METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRAINT-BASED STAFF SCHEDULING
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for defining a work-pattern constraint, comprising the steps of:
- establishing, with a processor, periods and period-groups that are needed to express constraints;
establishing, with said processor, a list of staff or staff-groups involved in said constraint;
establishing, with said processor, a list of work-shifts or work-shift-groups involved in said constraint;
determining, with said processor, a relation and corresponding bound needed to express a constraint or rule; and
defining, with said processor, said work-pattern constraint using said staff, work-shift, period, and relation-bound information thus established.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A constraint-based framework models and solves the problem of assigning staff to various work-shifts or work-assignments, for example a day shift and a night shift, for a pre-defined scheduling horizon, for example three months. A work-schedule is produced, which is defined as a list of staff-shift or staff-assignment combinations that meet the various criteria set by the staff and the healthcare facility on how the staff need to work. The staff then uses this work-schedule to perform the needed activities for the amount of time specified by the scheduling horizon. The scheduling problem is modeled with the help of constraints and variables to express the physical constraints specified by the staff on their work schedules and the needs of the healthcare facility. By embedding the scheduling model within a software program, a work-schedule is produced quickly that meets the requirements of the staff and the healthcare facility.
13 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for defining a work-pattern constraint, comprising the steps of:
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establishing, with a processor, periods and period-groups that are needed to express constraints; establishing, with said processor, a list of staff or staff-groups involved in said constraint; establishing, with said processor, a list of work-shifts or work-shift-groups involved in said constraint; determining, with said processor, a relation and corresponding bound needed to express a constraint or rule; and defining, with said processor, said work-pattern constraint using said staff, work-shift, period, and relation-bound information thus established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification