Future locking of resources

Abstract

A system for allocating resources to demand requests is set forth. The system is configured to identify a set of resource requirements based on a demand request. The system is also configured to choose a resource that satisfies at least one of the identified resource requirements. The system is further configured to allocate the selected resource to the demand request based on whether a client can satisfy a locking prerequisite associated with the selected resource.

1 . A system for allocating resources to demand requests comprising:
 resource requirement means for identifying at least a first resource requirement associated with a first demand request;   resource selector means coupled to the resource requirement means for selecting a resource that satisfies the at least first resource requirement associated with the first demand request;   communication means coupled with the resource selector means for receiving a first response from a first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying at least one locking prerequisite associated with the selected resource; and,   resource allocation means coupled to the communication means for allocating the selected resource to the first demand request based on the first response received from the first client.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the resource requirement means further identify at least a second resource requirement associated with a second demand request;   the resource selector means further select an allocated resource satisfying the at least second resource requirement associated with the second demand request;   the communication means further receive a second response from the first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying at least one locking prerequisite associated with the allocated resource; and,   the resource allocation means further maintain the allocation of the allocated resource to the first demand request where the received second response indicates that the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the communication means further receive a third response from a second client indicating whether the second client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite associated with the allocated resource; and,   the resource allocation means further re-allocate the allocated resource to the second demand request where the received third response indicates that the second client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the second resource requirement comprises a second plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first resource requirement comprises a first plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first plurality of resource requirements are received from the first client. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein at least one resource requirement of the first plurality of resource requirements is a technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the selected resource is a resource currently available to satisfy the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements at the time the first demand request is received. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the resource is an item of software, an item of hardware or an individual having a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the selected resource is a resource available at a future time designated by the first client, and the selected resource is capable of satisfying the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements subsequent to receiving the first demand request. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the allocated resource is an item of software, an item of hardware or an individual having a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one locking prerequisite is a financial prerequisite. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the allocation of the first resource to the first demand request by the resource allocation means is an allocation based on the received first response indicating that the first client is incapable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite, and wherein the allocation of the first resource to the first demand request by the resource allocation means is an allocation based on the first response indicating that the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite 
     
     
         14 . A system for allocating resources to demand requests comprising:
 a resource requirement processor operative to identify at least a first resource requirement associated with a first demand request;   a resource selector coupled to the resource requirement processor operative to select a resource that satisfies the at least first resource requirement associated with the first demand request;   a communication processor coupled with the resource selector and operative to receive a first response from a first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying at least one locking prerequisite associated with the selected resource; and,   a resource allocation processor coupled to the communication processor and operative to allocate the selected resource to the first demand request based on the first response received from the first client.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the resource processor is further operative to identify a second resource requirement associated with a second demand request;   the resource selector is further operative to select an allocated resource satisfying the at least second resource requirement associated with the second demand request;   the communication processor is further operative to receive a second response from the first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying at least one locking prerequisite associated with the allocated resource; and,   the resource allocation processor is further operative to maintain the allocation of the allocated resource to the first demand request where the received second response indicates that the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the communication processor is further operative to receive a third response from a second client indicating whether the second client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite associated with the allocated resource; and,   the resource allocation processor is further operative to re-allocate the allocated resource to the second demand request where the received third response indicates that the second client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the second resource requirement comprises a second plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the first resource requirement comprises a first plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the first plurality of resource requirements are received from the first client. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein at least one resource requirement of the first plurality of resource requirements is a travel availability requirement. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the selected resource is a resource currently available to satisfy the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements at the time the first demand request is received. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the resource is an item of software, an item of hardware or an individual having a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the selected resource is a resource available at a future time designated by the first client, and the selected resource is capable of satisfying the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements subsequent to receiving the first demand request. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the allocated resource is an item of software, an item of hardware or an individual having a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one locking prerequisite is an availability prerequisite. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the allocation of the first resource to the first demand request by the resource allocation processor is an allocation based on the received first response indicating that the first client is incapable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite, and wherein the allocation of the first resource to the first demand request by the resource allocation processor is an allocation based on the first response indicating that the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite 
     
     
         27 . A method for allocating resources to demand requests comprising:
 receiving a first demand request from a first client;   identifying a first resource requirement associated with the first demand request;   selecting a resource that satisfies the at least first resource requirement associated with the first demand request;   receiving a first response from the first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying at least one locking prerequisite associated with the selected resource;   assigning the selected resource a locking identifier based on the first response received from the first client;   allocating the selected resource to the first client; and,   displaying a result indicative of allocating the allocated resource to the first client.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  further comprising:
 receiving a second demand request from a second client;   identifying a second resource requirement associated with the second demand request;   selecting the allocated resource satisfying the at least second resource requirement associated with the second demand request;   receiving a second response from the first client indicating whether the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite associated with the allocated resource; and,   modifying the locking identifier assigned to the allocated based on the second response received from the first client.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  further comprising:
 receiving a third response from the second client indicative of whether the second client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite associated with the first staffing resource;   modifying the locking identifier assigned to the allocated resource based on the third response from the second client; and,   re-allocating the allocated resource to the second client.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the second resource requirement comprises a second plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the first resource requirement comprises a first plurality of resource requirements. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first plurality of resource requirements are received from the first client. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the first plurality of resource requirements are determined by an entity other than the first client. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein at least one resource requirement of the first plurality of resource requirements is selected from the group consisting of a technical skill requirement, a travel availability requirement; and a time availability requirement. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the selected resource is a resource currently available to satisfy the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements at the time the first demand request is received. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the selected resource is an item of software, an item or hardware or an individual with a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the selected resource is available at a future time identified by the first client, and the selected resource is capable of satisfying the at least one of the first plurality of resource requirements subsequent to receiving the first demand request. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the resource is an item of software, an item or hardware or an individual with a predetermined technical skill requirement. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the at least one locking prerequisite is a financial prerequisite. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 27  wherein allocating the first resource to the first demand request is an allocation based on the received first response indicating that the first client is incapable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite, and wherein the allocating of the first resource to the first demand request is an allocation based on the first response indicating that the first client is capable of satisfying the at least one locking prerequisite.