Method and system for scheduling, monitoring and dynamically managing resources
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of prospectively planning utilization of a multiplicity of related resources using a computer having a memory, including the steps of:
- identifying some of said resources as being primary, and other resources as being secondary;
establishing temporal relationships between at least some of said resources;
creating a data base of information about at least one of said resources, at least some of which information is independent of said temporal relationships between resources;
prospectively scheduling utilization of at least some of said primary resources and at least some of said secondary resources;
displaying, in graphical fashion, the prospectively scheduled utilization of at least some of said resources;
determining whether any of said scheduled utilizations of one of said resources is incompatible with any of the information in said data base; and
communicating, by means of conflict indicia, the existence of any said incompatible scheduled utilizations.
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Abstract
The invention relates to the method for the prospective scheduling, periodic monitoring and dynamic management of a plurality of interrelated and interdependent resources using a computer system. The method includes providing a data base containing information about the resources and graphically displaying utilization and availability of the resources as a function of time. Indicia can be made to appear on the display to provide visual identification of symbols as well as information about scheduling, status and conflicts involving the resources. In addition, access to the data base can be made available to provide a continuous update of the display so that the display of the resources is for the most recent data in the data base. Access to the data base can also permit the operator to call up a wide variety of information about the resources and can also be used to track events and procedures.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of prospectively planning utilization of a multiplicity of related resources using a computer having a memory, including the steps of:
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identifying some of said resources as being primary, and other resources as being secondary; establishing temporal relationships between at least some of said resources; creating a data base of information about at least one of said resources, at least some of which information is independent of said temporal relationships between resources; prospectively scheduling utilization of at least some of said primary resources and at least some of said secondary resources; displaying, in graphical fashion, the prospectively scheduled utilization of at least some of said resources; determining whether any of said scheduled utilizations of one of said resources is incompatible with any of the information in said data base; and communicating, by means of conflict indicia, the existence of any said incompatible scheduled utilizations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16)
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14. The method of prospectively planning utilization of a multiplicity of related resources using a computer having a memory, including the steps of:
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creating a data base of information about at least some of said resources, at least some of which data is independent of temporal relationships between resources; including in said data base permissible and impermissible uses of at least some of said resources; prospectively scheduling utilization of at least some of said resources; displaying, in graphical fashion, the prospectively scheduled utilization of at least some of said resources; searching said data base to determine if any of said scheduled utilizations constitutes an impermissible use; and communicating, by means of conflict indicia, said impermissible scheduled utilizations. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for prospectively planning utilization of a multiplicity of resources, at least some of which are interrelated, comprising:
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a computer having a memory; a data base stored in said memory containing information about at least some of said resources, at least some of which information is independent of temporal relationships between resources; a set designated as primary resources and a set designated as secondary resources; scheduling means for prospectively scheduling utilization of at least some of said primary resources as a function of time; display means for displaying in graphical form, the prospectively scheduled utilization of at least some of said resources; means for comparing at least one of said scheduled utilizations with at least one other scheduled utilization or with information in said data base, to detect incompatibilities; and means for communicating, by use of conflict indicia, the existence of detected incompatibilities. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 45, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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35. A system for prospectively scheduling, periodic monitoring and managing utilization of a plurality of resources, at least some of which are interrelated, comprising:
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a computer having a memory; a data base stored in said memory, containing information about at least some of said resources;
at least some of which information is independent of temporal relationships between resources;a set designated as primary resources and a set designated as secondary resources; scheduling means for prospectively scheduling utilization of at least some of said primary resources as a function of time; display means for displaying in graphical form, the prospectively scheduled utilization of at least some of said resources; means for communicating at least some of said prospectively scheduled utilization information through use of graphically displayed scheduling indicia; means for comparing at least one of said scheduled utilizations with at least one other scheduled utilization or with information in said data base to detect incompatibilities; means for communicating, by use of conflict indicia, the existence of detected incompatibilities; means for collecting information about actual utilization of at least one of said primary resources subsequent to the first scheduled use of a resource; and means for modifying at least one of said scheduled utilizations to reflect variances between said actual utilization and said prospectively scheduled utilization. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55)
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Specification