Method, system, and computer program product for assigning multiple telecommunications technicians at one time to at least one skill and a turf

• US 7,451,098 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ingman, Robert Mitchell, Pifer, Terri H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell, Beth V
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATS, JUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US10/161,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for assigning multiple technicians to turfs and to skills. One method allows a user to interface with an Integrated Dispatch System and assign multiple technicians to a turf. The turf designates a geographic area within a telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the turf are displayed via a graphical user interface on a computer. Another method allows the user to assign multiple technicians to a skill. The skill describes a qualification for installing or for repairing elements of the telecommunications network. The multiple technicians and the skill(s) are displayed via the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for assigning multiple telecommunications technicians at one time to at least one skill and a turf, comprising:

performing on a computer processor the following;

allowing a user to interface on a computer display with an integrated dispatch system and to assign a group of technicians at one instance of time to a turf, the turf designating a geographic area, and at another instance of time to one or more skills, the integrated dispatch system managing dispatch of work orders for repair of a system;

receiving the user'"'"'s request for a listing of technicians;

providing the listing of technicians;

receiving the user'"'"'s first selection of multiple technicians from the listing of technicians;

providing the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar grid, an edit turfs button, and an edit skills button on a single screen via a graphical user interface on a computer;

receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple days in the monthly calendar grid for which the multiple technicians will be assigned;

requiring the user to select the multiple days in the monthly calendar grid before proceeding to the selection of the at least one skill level and turf for assignment to the multiple technicians;

receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the edit skills button to assign at least one skill level to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit skills button and wishes to assign the at least one skill level to the multiple technicians, then providing a skills graphical user interface that displays an apply skills button and lists skill levels for repair of the system, each skill level describing a different qualification for repairing the system;

receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of the at least one skill level for assignment to the multiple technicians;

applying any skill changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply skills button,

receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the edit turfs button to assign the turf to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit turfs button and wishes to assign the turf to the multiple technicians, then causing display of a turfs graphical user interface that displays an apply turfs button, lists wire centers, and lists geographic areas;

receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of multiple wire centers and multiple geographic areas for assignment to the multiple technicians as their turf;

applying any turf changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply turfs button; and

as work orders are generated, dynamically reviewing the list of available technicians, their turfs, and their skill levels to determine the most efficient provisioning and/or repair of a telecommunications network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the user fails to select the multiple days in the monthly calendar grid, the Integrated Dispatch System has a default assignment of a next day.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to highlight names of the technicians.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising allowing the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one turf.

5. A system for assigning multiple telecommunications technicians at one time to at least one skill and a turf, comprising:

means for allowing a user to interface with an integrated dispatch system and to assign a group of technicians at one instance of time to a turf, the turf designating a geographic area, and at another instance of time to one or more skills, the integrated dispatch system managing dispatch of work orders;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s request for a listing of technicians;

means for providing the listing of technicians;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s first selection of multiple technicians from the listing of technicians;

means for providing the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar grid, an edit turfs button, and an edit skills button on a single screen via a graphical user interface on a computer;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple days in the monthly calendar grid for which the multiple technicians will be assigned;

means for requiring the user to select the multiple days in the monthly calendar grid before proceeding to the selection of the at least one skill level and turf for assignment to the multiple technicians;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the edit skills button to assign at least one skill level to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit skills button and wishes to assign the at least one skill level to the multiple technicians, then means for providing a skills graphical user interface that displays an apply skills button and lists skill levels, each skill level describing a different qualification for repairing the system;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of the at least one skill level for assignment to the multiple technicians;

means for applying any skill changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply skills button,

means for receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the edit turfs button to assign the turf to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit turfs button and wishes to assign the turf to the multiple technicians, then means for providing a turfs graphical user interface that displays an apply turfs button, lists wire centers, and lists geographic areas;

means for receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of multiple wire centers and multiple geographic areas for assignment to the multiple technicians as their turf;

means for applying any turf changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply turfs button; and

work orders are generated, means for dynamically reviewing the list of available technicians, their turfs, and their skill levels to determine the most efficient provisioning and/or repair of a telecommunications network.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein when the user fails to select multiple days in the monthly calendar grid, then further comprising means for defaulting to assignment of a next day.

7. A system, according to claim 5, further comprising means for allowing the user to highlight names of the technicians.

8. A system according to claim 5, further comprising means for allowing the user to assign multiple technicians to more than one turf.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method for assigning multiple telecommunications technicians at one time to at least one skill and a turf, the method comprising:

allowing a user to interface on a computer display with an integrated dispatch system and to assign a group of technicians at one instance of time to a turf, the turf designating a geographic area, and at another instance of time to one or more skills, the integrated dispatch system managing dispatch of work orders for repair of a system;

receiving the user'"'"'s request for a listing of technicians;

providing the listing of technicians;

receiving the user'"'"'s first selection of multiple technicians from the listing of technicians;

providing the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar grid, an edit turfs button, and an edit skills button on a single screen via a graphical user interface on a computer;

receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple days in the monthly calendar grid for which the multiple technicians will be assigned;

requiring the user to select the multiple days in the monthly calendar grid before proceeding to the selection of the at least one skill level and turf for assignment to the multiple technicians;

receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the edit skills button to assign at least one skill level to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit skills button and wishes to assign the at least one skill level to the multiple technicians, then providing a skills graphical user interface that displays an apply skills button and lists skill levels for repair of the system, each skill level describing a different qualification for repairing the system;

receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of the at least one skill level for assignment to the multiple technicians;

applying any skill changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply skills button,

receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the edit turfs button to assign the turf to the multiple technicians;

when the user selects the edit turfs button and wishes to assign the turf to the multiple technicians, then providing a turfs graphical user interface that displays an apply turfs button, lists wire centers, and lists geographic areas;

receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of multiple wire centers and multiple geographic areas for assignment to the multiple technicians as their turf;

applying any turf changes to the multiple technicians for the desired days upon the user'"'"'s selection of the apply turfs button; and

as work orders are generated, dynamically reviewing the list of available technicians, their turfs, and their skill levels to determine the most efficient provisioning and/or repair of a telecommunications network.

10. A computer program product according to claim 9, wherein when the user fails to select multiple days in the monthly calendar grid, then further comprising instructions for defaulting to assignment of a next day.

11. A computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for highlighting names of the technicians.

12. A computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising instructions for assigning multiple technicians to more than one turf.