REALTIME SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT INTERFACE

• US 20140180747A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pagerduty, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pagerduty, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, Dan Alexandru, Laban, John Gary Ryan, Enders, Ian Alexander, Basiri, Ali, Miklas, Andrew Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,190 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards generating and managing schedules. In at least one of the various embodiments, these schedules may be configured to schedule team members, rotating which team member is active (“on-call”). In at least one of the various embodiments, these may be employed to determine which resource is responsible to respond and/or resolve incidents that may be reported and/or detected. In at least one of the various embodiments, if a team member is determined to be the on-call or responsible team member, the notification engine may determine the methods for notify the responsible of the incidents. Schedules previews may be updated in real-time as the schedule is edited.

Claims

1. A method for managing schedules using a network computer that communicates over a network, comprising:

wherein the network computer is arranged to performs actions, including;

providing information for editing an existing schedule having at least one layer that includes at least one of a team member, a start time, a precedence value, and a shift duration;

generating a edited layer based on an existing layer of the existing schedule and provided information, wherein the edited layer includes at least one of the team member, the start time and the shift duration of the existing layer that is edited by the information;

generating a plurality of epochs based on each equivalent time period within the existing schedule where a same allocation of team members in the existing schedule repeats;

determining a virtual start time for the edited layer based on an overlap of an actual start time of the edited layer and an end of the shift boundary for the existing layer, wherein jumping forward in time by each repeated epoch at least provides reduced computation of at least the virtual start time;

generating at least one schedule entry for the edited layer based on the virtual start time, wherein the schedule entry includes a team member and a time range;

discarding each portion of the time range that is disposed between the virtual start time and the actual start time;

generating a layer preview based on the at least one schedule entry and a view port that is employable to display at least a portion of the edited layer;

comparing each schedule entry to each other schedule entry for all layers of a new schedule that is based on an ordering of each precedence value for each layer;

determining at least one final schedule entry based on at least one compared schedule entry that corresponds to a layer having a highest ordering; and

generating a final schedule preview based on the at least one final schedule entry, wherein the view port is employable to display at least a portion of the final schedule preview.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a final schedule preview, further comprises, determining a number of displayed final schedule entries based on a size of the view port and the shift duration.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, enabling a user to modify at least a number of team members that are associated with at least one layer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, archiving each elapsed schedule entry that is associated with at least one existing layer.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, generating a plurality of final schedule entries extending into the future up to a defined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the final schedule preview, further comprises, rendering a plurality of shift cells, wherein each shift cell is rendered using at least one of a color, pattern, graphic, picture, video, illustration, alphanumeric character, text, audio signal, haptic signal, and wherein adjacent shift cells are distinguishable from each other.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one final schedule entry includes at least a portion of the time range and the team member that corresponds to the at least one compared schedule entry.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the layer preview, further comprises, generating and dynamically displaying the layer preview and the final schedule preview in real-time.

9. A system arranged for managing schedules over a network, comprising:

a server device, including;

a transceiver that is operative to communicate over the network;

a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and

a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including;

providing information for editing an existing schedule having at least one layer that includes at least one of a team member, a start time, a precedence value, and a shift duration;

generating a edited layer based on an existing layer of the existing schedule and provided information, wherein the edited layer includes at least one of the team member, the start time and the shift duration of the existing layer that is edited by the information;

generating a plurality of epochs based on each equivalent time period within the existing schedule where a same allocation of team members in the existing schedule repeats;

determining a virtual start time for the edited layer based on an overlap of an actual start time of the edited layer and an end of the shift boundary for the existing layer, wherein jumping forward in time by each repeated epoch at least provides reduced computation of at least the virtual start time;

generating at least one schedule entry for the edited layer based on the virtual start time, wherein the schedule entry includes a team member and a time range;

discarding each portion of the time range that is disposed between the virtual start time and the actual start time;

generating a layer preview based on the at least one schedule entry and a view port that is employable to display at least a portion of the edited layer;

comparing each schedule entry to each other schedule entry for all layers of a new schedule that is based on an ordering of each precedence value for each layer;

determining at least one final schedule entry based on at least one compared schedule entry that corresponds to a layer having a highest ordering;

generating a final schedule preview based on the at least one final schedule entry, wherein the view port is employable to display at least a portion of the final schedule preview; and

a client device, comprising,

a transceiver that is operative to communicate over the network;

a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and

a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including;

displaying at least a portion of the layer preview; and

displaying at least a portion of the final schedule preview.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein generating a final schedule preview, further comprises, determining a number of displayed final schedule entries based on a size of the view port and the shift duration.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising, enabling a user to modify at least a number of team members that are associated with at least one layer.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising, archiving each elapsed schedule entry that is associated with at least one existing layer.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising, generating a plurality of final schedule entries extending into the future up to a defined threshold.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein generating the final schedule preview, further comprises, rendering a plurality of shift cells, wherein each shift cell is rendered using at least one of a color, pattern, graphic, picture, video, illustration, alphanumeric character, text, audio signal, haptic signal, and wherein adjacent shift cells are distinguishable from each other.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one final schedule entry includes at least a portion of the time range and the team member that corresponds to the at least one compared schedule entry.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein generating the layer preview, further comprises, generating and dynamically displaying the layer preview and the final schedule preview in real-time.

17. A network device that is operative for managing schedules over a network, comprising:

a transceiver that is operative to communicate over a network;

a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and

a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including;

providing information for editing an existing schedule having at least one layer that includes at least one of a team member, a start time, a precedence value, and a shift duration;

generating a edited layer based on an existing layer of the existing schedule and provided information, wherein the edited layer includes at least one of the team member, the start time and the shift duration of the existing layer that is edited by the information;

generating a plurality of epochs based on each equivalent time period within the existing schedule where a same allocation of team members in the existing schedule repeats;

determining a virtual start time for the edited layer based on an overlap of an actual start time of the edited layer and an end of the shift boundary for the existing layer, wherein jumping forward in time by each repeated epoch at least provides reduced computation of at least the virtual start time;

generating at least one schedule entry for the edited layer based on the virtual start time, wherein the schedule entry includes a team member and a time range;

discarding each portion of the time range that is disposed between the virtual start time and the actual start time;

generating a layer preview based on the at least one schedule entry and a view port that is employable to display at least a portion of the edited layer;

comparing each schedule entry to each other schedule entry for all layers of a new schedule that is based on an ordering of each precedence value for each layer;

determining at least one final schedule entry based on at least one compared schedule entry that corresponds to a layer having a highest ordering; and

generating a final schedule preview based on the at least one final schedule entry, wherein the view port is employable to display at least a portion of the final schedule preview.

18. The network device of claim 17, wherein generating a final schedule preview, further comprises, determining a number of displayed final schedule entries based on a size of the view port and the shift duration.

19. The network device of claim 17, further comprising, enabling a user to modify at least a number of team members that are associated with at least one layer.

20. The network device of claim 17, further comprising, archiving each elapsed schedule entry that is associated with at least one existing layer.

21. The network device of claim 17, further comprising, generating a plurality of final schedule entries extending into the future up to a defined threshold.

22. The network device of claim 17, wherein generating the final schedule preview, further comprises, rendering a plurality of shift cells, wherein each shift cell is rendered using at least one of a color, pattern, graphic, picture, video, illustration, alphanumeric character, text, audio signal, haptic signal, and wherein adjacent shift cells are distinguishable from each other.

23. The network device of claim 17, wherein the at least one final schedule entry includes at least a portion of the time range and the team member that corresponds to the at least one compared schedule entry.

24. A processor readable non-transitive storage media that includes instructions for managing schedules over a network using a network device, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor device enables actions, comprising:

providing information for editing an existing schedule having at least one layer that includes at least one of a team member, a start time, a precedence value, and a shift duration;

generating a layer based on an existing layer of the existing schedule and provided information, wherein the layer includes at least one of the team member, the start time and the shift duration of the existing layer that is edited by the information;

generating a plurality of epochs based on each equivalent time period within the existing schedule where a same allocation of team members in the existing schedule repeats;

determining a virtual start time for the edited layer based on an overlap of an actual start time of the edited layer and an end of the shift boundary for the existing layer, wherein jumping forward in time by each repeated epoch at least provides reduced computation of at least the virtual start time;

generating at least one schedule entry for the edited layer based on the virtual start time, wherein the schedule entry includes a team member and a time range;

discarding each portion of the time range that is disposed between the virtual start time and the actual start time;

generating a layer preview based on the at least one schedule entry and a view port that is employable to display at least a portion of the edited layer;

comparing each schedule entry to each other schedule entry for all layers of a new schedule that is based on an ordering of each precedence value for each layer;

determining at least one final schedule entry based on at least one compared schedule entry that corresponds to a layer having a highest ordering; and

generating a final schedule preview based on the at least one final schedule entry, wherein the view port is employable to display at least a portion of the final schedule preview.

25. The media of claim 24, wherein generating a final schedule preview, further comprises, determining a number of displayed final schedule entries based on a size of the view port and the shift duration.

26. The media of claim 24, further comprising, enabling a user to modify at least a number of team members that are associated with at least one layer.

27. The media of claim 24, further comprising, archiving each elapsed schedule entry that is associated with at least one existing layer.

28. The media of claim 24, further comprising, generating a plurality of final schedule entries extending into the future up to a defined threshold.

29. The media of claim 24, wherein generating the final schedule preview, further comprises, rendering a plurality of shift cells, wherein each shift cell is rendered using at least one of a color, pattern, graphic, picture, video, illustration, alphanumeric character, text, audio signal, haptic signal, and wherein adjacent shift cells are distinguishable from each other.

30. The media of claim 24, wherein the at least one final schedule entry includes at least a portion of the time range and the team member that corresponds to the at least one compared schedule entry.