Notification system and method

• US 8,909,634 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wheeler, James S., Ditcharo, Patricia
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US13/945,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20140019182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/728
• 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 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancellation code is sent to the employee. The cancellation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, by a processor, a work order for repair of a facility;

selecting, by the processor, a technician from a plurality of technicians;

assigning, by the processor, the work order to the technician;

dispatching, by the processor, the technician to a location to resolve the work order;

determining, by the processor, after dispatch that the technician has worked in excess of a number of hours in a pay period;

determining, by the processor, an access unit associated with the technician; and

sending, by the processor, a cancellation code to the access unit to cancel assignment of the work order.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a cancellation of the work order.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a modification of the work order.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reallocating the technician to another work order.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the work order with a qualification of the technician.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the work order with qualifications of a plurality of technicians.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving overtime hours worked by the technician.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the technician is unavailable.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a pay period associated with the technician.

10. A system, comprising:

a dispatch unit generating a work order for repair of a facility, selecting a technician from a plurality of technicians, assigning the work order to the technician, dispatching the technician to a location to resolve the work order, and determining after dispatch that the technician has worked in excess of a number of hours in a pay period; and

an access unit assigned to the technician and wirelessly communicating with the dispatch unit, the access unit receiving a cancellation code sent from the dispatch unit to cancel assignment of the work order.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit receives a cancellation of the work order.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit receives a modification of the work order.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit reallocates the technician to another work order.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit compares the work order with a qualification of the technician.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit compares the work order with qualifications of a plurality of technicians.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit retrieves overtime hours worked by the technician.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit executes a scheduling program.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the dispatch unit retrieves a pay period associated with the technician.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein the access unit displays the cancellation code.

20. A system, comprising:

a database storing information associated with technicians; and

a dispatch unit that;

generates a work order for repair of a facility;

selects a technician from a plurality of technicians;

assigns the work order to the technician;

dispatches the technician to a location to resolve the work order;

determines after dispatch that the technician has worked in excess of a number of hours in a pay period;

determines an access unit associated with the technician; and

sends a cancellation code to the access unit to cancel assignment of the work order.