Assignment manager

Abstract

A method, a program product, and a system for assigning resources to tasks in a rule based, resource constrained system. This is done by receiving as inputs tasks and task attributes; resources and resource attributes; and assignment rules. These inputs are used to searching a database of tasks, task attributes, and assignment rules thereof, to search a database of resources including resource attributes thereof, and to retrieve resources based upon the resource attributes. Resources are assigned to tasks based upon matches and scores of the resource attributes, the task attributes, and the assignment rules.

1 - 56 . (canceled)  
     
     
         57 . A method in a computing system for assigning resources to a distinguished task, comprising: 
 among a plurality of task types, identifying a task type to which the distinguished task belongs;    selecting one or more assignment rules associated with the identified task type; and    for each of a plurality of available resources, using the selected assignment rules to assess whether the available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising assigning to the distinguished task one or more of the available resources assessed to be capable of performing the distinguished tasks.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein each of the plurality of available resources has one or more attributes, 
 and wherein each assignment rule specifies one or more tests against the attributes of a resource,    and wherein using a selected assignment rule to assess whether the available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task comprises applying the tests specified by the selected assignment rule against the attributes of the available resource.    
     
     
         60 . One or more propagated data signals whose contents collectively cause a computing system to perform a method for assigning resources to a distinguished task, comprising: 
 among a plurality of task types, identifying a task type to which the distinguished task belongs;    selecting one or more assignment rules associated with the identified task type; and    for each of a plurality of available resources, using the selected assignment rules to assess whether the available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task.    
     
     
         61 . The propagated data signals of  claim 60 , the method further comprising assigning to the distinguished task one or more of the available resources assessed to be capable of performing the distinguished tasks.  
     
     
         62 . The propagated data signals of  claim 60  wherein each of the plurality of available resources has one or more attributes, 
 and wherein each assignment rule specifies one or more tests against the attributes of a resource,    and wherein using a selected assignment rule to assess whether the available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task comprises applying the tests specified by the selected assignment rule against the attributes of the available resource.    
     
     
         63 . One or more computer memories collectively containing a data structure for use in assigning resources to a distinguished task, the distinguished task having a distinguished one of a plurality of task types, comprising: 
 for at least the distinguished task type, information specifying one or more assignment rules associated with the task type; and    information identifying a plurality of available resources,    such that the assignment rules specified for the distinguished task type may be used to assess whether each of the identified available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task.    
     
     
         64 . The computer memories of  claim 63  wherein the data structure further comprises, for each of the plurality of identified available resources, information identifying one or more attributes of the identified available resource, 
 and wherein the information specifying each assignment rule specifies one or more tests against the attributes of a resource,    and wherein using the assignment rules specified for the distinguished task type to assess whether each of the identified available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task comprises applying the tests specified by the selected assignment rule against the attributes of the identified available resource.    
     
     
         65 . A computing system for assigning resources to a distinguished task, comprising: 
 a task type identification subsystem that identifies among a plurality of task types a task type to which the distinguished task belongs;    an assignment rule selection subsystem that selects one or more assignment rules associated with the identified task type; and    a resource assessment subsystem that, for each of a plurality of available resources, uses the selected assignment rules to assess whether the available resource is capable of performing the distinguished task.    
     
     
         66 . The computing system of  claim 65 , further comprising a resource assignment subsystem that assigns to the distinguished task one or more of the available resources assessed to be capable of performing the distinguished tasks.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65  wherein each of the plurality of available resources has one or more attributes, 
 and wherein each assignment rule specifies one or more tests against the attributes of a resource,    and wherein the resource assessment subsystem applies the tests specified by the selected assignment rule against the attributes of the available resource.