Method and apparatus for the enumeration of sets of concurrently scheduled events
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for enumerating sets of concurrently scheduled events for automatic validation, the method comprising, in a programmed computer system:
- a) providing a universal master schedule comprising a plurality of time period data records (TPDRs) each having a start time and an end time, at least some of the TPDRs comprising references to events, each event having an overall start time and an overall end time, the events including recurring events each having a period;
b) retrieving a TPDR from the universal master schedule;
c) establishing a time limit for the TPDR;
d) performing a time-based iteration to identify sets of concurrent events by;
1) establishing the start time of the TPDR as a selected time;
2) identifying a set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
3) creating a record of the set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
4) identifying a new selected time corresponding to a next time when an event referenced by the TPDR could start or stop; and
, 5) repeating actions (2) to (4) until the new selected time is in excess of the time limit; and
, e) performing actions (b) through (d) for each TPDR in the universal master schedule.
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Abstract
A method for enumerating sets of concurrent events handles single-shot events and recurring events. The method involves creating a data structure having records for time periods. The time periods begin and end on overall start and end times of scheduled events. In preferred embodiments the method creates the data structure by collapsing together master schedules for a plurality of resources. The method may create the master schedules by collapsing together mini-schedules of different priorities. The method can produce a minimal list of sets of concurrent events that will occur according to a universal master schedule in a form suitable for processing by an automatic validation system.
41 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for enumerating sets of concurrently scheduled events for automatic validation, the method comprising, in a programmed computer system:
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a) providing a universal master schedule comprising a plurality of time period data records (TPDRs) each having a start time and an end time, at least some of the TPDRs comprising references to events, each event having an overall start time and an overall end time, the events including recurring events each having a period;
b) retrieving a TPDR from the universal master schedule;
c) establishing a time limit for the TPDR;
d) performing a time-based iteration to identify sets of concurrent events by;
1) establishing the start time of the TPDR as a selected time;
2) identifying a set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
3) creating a record of the set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
4) identifying a new selected time corresponding to a next time when an event referenced by the TPDR could start or stop; and
,5) repeating actions (2) to (4) until the new selected time is in excess of the time limit; and
,e) performing actions (b) through (d) for each TPDR in the universal master schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for enumerating sets of concurrently scheduled events, the apparatus comprising:
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a) a first means for collapsing a plurality of mini-schedules into a master schedule;
b) a second means for collapsing a plurality of master schedules into a universal master schedule, the second means connected to receive a plurality of master schedules generated by the first means; and
,c) a third means for extracting a plurality of sets of concurrent events, the third means connected to receive a universal master schedule from the second means and to store a data record containing information identifying sets of concurrent events scheduled in the universal master schedule, wherein the third means comprises means for performing a time-based iteration comprising, a) means for establishing a start time of a time period data record (TPDR) as a selected time;
b) means for identifying a set of zero or more events occuring at the selected time;
c) means for creating a record of the set of zero or more events occuring at the selected time;
d) means for identifying a new selected time corresponding to a next time when an event referenced by the TPDR could start or stop; and
,e) means for repeating actions (b) to (d) until the new selected time is in excess of a time limit of the TPDR. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A computer readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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a) providing a universal master schedule comprising a plurality of time period data records (TPDRs) each having a start time and an end time, at least some of the TPDRs comprising references to events, each event having an overall start time and an overall end time, the events including recurring events each having a period;
b) retrieving a TPDR from the universal master schedule;
c) establishing a time limit for the TPDR;
c) performing a time-based iteration to identify sets of concurrent events by;
1) establishing the start time of the TPDR as a selected time;
2) identifying a set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
3) creating a record of the set of zero or more events occurring at the selected time;
4) identifying a new selected time corresponding to a next time when an event referenced by the TPDR could start or stop; and
,5) repeating action (2) to (4) until the new selected time is in excess of the time limit; and
,e) performing actions (b) through (d) for each TPDR in the universal master schedule. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification