Resource allocation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to perform the following steps:
- determining the time at which each resource is forecast to become available;
determining the time at which each job is required to be performed;
assigning to each job a time-dependent cost function calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed;
for each possible combination of jobs with resources, determining the total projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time;
determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected costs;
allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and
generating an output based on the allocating of the resources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to optimize the utilization of resources (e.g., technicians) in performing a number of jobs, each job is assigned a cost time-dependent function and each resource is assessed for the time at which it will be available. For each combination of jobs with resources, an actual can be determined. The combination giving the lowest overall cost is then determined. Additional features are disclosed to ensure incompatible job/resource combinations are not allocated, and to reduce the complexity of the calculation by prioritizing the jobs and resources.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to perform the following steps:
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determining the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; determining the time at which each job is required to be performed; assigning to each job a time-dependent cost function calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; for each possible combination of jobs with resources, determining the total projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected costs; allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and
generating an output based on the allocating of the resources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to perform the following steps:
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determining the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; determining the time at which each job is required to be performed; assigning to each job a time-dependent cost function calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; determining the total projected cost for combinations of jobs with resources, dependent on the time at which the resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected cost; allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and generating an output based on the allocating of the resources, wherein the jobs are prioritized on the basis of the times at which they are to be performed, and the resources are prioritized on the basis of those which are forecast to become available first, the jobs and resources having the highest priority are selected, and the cost evaluation is performed for each possible combination of the selected jobs and resources. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. Apparatus for allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs comprising:
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means for storing parameters relating to the resources; means for storing parameters relating to the jobs; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each job is required to be performed; means for assigning to each job a cost function which is calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; means for determining, for each possible combination of jobs with resources, the projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; means for determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected costs; means for allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and means for generating an output based on the allocating of the resources. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs comprising:
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means for storing parameters relating to the resources; means for storing parameters relating to the jobs; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each job is required to be performed; means for assigning to each job a cost function which is calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; means for prioritizing jobs and/or resources; means for selecting the jobs and resources with the highest priority; means for determining, for each possible combination of the selected jobs with the selected resources, the projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; means for determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected costs; means for allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and means for generating an output based on the allocating of the resources.
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28. A computer apparatus for allocating a plurality of jobs to a plurality of resources, said computer apparatus comprising a central processing unit, a memory, an input device and an output device, said memory containing a program for controlling the computer and which is arranged:
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to store parameters relating to the resources; to store parameters relating to the jobs; to determine from the parameters the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; to determine from the parameters the time at which each job is required to be performed; to assign to each job a cost function which is calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; to determine, for each possible combination of jobs with resources, the projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; to determine the combination which produces the smallest total projected cost; to allocate the resources based on the determined combination; and to generate an output based on the allocating of the resources. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer apparatus for allocating a plurality of jobs to a plurality of resources, said computer apparatus comprising a central processing unit, a memory, an input device and an output device, said memory containing a program for controlling the computer and which is arranged to:
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to store parameters relating to the resources; to store parameters relating to the jobs; to determine from the parameters the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; to determine from the parameters the time at which each job is required to be performed; to assign to each job a cost function which is calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; to prioritise jobs and/or resources; to select the jobs and resources with the highest priority; to determine, for each possible combination of selected jobs with selected resources, the projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; to determine the combination which produces the smallest total projected cost; to allocate the resources based on the determined combination; and to generate an output based on the allocating of the resources.
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- 33. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to assign a projected cost for each possible combination of resources with jobs, calculate the lowest-cost combination, allocate the resources based on the calculated lowest-cost combination and generate an output based on the allocating of the resources, wherein more jobs than resources are used for the calculation, un-assigned jobs being assigned to dummy resources with a cost value for such assignments being determined as a function of the cost of the job not being done.
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35. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to assign a projected cost for each possible combination of resources with jobs, calculate the lowest-cost combination, allocate the resources based on the calculated lowest-cost combination and generate an output based on the allocating of the resources, wherein when the lowest-cost combination is calculated, a first job is assigned to a resource, and any jobs closely related to the first job are also assigned to the resource.
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36. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to assign a projected cost for possible combinations of resources with jobs, calculate the lowest-cost combination, allocate the resources based on the calculated lowest-cost combination and generate an output based on the allocating of the resources, wherein, of a group of closely related jobs, having different priorities, the highest priority job is selected for combination calculations and, when the lowest-cost combination is calculated, a first job is assigned to a resource, and any jobs closely related to the first job are also assigned to the resource.
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37. A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs, by using a computer to assign a projected cost for each possible combination of resources with jobs, calculate the lowest-cost combination, allocate the resources based on the calculated lowest-cost combination and generate an output based on the allocating of the resources, wherein jobs are assigned priority values and target times, and wherein high priority jobs are monitored such that if a high priority job approaches its target time, a resource working on a lower-priority job is instructed to interrupt the lower-priority job and perform the high priority job.
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38. Apparatus for allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of jobs comprising:
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first means for storing parameters relating to the resources; second means for storing parameters relating to the jobs; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each resource is forecast to become available; means for determining from the parameters the time at which each job is required to be performed; means for assigning to each job a cost function which is calculated as a function of the time at which the job will be performed; means for determining, for each possible combination of jobs with resources, the projected cost, dependent on the time at which each resource is forecast to be available and the value of the cost function for the respective job at that time; means for determining the combination which produces the smallest total projected cost; means for allocating the resources based on the determined combination; and means for generating an output based on the allocating of the resources, said apparatus being used in combination with a network on which the jobs are to be performed, said network including means for detecting faults in the network, and means for supplying, to said second means for storing, parameters of jobs to be performed to rectify the faults so detected.
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Specification