Method of calculating time-sensitive work algorithms using inputs with different variable effective intervals

• US 6,249,789 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Havko, Francis X., Diehl, Wayne, Delia, Wayne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/448,851
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A computer program storage device having a program of instructions executable to perform a method of determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals. The program is adapted to access a database containing i) parametric data values of a first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals and ii) parametric data values of a second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of the second work factor being different from a time interval of the first work factor. The method comprises reading the parametric data values of the first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals; reading the parametric data values of the second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals; subdividing at least one time interval of the first work factor or the second work factor into at least two subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of the first work factor correspond to time intervals of the second work factor; and determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of the first work factor or the second work factor. Thereafter the method includes designating a start date and an end date of desired work data based on the first and second work factors and determining work data by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second work factors for corresponding time intervals between the start date and the end date.

Claims

1. A method of combining parametric data from a first record having data values for a plurality of time intervals and a second record having data values for a plurality of time intervals, the time intervals of the second record not all corresponding to the time intervals of the first record, the method comprising:

comparing the time intervals of the first record with the time intervals of the second record;

determining which time intervals of each of the first and second records do not correspond with time intervals of the other record;

subdividing one or more time intervals of said first record or said second record into subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first record correspond to time intervals of said second record;

determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first record or said second record;

selecting a start date and an end date of desired data based on said first and second records; and

determining combined data for the first and second records by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of subdividing at least one time interval of both said first and second records into at least two subdivided time intervals so that the time intervals of said second record correspond to time intervals of said first record and determining parametric data values of both said first and second records for the subdivided time intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said start and end dates correspond to time intervals of the first and second records.

4. The method of claim 1 including the steps of determining parametric data values of additional records for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional records being different from a time interval of said first record and said second record;

determining parametric data values of additional records for the subdivided time intervals; and

applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

5. A program storage device readable by a machine, said device having a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals, said program adapted to access a database containing a first record having data values for a plurality of time intervals and a second record having data values for a plurality of time intervals, the time intervals of the second record not all corresponding to the time intervals of the first record, said method comprising:

comparing the time intervals of the first record with the time intervals of the second record;

determining which time intervals of each of the first and second records do not correspond with time intervals of the other record;

subdividing one or more time intervals of said first record or said second record into subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first record correspond to time intervals of said second record;

determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first record or said second record;

designating a start date and an end date of desired data based on said first and second records; and

determining combined data for the first and second records by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

6. The program storage device of claim 5 wherein the method includes the step of subdividing at least one time interval of both said first and second records into at least two subdivided time intervals so that the time intervals of said second record correspond to time intervals of said first record and determining parametric data values of both said first and second records for the subdivided time intervals.

7. The program storage device of claim 5 wherein said start and end dates correspond to time intervals of the first and second records.

8. The program storage device of claim 5 wherein the method includes the steps of determining parametric data values of additional records for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional records being different from a time interval of said first record and said second record;

determining parametric data values of additional records for the subdivided time intervals; and

applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

9. A computer program product comprising

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals, said program adapted to access a database containing a first record having data values for a plurality of time intervals and a second record having data values for a plurality of time intervals, the time intervals of the second record not all corresponding to the time intervals of the first record, said computer program product including:

a computer readable program code means for comparing the time intervals of the first record with the time intervals of the second record;

a computer readable program code means for determining which time intervals of each of the first and second records do not correspond with time intervals of the other record;

a computer readable program code means for subdividing one or more time intervals of said first record or said second record into subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first record correspond to time intervals of said second record;

a computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first record or said second record;

a computer readable program code means for designating a start date and an end date of desired data based on said first and second records; and

a computer readable program code means for determining combined data for the first and second records by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further including computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values of additional records for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional records being different from a time interval of said first record and said second record;

computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values of additional records for the subdivided time intervals; and

computer readable program code means for applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional records for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

11. A method of determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals comprising:

determining parametric data values of a first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals;

determining parametric data values of a second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said second work factor being different from a time interval of said first work factor;

subdividing at least one time interval of said first work factor or said second work factor into at least two subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first work factor correspond to time intervals of said second work factor;

determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first work factor or said second work factor;

selecting a start date and an end date of desired work data based on said first and second work factors; and

determining work data by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of subdividing at least one time interval of both said first and second work factors into at least two subdivided time intervals so that the time intervals of said second work factor correspond to time intervals of said first work factor and determining parametric data values of both said first and second work factors for the subdivided time intervals.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said start and end dates correspond to time intervals of the first and second work factors.

14. The method of claim 11 including the steps of determining parametric data values of additional work factors for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional factors being different from a time interval of said first work factor and said second work factor;

determining parametric data values of additional work factors for the subdivided time intervals; and

applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

15. A program storage device readable by a machine, said device having a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals, said program adapted to access a database containing i) parametric data values of a first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals and ii) parametric data values of a second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said second work factor being different from a time interval of said first work factor, said method comprising:

reading the parametric data values of the first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals;

reading the parametric data values of the second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals;

subdividing at least one time interval of said first work factor or said second work factor into at least two subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first work factor correspond to time intervals of said second work factor;

determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first work factor or said second work factor;

designating a start date and an end date of desired work data based on said first and second work factors; and

determining work data by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

16. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein the method includes the step of subdividing at least one time interval of both said first and second work factors into at least two subdivided time intervals so that the time intervals of said second work factor correspond to time intervals of said first work factor and determining parametric data values of both said first and second work factors for the subdivided time intervals.

17. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein said start and end dates correspond to time intervals of the first and second work factors.

18. The program storage device of claim 15 wherein the method includes the steps of determining parametric data values of additional work factors for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional factors being different from a time interval of said first work factor and said second work factor;

determining parametric data values of additional work factors for the subdivided time intervals; and

applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

19. A computer program product comprising

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for determining time sensitive values for multiple parametric data having different variable effective intervals, said program adapted to access a database containing i) parametric data values of a first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals and ii) parametric data values of a second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said second work factor being different from a time interval of said first work factor, said computer program product including:

a computer readable program code means for reading the parametric data values of the first work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals;

a computer readable program code means for reading the parametric data values of the second work factor for a plurality of continuous time intervals;

a computer readable program code means for subdividing at least one time interval of said first work factor or said second work factor into at least two subdivided time intervals so that time intervals of said first work factor correspond to time intervals of said second work factor;

a computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values for the subdivided time intervals of said first work factor or said second work factor;

a computer readable program code means for designating a start date and an end date of desired work data based on said first and second work factors; and

a computer readable program code means for determining work data by applying an algorithm to the parametric data of the first and second work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further including computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values of additional work factors for a plurality of continuous time intervals, at least one time interval of said additional factors being different from a time interval of said first work factor and said second work factor;

computer readable program code means for determining parametric data values of additional work factors for the subdivided time intervals; and

computer readable program code means for applying said algorithm to the parametric data of the additional work factors for corresponding time intervals between said start date and said end date.