AUTOMATED SCHEDULING FOR A BUSINESS

• US 20150363746A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 12/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fairbanks, Greg
• Application Number:
  US14/304,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20150363746A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to automate scheduling for a business is disclosed. The method may comprise observing actions of at least one personnel associated with the business, wherein the action may comprise at least one of performance, timeliness, and reliability. The method may additionally comprise learning one or more scheduling parameters of the business based at least in part on the observing. The method may produce a work schedule for personnel associated with the business. The work schedule may be for a predetermined time period and being based at least in part on the learning.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to automate scheduling for a business, comprising:

observing actions of at least one personnel associated with the business, wherein the actions comprise at least one of performance, timeliness, and reliability;

learning one or more scheduling parameters of the business based at least in part on the observing; and

producing a work schedule for personnel associated with the business, the schedule being for a predetermined time period, and the schedule being based at least in part on the learning.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling editing of the work schedule after it is produced;

receiving approval to publish the schedule based at least in part on the editing being enabled; and

producing a final work schedule.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

publishing the final work schedule, the published final work schedule being accessible on a mobile device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the learning further comprises:

receiving a preference for scheduling from the at least one personnel, the preference comprising at least one requested time-off period.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the learning further comprises:

recording the observed actions; and

producing a personnel score associated with one or more personnel associated with the business, the produced score being based at least in part on the recording.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the learning further comprises:

setting the one or more scheduling parameters for one or more work shifts, the one or more scheduling parameters comprising at least a required number of personnel associated with a personnel score that satisfies a threshold.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

identifying personnel scores within a predetermined range of personnel scores; and

scheduling personnel associated with the identified personnel scores for preferred shifts.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthering including producing a personnel profile comprising a personnel score, a personnel pay-scale, and a personnel role.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

scheduling personnel for the work schedule based at least in part on the personnel score and the personnel pay-scale, wherein creating the schedule additionally optimizes for business profit by balancing the personnel score with the personnel pay-scale for scheduled personnel.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthering comprising:

producing a list of shift replacement options, the shift replacement options comprises at least a list of acceptable replacement personnel;

displaying the options to a scheduled personnel;

receiving a notification that an acceptable replacement personnel agreed to replace the scheduled personnel;

requesting approval of the replacement personnel.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the schedule is additionally based at least in part on historical business information, the historical business information comprising one of seasonal information, market information, or previous sales information.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the observing further comprises:

collecting historical scheduling information.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the personnel comprises an employee of the business.

14. An apparatus to automate scheduling for a business, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by a processor to;

observe actions of at least one personnel associated with the business, wherein the actions comprise at least one of performance, timeliness, and reliability;

learn one or more scheduling parameters of the business based at least in part on the observing; and

produce a work schedule for personnel associated with the business, the schedule being for a predetermined time period, and the schedule being based at least in part on the learning.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

enable editing of the work schedule after it is produced;

receive approval to publish the schedule based at least in part on the editing being enabled; and

produce a final work schedule.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

publish the final work schedule, the published final work schedule being accessible on a mobile device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

record the observed actions; and

produce a personnel score associated with one or more personnel associated with the business, the produced score being based at least in part on the recording.

18. A computer-program product to automate scheduling for a business, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:

observe actions of at least one personnel associated with the business, wherein the actions comprise at least one of performance, timeliness, and reliability;

learn one or more scheduling parameters of the business based at least in part on the observing; and

produce a work schedule for personnel associated with the business, the schedule being for a predetermined time period, and the schedule being based at least in part on the learning

19. The computer-program product of claim 18, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

enable editing of the work schedule after it is produced;

receive approval to publish the schedule based at least in part on the editing being enabled; and

produce a final work schedule.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19 wherein the instructions executable by the processor to:

publish the final work schedule, the published final work schedule being accessible on a mobile device.