System and method for task assignment management

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes detecting, at a processor and by a plurality of associates, a mission to be performed by the plurality of associates; identifying the mission based on associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules; generating, by the processor, a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks; determining a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information; assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks; receiving, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task; verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task for the mission is verified to be completed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for assigning tasks to a plurality of associates to complete a mission, the method comprising:
 detecting, at a processor, the mission to be performed by analyzing data sent from the plurality of associates;   in response to the detecting, identifying, by the processor, the mission based on associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules;   generating, by the processor, a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks, wherein each task is prioritized based on a safety level and a timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data associated with the task;   determining, by the processor, a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information, wherein an associate profile comprises an experience level, skills, a skill level, a location zone, a cost, and a speed to perform the task, and wherein the predetermined task dataset comprises a task value, dependency, skills required, and timeliness;   assigning, by the processor, based on the determining, for each associate, the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks;   receiving, by the processor, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task;   verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and   determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task of the queue of tasks for the mission is verified to be completed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined task dataset further comprises location data, priority, material required, recurrence, a risk to perform a task, a lost opportunity cost, and an awake cycle for continuous performance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates further comprises, based on associate profiles and the predetermined task dataset of a task:
 identifying the associates which are able to complete the task based on the associate profiles;   determining the cost to perform the task associated with each associates;   determining the priority of the task;   determining a duration of the task; and   determining the lost opportunity cost of the task.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting, at the processor, the mission to be performed by the plurality of associates by analyzing signals sent from one or more sensors.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying, by a distributed video analytics system, a completion of the assigned task.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of associates are robots. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each task is prioritized based on the safety level and timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data related to the task. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tasks are completed sequentially to complete the mission. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tasks are completed in parallel to complete the mission. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the timeliness of the task is defined to be a time to perform the task and a period of time to complete the task. 
     
     
         11 . A system for assigning tasks to a plurality of associates to complete a mission, the system comprising:
 a processor;   one or more sensors in communication with the processor; and   non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:   detecting the mission to be performed by analyzing data sent from the plurality of associates;   in response to the detecting, identifying the mission based on an associated store information comprising an inventory status, sales data, and a set of predetermined rules;   generating a queue of tasks to complete the mission based on priorities and dependencies of the tasks, wherein each task is prioritized based on a safety level and a timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data associated with the task;   determining a task for each associate whose profile defines best abilities matching a predetermined task dataset and the associated store information, wherein an associate profile comprises an experience level, skills, a skill level, a location zone, a cost, and a speed to perform the task, and wherein the predetermined task dataset comprises a task value, dependency, skills required, and a task timeliness;   assigning, based on a determination for each associate, the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates to complete the tasks;   receiving, by the processor, from each of the associates, a notification of a completion of an assigned task;   verifying, by the processor, the completion of the assigned task; and   determining, by the processor, completion of the mission when each task of the queue of tasks for the mission is verified to be completed.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined task dataset further comprises location data, priority, duration, material required, recurrence, risk to perform a task, a lost opportunity cost, and an awake cycle for continuous performance. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein assigning the queue of tasks to the plurality of the associates further comprising, based on associate profiles and the predetermined task dataset of a task:
 identifying the associates which are able to complete the task based on the associate profiles;   determining the cost to perform the task associated with each associates;   determining the priority of the task;   determining the duration of the task; and   determining the lost opportunity cost of the task.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising the instructions executed to cause the processor to perform the operations comprising:
 detecting, at the processor, the mission to be performed by the plurality of associates by analyzing signals sent from the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of associates are robots. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a distributed video analytics system is used to identify the completion of the assigned task. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each task is prioritized based on the safety level and timeliness for the associate to perform the task, and the sales data related to the task. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tasks are completed sequentially to complete the mission. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tasks are completed in parallel to complete the mission. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the timeliness of the task is defined to be a time to perform the task and a period of time to complete the task.