Substitute fulfillment system

• US 7,430,519 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frontline Technologies Group LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Frontline Placement Technologies Incorporated (Frontline Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blackstone, Michael S., Thompson, Roland R., Julius, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, SCOTT L
• Application Number:
  US09/683,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,510 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9
• US Class Current: 705/7.14
• 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 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A system and method for automating the performance of substitute fulfillment. The system includes a server which receives absentee information representing an absent worker via a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link. In response to receiving the absentee information, the system generates a list of potential substitute workers. The system then contacts potential substitute workers until one is found or until the list is exhausted. The system can also post a list of positions that are available on a website allowing potential substitute workers to search for a position.

Claims

1. A substitute fulfillment system comprising:

a database comprising worker records, said worker records having information associated with workers for each of one or more organizations, and substitute records, said substitute records having information associated with at least one substitute worker; and

a server coupled to the database, the server is configured for;

receiving, from an authorized individual associated with a first organization, an absentee list of one or more absent workers from the first organization via at least one communication link coupled to the server, wherein the authorized individual is a worker other than one of the absent workers;

generating, after receiving the absentee list, one or more lists of one or more potential substitute workers, each generated list comprising one or more substitute workers who can fill a position of one of the absent workers on the absentee list using the worker records associated with the absent worker and the substitute records; and

contacting electronically potential substitute workers listed on one of the generated lists until one of the substitute workers on the one generated list agrees to fill in for the absent worker, and contacting potential substitute workers listed on a different one of the generated lists if such different list was generated and if no substitute worker on the one generated list has agreed to fill the position for the absent worker;

receiving an acceptance from one of the substitute workers agreeing to fill in for the absent worker; and

securing, in response to the receiving an acceptance step, the position for the substitute worker to fill in for the absent worker.

2. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one communication link is a link selected from the group consisting of a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link.

3. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein the server generates at least one of the lists of one or more substitute workers using a preferred list of substitute workers associated with the worker record for the absent worker.

4. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein the server is further configured to generate a list of substitute workers and names of the absent workers who the substitute workers will be filling in for at the first organization and to transmit the generated list of substitute workers and names of the absent workers who the substitute workers will be filling in for to the first organization via the at least one communication link.

5. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 further comprising an interactive voice response system controlled by the server for interacting with a potential substitute worker from the generated list of potential substitute workers via at least one telephone communication link whereby the potential substitute worker is secured for filling in for the absent worker.

6. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein the server is further configured to receive a message via the at least one communication link and to forward the received message to the substitute worker who agrees to fill in for the absent worker via the at least one communication link.

7. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein the organizations are unaffiliated.

8. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1 wherein the workers are teachers and the substitute workers are substitute teachers.

41. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of lists generated of one or more potential substitute workers who can fill in for each of a plurality of the absent workers.

9. A method for performing substitute fulfillment comprising:

receiving, from an authorized individual associated with a first organization, an absentee list of one or more absent workers from the first organization via at least one communication link, wherein the authorized individual is a worker other than one of the absent workers;

generating, after receiving the absentee list, a list of one or more potential substitute workers, each generated list comprising one or more substitute workers who can fill a position of one of the absent workers on the absentee list using worker records having information associated with the absent worker and substitute records having information associated with at least one substitute worker; and

contacting electronically potential substitute workers listed on one of the generated lists until one of the substitute workers on the one generated list agrees to fill in for the absent worker, and contacting potential substitute workers listed on a different one of the generated lists if such different list was generated and if no substitute worker on the one generated list has agreed to fill the position for the absent worker;

receiving electronically an acceptance from one of the substitute workers agreeing to fill in for the absent worker; and

securing electronically, in response to the receiving an acceptance step, the position for the substitute worker to fill in for the absent worker.

42. The method of claim 9, wherein there are a plurality of lists generated of one or more potential substitute workers who can fill in for each of a plurality of the absent workers.

10. A method for performing substitute fulfillment comprising:

generating a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers;

posting the list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers on a website;

receiving a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions on the website via an Internet communication link; and

securing electronically, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

43. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating the list in response to the substitute worker connecting to the server.

52. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating the list in response to receiving an absentee list.

11. A method for performing substitute fulfillment comprising:

generating electronically a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers in response to a connection to a server;

posting the list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers via an instant messaging system;

receiving a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions via the instant messaging system; and

securing electronically, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

44. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating the list in response to the substitute worker connecting to the server.

53. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating the list in response to receiving an absentee list.

12. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing substitute fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

receiving, from an authorized individual associated with a first organization, an absentee list of one or more absent workers from the first organization via at least one communication link, wherein the authorized individual is a worker other than one of the absent workers;

generating, after receiving the absentee list, a list of one or more potential substitute workers, each generated list comprising one or more substitute workers who can fill a position of one of the absent workers on the absentee list using worker records having information associated with the absent worker and substitute records having information associated with at least one substitute worker; and

contacting potential substitute workers listed on one of the generated lists until one of the substitute workers on the one generated list agrees to fill in for the absent worker, and contacting potential substitute workers listed on a different one of the generated lists if such different list was generated if no substitute worker on the one generated list has agreed to fill the position for the absent worker;

receiving an acceptance from one of the substitute workers agreeing to fill in for the absent worker; and

securing, in response to the receiving an acceptance step, the position for the substitute worker to fill in for the absent worker.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein there are a plurality of lists generated of one or more potential substitute workers who can fill in for each of a plurality of the absent workers.

13. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing substitute fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

receiving absentee information representing an absent worker via at least one communication link;

generating a list of positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by one or more substitute workers;

posting the list of positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by one or more substitute workers on a website;

receiving a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions on the website via an Internet communication link; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to the substitute worker connecting to the server.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to receiving an absentee list.

14. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing substitute fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

generating a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers in response to a connection to a server;

posting the list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that need to be filled by substitute workers via an instant messaging system;

receiving a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions via the instant messaging system; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to the substitute worker connecting to the server.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to receiving an absentee list.

15. A system comprising:

a database comprising worker records having information associated with workers and substitute worker records having information associated with substitute workers;

a server coupled to the database, the server is configured to;

post to a substitute worker in response to the substitute worker connecting to the server a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that the substitute worker is qualified to fill, where the list is generated using the worker records of the one or more absent workers and the substitute record for the substitute worker connecting to the server;

receive electronically a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

secure, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the database contains worker records for a single organization.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the database contains worker records for a plurality of unaffiliated organizations.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more substitute workers comprises positions from two or more organizations.

19. A method comprising:

posting to a substitute worker in response to the substitute worker connecting to a server a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers the substitute worker is qualified to fill, where the list is generated using worker records of the one or more absent workers and a substitute record for the substitute worker connecting to the server;

receiving electronically a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the database contains worker records for a single organization.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the database contains worker records for a plurality of unaffiliated organizations.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more substitute workers comprises positions from two or more organizations.

23. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to:

posting to a substitute worker in response to the substitute worker connecting to a server a list of one or more positions of one or more absent workers that the substitute worker is qualified to fill, where the list is generated using worker records of the one or more absent workers and a substitute record for the substitute worker connecting to the server;

receiving electronically a response by a substitute worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the substitute worker who accepted the posted position to fill in for the absent worker.

24. A substitute fulfillment system comprising:

a database comprising worker records, said worker records having information associated with workers for one or more organizations;

a server coupled to the database, the server configured for;

receiving absentee information relating to a first worker via at least one communication link coupled to the server;

generating and posting an open position on a website using the worker record associated with the first worker;

receiving a response from a second worker accepting the posted position on the website; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, posted position for the second worker who accepted the posted position.

25. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 24 wherein each of the least one communication link is selected from the group consisting of a telephone communication link or an Internet communication link.

26. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 24 wherein the first worker and second worker work for a single organization.

27. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 24 wherein the first worker and second worker work for different organizations.

28. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 24 further comprising an interactive voice response system controlled by the server for interacting with a second worker via at least one telephone communication link whereby the second worker is secured for filling in for the first worker.

29. The substitute fulfillment system of claim 24 wherein the server is further configured to receive a message from the first worker, via the at least one communication link, and to forward the received message, via the at least one communication link, to the second worker who agrees to fill in for the first worker.

48. The system of claim 24, wherein the server is configured to receive absentee information comprising an absentee list, and to generate and post a list of a plurality of open positions in response to the second worker connecting to the server.

56. The system of claim 24, further comprising receiving absentee information comprising an absentee list via at least one communication link;

and generating and posting a list of a plurality of open positions in response to receiving the absentee list.

30. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing position fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

generating a list of one or more positions that need to be filled by or more workers;

posting the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers on a website;

receiving a response by a worker accepting one of the one or more Posted positions on the website; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to the worker connecting to the server.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to receiving a position list.

31. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing position fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

generating a list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers in response to a connection to a server;

posting the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers via an instant messaging system;

receiving a response by a worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions via the instant messaging system; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to the worker connecting to the server.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to receiving a position list.

32. A system comprising:

a database comprising worker records having information associated with positions and with workers;

a server coupled to the database, the server configured to;

post to a worker in response to the worker connecting to the server a list of one or more positions that the worker is qualified to fill the where the list is generated using the position records and the worker record for the worker connecting to the server;

receive a response from the worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

secure, in response to the receiving a response accepting operation, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the position and the worker are associated with a single organization.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the position and the worker are associated with different organizations.

35. The system of claim 32 wherein the list of one or more position positions that need to be filled by one or more workers comprises positions from two or more organizations.

36. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing position fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

posting to a worker, in response to the worker connecting to a server, a list of one or more positions that the worker is qualified to fill where the list is generated using position records and a worker record for the worker connecting to the server;

receiving a response from the worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the position and the worker are associated with a single organization.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the position and the worker are associated with different organizations.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers comprises positions from two or more organizations.

40. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for performing substitute fulfillment, said instructions being arranged to cause one or more processors upon execution thereof to perform the steps of:

generating a list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers in response to a connection to a server;

posting the list of one or more positions that need to be filled by one or more workers via an instant messaging system;

receiving a response by a worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions via the instant messaging system; and

securing, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to the worker connecting to the server.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, further comprising instructions for causing one or more of the processors to perform the step:

generating the list in response to receiving a position list.

60. A method for performing position fulfillment, comprising:

posting to a worker, in response to the worker connecting to a server, a list of one or more positions that the worker is qualified to fill, where the list is generated using position records and a worker record for the worker connecting to the server;

receiving electronically a response from the worker accepting one of the one or more posted positions; and

securing electronically, in response to the receiving a response accepting step, the posted position for the worker who accepted the posted position.