Patent Publication Number: US-2023135715-A1

Title: Multicast Task Assignment

Description:
FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to task assignment via multicast communication, such as task assignment techniques that may be used with software services implemented over a network. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example of an electronic computing and communications system. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an example internal configuration of a computing device of an electronic computing and communications system. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of an example of a software platform implemented by an electronic computing and communications system. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagram of an example order fulfillment system which can use multicast task assignment. 
         FIG.  5    is a data flow diagram for an example of multicast task assignment. 
         FIG.  6    is a block diagram of an example of a server. 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram of an example task management system. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram of an example employee data table. 
         FIG.  9    is a flow chart of an example of a technique for employee filtering for task assignment. 
         FIG.  10    is a flowchart of an example of a technique for multicast task assignment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Multicast or “one-to-many” communication refers to a message being transmitted from a single device to multiple devices. One example of multicast communication is push-to-talk (PTT). In PTT, a message is generated at a single device and transmitted to one or more devices, where it is played using a speaker or other audio output. In some examples of PTT, a sending user presses a button on a sending device to speak and the message spoken by the sending user is transmitted, over a unicast or multicast connection, to receiving device(s). The message is then played at the receiving device(s), for example, using a speaker or other audio output of the receiving device(s). 
     Push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) is a service option for a cellular phone network that enables subscribers to use their phones as walkie-talkies with unlimited range. A push-to-talk connection may connect almost instantly (without any intentional delay, for example, within 5 seconds, within 1 second, or within 0.5 seconds). A significant advantage of PTT is the ability for a single person to reach an active talk group with a single button press; users need not make several telephone calls to coordinate with a group. Alternatively, PTT may be implemented in an application (or other software) running on client device(s), for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a smartwatch. 
     PTT may in some cases be used to notify a large group of people that a certain task needs to be done. For example, in a supermarket setting, PTT may be used to notify the cleaning team that there is a spill in some location. However, assigning more complex tasks over PTT or ensuring that the given task is assigned to exactly one person (and not multiple people simultaneously) may be technically challenging. For example, a supervisor might state, to multiple subordinates, that a task (e.g., “cleanup on aisle 3”) needs to be done using a PTT. In response, multiple subordinates might accept the task and begin working on it. This may result in too many subordinates trying to complete the task, as the subordinates do not know to whom the task is assigned. 
     Implementations of this disclosure address problems such as these by creating and assigning tasks by leveraging multicast technology, for example, PTT. The tasks may be assigned in an environment where multiple users are available to complete a task, but only one user (or another subset of users) should be assigned the task. 
     According to some implementations, a server provides an interactive voice response (IVR) menu extension for generating the task to a sender device. The IVR menu may include prompts associated with creating a task of a given type. For example, in a takeout restaurant, a user of the sender device (e.g., a customer or a delivery driver picking up the takeout meal) may be prompted to specify his/her order number (or another identifier of the order) and parking spot number (or another indication of where he/she is located). The server receives data associated with the task from the sender device in response to the IVR menu extension. For example, the sender device may specify that order number ABC should be delivered to parking spot D. 
     The server transmits the task to client devices (e.g., associated with waitstaff at the restaurant) using PTT or another multicast technology. The server receives a response accepting the task from a device of the client devices. The server assigns the task to a user of the device. The server transmits an indication that the task was assigned to the user of the device to all or a subset of the client devices. 
     To describe some implementations in greater detail, reference is first made to examples of hardware and software structures used to implement multicast task assignment.  FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example of an electronic computing and communications system  100 , which can be or include a distributed computing system (e.g., a client-server computing system), a cloud computing system, a clustered computing system, or the like. 
     The system  100  includes one or more customers, such as customers  102 A through  102 B, which may each be a public entity, private entity, or another corporate entity or individual that purchases or otherwise uses software services, such as of a UCaaS platform provider. Each customer can include one or more clients. For example, as shown and without limitation, the customer  102 A can include clients  104 A through  104 B, and the customer  102 B can include clients  104 C through  104 D. A customer can include a customer network or domain. For example, and without limitation, the clients  104 A through  104 B can be associated or communicate with a customer network or domain for the customer  102 A and the clients  104 C through  104 D can be associated or communicate with a customer network or domain for the customer  102 B. 
     A client, such as one of the clients  104 A through  104 D, may be or otherwise refer to one or both of a client device or a client application. Where a client is or refers to a client device, the client can comprise a computing system, which can include one or more computing devices, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, or another suitable computing device or combination of computing devices. Where a client instead is or refers to a client application, the client can be an instance of software running on a customer device (e.g., a client device or another device). In some implementations, a client can be implemented as a single physical unit or as a combination of physical units. In some implementations, a single physical unit can include multiple clients. 
     The system  100  can include a number of customers and/or clients or can have a configuration of customers or clients different from that generally illustrated in  FIG.  1   . For example, and without limitation, the system  100  can include hundreds or thousands of customers, and at least some of the customers can include or be associated with a number of clients. 
     The system  100  includes a datacenter  106 , which may include one or more servers. The datacenter  106  can represent a geographic location, which can include a facility, where the one or more servers are located. The system  100  can include a number of datacenters and servers or can include a configuration of datacenters and servers different from that generally illustrated in  FIG.  1   . For example, and without limitation, the system  100  can include tens of datacenters, and at least some of the datacenters can include hundreds or another suitable number of servers. In some implementations, the datacenter  106  can be associated or communicate with one or more datacenter networks or domains, which can include domains other than the customer domains for the customers  102 A through  102 B. 
     The datacenter  106  includes servers used for implementing software services of a UCaaS platform. The datacenter  106  as generally illustrated includes an application server  108 , a database server  110 , and a telephony server  112 . The servers  108  through  112  can each be a computing system, which can include one or more computing devices, such as a desktop computer, a server computer, or another computer capable of operating as a server, or a combination thereof. A suitable number of each of the servers  108  through  112  can be implemented at the datacenter  106 . The UCaaS platform uses a multi-tenant architecture in which installations or instantiations of the servers  108  through  112  is shared amongst the customers  102 A through  102 B. 
     In some implementations, one or more of the servers  108  through  112  can be a non-hardware server implemented on a physical device, such as a hardware server. In some implementations, a combination of two or more of the application server  108 , the database server  110 , and the telephony server  112  can be implemented as a single hardware server or as a single non-hardware server implemented on a single hardware server. In some implementations, the datacenter  106  can include servers other than or in addition to the servers  108  through  112 , for example, a media server, a proxy server, or a web server. 
     The application server  108  runs web-based software services deliverable to a client, such as one of the clients  104 A through  104 D. As described above, the software services may be of a UCaaS platform. For example, the application server  108  can implement all or a portion of a UCaaS platform, including conferencing software, messaging software, and/or other intra-party or inter-party communications software. The application server  108  may, for example, be or include a unitary Java Virtual Machine (JVM). 
     In some implementations, the application server  108  can include an application node, which can be a process executed on the application server  108 . For example, and without limitation, the application node can be executed in order to deliver software services to a client, such as one of the clients  104 A through  104 D, as part of a software application. The application node can be implemented using processing threads, virtual machine instantiations, or other computing features of the application server  108 . In some such implementations, the application server  108  can include a suitable number of application nodes, depending upon a system load or other characteristics associated with the application server  108 . For example, and without limitation, the application server  108  can include two or more nodes forming a node cluster. In some such implementations, the application nodes implemented on a single application server  108  can run on different hardware servers. 
     The database server  110  stores, manages, or otherwise provides data for delivering software services of the application server  108  to a client, such as one of the clients  104 A through  104 D. In particular, the database server  110  may implement one or more databases, tables, or other information sources suitable for use with a software application implemented using the application server  108 . The database server  110  may include a data storage unit accessible by software executed on the application server  108 . A database implemented by the database server  110  may be a relational database management system (RDBMS), an object database, an XML database, a configuration management database (CMDB), a management information base (MIB), one or more flat files, other suitable non-transient storage mechanisms, or a combination thereof. The system  100  can include one or more database servers, in which each database server can include one, two, three, or another suitable number of databases configured as or comprising a suitable database type or combination thereof. 
     In some implementations, one or more databases, tables, other suitable information sources, or portions or combinations thereof may be stored, managed, or otherwise provided by one or more of the elements of the system  100  other than the database server  110 , for example, the client  104  or the application server  108 . 
     The telephony server  112  enables network-based telephony and web communications from and to clients of a customer, such as the clients  104 A through  104 B for the customer  102 A or the clients  104 C through  104 D for the customer  102 B. Some or all of the clients  104 A through  104 D may be voice over Internet protocol (VOIP)-enabled devices configured to send and receive calls over a network  114 . In particular, the telephony server  112  includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) zone and a web zone. The SIP zone enables a client of a customer, such as the customer  102 A or  102 B, to send and receive calls over the network  114  using SIP requests and responses. The web zone integrates telephony data with the application server  108  to enable telephony-based traffic access to software services run by the application server  108 . Given the combined functionality of the SIP zone and the web zone, the telephony server  112  may be or include a cloud-based private branch exchange (PBX) system. 
     The SIP zone receives telephony traffic from a client of a customer and directs same to a destination device. The SIP zone may include one or more call switches for routing the telephony traffic. For example, to route a VOIP call from a first VOIP-enabled client of a customer to a second VOIP-enabled client of the same customer, the telephony server  112  may initiate a SIP transaction between a first client and the second client using a PBX for the customer. However, in another example, to route a VOIP call from a VOIP-enabled client of a customer to a client or non-client device (e.g., a desktop phone which is not configured for VOIP communication) which is not VOIP-enabled, the telephony server  112  may initiate a SIP transaction via a VOIP gateway that transmits the SIP signal to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) system for outbound communication to the non-VOIP-enabled client or non-client phone. Hence, the telephony server  112  may include a PSTN system and may in some cases access an external PSTN system. 
     The telephony server  112  includes one or more session border controllers (SBCs) for interfacing the SIP zone with one or more aspects external to the telephony server  112 . In particular, an SBC can act as an intermediary to transmit and receive SIP requests and responses between clients or non-client devices of a given customer with clients or non-client devices external to that customer. When incoming telephony traffic for delivery to a client of a customer, such as one of the clients  104 A through  104 D, originating from outside the telephony server  112  is received, a SBC receives the traffic and forwards it to a call switch for routing to the client. 
     In some implementations, the telephony server  112 , via the SIP zone, may enable one or more forms of peering to a carrier or customer premise. For example, Internet peering to a customer premise may be enabled to ease the migration of the customer from a legacy provider to a service provider operating the telephony server  112 . In another example, private peering to a customer premise may be enabled to leverage a private connection terminating at one end at the telephony server  112  and at the other end at a computing aspect of the customer environment. In yet another example, carrier peering may be enabled to leverage a connection of a peered carrier to the telephony server  112 . 
     In some such implementations, a SBC or telephony gateway within the customer environment may operate as an intermediary between the SBC of the telephony server  112  and a PSTN for a peered carrier. When an external SBC is first registered with the telephony server  112 , a call from a client can be routed through the SBC to a load balancer of the SIP zone, which directs the traffic to a call switch of the telephony server  112 . Thereafter, the SBC may be configured to communicate directly with the call switch. 
     The web zone receives telephony traffic from a client of a customer, via the SIP zone, and directs same to the application server  108  via one or more Domain Name System (DNS) resolutions. For example, a first DNS within the web zone may process a request received via the SIP zone and then deliver the processed request to a web service which connects to a second DNS at or otherwise associated with the application server  108 . Once the second DNS resolves the request, it is delivered to the destination service at the application server  108 . The web zone may also include a database for authenticating access to a software application for telephony traffic processed within the SIP zone, for example, a softphone. 
     The clients  104 A through  104 D communicate with the servers  108  through  112  of the datacenter  106  via the network  114 . The network  114  can be or include, for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), or another public or private means of electronic computer communication capable of transferring data between a client and one or more servers. In some implementations, a client can connect to the network  114  via a communal connection point, link, or path, or using a distinct connection point, link, or path. For example, a connection point, link, or path can be wired, wireless, use other communications technologies, or a combination thereof. 
     The network  114 , the datacenter  106 , or another element, or combination of elements, of the system  100  can include network hardware such as routers, switches, other network devices, or combinations thereof. For example, the datacenter  106  can include a load balancer  116  for routing traffic from the network  114  to various servers associated with the datacenter  106 . The load balancer  116  can route, or direct, computing communications traffic, such as signals or messages, to respective elements of the datacenter  106 . 
     For example, the load balancer  116  can operate as a proxy, or reverse proxy, for a service, such as a service provided to one or more remote clients, such as one or more of the clients  104 A through  104 D, by the application server  108 , the telephony server  112 , and/or another server. Routing functions of the load balancer  116  can be configured directly or via a DNS. The load balancer  116  can coordinate requests from remote clients and can simplify client access by masking the internal configuration of the datacenter  106  from the remote clients. 
     In some implementations, the load balancer  116  can operate as a firewall, allowing or preventing communications based on configuration settings. Although the load balancer  116  is depicted in  FIG.  1    as being within the datacenter  106 , in some implementations, the load balancer  116  can instead be located outside of the datacenter  106 , for example, when providing global routing for multiple datacenters. In some implementations, load balancers can be included both within and outside of the datacenter  106 . In some implementations, the load balancer  116  can be omitted. 
       FIG.  2    is a block diagram of an example internal configuration of a computing device  200  of an electronic computing and communications system. In one configuration, the computing device  200  may implement one or more of the client  104 , the application server  108 , the database server  110 , or the telephony server  112  of the system  100  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The computing device  200  includes components or units, such as a processor  202 , a memory  204 , a bus  206 , a power source  208 , peripherals  210 , a user interface  212 , a network interface  214 , other suitable components, or a combination thereof. One or more of the memory  204 , the power source  208 , the peripherals  210 , the user interface  212 , or the network interface  214  can communicate with the processor  202  via the bus  206 . 
     The processor  202  is a central processing unit, such as a microprocessor, and can include single or multiple processors having single or multiple processing cores. Alternatively, the processor  202  can include another type of device, or multiple devices, configured for manipulating or processing information. For example, the processor  202  can include multiple processors interconnected in one or more manners, including hardwired or networked. The operations of the processor  202  can be distributed across multiple devices or units that can be coupled directly or across a local area or other suitable type of network. The processor  202  can include a cache, or cache memory, for local storage of operating data or instructions. 
     The memory  204  includes one or more memory components, which may each be volatile memory or non-volatile memory. For example, the volatile memory can be random access memory (RAM) (e.g., a DRAM module, such as DDR SDRAM). In another example, the non-volatile memory of the memory  204  can be a disk drive, a solid state drive, flash memory, or phase-change memory. In some implementations, the memory  204  can be distributed across multiple devices. For example, the memory  204  can include network-based memory or memory in multiple clients or servers performing the operations of those multiple devices. 
     The memory  204  can include data for immediate access by the processor  202 . For example, the memory  204  can include executable instructions  216 , application data  218 , and an operating system  220 . The executable instructions  216  can include one or more application programs, which can be loaded or copied, in whole or in part, from non-volatile memory to volatile memory to be executed by the processor  202 . For example, the executable instructions  216  can include instructions for performing some or all of the techniques of this disclosure. The application data  218  can include user data, database data (e.g., database catalogs or dictionaries), or the like. In some implementations, the application data  218  can include functional programs, such as a web browser, a web server, a database server, another program, or a combination thereof. The operating system  220  can be, for example, Microsoft Windows®, Mac OS X®, or Linux®; an operating system for a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet device; or an operating system for a non-mobile device, such as a mainframe computer. 
     The power source  208  provides power to the computing device  200 . For example, the power source  208  can be an interface to an external power distribution system. In another example, the power source  208  can be a battery, such as where the computing device  200  is a mobile device or is otherwise configured to operate independently of an external power distribution system. In some implementations, the computing device  200  may include or otherwise use multiple power sources. In some such implementations, the power source  208  can be a backup battery. 
     The peripherals  210  includes one or more sensors, detectors, or other devices configured for monitoring the computing device  200  or the environment around the computing device  200 . For example, the peripherals  210  can include a geolocation component, such as a global positioning system location unit. In another example, the peripherals can include a temperature sensor for measuring temperatures of components of the computing device  200 , such as the processor  202 . In some implementations, the computing device  200  can omit the peripherals  210 . 
     The user interface  212  includes one or more input interfaces and/or output interfaces. An input interface may, for example, be a positional input device, such as a mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, or the like; a keyboard; or another suitable human or machine interface device. An output interface may, for example, be a display, such as a liquid crystal display, a cathode-ray tube, a light emitting diode display, or other suitable display. 
     The network interface  214  provides a connection or link to a network (e.g., the network  114  shown in  FIG.  1   ). The network interface  214  can be a wired network interface or a wireless network interface. The computing device  200  can communicate with other devices via the network interface  214  using one or more network protocols, such as using Ethernet, transmission control protocol (TCP), internet protocol (IP), power line communication, an IEEE 802.X protocol (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or ZigBee), infrared, visible light, general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), code-division multiple access (CDMA), Z-Wave, another protocol, or a combination thereof. 
       FIG.  3    is a block diagram of an example of a software platform  300  implemented by an electronic computing and communications system, for example, the system  100  shown in  FIG.  1   . The software platform  300  is a UCaaS platform accessible by clients of a customer of a UCaaS platform provider, for example, the clients  104 A through  104 B of the customer  102 A or the clients  104 C through  104 D of the customer  102 B shown in  FIG.  1   . The software platform  300  may be a multi-tenant platform instantiated using one or more servers at one or more datacenters including, for example, the application server  108 , the database server  110 , and the telephony server  112  of the datacenter  106  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The software platform  300  includes software services accessible using one or more clients. For example, a customer  302  as shown includes four clients—a desk phone  304 , a computer  306 , a mobile device  308 , and a shared device  310 . The desk phone  304  is a desktop unit configured to at least send and receive calls and includes an input device for receiving a telephone number or extension to dial to and an output device for outputting audio and/or video for a call in progress. The computer  306  is a desktop, laptop, or tablet computer including an input device for receiving some form of user input and an output device for outputting information in an audio and/or visual format. The mobile device  308  is a smartphone, wearable device, or other mobile computing aspect including an input device for receiving some form of user input and an output device for outputting information in an audio and/or visual format. The desk phone  304 , the computer  306 , and the mobile device  308  may generally be considered personal devices configured for use by a single user. The shared device  310  is a desk phone, a computer, a mobile device, or a different device which may instead be configured for use by multiple specified or unspecified users. 
     Each of the clients  304  through  310  includes or runs on a computing device configured to access at least a portion of the software platform  300 . In some implementations, the customer  302  may include additional clients not shown. For example, the customer  302  may include multiple clients of one or more client types (e.g., multiple desk phones or multiple computers) and/or one or more clients of a client type not shown in  FIG.  3    (e.g., wearable devices or televisions other than as shared devices). For example, the customer  302  may have tens or hundreds of desk phones, computers, mobile devices, and/or shared devices. 
     The software services of the software platform  300  generally relate to communications tools, but are in no way limited in scope. As shown, the software services of the software platform  300  include telephony software  312 , conferencing software  314 , messaging software  316 , and other software  318 . Some or all of the software  312  through  318  uses customer configurations  320  specific to the customer  302 . The customer configurations  320  may, for example, be data stored within a database or other data store at a database server, such as the database server  110  shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The telephony software  312  enables telephony traffic between ones of the clients  304  through  310  and other telephony-enabled devices, which may be other ones of the clients  304  through  310 , other VOIP-enabled clients of the customer  302 , non-VOIP-enabled devices of the customer  302 , VOIP-enabled clients of another customer, non-VOIP-enabled devices of another customer, or other VOIP-enabled clients or non-VOIP-enabled devices. Calls sent or received using the telephony software  312  may, for example, be sent or received using the desk phone  304 , a softphone running on the computer  306 , a mobile application running on the mobile device  308 , or using the shared device  310  that includes telephony features. 
     The telephony software  312  further enables phones that do not include a client application to connect to other software services of the software platform  300 . For example, the telephony software  312  may receive and process calls from phones not associated with the customer  302  to route that telephony traffic to one or more of the conferencing software  314 , the messaging software  316 , or the other software  318 . 
     The conferencing software  314  enables audio, video, and/or other forms of conferences between multiple participants, such as to facilitate a conference between those participants. In some cases, the participants may all be physically present within a single location, for example, a conference room, in which the conferencing software  314  may facilitate a conference between only those participants and using one or more clients within the conference room. In some cases, one or more participants may be physically present within a single location and one or more other participants may be remote, in which the conferencing software  314  may facilitate a conference between all of those participants using one or more clients within the conference room and one or more remote clients. In some cases, the participants may all be remote, in which the conferencing software  314  may facilitate a conference between the participants using different clients for the participants. The conferencing software  314  can include functionality for hosting, presenting scheduling, joining, or otherwise participating in a conference. The conferencing software  314  may further include functionality for recording some or all of a conference and/or documenting a transcript for the conference. 
     The messaging software  316  enables instant messaging, unified messaging, and other types of messaging communications between multiple devices, such as to facilitate a chat or other virtual conversation between users of those devices. The unified messaging functionality of the messaging software  316  may, for example, refer to email messaging which includes a voicemail transcription service delivered in email format. 
     The other software  318  enables other functionality of the software platform  300 . Examples of the other software  318  include, but are not limited to, device management software, resource provisioning and deployment software, administrative software, third party integration software, and the like. In one particular example, the other software  318  can include software for multicast task assignment. 
     The software  312  through  318  may be implemented using one or more servers, for example, of a datacenter such as the datacenter  106  shown in  FIG.  1   . For example, one or more of the software  312  through  318  may be implemented using an application server, a database server, and/or a telephony server, such as the servers  108  through  112  shown in  FIG.  1   . In another example, one or more of the software  312  through  318  may be implemented using servers not shown in  FIG.  1   , for example, a meeting server, a web server, or another server. In yet another example, one or more of the software  312  through  318  may be implemented using one or more of the servers  108  through  112  and one or more other servers. The software  312  through  318  may be implemented by different servers or by the same server. 
     Features of the software services of the software platform  300  may be integrated with one another to provide a unified experience for users. For example, the messaging software  316  may include a user interface element configured to initiate a call with another user of the customer  302 . In another example, the telephony software  312  may include functionality for elevating a telephone call to a conference. In yet another example, the conferencing software  314  may include functionality for sending and receiving instant messages between participants and/or other users of the customer  302 . In yet another example, the conferencing software  314  may include functionality for file sharing between participants and/or other users of the customer  302 . In some implementations, some or all of the software  312  through  318  may be combined into a single software application run on clients of the customer, such as one or more of the clients  304  through  310 . 
       FIG.  4    is a diagram of an example order fulfillment system  400  which can use multicast task assignment. As shown, the system  400  includes a customer device  402 , a server machine  406 , and client devices  410 . Each of the customer device  402  and the client devices  410  may be an end-user computing device that includes processing circuitry, memory, and a network interface, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a smartwatch. The server machine  406  may include one or more servers, with each server including processing circuitry, memory, and a network interface. 
     The order fulfillment system  400  is used for curbside or other delivery of an order placed by a user of the customer device  402 , such as at a restaurant, grocery store, department store, or like business which has multiple workers fulfilling such orders in which at least a subset of the workers is a user of a client device  410 . As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the customer device  402  transmits task-related information  404  to the server machine  406 . As shown, the task-related information  404  includes an order number and a parking spot number. In other implementations, different task-related information may be included. According to some implementations, the server machine  406  provides an IVR menu extension for generating the task-related information  404  to the customer device  402 , and the customer device  402  provides the task-related information  404  to the server machine  406  in response to the IVR menu extension. 
     The server machine  406  generates a task  408  based on the task-related information  404 . The task  408  may include delivering item(s) associated with the referenced order number to the referenced parking spot number. As shown, the server machine  406  transmits the task  408  to client devices  410 . While three client devices  410  are shown, there may be other numbers of client devices  410 . In response, one of the client devices  410 . 1  transmits an accept task message  412  accepting the task  408 . The server machine  406  records that the task  408  is assigned to a user of the accepting client device  410 . 1 . The server machine  406  transmits (e.g., using PTT or another multicast technology or using paging technology) a task assigned message  414  to the other client devices  410 . 2 ,  410 . 3 , informing the other client devices  410 . 2 ,  410 . 3  that the task  408  has been assigned. 
     The user of the accepting client device  410 . 1  then performs the task  408  (e.g., brings the ordered item(s) to the referenced parking spot). Upon completing performance of the task  408 , the user of the accepting client device  410 . 1  may transmit a message indicating that performance of the task  408  has been completed to the server machine  408  from the accepting client device  410 . 1 . 
     The server machine  406  may store a data structure representing a set of tasks and a status (e.g., received, assignment pending, assigned, completed) for each task. For each member of the worker group using the client devices  410 , the server machine  406  may store a status (e.g., online, offline, on duty, off duty, task assigned, no task assigned, and the like) and other data (e.g., geographic position, tasks previously completed, and the like). This information may be useful for a manager in managing and evaluating performance of the worker group, as well as in quickly verifying the status of each task. This is discussed in more detail in conjunction with  FIG.  6   . 
     The technology disclosed in  FIG.  4    may be used in multiple different settings. For example, in a supermarket setting, a supervisor could create a cleanup task by specifying a location in the supermarket (e.g., Aisle 12A) and what needs to be cleaned up (e.g., spill); the task could be provided to the cleaning staff. In an airplane, a task might include a seat (e.g.,  23 D) and items or services requested (e.g., tissues); the task could be provided to flight attendants. The customer device  402  may be replaced with another device responsible for generating task-related information. 
       FIG.  5    is a data flow diagram  500  for an example of multicast task assignment. As shown, the data flow diagram  500  leverages a sender device  502  (e.g., the customer device  402 ), a server  504  (e.g., the server machine  506 ) and client devices  506  (e.g., the client devices  410 ). While two client devices  506  are illustrated, other numbers of client devices may be used. 
     At block  508 , the sender device  502  generates task-related information (order #ABC, parking #D) and transmits the task-related information to the server  504 . 
     At block  510 , the server  504  generates a task (“Bring order #ABC to parking #D”) based on the task-related information. The server  504  transmits the task to the client devices  506  using a multicast technology, for example, PTT or paging technology. 
     At block  512 , client device  506 . 1  accepts the task and signals its acceptance to the server  504 . Upon receiving the task acceptance message, the server  504  may identify that a user of the client device  506 . 1  is the accepting party using voiceprint intelligence or voice-identification technology. Voiceprint technology may identify an individual based on the sound of his/her voice using parameters of the individual&#39;s voice, including tone, pitch, pacing and fluctuations in the sound. Identifying may include determining whether an individual who made a new utterance is the same as the individual who made previous utterances that are associated with the individual. In some embodiments, the client device  506 . 1  accepts the task by tapping a button displayed on a touchscreen of the client device  506 . 1  for accepting the task. Alternatively, the user of the client device  506 . 1  could use the client device  506 . 1  to transmit his/her name and an indication of acceptance (e.g., “John Doe accepts this task”). In some implementations, the server  504  receives a signal from the client device  506 . 1  and identifies the user accepting the task based on an identifier, within the signal, of the client device  506 . 1   
     At block  514 , the server  504  notifies the other client device  506 . 2  that the task has been assigned and is no longer available for assignment. While a single other client device  506 . 2  is illustrated, in alternative implementations, there could be multiple other client devices, and at least a subset of those other client devices may be notified that the task has been assigned by receiving the notification from the server  504 . 
     In some implementations, the client devices to which the task is transmitted may be selected based on information associated with a team that is responsible for the task. For example, if the task is a cleanup task, the task may be submitted only to members of the cleanup team. In some examples, the client devices receiving the task may be further limited based on team members who are on duty, team members who are present in the store, team members that are physically located proximate to the place where the cleanup is to be done, and the like. Prior to transmitting the task, the client devices to receive the task may be selected based on at least one of an identifier of a team type (e.g., maintenance, janitorial, or inventory) of one or more of the client devices, a geographic location of one or more of the client devices, one or more other tasks accepted by one or more of the client devices, a status indicator (e.g., busy or available) of one or more of the client devices, or a geographic position of one or more of the client devices. 
       FIG.  6    is a block diagram of an example of a server  600 . The server  600  may correspond to the server machine  406  or the server  504 . As shown, the server  600  stores a task status table  602  and an employee status table  606 . The task status table  602  stores, for each task, a task identifier (ID), a status, and employee(s) assigned to the task. The task status may be one of: received, assignment pending, assigned, and completed. The employee status table  604  stores, for each employee, a status, a geographic position, and task ID(s) being handled by the employee. The status may be one or more of: online, offline, on duty, off duty, task assigned, no task assigned, and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , the server  600  receives a new task input  606  (e.g., task-related information  404  and block  508 ). Upon receiving the new task input  606 , the server  600  creates, in the task status table  602 , a new task ID with the status received. The server  600  generates a task availability output  608  and updates the task status to assignment pending in the task status table  602 . The server  600  receives a task acceptance input  610  (e.g., using PTT or one-to-one communication) from one of the client devices (not shown in  FIG.  6   ). Upon receiving the task acceptance input  610 , the server  600  updates the task status to assigned. The server  600  also updates the employee status table  604  to indicate that the task was assigned to the accepting employee. When the server  600  receives a task completion input  612  (e.g., using PTT or one-to-one communication) indicating that the task is completed, the task status may be changed to completed. 
       FIG.  7    is a block diagram of an example task management system  700 . As shown, the task management system includes a task requesting device  702 , a server  708 , and an employee device  718 . The task requesting device  702  may correspond to the customer device  402  or the sender device  502 . The server  708  may correspond to the server machine  406 , the server  504  or the server  600 . The employee device  718  may correspond to one of the client devices  410  or one of the client devices  506 . 
     As shown, the server  708  includes a task generation engine  710 , a task assignment engine  712 , a task status engine  714 , and an employee status engine  716 . The task generation engine  710  generates task(s) by communicating with the task requesting device  702 . As shown, the task generation engine  710  provides an IVR menu extension  704  to the task requesting device  702 . In response, the task requesting device  702  provides an IVR response  706  that includes task-related information to the task generation engine  710 . The task generation engine  710  generates the task based on the task-related information in the IVR response. 
     The task assignment engine  712  then assigns the task by sending a task assignment offer  722  to the employee device  718  and other devices (not shown in  FIG.  7   ). In response, the server  708  receives a task assignment acceptance  724  from the employee device  718 . The task status engine  714  and/or the employee status engine  716  record that a user of the employee device  718  accepted the task and is working on the task, with the task status engine  714  being responsible for tracking individual tasks and the employee status engine  716  being responsible for tracking individual employees. A user (e.g., a manager) accessing the server  708  may leverage the task status engine  714  to determine the status of a task (e.g., in response to a customer asking when his/her task will be completed) or may leverage the employee status engine  716  to determine the status of an employee (e.g., whether a given employee is not accepting any tasks or has too many tasks to complete). The status of the employee may include tasks assigned to the employee, tasks completed by the employee, the employee&#39;s work hours, the employee&#39;s geographic position (e.g., determined by a mobile device of the employee), whether the employee&#39;s mobile device is online, and the like. Periodically, the server  708  may receive, from the employee device  718 , a message  720  indicating tasks assigned to the employee, a status of the tasks, and a geographic position of the employee. The geographic position of the employee may be determined using assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) or Wi-Fi® hotspot triangulation at the employee device  718  to identify an exact position of the employee device  718  within a business (e.g., second floor, aisle 8A). (The employee is assumed to be at the same geographic position as the employee device  718 .) 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram of an example employee data table  800 . The employee data table  800  may be generated, for example, using the employee status engine  716 . As shown, the employee data table  800  includes an employee ID column  802 , a task completed column  804 , and a work hours column  806 . The employee data table  800  may be used, for example, by a manager to assess performance of employees. For instance, as shown in the employee data table  800 , employee ID # 4  performed a single task in a one-hour shift, while employee ID # 2  performed  40  tasks in a three-hour shift. A manager might be interested in investigating why employee ID # 4  is so much less efficient than employee ID # 2 . 
     To further describe some implementations in greater detail, reference is next made to examples of techniques which may be performed by or using a multicast task assignment engine at a server.  FIG.  9    is a flow chart of an example of a technique  900  for employee filtering for task assignment, and  FIG.  10    is a flowchart of an example of a technique  1000  for multicast task assignment. The techniques  900  or  1000  can be executed using computing devices, such as the systems, hardware, and software described with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 8   . The techniques  900  and  1000  can be performed, for example, by executing a machine-readable program or other computer-executable instructions, such as routines, instructions, programs, or other code. The steps, or operations, of the techniques  900  and  1000  or another technique, method, process, or algorithm described in connection with the implementations disclosed herein can be implemented directly in hardware, firmware, software executed by hardware, circuitry, or a combination thereof. 
     For simplicity of explanation, the techniques  900  and  1000  are depicted and described herein as a series of steps or operations. However, the steps or operations in accordance with this disclosure can occur in various orders and/or concurrently. Additionally, other steps or operations not presented and described herein may be used. Furthermore, not all illustrated steps or operations may be required to implement a technique in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a technique  900  for employee filtering for task assignment. The technique  900  may be implemented at a server to identify employees to whom a task assignment could be offered, using the techniques described herein. 
     At block  902 , the server starts with a set of employees (e.g., all employees of a supermarket). The set of employees may include all employees, all employees having mobile devices, or all employees having computing devices. The set of employees may be stored at the server or at a data repository (e.g., database) coupled with the server. 
     At block  904 , the server applies a time off-based filter to the set of employees, to remove the employees who are not on duty from the set. Employees work hours may be stored at the server or at the data repository coupled with the server. The server or the data repository may also store a list of employees who are expected to be on duty but are out for paid or unpaid time off (e.g., due to vacation, sick leave, and the like). 
     At block  906 , the server applies a skills/responsibilities-based filter to the set of employees, to remove employees whose skills/responsibilities are not aligned with the task. For example, cleanup employees may be responsible for and skilled in cleaning up spills while customer service specialist employees might be responsible for and skilled in handling customer complaints or providing assistance to customers. In some cases, the server or the data repository stores the skills/responsibilities of each employee or a subset of the employees. 
     At block  908 , the server applies a geographic position-based filter. The geographic position-based filter may leverage A-GPS to identify employees who are proximate to a location where they are needed. For example, if there is a spill, a cleanup employee who is proximate to the spill could handle it much more quickly than an employee who is on the other side of the store. 
     At block  910 , the server applies an other assigned task-based filter. For example, employees who are busy with other tasks might not be offered the new task so as not to overwhelm the employees and to ensure that all of the on-duty employees are equally busy. Employees who do not have other assigned tasks may be prioritized for assignment of the new task being offered. 
     At block  912 , the server transmits (e.g., using multicast technology such as PTT) the task assignment offer to the remaining employees who were not filtered out of the set in blocks  804 - 810 . One of the employees may accept the task using the techniques disclosed herein. The task may be assigned to the accepting employee. 
     In some cases, a manager may manually assign a task to an employee. The employee data table(s) and the task data table(s) may be updated to reflect the manual assignment. The manager may notify the server of the assignment and may notify the employee using multicast communication or a direct communication to the employee (e.g., in person or via the employee&#39;s device). 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a technique  1000  for multicast task assignment. 
     At block  1002 , a server (e.g., the server machine  402 , the server  504 , the server  600  or the server  708 ) transmits a task to client devices (e.g., the client devices  410 , the client devices  506  or the employee device  718 ) using PTT. According to some implementations, the server provides an IVR menu extension for generating information related to the task to a sender device (e.g., the customer device  402 , sender device  502  or task requesting device  702 ). The server receives the information related to the task from the sender device in response to the IVR menu extension. The server generates the task based on the information. 
     At block  1004 , the server receives a response accepting the task from a device of the client devices. The response may be delivered using an audio transmission, for example, over the PTT connection. In some implementations, the server identifies the user of the device by applying voiceprint intelligence (or other voice recognition technology) to the response accepting the task. The response might not (e.g., when executing some implementations of PTT) include an indication of the device transmitting the response. 
     At block  1006 , the server assigns the task to a user of the device. The server may store, in its local memory or in a data repository, that the task is assigned to the user of the device. According to some implementations, the server stores a data structure representing a set of tasks including the task and a status of each task. 
     At block  1008 , the server transmits an indication that the task was assigned to the user of the device to at least a subset of the client devices. The indication may be transmitted over a PTT connection. When the task is completed, the server may receive an indication that the task was completed. The server may store an indication that the user of the device completed the task. 
     According to some implementations, the server identifies, prior to transmitting the task to the client devices, the client devices based on information associated with a team responsible for the task. 
     According to some implementations, the server identifies, prior to transmitting the task to the client devices, the client devices based on membership in a team responsible for the task and at least one of a geographic location of one or more of the client devices, one or more other tasks accepted by one or more of the client devices, a status indicator of one or more of the client devices, or a geographic position of one or more of the client devices. 
     According to some implementations, the server identifies the device using voiceprint intelligence. 
     According to some implementations, the server identifies the device using voice-identification technology. 
     Some implementations are described in conjunction with a task assignment being transmitted using PTT. However, it is possible that the task assignment technique could be completed using technologies other than PPT (e.g., text-based or image-based messaging). For example, the messages described herein could be transmitted using text messages (e.g., short messaging service (SMS) messages or text messages in a messaging application). Alternatively, a user could take a picture associated with a task (e.g., a picture of a broken glass bottle and a spill) within the text or image messaging application and receive responses accepting the task as described herein. 
     In some implementations, the disclosed technique may include intelligence to understand which users of client devices are likely to claim which assignments. For example, some users might prefer to handle pickup orders and some users might prefer to handle cleanup orders. In some embodiments, if two tasks arrive at the server simultaneously, the server may decide to couple the tasks. For example, if takeout orders need to be delivered to two adjacent parking spots, the server might decide to merge the two tasks into a single task. The intelligence to understand which users of client devices are likely to claim which assignments may be determined based on past tasks accepted by the users, using statistical or artificial intelligence techniques. The statistical or artificial intelligence techniques may include Bayesian analysis or artificial neural networks. Alternatively, a manager can manually assign the task to a user. The manual assignment may be communicated directly to the user (and entered into the server). The manual assignment may be communicated to the user (and other users) over the multicast (e.g., PTT) or paging technology. The manual assignment may be communicated to the user in a unicast communication to his/her device. 
     Some implementations may be designed to connect with a customer and employee management system without changing the system. For example, an engine implementing the disclosed technology could access tasks in the management system and forward the tasks to the employee client devices for assignment. Upon assignment of a task to an employee, the engine may update data stored in the employee management system. 
     Some implementations are described below as numbered examples (Example 1,2,3, etc.). These examples are provided as examples only and do not limit the disclosed technology. 
     Example 1 is a method comprising: transmitting a task to client devices using PTT; receiving a response accepting the task from a device of the client devices; assigning the task to a user of the device; and transmitting an indication that the task was assigned to the user of the device to at least a subset of the client devices. 
     In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 includes, providing an IVR menu extension for generating information related to the task to a sender device; receiving the information related to the task from the sender device in response to the IVR menu extension; and generating the task based on the information. 
     In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1-2 includes, identifying, prior to transmitting the task to the client devices, the client devices based on information associated with a team responsible for the task. 
     In Example 4, the subject matter of Examples 1-3 includes, identifying, prior to transmitting the task to the client devices, the client devices based on membership in a team responsible for the task and at least one of a geographic location of one or more of the client devices, one or more other tasks accepted by one or more of the client devices, a status indicator of one or more of the client devices, or a geographic position of one or more of the client devices. 
     In Example 5, the subject matter of Examples 1-4 includes, identifying the device using voiceprint intelligence. 
     In Example 6, the subject matter of Examples 1-5 includes, identifying the device using voice-identification technology. 
     In Example 7, the subject matter of Examples 1-6 includes, receiving an indication that the task was completed; and storing an indication that the user of the device completed the task. 
     In Example 8, the subject matter of Examples 1-7 includes, storing a data structure representing a set of tasks including the task and a status of each task. 
     Example 9 is at least one machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations to implement of any of Examples 1-8. 
     Example 10 is an apparatus comprising means to implement of any of Examples 1-8. 
     Example 11 is a system to implement of any of Examples 1-8. 
     Example 12 is a method to implement of any of Examples 1-8. 
     The implementations of this disclosure can be described in terms of functional block components and various processing operations. Such functional block components can be realized by a number of hardware or software components that perform the specified functions. For example, the disclosed implementations can employ various integrated circuit components (e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like), which can carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elements of the disclosed implementations are implemented using software programming or software elements, the systems and techniques can be implemented with a programming or scripting language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, assembler, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented with a combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines, or other programming elements. 
     Functional aspects can be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the implementations of the systems and techniques disclosed herein could employ a number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing or control, data processing, and the like. The words “mechanism” and “component” are used broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physical implementations, but can include software routines in conjunction with processors, etc. Likewise, the terms “system” or “tool” as used herein and in the figures, but in any event based on their context, may be understood as corresponding to a functional unit implemented using software, hardware (e.g., an integrated circuit, such as an ASIC), or a combination of software and hardware. In certain contexts, such systems or mechanisms may be understood to be a processor-implemented software system or processor-implemented software mechanism that is part of or callable by an executable program, which may itself be wholly or partly composed of such linked systems or mechanisms. 
     Implementations or portions of implementations of the above disclosure can take the form of a computer program product accessible from, for example, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium. A computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be a device that can, for example, tangibly contain, store, communicate, or transport a program or data structure for use by or in connection with a processor. The medium can be, for example, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor device. 
     Other suitable mediums are also available. Such computer-usable or computer-readable media can be referred to as non-transitory memory or media, and can include volatile memory or non-volatile memory that can change over time. The quality of memory or media being non-transitory refers to such memory or media storing data for some period of time or otherwise based on device power or a device power cycle. A memory of an apparatus described herein, unless otherwise specified, does not have to be physically contained by the apparatus, but is one that can be accessed remotely by the apparatus, and does not have to be contiguous with other memory that might be physically contained by the apparatus. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain implementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed implementations but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.