System and method for producing schedules of resource requests having uncertain durations
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method comprising the steps of:
- matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request;
generating a sequence of said resource requests;
generating, for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence;
selecting a probability level;
computing, for each of said resource requests, a first duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level;
generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the first duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said probability level;
determining second durations for said resource requests, wherein the second durations are different than the first durations; and
generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a second start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the second durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence.
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Abstract
A system and method for scheduling resource requests for a resource provider generate a first schedule, based on expected durations of each resource request, and a second schedule, based on longer, pessimistic durations of each resource request. A user interface simultaneously displays the first and second schedules to a system user. The first schedule provides the system user with a guide to good overall management of the resource performance. The second schedule provides the system user with a guide for making time commitments to customers with a greater degree of confidence. The system and method employ a variety of techniques including statistic probability calculations to determine expected and pessimistic durations for each resource request, and incorporate features for updating the first and second schedules in response to dynamic changes in the resource environment.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method comprising the steps of:
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matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request; generating a sequence of said resource requests; generating, for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence; selecting a probability level; computing, for each of said resource requests, a first duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level; generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the first duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said probability level; determining second durations for said resource requests, wherein the second durations are different than the first durations; and generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a second start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the second durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said system comprising:
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means for matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request; means for generating a sequence of said resource requests; means for generating, for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence; means for selecting a probability level;
means for computing, for each of said resource requests, a duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level;means for generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request; means for determining second durations for said resource requests, wherein the second durations are different than the first durations; and means for generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a second start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the second durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method comprising the steps of:
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matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request; generating a sequence of said resource requests; generating, for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence; selecting a first probability level; selecting a second probability level, wherein the second probability level is different than the first probability level; computing, for each of said resource requests, a first duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said first probability level; computing, for each of said resource requests, a second duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said second probability level; generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the first duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said first probability level; and generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the second duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said second probability level. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer-implemented system for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said system comprising:
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means for matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request; means for generating a sequence of said resource requests; means for generating, for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence; means for selecting a first probability level; means for selecting a second probability level, wherein the second probability level is different than the first probability level; means for computing, for each of said resource requests, a first duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said first probability level; means for computing, for each of said resource requests, a second duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said second probability level; means for generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the first duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said first probability level; and means for generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the second duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said second probability level. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification