Application of cost constraints in event scheduling

• US 8,788,309 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Sullivan, Patrick Joseph, Zimmet, Carol Sue, Chakra, Al, Farrell, Colm, Harpur, Liam
• Primary Examiner(s): Pats, Justin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rotaru, Octavian
• Application Number:
  US12/256,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 705/6, 705/8, 705/26, 705/7.18, 705/7.12, 705/7.13, 705/7.16, 705/7.22, 705/30, 705/7.24
• 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 10/0631 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 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A cost metric is associated with each of a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event. A calendar event cost projection is determined based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters. The calendar event cost projection is compared to a calendar event budget. At least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters is selected based upon, at least in part, the comparison of the calendar event cost projection to the calendar event budget.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a computing device, a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event from a user, wherein the plurality of calendar event parameters are one or more selected from a group comprising;

an identity of each of one or more meeting invitees, locations of each of the one or more meeting invitees, a location of the proposed calendar event, travel required for each of the one or more meeting invitees to attend the proposed calendar event, a proposed time of the proposed calendar event, and whether the proposed calendar event is an in person event or a teleconference event;

analyzing a calendar event schedule for an invitee of the one or more meeting invitees;

determining, via the computing device, a cost metric associated with each of the one or more selected plurality of calendar event parameters of the proposed calendar event, wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes;

an attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees including a lost opportunity cost resulting from an unavailability of the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees to perform other tasks, and wherein the attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees varies for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a ranking in an organizational hierarchy for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees and an experience level for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, and wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes applying an objective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters and applying a subjective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters;

analyzing the calendar event schedule for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a proximity of the calendar event schedule to an existing calendar event, wherein said proximity is selected from a group comprising of at least;

a geographic proximity and a proximity in time;

determining, via the computing device, a calendar event cost projection based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters and when the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees has an existing calendar event scheduled proximate to the proposed calendar event, determining an add-on cost projection associated with scheduling the proposed calendar event adjacent to the existing calendar event, wherein a portion of the calendar event cost projection and the add-on cost projection for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees is divided between the existing calendar event and the proposed calendar event;

comparing, via the computing device, the calendar event cost projection to a calendar event budget, and in response to the comparing;

providing, via the computing device, a warning when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget, and

providing a recommendation to reduce the calendar event cost projection, wherein the recommendation includes implementing one or more options to change at least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters, the one or more options selected from a group comprising;

a first option to remove at least one of the one or more meeting invitees, a second option to change the location of the proposed calendar event, and a third option to conduct a teleconference for the proposed calendar event; and

scheduling, via the computing device, the proposed calendar event based upon, at least in part, implementing the selected one or more options reducing the calendar event cost projection from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost metric comprises at least one of:

a travel cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, an event time cost of the proposed calendar event, an event location cost of the proposed calendar event and an event type cost of the proposed calendar event.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the scheduling of the proposed calendar event when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the user, the selection of the one or more options to reduce the calendar event cost projection.

4. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event from a user, wherein the plurality of calendar event parameters are one or more selected from a group comprising;

an identity of each of one or more meeting invitees, locations of each of the one or more meeting invitees, a location of the proposed calendar event, travel required for each of the one or more meeting invitees to attend the proposed calendar event, a proposed time of the proposed calendar event, and whether the proposed calendar event is an in person event or a teleconference event;

analyzing a calendar event schedule for an invitee of the one or more meeting invitees;

determining a cost metric associated with each of the one or more selected plurality of calendar event parameters of the proposed calendar event, wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes;

an attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees including a lost opportunity cost resulting from an unavailability of the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees to perform other tasks, and wherein the attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees varies for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a ranking in an organizational hierarchy for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees and an experience level for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, and wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes applying an objective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters and applying a subjective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters;

analyzing the calendar event schedule for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a proximity of the calendar event schedule to an existing calendar event, wherein said proximity is selected from a group comprising of at least;

a geographic proximity and a proximity in time;

determining a calendar event cost projection based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters and when the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees has an existing calendar event scheduled proximate to the proposed calendar event, determining an add-on cost projection associated with scheduling the proposed calendar event adjacent to the existing calendar event, wherein a portion of the calendar event cost projection and the add-on cost projection for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees is divided between the existing calendar event and the proposed calendar event;

comparing the calendar event cost projection to a calendar event budget, and in response to the comparing;

providing a warning when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget, and

providing a recommendation to reduce the calendar event cost projection, wherein the recommendation includes implementing one or more options to change at least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters, the one or more options selected from a group comprising;

a first option to remove at least one of the one or more meeting invitees, a second option to change the location of the proposed calendar event, and a third option to conduct a teleconference for the proposed calendar event; and

scheduling the proposed calendar event based upon, at least in part, implementing the selected one or more options reducing the calendar event cost projection from the user.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the cost metric comprises at least one of:

a travel cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, an event time cost of the proposed calendar event, an event location cost of the proposed calendar event and an event type cost of the proposed calendar event.

6. The computer program product of claim 4, further comprising instructions for preventing the scheduling of the proposed calendar event when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget.

10. The computer program product of claim 4, further comprising instructions for:

receiving, from the user, the selection of the one or more options to reduce the calendar event cost projection.

7. A computing system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory architecture coupled with the at least one processor;

a first software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the first software module is configured to receive a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event from a user, wherein the plurality of calendar event parameters are one or more selected from a group comprising;

an identity of each of one or more meeting invitees, locations of each of the one or more meeting invitees, a location of the proposed calendar event, travel required for each of the one or more meeting invitees to attend the proposed calendar event, a proposed time of the proposed calendar event, and whether the proposed calendar event is an in person event or a teleconference event;

a second software module configured to analyze a calendar event schedule for an invitee of the one or more meeting invitees;

a third software module configured to determine a cost metric associated with each of the one or more selected plurality of calendar event parameters of the proposed calendar event, wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes;

an attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees including a lost opportunity cost resulting from an unavailability of the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees to perform other tasks, and wherein the attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees varies for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a ranking in an organizational hierarchy for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees and an experience level for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, and wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes applying an objective monetarily defined cost the to one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters and applying a subjective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters;

a fourth software module configured to analyze the calendar event schedule for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a proximity of the calendar event schedule to an existing calendar event, wherein said proximity is selected from a group comprising of at least;

a geographic proximity and a proximity in time;

a fifth software module configured to determine a calendar event cost projection based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters and when the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees has an existing calendar event scheduled proximate to the proposed calendar event, determine an add-on cost projection associated with scheduling the proposed calendar event adjacent to the existing calendar event, wherein a portion of the calendar event cost projection and the add-on cost projection for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees is divided between the existing calendar event and the proposed calendar event;

a sixth software module configured to compare the calendar event cost projection to a calendar event budget, and in response to the comparing;

a seventh software module configured to provide a warning when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget, and

a eighth software module configured to provide a recommendation to reduce the calendar event cost projection, wherein the recommendation includes implementing one or more options to change at least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters, the one or more options selected from a group comprising;

a first option to remove at least one of the one or more meeting invitees, a second option to change the location of the proposed calendar event, and a third option to conduct a teleconference for the proposed calendar event; and

a ninth software module configured to schedule the proposed calendar event based upon, at least in part, implementing the selected one or more options reducing the calendar event cost projection from the user.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the cost metric comprises at least one of a travel cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, an event time cost of the proposed calendar event, an event location cost of the proposed calendar event and an event type cost of the proposed calendar event.

11. The computing system of claim 7, further comprising:

a ninth software module configured to receive, from the user, the selection of the one or more options to reduce the calendar event cost projection.