EP0672990A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for scheduling resource requests
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1995-03-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for scheduling resource requests for a resource provider generate a first schedule, based on expected durations of each resource request, and a second schedule, based on longer, pessimistic durations of each resource request. A user interface simultaneously displays the first and second schedules to a system user. The first schedule provides the system user with a guide to good overall management of the resource performance. The second schedule provides the system user with a guide for making time commitments to customers with a greater degree of confidence. The system and method employ a variety of techniques including statistic probability calculations to determine expected and pessimistic durations for each resource request, and incorporate features for updating the first and second schedules in response to dynamic changes in the resource environment.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. C/O Minnesota Mining And Collins
- 👤 Elizabeth M. C/O Minnesota Mining And Sisley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06311; G06Q10/063118; G06Q10/06312
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, said method comprising the steps of: - determining first potential durations for said resource requests, - determining second potential durations for said resource requests, - generating a sequence of said resource requests, - generating a first schedule of said resource requests by assigning a first start time to each of said resource requests following a first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the first potential durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence, and - generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a second start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the second potential durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that - said step of generating said first schedule includes assigning a first completion time to said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the first potential duration determined for said first one of said resource requests in said sequence, and assigning a first completion time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sume of said first potential durations determined for said preceding resource requests in said sequence and the first potential duration determined for the respective resource request to which said first completion time is assigned, - said step of generating said second schedule includes assigning a second completion time to said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the second potential duration determined for said first one of said resource requests in said sequence, and assigning a second completion time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of said second potential durations determined for said preceding resource requests in said sequence and the second potential duration determined for the respective resource request to which said second completion time is assigned, - said first potential duration for each of said resource requests is an expected duration of the respective resource request, and said second potential duration for each of said resource requests is a pessimistic duration of the respective resource request, said pessimistic duration being greater than said expected duration, and - there is provided the step of simultaneously displaying representations of said first schedule and said second schedule on a display device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
183 words
The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the steps of: - determining third potential durations for each of said resource requests, and - generating a third schedule of said resource requests by assigning a third start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the third potential durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said third sequence, wherein said first potential duration for each of said resource requests is an expected duration of the respective resource request, said second potential duration for each of said resource requests is a pessimistic duration of the respective resource request, said pessimistic duration being greater than said expected duration, and said third potential duration for each of said resource requests is an optimistic duration of the respective resource request, said optimistic duration being less than said expected duration, and said method further comprising the step of simultaneously displaying representations of at least two of said first schedule, said second schedule, and said third schedule on a display device.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
195 words
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method further comprising the steps of: - matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request, - selecting a first probability level, wherein said step of determining said first potential duration for each of said resource requests includes computing a duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request based on said first probability level, the duration computed based on said first probability level being the first potential duration for the respective resource request, and - selecting a second probability level, wherein said step of determining said second potential duration for each of said resource requests includes computing a duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request based on said second probability level, the duration computed based on said second probability level being the second potential duration for the respective resource request.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
179 words
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method further comprising the steps of: - matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request, - wherein said step of determining said first potential duration includes the step of determining, for each of said resource requests, a mean duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request, said mean duration being the first potential duration for the respective resource request, and - selecting a probability level, wherein said step of determining said second potential duration for each of said resource requests includes computing a duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request based on said probability level, the duration computed based on said probability level being the second potential duration for the respective resource request.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
207 words
A method for scheduling a plurality of resource requests for a resource provider, wherein each of said resource requests has an uncertain duration, and each of said resource requests is associated with one of a plurality of different types of activities, said method comprising the steps of: - matching each of said resource requests with one of a plurality of probability distributions for a potential duration of the respective resource request based on the type of activity associated with said respective resource request, - generating a sequence of said resource requests, - generating for each of said resource requests, a first combined probability distribution, said first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence, - selecting a probability level, - computing, for each of said resource requests, a duration in the first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level, and - generating a schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the duration in said first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said probability level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
The method according to claim 6, characterized by the steps of: - generating, for each of said resource requests, a second combined probability distribution, said second combined probability distribution combining the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request and the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence, and - computing a duration in the second combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level, - wherein said step of generating said schedule includes assigning a completion time to each of said resource requests following said first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on the duration in said second combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said probability level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by the steps of: - monitoring actual durations of each of said preceding resource requests completed by said resource provider, - monitoring actual running durations of said preceding resource requests actively served by said resource provider, - generating, for each of said resource requests not completed and not actively served by said resource provider, a new first combined probability distribution, said new first combined probability distribution combining the probability distributions matched with each of the preceding resource requests in said sequence not completed and not actively served by said resource provider, - computing, for each of said resource requests not completed and not actively served by said resource provider, a duration in the new first combined probability distribution for the respective resource request based on said probability level, and - modifying said schedule by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests not completed and not actively served by said resource provider based on the duration in said new first combined probability distribution computed for the respective resource request based on said probability level.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by the steps of: - selecting a second probability level, - computing, for each of said resource requests, a second duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request based on said second probability level, and - generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following a first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the second durations computed for the preceding resource requests in said sequence.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
86 words
The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by the steps of: - determining, for each of said resource requests, a mean duration in the probability distribution matched with the respective resource request, and - generating a second schedule of said resource requests by assigning a start time to each of said resource requests following a first one of said resource requests in said sequence based on a sum of the mean durations determined for the preceding resource requests in said sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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