Method and apparatus for resource allocation when schedule changes are incorporated in real time

A task-allocation apparatus comprising:

• input means for providing information relating to tasks to be allocated and resources available to perform the tasks;
• off-line schedule generation means to allocate the resources to the tasks, thereby generating, for each resource, an initial schedule to instruct a user;
• storage means for storing the initial schedules;
• updating means for receiving, from the input means, updated information relating to the tasks and resources, the updated information being received by the input means from a source external to the apparatus during a period of time in which tasks allocated in the initial schedule are performed;
• on-line modifying means for modifying the initial schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate at least one modified schedule;
• whereby changes to the initial schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time, independently of the schedule generation means;
• wherein the schedule modifying means comprises means to identify resources having characteristics related to those of the first resource, and arranged to modify the schedules of only those resources having such characteristics in response to the updated information;
• and
• the initial schedule is generated by the off-line schedule generation means without reacting to any change in input information provided to the off-line schedule generation means, whereas the modified schedule generated by the on-line modifying means reacts to said updated information.

A task-allocation apparatus comprising:

• input means for providing information relating to tasks to be allocated and resources available to perform the tasks during a given period;
• off-line schedule generation means to allocate the resources to the tasks, thereby generating, for each resource, an initial complete schedule covering substantially all the then known tasks to be carried out during the period under consideration to instruct a user,
• storage means for storing the initial complete schedule,
• updating means for receiving, from the input means, updated information relating to the tasks and resources for said given period, the updated information being received by the input means during said given period from a source external to the apparatus,
• on-line modifying means for modifying the initial complete schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate at least one modified complete schedule,
• whereby changes to the initial complete schedule may be made in response to such updated information in real time, independently of the schedule generation means;
• means for adding in real time, after generation of the initial schedule and during said given period, further tasks and/or resources to the plurality of tasks and/or resources to be scheduled;
• and
• wherein the initial complete schedule is generated by the off-line schedule generation means without reacting to any change in input information provided to the off-line schedule generation means, whereas the modified complete schedule generated by the on-line modifying means reacts to said updated information.

A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising the use of a computer to perform the following functions:

• providing initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks during a given period,
• generating, off-line, for each resource an initial complete schedule to allocate the resources to the tasks covering substantially all the then known tasks to be carried out during the period under consideration to instruct a user,
• storing the initial complete schedule,
• providing updated information relating to the tasks and resources received by the computer during said given period from a source external to the computer, and
• modifying, on-line, the initial complete schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate a modified complete schedule,
• whereby changes to individual schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time and independently of the process of generating the initial complete schedule;
• and
• the initial complete schedule is generated without reacting to any change in the initial information used to generate the initial complete schedule, whereas the modified complete schedule is generated by reacting to said updated information.

A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising the use of a computer to perform the following functions:

• providing initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks during a given period;
• generating, off-line, for each resource, an initial schedule to allocate the resources to the tasks to instruct a user;
• storing the initial schedules;
• providing updated information relating to the tasks and resources received by the computer during said given period from a source external to the computer;
• modifying, on-line, the initial schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate a modified schedule;
• whereby changes to individual schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time and independently of the process of generating the initial schedules;
• wherein initial schedules are generated periodically, and the initial schedules so generated are modified in response to the receipt of data between such periodic generation of the initial schedules;
• during the periodic generation of the initial schedules the modification process is suspended, the updated information being retained until the new initial schedules are generated, and then used to modify the initial schedules when their generation is complete;
• and
• the initial schedule is generated without reacting to any change in the initial information used to generate the initial schedule, whereas the modified schedule is generated by reacting to said updated information.

A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising the use of a computer to perform the following functions:

• providing initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks during a given period;
• generating, off-line, for each resource, an initial schedule to allocate the resources to the tasks to instruct a user;
• storing the initial schedules;
• providing updated information relating to the tasks and resources received by the computer during said given period from a source external to the computer;
• modifying, on-line, the initial schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate a modified schedule;
• whereby changes to individual schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time and independently of the process of generating the initial schedules;
• wherein initial schedules are generated periodically, and the initial schedules so generated are modified in response to the receipt of data between such periodic generation of the initial schedules;
• wherein during the generation of the initial schedules the modification process continues, the schedules so modified being input as modifications to the initial schedules when their generation is complete;
• and
• the initial schedule is generated without reacting to any change in the initial information used to generate the initial schedule, whereas the modified schedule is generated by reacting to said updated information.

A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising the use of a computer to perform the following functions:

• providing initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks during a given period;
• generating, off-line, for each resource, an initial schedule to allocate the resources to the tasks to instruct a user;
• storing the initial schedules;
• providing updated information relating to the tasks and resources received by the computer during said given period from a source external to the computer;
• modifying, on-line, the initial schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate a modified schedule;
• whereby changes to individual schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time and independently of the process of generating the initial schedules;
• wherein the schedule modification function identifies resources having characteristics related to those of the first resource, and modifies the schedules of only those resources having such characteristics;
• and
• the initial schedule is generated without reacting to any change in the initial information used to generate the initial schedule, whereas the modified schedule is generated by reacting to said updated information.

A method of allocating a plurality of resources to a plurality of tasks, the method comprising the use of a computer to perform the following functions:

• providing initial information relating to the tasks to be allocated and the resources available to perform the tasks during a given period,
• generating, off-line, for each resource an initial complete schedule to allocate the resources to the tasks covering substantially all the then known tasks to be carried out during the period under consideration to instruct a user,
• storing the initial complete schedule,
• providing updated information relating to the tasks and resources received by the computer during said given period from a source external to the computer,
• modifying, on-line, the initial complete schedule of at least a first resource in response to such updated information to generate a modified complete schedule,
• whereby changes to individual schedules may be made in response to such updated information in real time and independently of the process of generating the initial complete schedule;
• wherein further tasks may be added to the plurality of tasks to be performed after generation of the initial optimized schedule;
• and
• the initial complete schedule is generated without reacting to any change in the initial information used to generate the initial schedule, whereas the modified complete schedule is generated by reacting to said updated information.

A computer apparatus for allocating a plurality of tasks to a plurality of resources during a given period, said computer apparatus comprising:

• a central processing unit,
• a memory,
• an input device and an output device,
• said memory containing a program for controlling the computer and which is arranged to generate, off-line, and store an initial complete schedule covering substantially all the then known tasks to be carried out during the period under consideration to instruct a user, based on predicted availability of resources, task priorities, and suitability of tasks to resources, the initial complete schedule being generated without reacting to any change in input information used to generate the initial complete schedule and performing the following steps:
• when a resource becomes available, assessing, on-line, the plurality of tasks waiting to be performed in real time, to determine if a high priority task suitable for performance by the resource is available, and, if so, allocating it to the resource;
• if no such task is available for the resource to perform, assessing the next task on the resource's initial complete schedule to determine if it can be performed, and allocating it to the resource if it can be performed;
• if said next task is not available for the resource to perform, allocating to the resource a lower priority task from the plurality of tasks.

A method of using a computer system to assign resources to perform tasks, the method comprising:

• receiving first data relating to tasks and resources to perform the tasks;
• generating, off-line, a first schedule based on the first data, the first schedule initially assigning the resources to perform the tasks during a given time period;
• outputting the first schedule to a user before said given time period begins;
• receiving second data relating at least to a task from a source external to the computer system and after the first schedule has been generated;
• generating, on-line, a second schedule based on at least the second data in real time, the second schedule assigning the resources to perform the tasks during the given time period in a manner at least partially different than the first schedule;
• outputting the second schedule to the user after said given period has begun;
• and
• wherein the first schedule is generated without reacting to any change to the first data, whereas the second schedule is generated by reacting to changes to the second data in real time.

A method of using a computer system to instruct a user, the method comprising:

• generating, off-line, a first schedule assigning a user to perform a plurality of tasks during a given period;
• outputting the first schedule to instruct the user to perform the plurality of tasks;
• receiving data in real time relating to another task, the another task not previously included in the plurality of tasks, from a source external to the computer system after the first schedule has been generated;
• generating, on-line and in real time, a second schedule based on at least the data relating to the another task, the second schedule assigning the tasks to be performed by the user in a manner at least partially different than the first schedule;
• outputting the second schedule to the user after said given period has begun;
• and
• wherein the first schedule is generated without reacting to changes in data used to generate the first schedule whereas the second schedule is generated by reacting to changes in the data received in real time.

A method of using a computer system to assign resources to perform tasks, the method comprising:

• receiving first data relating to tasks and resources to perform the tasks;
• generating, off-line, a first schedule based on the first data, the first schedule initially assigning the resources to perform the tasks during a given time period;
• outputting the first schedule to a user before said given time period has begun;
• receiving second data relating at least to a task from a source external to the computer system and after said given time period has begun, the second data reflecting real time circumstances;
• generating, on-line, a second schedule based on at least the second data in real time, the second schedule assigning the resources to perform the tasks represented by the first and second data during the given time period in a manner at least partially, different than the first schedule;
• and
• outputting the second schedule to the user after said given period has begun;
• and
• wherein the first schedule is generated without reacting to any change to the first data, whereas the second schedule is generated by reacting to changes to the second data in real time.