Method and System for Concurrent Error Identification in Resource Scheduling

• US 20080091984A1
• Filed: 10/08/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verint Americas Incorporated (Verint Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Verint Americas Incorporated (Verint Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hite, Cheryl, Uckun, Serdar, Nourbakhsh, Illah, Fama, Jason, Shvarts, Simon, Matan, Ofer, Fichtenholtz, Gregory, Boehmer, Tiffany, Morse, Tyler, Reusser, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/57
• 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 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling

Abstract

A method and system for handling real-time indications of resource scheduling conflicts. In one embodiment, the method includes a computer system including a user interface, display, processor, and some form of memory. Contained within the memory is a resource scheduling process that analyzes resource data, scheduling criteria, and work parameters to create a working schedule. In conjunction with the creation of a working schedule, the scheduling process detects resource conflicts that can inhibit the schedule'"'"'s functionality. Once detected an identification process conveys the error to the user concurrently with the schedule process to provide the user with a real-time indication of resource conflicts. The indication is presented in an unobtrusive manner so as to not interfere or impede the scheduling process. In addition, should the specific resource causing the conflict be identifiable, the indication process conveys that information in a similar real-time methodology.

Claims

1. A method for performing complex resource scheduling of many resources, the method comprising:

analyzing resource scheduling data for resource scheduling conflicts;

generating at least one resource scheduling conflict based on the analyzed resource scheduling data; and

generating a schedule based on the resource scheduling data without resolving the at least one resource scheduling conflict.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting to the user, upon selection, a description of the resource scheduling conflicts.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting includes providing the user the choice to suppress the resource scheduling conflicts.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting include providing the user a potential resolution of the resource scheduling conflicts.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the potential resolution further comprises a hyperlink to a relevant portion of the resource scheduling method allowing the resource scheduling conflicts to be resolved.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying unobtrusively to a user an indication that the resource scheduling conflicts exist, wherein conveying the indication of the resource scheduling conflicts occurs concurrently with the resource scheduling process, the indication including a visual representation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the visual representation includes using colors to represent the resource scheduling conflicts, including red to represent unsuppressed resource scheduling conflicts and yellow to represent suppressed resource scheduling conflicts.

8. A method for performing complex resource scheduling of many resources, the method comprising:

providing real-time identification of resource scheduling conflicts;

analyzing resource scheduling data for the resource scheduling conflicts;

generating at least one resource scheduling conflict based on the analyzed resource scheduling data; and

generating a schedule based on the resource scheduling data without resolving the at least one resource scheduling conflict.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising presenting to the user, upon selection, a description of the resource scheduling conflicts.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting includes providing the user a choice to suppress the resource scheduling conflicts.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein presenting includes providing the user a choice of viewing the description of the resource scheduling conflicts.

12. The method of claim 9, presenting include providing the user a potential resolution of the resource scheduling conflicts, the potential solution including a hyperlink to a relevant portion of the resource scheduling process allowing the resource scheduling conflicts to be resolved.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising conveying unobtrusively to a user an indication that the resource scheduling conflicts exist, wherein conveying the indication of the resource scheduling conflicts occurs concurrently with the resource scheduling process, the indication including a visual representation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the visual representation includes a first color for an unsuppressed resource scheduling conflict and a second color for a suppressed resource scheduling conflict.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the resource scheduling conflicts include conflict of different types, and wherein identifying includes indicating a type of a resource conflict.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the multiple different types include a rule-based conflict and a calendar based conflict.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the multiple different types are visually represented including using a third color for a rule-based conflict and a fourth color for a calendar based conflict.

18. A method for performing complex resource scheduling of many resources, the method comprising:

analyzing resource scheduling data for resource scheduling conflicts;

generating at least one resource scheduling conflict based on the analyzed resource scheduling data;

in response to a user input, generating a schedule based on the resource scheduling data without resolving the at least one resource scheduling conflict.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising conveying unobtrusively to a user an indication that the resource scheduling conflicts exist, wherein conveying the indication of the resource scheduling conflicts occurs concurrently with the resource scheduling process, the indication including a visual representation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the visual representation includes a first color for an unsuppressed resource scheduling conflict and a second color for a suppressed resource scheduling conflict.