System and Method for Assigning and Scheduling Activities

Abstract

Techniques to facilitate assignment and scheduling of activities. In accordance with a method, a chart showing a calendar of schedule for a number of available resources is provided in a first frame (or window) in a user interface menu, and a number of objects representative of a number of unplanned activities are provided in a second frame. A selection for an unplanned activity in the second frame (or a planned activity in the first frame) is received and, in response, selected ones of a number of objects in the chart are highlighted based on the selected activity. A request to assign the selected activity to a selected resource and to schedule the selected activity for a particular time duration is thereafter received. The requested assignment and scheduling may be accepted or rejected based on the requirements of the selected activity and the capabilities of the selected resource.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 receiving a selection of a planned activity, wherein
 the planned activity is selected from a plurality of planned activities, 
 the planned activity has been assigned to a first resource, and 
 the planned activity has been scheduled to be performed during a first time period; 
   receiving one or more modified criteria for the planned activity, wherein
 the one or more modified criteria identify one or more criteria to be used in making one or more modifications to the planned activity; and 
   modifying the planned activity based on the one or more modified criteria, wherein
 the modifying causes the planned activity to be transformed into a modified planned activity. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 causing the planned activity to be displayed on a user interface screen.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 providing a plurality of selectable criteria, for display on the user interface screen, wherein
 the plurality of selectable criteria are configured to allow for a selection of the modified criteria. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 causing the user interface screen to display the modified planned activity, after the modifying.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the modifying comprises:
 re-assigning the planned activity from the first resource to a second resource.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein
 the second resource fulfills a set of skill requirements, and   the set of skill requirements comprises
 a group of automatically-selected skill requirements, and 
 a group of user-selected skill requirements. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the group of user-selected skill requirements; and   overriding one or more recommended skill requirements required to perform the planned activity with the group of user-selected skill requirements.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 re-scheduling the planned activity from the first time period to a second time period.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a display, coupled to the processor; and   a memory, coupled to the processor, wherein
 the memory comprises instructions configured to cause the processor to
 receive a selection of a planned activity, wherein
 the planned activity is selected from a plurality of planned activities, 
 the planned activity has been assigned to a first resource, and 
 the planned activity has been scheduled to be performed during a first time period, 
 
 receive one or more modified criteria for the planned activity, wherein
 the one or more modified criteria are configured to identify one or more criteria to be used in making one or more modifications to the planned activity, and 
 
 modify the planned activity based on the one or more modified criteria, wherein
 the instructions configured to cause the processor to modify the planned activity cause the planned activity to be transformed into a modified planned activity. 
 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 cause the planned activity to be displayed on the display.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 provide a plurality of selectable criteria, for display on the display, wherein
 the plurality of selectable criteria are configured to allow for a selection of the modified criteria. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 cause the display to display the modified planned activity, after the planned activity has been modified.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 re-assign the planned activity from the first resource to a second resource.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein
 the second resource fulfills a set of skill requirements, and   the set of skill requirements comprises
 a group of automatically-selected skill requirements, and 
 a group of user-selected skill requirements. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 receive a selection of the group of user-selected skill requirements, and   override one or more recommended skill requirements required to perform the planned activity with the group of user-selected skill requirements.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions are further configured to:
 re-schedule the planned activity from the first time period to a second time period.   
     
     
         18 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer-readable storage medium having instructions encoded thereon, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to
 receive a selection of a planned activity, wherein
 the planned activity is selected from a plurality of planned activities, 
 the planned activity has been assigned to a first resource, and 
 the planned activity has been scheduled to be performed during a first time period; 
 
 receive one or more modified criteria for the planned activity, wherein
 the one or more modified criteria are configured to identify one or more criteria to be used in making one or more modifications to the planned activity; and 
 
 modify the planned activity based on the one or more modified criteria, wherein
 the modify causes the planned activity to be transformed into a modified planned activity. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 cause the planned activity to be displayed on a user interface screen.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 provide a plurality of selectable criteria, for display on the user interface screen, wherein
 the plurality of selectable criteria are configured to allow for a selection of the modified criteria. 
   
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 cause the user interface screen to display the modified planned activity, after the planned activity has been modified.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program products of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 re-assign the planned activity from the first resource to a second resource.   
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 22 , wherein
 the second resource fulfills a set of skill requirements, and   the set of skill requirements comprises
 a group of automatically-selected skill requirements, and 
 a group of user-selected skill requirements. 
   
     
     
         24 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 receive a selection of the group of user-selected skill requirements; and   override one or more recommended skill requirements required to perform the planned activity with the group of user-selected skill requirements.   
     
     
         25 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further executable to:
 re-schedule the planned activity from the first time period to a second time period.