NOTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110166902A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, James S., Ditcharo, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 8,082,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancelation code is sent to the employee. The cancelation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

assigning a work order to a technician assigned to a location;

receiving a cancelation of the work order;

determining the technician has been dispatched to the location; and

sending a cancelation code to the technician to cancel the work order.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending the work order to the technician.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising dispatching the technician to the location.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising determining intervention is required to modify the work order based on hours worked by the technician in a pay period.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising receiving a modification request to modify the work order.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the work order with a qualification of the technician.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning a next assignment to the technician.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising instructing the technician to remain at the location for a next assignment.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the work order with qualifications of a plurality of technicians.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising selecting the technician from the plurality of technicians.

11. A system, comprising:

a dispatch unit assigning a work order to a technician assigned to a location; and

an access unit assigned to the technician and wirelessly communicating with the dispatch unit, the access unit receiving a real-time cancelation code sent from the dispatch unit to inform the technician that the work order has been canceled.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit sends the work order to the access unit associated with the technician.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit dispatches the technician to the location.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit determines intervention is required to modify the work order based on hours worked by the technician in a pay period.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit receives a modification request to modify the work order.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit compares the work order with a qualification of the technician.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the dispatch unit assigns a next assignment to the technician.

18. A system, comprising:

a database storing technicians; and

a dispatch unit that;

generates a work order;

queries the database and assigns the work order to a technician assigned to a location;

receives a cancelation of the work order; and

sends a cancelation code to the technician to cancel the work assignment.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising an access unit assigned to the technician and wirelessly communicating with the dispatch unit to receive the cancelation code sent from the dispatch unit.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the dispatch unit compares the work order with a qualification of the technician.