Expert system scheduler and scheduling method

An expert system scheduler for flexibly scheduling training events at a plurality of training sites notwithstanding the occurrence of resource conflicts, each training site comprises one of a plurality of distributed computers that are interconnected by means of an interconnecting link, the plurality of distributed computers interconnected to a central processor including a database, and wherein the remainder of the computers comprise remote processors, and wherein the database comprises:

• (1) a list of students input from the plurality of remote computers, (2) a list of instructors, and (3) a list of available flight training events, and wherein the availability of the students, the instructors and the available training events vary over time, and wherein the expert system scheduler comprises processing means that are disposed on each of the remote processors, said expert system scheduler comprising:
• means for selectively generating a master plan in response to training requests supplied by users, which master plan provides an event flow that specifies target dates for each training event, but does not specify the exact time or resources and does not take into account whether sufficient resources are available on a target date, which training requests inform the scheduler that a specific number of users should be scheduled for a particular training event, and stipulate required starting and ending dates for the events, the master plan providing users with a preview of the proposed event sequence and an overview of all events which are targeted for the same date;
• means for users to adjust the starting, interim and ending training dates in order to select preferred scheduling times;
• means for selectively generating a master schedule in response to training requests which reserves specific dates, times, locations and resources for each training event to fulfill scheduled training requests;
• means for selectively generating schedules indexed on user, instructor, resource, and event in response to user requests;
• means for generating conflict alerts to notify users if conflicts with the master schedule exist;
• means for generating revised training requests in response to conflict alerts;
• and
• means for automatically generating schedule revision options in response to the revised training requests which appropriately reschedule the sites in view of conflicts;
• wherein the expert system scheduler flexibly schedules and reschedules training events at each of the sites notwithstanding resource conflicts, and wherein schedules are automatically generated and conflicts resolved.

A method of flexibly scheduling training events at a plurality of training sites notwithstanding the occurrence of resource conflicts, each training site comprises one of a plurality of distributed computers that are interconnected by means of an interconnecting link, the plurality of distributed computers interconnected to a central processor including a database, and wherein the remainder of the computers comprise remote processors, and wherein the database comprises:

• (1) a list of students input from the plurality of remote computers, (2) a list of instructors, and (3) a list of available flight training events, and wherein the availability of the students, the instructors and the available training events vary over time, and wherein the expert system scheduler comprises processing means that are disposed on each of the remote processors, said method comprising the steps of:
• selectively generating a master plan in response to training requests supplied by users, which master plan provides an event flow that specifies target dates for each training event, but does not specify the exact time or resources and does not take into account whether sufficient resources are available on a target date, which training requests inform the scheduler that a specific number of users should be scheduled for a particular training event, and stipulate required starting and ending dates for the events, the master plan providing users with a preview of the proposed event sequence and an overview of all events which are targeted for the same date;
• adjusting the master plan so that users may adjust starting, interim and ending training dates in order to express preferred scheduling constraints;
• selectively generating a master schedule in response to training requests and the users preferred scheduling constraints which reserves specific dates, times, locations and resources for each training event to fulfill scheduled training requests;
• generating conflict alerts to notify users if conflicts with the master schedule exist;
• generating revised training requests in response to conflict alerts;
• and
• automatically generating schedule revision options in response to the revised training requests which appropriately reschedule the sites in view of conflicts;
• wherein the method flexibly schedules and reschedules training events at each of the sites notwithstanding resource conflicts, and wherein schedules are automatically generated and conflicts resolved.

A method of flexibly scheduling training events at a plurality of training sites notwithstanding the occurrence of resource conflicts, each training site comprises one of a plurality of distributed computers that are interconnected by means of an interconnecting link, the plurality of distributed computers interconnected to a central processor including a database, and wherein the remainder of the computers comprise remote processors, and wherein the database comprises:

• (1) a list of students input from the plurality of remote computers, (2) a list of instructors, and (3) a list of available flight training events, and wherein the availability of the students, the instructors and the available training events vary over time, and wherein the expert system scheduler comprises processing means that are disposed on each of the remote processors, said expert system scheduler comprising:
• selectively generating a master plan in response to training requests supplied by users, which master plan provides an event flow that specifies target dates for each training event, but does not specify the exact time or resources and does not take into account whether sufficient resources are available on a target date, which training requests inform the scheduler that a specific number of users should be scheduled for a particular training event, and stipulate required starting and ending dates for the events, the master plan providing users with a preview of the proposed event sequence and an overview of all events which are targeted for the same date;
• displaying the master plan to provide facilities for users to review and revise the master plan;
• adjusting the starting, interim and ending training dates in order to select preferred scheduling times;
• selectively generating a master schedule in response to training requests which reserves specific dates, times, locations and resources for each training event to fulfill scheduled training requests;
• selectively generating schedules indexed on user, instructor, resource, and event in response to user requests;
• generating conflict alerts to notify users if conflicts with the master schedule exist;
• generating revised training requests in response to conflict alerts;
• and
• automatically generating schedule revision options in response to the revised training requests which appropriately reschedule the sites in view of conflicts;
• wherein the expert system scheduler flexibly schedules and reschedules training events at each of the sites notwithstanding resource conflicts, and wherein schedules are automatically generated and conflicts resolved.