Patent ID: 6970828
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for mixed human and computer-supported distributed scheduling of a task according to scheduling decisions within a plurality of workplaces, said workplaces being connected to each other and to a shared negotiation facility via a computer network, the method comprising: electronically recording a first scheduling decision manually expressed on a first scheduling board within a first of said workplaces and creating first scheduling decision data which represent the first scheduling decision in a computer-readable form; electronically recording a second scheduling decision manually expressed on a second scheduling board within a second of said workplaces and creating second scheduling decision data which represent the second scheduling decision in a computer-readable form; recognizing requests for task outsourcing manually expressed on the scheduling boards of said workplaces using a first shape and requests for task insourcing manually expressed on the scheduling boards of said workplaces using a second shape distinct from the first shape; transferring the first scheduling decision data and the second scheduling decision data via the computer network to the shared negotiation facility; negotiating said task within the shared negotiation facility by combining the first scheduling decision data with the second scheduling decision data received from at least said first of said workplaces and said second of said workplaces and creating negotiation result data which represent results of negotiating said task; and transferring said negotiation result data to at least said first and said second of said workplaces for indicating scheduling information specifying at least one of: (i) in-sourcing said task to said first of said workplaces when the second scheduling decision indicates, using the first shape, a request for outsourcing and the first scheduling decision indicates, using the second shape, a free time slot for task in-sourcing that satisfies start time and completion time of the second scheduling decision; and (ii) outsourcing said task from said first of said workplaces when the first scheduling decision indicates, using the first shape, a request for task outsourcing and the second scheduling decision indicates, using the second shape, a free time slot for task-insourcing that satisfies start and completion time of the first scheduling decision.