Notification system and method

• US 9,129,242 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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:
  US14/303,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 707/728, 707/791, 707/793, 707/796, 707/825, 707/826
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, an electronic work order;

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

dispatching, by the processor, the technician to resolve the electronic work order;

determining, by the processor after dispatch, that the technician is ineligible for assignment to the electronic work order;

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

sending, by the processor, an electronic cancellation code to a network address associated with the wireless access unit to cancel the assignment of the electronic work order to the technician.

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

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising reassigning the electronic work order to another technician.

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

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing the hours worked to a threshold.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining an overtime from comparison of the hours worked to a threshold.

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

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

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

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

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a pay period associated with the technician.

12. A system, comprising:

a wireless access unit associated with a technician, the wireless access unit;

wirelessly receiving an electronic work order sent to a network address associated with the wireless access unit, the electronic work order sent to the technician for repair of a facility, and

wirelessly receiving, after dispatch, an electronic cancellation code sent to the network address associated with the wireless access unit, the electronic cancellation code indicating that the technician is ineligible for assignment to the electronic work order.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit wirelessly receives a location associated with the electronic work order.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit wirelessly receives a modification of the electronic work order.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit wirelessly receives a reallocation of the technician to another electronic work order.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit displays the electronic work order.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit displays the electronic cancellation code.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit wirelessly receives a cancellation of the electronic work order.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless access unit wirelessly receives a schedule associated with the technician.

20. A system, comprising:

an electronic database storing electronic information associated with technicians; and

a dispatch unit that;

receives an electronic work order for repair of a facility;

selects one of the technicians to resolve the electronic work order;

assigns the electronic work order to the one of the technicians;

dispatches the one of the technicians to resolve the electronic work order;

determines after dispatch that the one of the technicians is ineligible for assignment of the electronic work order;

determines a network address of a wireless access unit associated with the technician; and

sends an electronic cancellation code to the network address of the wireless access unit to cancel the assignment of the electronic work order assigned to the one of the technicians.