to determining that the technician is dispatched to the last job, provide a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein to determine whether the technician is dispatched to the last job, the processor is further operative to:

retrieve a work list for the technician; and

determine, from the work list, whether a next job is scheduled after the technician completes a currently dispatched job.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the work list is retrieved from an Integrated Dispatch System (IDS).

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the visual cue is provided only if the technician has a given amount of available time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to determine the available time by subtracting an estimated amount of time to complete a currently dispatched job from an amount of time left in a work shift of the technician.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the visual cue is provided by highlighting a cell in a graphical user interface (GUI), the cell indicating a number of technicians that are dispatched.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for providing a notification of a last job dispatch, the method comprising:

determining whether a technician is dispatched to a last job; and

in response to determining that the technician is dispatched to the last job, providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job comprises providing the visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job only if the technician has a given amount of available time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

determining the available time by subtracting an estimated amount of time to complete a currently dispatched job from an amount of time left in a work shift of the technician.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein providing a visual cue indicating that the technician is dispatched to the last job comprises highlighting a cell in a graphical user interface (GUI), the cell indicating a number of technicians that are dispatched.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the method further comprising:

accessing the cell to view a window, the window providing an identification of each technician that is dispatched.

15. The computer-readable medium of 14, wherein determining whether a technician is dispatched to a last job comprises:

retrieving a work list for the technician; and

determining, from the work list, whether a next job is scheduled after the technician completes a currently dispatched job.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein retrieving a work list for the technician comprises receiving the work list from an Integrated Dispatch System (IDS).