Methods and systems for assigning multiple tasks

• US 7,840,434 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2002
• 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, Dennis, Gary J., Garris, Charlie, Primelles, Oscar J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Gurkanwaljit
• Application Number:
  US10/282,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20040111313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,947 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for assigning multiple tasks to a technician. One method allows a user to interface with an Integrated Dispatch System and assign multiple tasks to at least one technician. Each task describes a repair of a telecommunications network. The method displays a graphical user interface on a computer, and the graphical user interface indicates the assignment of the multiple tasks.

Claims

1. A method for assigning multiple tasks to technicians, comprising:

allowing a user to interface on a computer display with an integrated dispatch system and to assign multiple tasks to a group of technicians;

displaying an analyst graphical user interface that presents a menu of options comprising an icon to select a list of technicians;

receiving the user'"'"'s first selection of the icon to request the list of technicians;

displaying a technician graphical user interface that provides the list of technicians and a technician scheduler control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple technicians from the list of technicians displayed by the technician graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the technician scheduler control button to assign multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar, and an Edit Schedule control button in a technician scheduler graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of a day in the monthly calendar for which the multiple technicians will be assigned the multiple tasks;

receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button to assign the multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying a number bulk attribute in the technician scheduler graphical user interface in response to the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of the number bulk attribute;

when the user selects the number bulk attribute to assign the multiple tasks to the multiple technicians for the day in the monthly calendar, then displaying a number bulk tech graphical user interface comprising a data field for specifying a first quantity of tasks to be completed by a technician before a predefined time of the day and another data field for specifying a second quantity of tasks to be completed by the technician after the predefined time of the day; and

when the integrated dispatch system is unable to assign the first quantity of tasks to the technician, then satisfying the first quantity of tasks by assigning at least one task from the second quantity of tasks to the technician such that the technician completes the first quantity of tasks before the predefined time of day.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising specifying a maximum travel time for a task.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising reassigning any tasks not completed by a predefined time.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein assigning the multiple tasks comprises assigning at least one service order.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein assigning the multiple tasks comprises assigning similar tasks to the technician.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein assigning the similar tasks comprises assigning a job type to the technician.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an input into the data field.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein assigning the multiple tasks comprises assigning the multiple tasks by geographic area.

10. A system for assigning multiple tasks to technicians, comprising:

a computer memory;

one or more computer processors;

a computer readable medium; and

computer executable code stored on the computer readable medium, wherein the computer executable code, when executed by the one or more computer processors, performs the steps of;

interfacing on a computer display with an integrated dispatch system to assign multiple tasks to a group of technicians;

displaying an analyst graphical user interface that presents a menu of options comprising an icon to select a list of technicians;

receiving a user'"'"'s first selection of the icon to request the list of technicians;

displaying a technician graphical user interface that provides the list of technicians and a technician scheduler control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple technicians from the list of technicians displayed by the technician graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the technician scheduler control button to assign multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar, and an Edit Schedule control button in a technician scheduler graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of a day in the monthly calendar for which the multiple technicians will be assigned the multiple tasks;

receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button to assign the multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying a number bulk attribute in the technician scheduler graphical user interface in response to the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of the number bulk attribute;

when the user selects the number bulk attribute to assign the multiple tasks to the multiple technicians for the day in the monthly calendar, then displaying a number bulk tech graphical user interface comprising a data field for specifying a first quantity of tasks to be completed before a predefined time of day and for specifying a second quantity of tasks to be completed after the predefined time of the day;

when the integrated dispatch system is unable to assign to a technician the first quantity of tasks to the technician, then satisfying the first quantity of tasks by assigning at least one task from the second quantity of tasks to the technician such that the technician completes the first quantity of tasks before the predefined time of day;

locking the first quantity of tasks and the second quantity of tasks to the technician'"'"'s work list; and

discounting an estimated start and completion time for the task.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the code further causes the processor to specify a quantity of tasks to be assigned to the technician.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the code further causes the processor to reassign any tasks not completed by a predefined time.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the code further causes the processor to assign the multiple tasks by geographic area.

14. A computer executable program product comprising computer executable instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium that when executed by a computer performs the method steps for assigning multiple tasks to technicians comprising:

interfacing on a computer display with an integrated dispatch system to assign multiple tasks to a group of technicians;

displaying an analyst graphical user interface that presents a menu of options comprising an icon to select a list of technicians;

receiving a user'"'"'s first selection of the icon to request the list of technicians;

displaying a technician graphical user interface that provides the list of technicians and a technician scheduler control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s second selection of multiple technicians from the list of technicians displayed by the technician graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s third selection of the technician scheduler control button to assign multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying the multiple technicians, a monthly calendar, and an Edit Schedule control button in a technician scheduler graphical user interface;

receiving the user'"'"'s fourth selection of a day in the monthly calendar for which the multiple technicians will be assigned the multiple tasks;

receiving the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button to assign the multiple tasks to the multiple technicians;

displaying a number bulk attribute in the technician scheduler graphical user interface in response to the user'"'"'s fifth selection of the Edit Schedule control button;

receiving the user'"'"'s sixth selection of the number bulk attribute;

specifying a first quantity of tasks to be completed before a predefined time of day;

specifying a second quantity of tasks to be completed after the predefined time of the day;

when the integrated dispatch system is unable to assign to a technician the first quantity of tasks to the technician, then satisfying the first quantity of tasks by assigning at least one task from the second quantity of tasks to the technician such that the technician completes the first quantity of tasks before the predefined time of day;

locking the first quantity of tasks and the second quantity of tasks to the technician'"'"'s work list; and

discounting an estimated start and completion time for the task.