PROJECT SCHEDULING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT USES PRODUCT DATA WITH PRODUCT CLASSES

• US 20140278651A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConnectWise, LLC
• Original Assignee: ConnectWise, LLC
• Inventors: Bellini, Arnold III, Brotherton, Linda, Isaacs, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,684,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group

Abstract

Systems and methods of the present disclosure facilitate scheduling and managing a project. In some embodiments, the system includes a quoting module, a product data module, and a project planning module executing on at least one processor of a server. The product data module may be configured to store at least one product. The product stored in the project module may have a product class indicating that the product is a labor product, parts product, or agreements product. The system may be configured to copy products from the product data module to the quoting module. The system may be configured to also copy products from the product data module to the project planning module, and generate tasks for the project planning module based on the products.

Claims

1. A system for automatically scheduling and managing projects, comprising:

a product data module, executing on at least one processor of a server, configured to obtain a first product, the first product comprising a product description and a product class, the product class comprising at least one of a labor product, a parts product, and an agreements product;

a quoting module configured to generate, based at least in part on a subset of the product data, a quote and update the product data with the quote; and

a project planning module configured to;

obtain the updated product data comprising the quote; and

generate, based on the product class and the quote, a task, the task associated with at least one of a resource type, skill level, price, start time, deadline, and order;

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the project planning module is further configured to:

identify, based on the generated task, an available resource to perform the task; and

assign the task to the available resource.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first product further comprises a skill level required to provide the first product, and the project planning module is further configured to:

assign the task to a staff member, based on the skill level.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the project planning module is configured to:

generate, automatically, based on a plurality of the tasks, a project plan.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the project plan includes a subsequent task that is dependent on a previous task being completed first, and the project planning module is configured to:

determine, based on the product data, that the subsequent task depends on the previous task being completed first;

identify, based on the product data, a second available resource to perform the previous task and a third available resource to perform the previous task;

generate a task for each of the previous task and the subsequent task;

assign the previous task; and

assign the subsequent task responsive to receiving an indication that the previous task has been completed.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a ticketing system, and the system is further configured to:

generate, based on the task, a service ticket for the ticketing system.

7. A method for automatically scheduling and managing projects, comprising:

obtaining, by a product data module executing on at least one processor of a server, a first product, the first product comprising a product description and a product class, the product class comprising at least one of a labor product, a parts product, and an agreements product;

generating, by a quoting module, based at least in part on a subset of the product data, a quote and update the product data with the quote; and

obtaining, by a project planning module, the updated product data comprising the quote; and

generating, based on the product class and the quote, a task, the task associated with at least one of a resource type, skill level, price, start time, deadline, and order;

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying, based on the generated task, an available resource to perform the task; and

assigning the task to the available resource.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first product further comprises a skill level required to provide the first product, and the method further comprises:

assigning the task to a staff member, based on the skill level.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

generating, automatically, based on a plurality of the tasks, a project plan.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the project plan includes a subsequent task that is dependent on a previous task being completed first, and the method further comprises:

determining, based on the product data, that the subsequent task depends on the previous task being completed first;

identifying, based on the product data, a second available resource to perform the previous task and a third available resource to perform the previous task;

generating, based on the product data, a task for each of the previous task and the subsequent task;

assigning the previous task; and

assigning the subsequent task responsive to receiving an indication that the previous task has been completed.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:

generating, based on the task, a service ticket for a ticketing system executing on the server.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for automatically scheduling and managing projects, the instructions comprising instructions to:

obtain a first product, the first product comprising a product description and a product class, the product class comprising at least one of a labor product, a parts product, and an agreements product;

generate, based at least in part on a subset of the product data, a quote and update the product data with the quote; and

obtain the updated product data comprising the quote;

generate, based on the product class and the quote, a task, the task associated with at least one of a resource type, skill level, price, start time, deadline, and order;

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

identify, based on the generated task, an available resource to perform the task; and

assign the task to the available resource.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first product further comprises a skill level required to provide the first product, and the instructions further comprise instructions to:

assign the task to a staff member, based on the skill level.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

generate, automatically, based on a plurality of the tasks, a project plan.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the project plan includes a subsequent task that is dependent on a previous task being completed first, and the instructions further comprise instructions to:

determine, based on the product data, that the subsequent task depends on the previous task being completed first;

identify, based on the product data, a second available resource to perform the previous task and a third available resource to perform the previous task;

generate a task for each of the previous task and the subsequent task;

assign the previous task; and

assign the subsequent task responsive to receiving an indication that the previous task has been completed.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to:

generate, based on the task, a service ticket for a ticketing system executing on the server.