System and method for computer network scheduling and communication

• US 8,046,249 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John F. Hitz
• Original Assignee: John F. Hitz
• Inventors: Hitz, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fields; Benjamin S
• Application Number:
  US11/956,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.11
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063112 Skill-based matching of a person or a group to a task
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system and method for computer network scheduling and communication. In an embodiment, a computer network scheduling and communication system includes a settings module for selecting one or more preferences. The system also includes a calendar module adapted to generate one or more schedules based on the one or more preferences. In addition, the system includes a communication module for sending and receiving one or more messages. The system also includes a database for storing the one or more preferences, the one or more schedules and/or the one or more messages.

Claims

1. A system for computer network scheduling and communication, the system comprising:

a settings module of at least one processing device configured to;

receive staff preferences comprising location information and availability information, and receive administrator preferences comprising number of positions information, type of positions information, and qualifications for positions information;

a calendar module of the at least one processing device configured to;

generate a plurality of user-specific schedules based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences, wherein the plurality of user-specific schedules comprise one or more of at least one available shift and at least one available staff;

receive at least one of;

a staff selection of the at least one available shift, an administrator selection of the at least one available staff, and an automatic selection matching the at least one available shift and the at least one available staff based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences, and update the plurality of user-specific schedules based on a response to a confirmation of scheduled appointment message; and

a communication module of the at least one processing device configured to;

send the confirmation of scheduled appointment message based on at least one of the staff selection, the administrator selection, and the automatic selection, and receive the response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising an administrative module of the at least one processing device configured to perform at least one of:

at least one accounting function,

at least one human resources function, and

at least one reporting function.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a database configured to store information associated with the administrative module.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one accounting function is configured to at least one of:

bill employers for employee services,

pay employees, and

track employee expenses.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one human resources function is configured to at least one of:

track employee training,

monitor employee and/or employer credential renewal dates,

record employee hours,

receive employee performance reviews, and

generate employee ratings.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one reporting function is configured to create reports based on information associated with the administrative module stored in the database.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the settings module is configured to generate the confirmation of scheduled appointment message sent by the communication module and display the response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message received by the communication module.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the administrator preferences further comprise at least one of:

employee priority, and

employee rating.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising a database configured operable to store a plurality of:

the staff preferences,

the administrator preferences,

the plurality of user-specific schedules,

the confirmation of scheduled appointment message, and

the response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module automatically sends the confirmation of scheduled appointment message to confirm a scheduled appointment.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to send a scheduling advertisement.

12. A method for computer network scheduling and communication, the method comprising:

performing by at least one processing device, at least;

receiving staff preferences comprising location information and availability information;

receiving administrator preferences comprising number of positions information, type of positions information, and qualifications for positions information;

generating a plurality of user-specific schedules based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences, wherein the plurality of user-specific schedules comprise at least one of at least one available shift and at least one available staff;

receiving a selection of a scheduling event, wherein the selection of the scheduling event comprises at least one of;

a staff selection of the at least one available shift, an administrator selection of the at least one available staff, and an automatic selection matching the at least one available shift and the at least one available staff based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences;

sending a confirmation of scheduled appointment message based on the received selection of the scheduling event;

receiving a response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message; and

updating the plurality of user-specific schedules based on the received response.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising approving the selection of the scheduling event.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising updating the plurality of user-specific schedules based on the selection of the scheduling event.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the staff preferences further comprise at least one of:

employee compensation, and

employment unit type.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the administrator preferences further comprise at least one of:

employee priority, and

employee rating.

17. The method of claim 12, comprising storing, in at least one database, a plurality of:

the staff preferences,

the administrator preferences,

the plurality of user-specific schedules,

the confirmation of scheduled appointment message, and

the response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the sending a confirmation of scheduled appointment message based at least in part on the received selection of the scheduling event is automatically performed by the at least one processing device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for execution on a computer, the set of instructions comprising:

a staff preferences routine for receiving staff preferences comprising location information and availability information;

an administrator preferences routine for receiving administrator preferences comprising number of positions information, type of positions information, and qualifications for positions information;

a schedule generation routine for generating a plurality of user-specific schedules based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences, wherein the plurality of user-specific schedules comprise at least one of at least one available shift and at least one available staff;

a schedule selection routine for receiving a selection of a scheduling event, wherein the selection of the scheduling event comprises at least one of;

a staff selection of the at least one available shift, an administrator selection of the at least one available staff, and an automatic selection matching the at least one available shift and the at least one available staff based on the staff preferences and the administrator preferences;

a send message routine for sending a confirmation of scheduled appointment message based on the received selection of the scheduling event;

a receive message routine for receiving a response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message; and

a schedule update routine for updating the plurality of user-specific schedules based on the received response.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including the set of instructions of claim 19, further comprising a review schedule routine for approving the selection of the scheduling event.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including the set of instructions of claim 19, comprising an update routine for updating the plurality of user-specific schedules based on the selection of the scheduling event.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including the set of instructions of claim 19, comprising a storage routine for storing, in at least one database, a plurality of:

the staff preferences,

the administrator preferences,

the plurality of user-specific schedules,

the confirmation of scheduled appointment message, and

the response to the confirmation of scheduled appointment message.