System and method for online scheduling and shift management

• US 6,587,831 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schedulebrain Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Workforce Logistics, Inc. (Infor Incorporated)
• Inventors: OʼBrien, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Sough, Hyung-Sub
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reagan, James A.
• Application Number:
  US09/422,386
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/10
• US Class Current: 705/7.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group

Abstract

A method for centrally creating a schedule for a group of company employees who may be geographically dispersed. The system operates over a distributed network thereby providing communication among employees and other data sources. The scheduling system assigns the employees to shifts while accommodating numerous factors including staffing requirements, employee preferences, and optimal settings based on forecasting. Forecasts derived from information concerning factors outside the company constitute extrinsic influences on the schedule generated according to the invention.

Claims

1. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine, and a second client-side machine, a method for centrally creating a schedule which accommodates an extrinsic influence comprising the steps of:

(a) processing schedule requirements provided from the first-client side machine through the distributed network;

(b) constructing the schedule in accordance with the processed schedule requirements;

(c) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from at least one of a plurality of extrinsic sources;

(d) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information received;

(e) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine;

(f) receiving a shift request from the second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(g) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(h) receiving a point bid together with the shift request from the second client-side machine;

(i) verifying the received point bid using a predetermined point bidding criteria;

(j) storing the verified point bid and the shift request at the host server;

(k) receiving an end-auction flag from the first client-side machine through the distributed network;

(l) upon receipt of the end-auction flag, revising the schedule on the condition that the shift request is approved; and

(m) sending a response to the second client-side machine in response to the point bid.

12. The method as in claim 1, including the additional steps of:

receiving schedule requirements from the first client-side machine, the schedule requirements including business parameters and employee data; and

creating a rule base defining relationships between the business parameters and the employee data.

2. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine, and a second client-side machine, a method for centrally creating a schedule which accommodates an extrinsic influence comprising the steps of:

(a) processing schedule requirements provided from the first-client side machine through the distributed network;

(b) constructing the schedule in accordance with the processed schedule requirements;

(c) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from at least one of a plurality of extrinsic sources;

(d) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information received;

(e) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine;

(f) receiving a shift request from the second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(g) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(h) receiving a wage bid together with the shift request from the second client-side machine;

(i) verifying the received wage bid using a predetermined wage bidding criteria;

(j) storing the verified wage bid and the shift request at the host server;

(k) receiving an end-auction flag from the first client-side machine through the distributed network;

(l) upon receipt of the end-auction flag, revising the schedule on the condition that the shift request is approved; and

(m) sending a response to the second client-side machine in response to the wage bid.

3. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a second client-side machine, a method for centrally creating a schedule which accommodates an extrinsic influence comprising the steps of:

(a) processing schedule requirements provided from the first-client side machine through the distributed network;

(b) constructing the schedule in accordance with the processed schedule requirements;

(c) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from at least one of a plurality of extrinsic sources;

(d) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information received;

(e) receiving a swap-shift request from the second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(f) confirming the existence of a corresponding swap-shift request in a database;

(g) verifying that the confirmed swap-shift request fits the schedule requirements of the schedule;

(h) revising the schedule in accordance with the verified swap-shift request;

(i) sending a response to the second-client side machine; and

(j) making the revised schedule accessible to the first client-side machine.

4. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a plurality of second client-side machines, a method for centrally creating a schedule comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving schedule requirements from the first client-side machine, the schedule requirements including business parameters and employee data;

(b) creating a rule base defining relationships between the business parameters and the employee data;

(c) processing schedule requirements received from one or more of the plurality of second-client side machines through the distributed network;

(d) constructing the schedule by applying a schedule template to the employee data in accordance with the business parameters, rule base and the processed schedule requirements;

(e) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from one or more of the second client-side machines;

(f) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information;

(g) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine and one or more of the second client-side machines;

(h) receiving a shift request from a specific second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(i) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(j) sending the verified shift request to the first client side machine through the distributed network;

(k) awaiting receipt of a status flag from the first client side machine through the distributed network;

(l) upon receipt of the status flag, revising the schedule on the condition that the verified shift request is approved; and

(m) sending a response to the specific second client-side machine through the distributed network in response to the shift request.

5. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a plurality of second client-side machines, a method for centrally creating a schedule comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving schedule requirements from the first client-side machine, the schedule requirements including business parameters and employee data;

(b) creating a rule base defining relationships between the business parameters and the employee data;

(c) processing schedule requirements received from one or more of the plurality of second-client side machines through the distributed network;

(d) constructing the schedule by applying a schedule template to the employee data in accordance with the business parameters, rule base and the processed schedule requirements;

(e) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from one or more of the second client-side machines;

(f) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information;

(g) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine and one or more of the second client-side machines;

(h) receiving a shift request from a specific second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(i) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(j) receiving a point bid together with the shift request from one of the second client side machines;

(k) verifying the received point bid using a predetermined point bidding criteria;

(l) storing the verified point bid and the shift request at the host server;

(m) receiving an end auction flag from the first client side machine through the distributed network;

(n) upon receipt of the end auction flag, revising the schedule on the condition that the shift request is approved; and

(o) sending a response to the one second client side machine in response to the point bid.

6. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a plurality of second client-side machines, a method for centrally creating a schedule comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving schedule requirements from the first client-side machine, the schedule requirements including business parameters and employee data;

(b) creating a rule base defining relationships between the business parameters and the employee data;

(c) processing schedule requirements received from one or more of the plurality of second-client side machines through the distributed network;

(d) constructing the schedule by applying a schedule template to the employee data in accordance with the business parameters, rule base and the processed schedule requirements;

(e) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from one or more of the second client-side machines;

(f) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information;

(g) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine and one or more of the second client-side machines;

(h) receiving a shift request from a specific second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(i) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(j) receiving a wage bid together with the shift request from one of the second client side machines;

(k) verifying the received wage bid using a predetermined wage bidding criteria;

(l) storing the verified wage bid and the shift request at the host server;

(m) receiving an end auction flag from the first client side machine through the distributed network;

(n) upon receipt of the end auction flag, revising the schedule on the condition that the shift request is approved; and

(o) sending a response to the one second client side machine in response to the wage bid.

7. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a plurality of second client-side machines, a method for centrally creating a schedule comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving schedule requirements from the first client-side machine, the schedule requirements including business parameters and employee data;

(b) creating a rule base defining relationships between the business parameters and the employee data;

(c) processing schedule requirements received from one or more of the plurality of second-client side machines through the distributed network;

(d) constructing the schedule by applying a schedule template to the employee data in accordance with the business parameters, rule base and the processed schedule requirements;

(e) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from one or more of the second client-side machines;

(f) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information;

(g) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine and one or more of the second client-side machines;

(h) receiving a shift request from a specific second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(i) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(j) receiving a swap shift request from one of the second client side machines through the distributed network;

(k) confirming the existence of a corresponding swap shift request in a database;

(l) verifying that the confirmed swap shift request fits the schedule requirements of the schedule;

(m) revising the schedule in accordance with the verified swap shift request; and

(n) sending a response to the one second client side machine through the distributed network in response to the swap shift request.

9. The method as in claim 7, including the steps of:

receiving the information from at least one of the extrinsic sources at intervals through the distributed network;

processing said information to generate optimal shift patterns; and

updating the schedule requirements to reflect the optimal shift patterns.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein said information includes weather conditions.

11. The method as in claim 9, including the steps of:

receiving the information from at least one of the extrinsic sources at intervals through the distributed network;

processing said information to generate optimal staffing requirements; and

updating the schedule requirements to reflect the optimal staffing requirements.

13. The method as in claim 7, wherein the step of constructing the schedule comprises:

applying a schedule template to the employee data in accordance with the business parameters and rule base.

14. The method as in claim 7, wherein the data conveyed from the host server to the second client-side machine is done in one of real-time and batch-processing mode.

8. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a second client-side machine, a method for centrally creating a schedule which accommodates an extrinsic influence comprising the steps of:

(a) processing schedule requirements provided from the first-client side machine through the distributed network;

(b) constructing the schedule in accordance with the processed schedule requirements;

(c) processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from at least one of a plurality of extrinsic sources;

(d) revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information received;

(e) receiving a shift request from the second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(f) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(g) sending the verified shift request to the first client-side machine through the distributed network;

(h) receiving from the first client-side machine a status-flag pertaining to the verified shift request;

(i) revising the schedule in accordance with the verified shift request on the condition that the received status-flag indicates approval;

(j) making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine; and

(k) making the revised schedule accessible to the second client-side machine in accordance with predetermined permissions.

15. In a distributed network of the type including a host server, a first client-side machine and a second client-side machine, a method for centrally creating a schedule comprising the steps of:

(a) processing schedule requirements provided from the first-client side machine through the distributed network;

(b) constructing the schedule in accordance with the processed schedule requirements;

(c) receiving a shift request from the second client-side machine through the distributed network;

(d) verifying the received shift request using the schedule requirements;

(e) sending the verified shift request to the first client-side machine through the distributed network;

(f) receiving from the first client-side machine a status-flag pertaining to the verified shift request; and

(g) revising the schedule in accordance with the verified shift request on the condition that the received status-flag indicates approval.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

making the revised schedule accessible to the first-client side machine; and

making the revised schedule accessible to the second client-side machine in accordance with predetermined permissions.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

processing further information at the host server received through the distributed network from at least one extrinsic source; and

revising the constructed schedule in accordance with the further information received.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of selection at least one of weather information source, traffic information source, stock market information source as the at least one extrinsic source.