Dynamic capacity ranges for workforce routing

Abstract

A system and method for workforce scheduling using dynamic capacity ranges are provided. A capacity model associates distances of locations within a service area from a depot with a series of appointment time windows such that appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances than appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity. After a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment to be scheduled is determined, appointment time window suggestions are automatically produced based on which appointment time windows as defined in the capacity model are associated with the location of the appointment to be scheduled. As capacity changes due to bookings, the capacity model is dynamically updated. A system and method for workforce routing, based at least in part on using dynamic capacity ranges, are also provided.

1 . A method for workforce scheduling, comprising the steps of:
 generating a capacity model that associates distances of locations within a service area from a location of a depot from which workers servicing the service area are dispatched with a series of appointment time windows available for scheduling within a pre-determined time period such that appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances than appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity;   determining a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment being scheduled within the service area; and   producing appointment time window suggestions for the appointment being scheduled based on the appointment time windows that are defined in the capacity model as being associated with the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the appointment time window suggestions to a booking agent for use in scheduling an appointment. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of dynamically updating the capacity model as available worker capacity within at least one appointment time window changes. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the capacity model as an input to an automated workforce routing system. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein, during said generating step, an earlier set of appointment time windows is designated for outbound travel to locations of appointments within the service area relative to the location of the depot and a later set of appointment time windows is designated for inbound travel to locations of appointments within the service area relative to the location of the depot. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein, during said generating step, a beginning of an earliest appointment time window and an end of a latest appointment time window within the series of appointment time windows is associated with the location of the depot, and a transition between the set of appointment time windows designated for outbound travel and the set of appointment time windows designated for inbound travel is associated with a distance representing an outermost boundary of the service area for workers dispatched from the depot such that the capacity model associates one outbound appointment time window and one inbound appointment time window for each location within the service area. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the transition corresponds to the mid-point of the series of appointment time windows as measured in time. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein, during said generating step, a percentage of the distance between the location of the depot and the outermost boundary associated with an individual appointment time window within the set of appointment time windows designated for outbound travel corresponds to a percentage of the amount of available worker capacity within the individual appointment time window relative to the aggregate of available worker capacities for the set of appointment time windows designated for outbound travel. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of displaying the capacity model in the form of a distance line having a length corresponding to a distance from the depot to the outermost boundary with the set of appointment time windows designated for outbound travel identified lengthwise on one side of the distance line and the set of appointment time windows designated for inbound travel identified lengthwise on an opposite side of the distance line. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of displaying the capacity model in the form of at least one radial plot having a center representing the location of the depot and a radius of a length representing a distance from the depot to the outermost boundary of the service area and a series of concentric rings representing the set of appointment time windows designated for one of outbound travel and inbound travel. 
     
     
         11 . A system for workforce scheduling, comprising:
 at least one processor configured to generate a capacity model that associates distances of locations within a service area from a location of a depot from which workers servicing the service area are dispatched with a series of appointment time windows available for scheduling within a pre-determined time period such that appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances than appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity;   said at least one processor being configured to determine a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment being scheduled within the service area; and   said at least one processor being configured to automatically produce appointment time window suggestions for the appointment being scheduled based on the appointment time windows that are defined in the capacity model as being associated with the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled.   
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the appointment time window suggestions to a booking agent for use in scheduling an appointment. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to dynamically update the capacity model as available worker capacity within at least one appointment time window changes. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide the capacity model as an input to an automated workforce routing system. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to designate an earlier set of appointment time windows for outbound travel to locations of appointments within the service area relative to the location of the depot and a later set of appointment time windows for inbound travel to locations of appointments within the service area relative to the location of the depot. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to associate a beginning of an earliest appointment time window and an end of a latest appointment time window within the series of appointment time windows with the location of the depot, and to associate a transition between the set of appointment time windows designated for outbound travel and the set of appointment time windows designated for inbound travel with a distance representing an outermost boundary of the service area for workers dispatched from the depot such that the capacity model associates one outbound appointment time window and one inbound appointment time window per location within the service area. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising stored instructions which, when executed by one or more computer processors, cause the one or more computer processors to perform steps of:
 generating a capacity model that associates distances of locations within a service area from a location of a depot from which workers servicing the service area are dispatched with a series of appointment time windows available for scheduling within a pre-determined time period such that the appointment time windows having a relatively greater amount of available worker capacity are associated with a greater range of distances that appointment time windows having a relatively smaller amount of available worker capacity;   determining a distance from the depot to a location of an appointment being scheduled within the service area; and   automatically producing appointment time window suggestions for the appointment being scheduled based on the appointment time windows that are defined in the capacity model as being associated with the distance from the depot to the location of the appointment being scheduled.   
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled)