Behaviorally informed scheduling systems and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US10937004B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Behaviorally informed scheduling systems and methods",
  "abstract": "Systems and methods for scheduling at least one time slot. The method includes determining that a plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics are available during at least one time slot, generating a suggestion model by providing the plurality of characteristics to a machine learning program using an iterative convergent computational method, applying a plurality of inputs to the suggestion model to generate at least one suggested calendar entry for the at least one time slot, the at least one suggested calendar entry having the plurality of characteristics requesting the plurality of resources during the at least one time slot; and adjusting presentation attributes of the plurality of suggested calendar entries based on properties of an interface window presenting the suggested calendar entries.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a memory; at least one processor coupled to the memory; and a scheduling component executable by the at least one processor and configured to: receive, from a user over a computer network, a request to schedule a personal services appointment, the request including an identifier of a user profile associated with the user, wherein the user is a client of the personal services appointment; access the user profile associated with the user, the user profile stored on the system and containing at least one previous personal services appointment associated with the user; identify a plurality of characteristics of the request to schedule the personal services appointment, the plurality of characteristics determined from the at least one previous personal services appointment in the user profile; determine that a plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics are available during at least one time slot, the plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics including a service provider and at least one of a scheduled service offered by the service provider during the at least one time slot and a physical location at which the service provider offers the scheduled service during the at least one time slot; generate a suggestion model by providing the plurality of characteristics to a machine learning program using an iterative convergent computational method, wherein the machine learning program is further configured to determine an adjusted forecast based on the at least one previous personal services appointment; apply a plurality of inputs to the suggestion model to generate at least one proposed personal services appointment for the at least one time slot, the at least one proposed personal services appointment having the plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics during the at least one time slot; and adjust presentation attributes of the at least one proposed personal services appointment based on properties of an interface window presenting the at least one proposed personal services appointment on a device remote from the system on the computer network.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a price and the scheduling component is configured to determine the price based on a temporal difference between an identified time and the at least one time slot.",
    "3. The system of claim 2, wherein the scheduling component is configured to determine the temporal difference based on a physical proximity between a location of a user associated with the profile and a location of at least one resource of the plurality of resources.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, wherein the scheduling component adjusts the price proportionally in relation to a size of the temporal difference.",
    "5. The system of claim 2, wherein the price is based on a rate of a service provider and the scheduling component is configured to identify the rate as being at least one of a minimum rate, a maximum rate, a percentage rate, and an hourly rate based on the temporal difference.",
    "6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one proposed personal services appointment includes a plurality of proposed personal services appointments and the system is configured to present the plurality of proposed personal services appointments in decreasing order of relevance.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is configured to adjust presentation attributes of the plurality of proposed personal services appointments based on a type of device presenting the proposed personal services appointments.",
    "8. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is further configured to present a link to a standard scheduling screen.",
    "9. The system of claim 2, wherein the system comprises a point of sale and the scheduling component is configured to provide event information to the point of sale and receive transaction information from the point of sale.",
    "10. The system of claim 2, wherein the scheduling component is further configured to record a cost of providing a service associated with the proposed personal services appointment.",
    "11. The system of claim 2, further comprising an administrative user interface configured to receive input requesting manipulation between at least one event category and users.",
    "12. A method of scheduling at least one time slot, the method comprising: receiving, at a local system from a user over a computer network, a request to schedule a personal services appointment, the request including an identifier of a user profile associated with the user, wherein the user is a client of the personal services appointment; accessing, at the local system, the user profile associated with the user, the user profile stored on the local system and containing at least one previously personal services appointment associated with the user; identifying a plurality of characteristics of the request to schedule the personal services appointment, the plurality of characteristics determined from the at least one previous personal services appointment in the user profile; determining that a plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics are available during at least one time slot, the plurality of resources specified in the plurality of characteristics including a service provider and at least one of a scheduled service offered by the service provider during the at least one time slot and a physical location at which the service provider offers the scheduled service during the at least one time slot; generating a suggestion model by providing the plurality of characteristics to a machine learning program using an iterative convergent computational method, wherein the machine learning program is further configured to determine an adjusted forecast based on the at least one previous personal services appointment; applying a plurality of inputs to the suggestion model to generate at least one proposed personal services appointment for the at least one time slot, the at least one proposed personal services appointment having the plurality of characteristics requesting the plurality of resources during the at least one time slot; and adjusting presentation attributes of the plurality of the at least one proposed personal services appointment based on properties of an interface window presenting the at least one proposed personal services appointment on a remote system on the computer network.",
    "13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of characteristics includes a price, further comprising determining the price based on a temporal difference between an identified time and the at least one time slot.",
    "14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the temporal difference based on a physical proximity between a location of a user associated with the profile and a location of at least one resource of the plurality of resources.",
    "15. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting the price proportionally in relation to a size of the temporal difference.",
    "16. The method of claim 13, wherein the price is based on a rate of a service provider, further comprising identifying the rate as being at least one of a minimum rate, a maximum rate, a percentage rate, and an hourly rate based on the temporal difference.",
    "17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one proposed personal services appointment includes a plurality of proposed personal services appointments, further comprising presenting the plurality of proposed personal services appointments in decreasing order of relevance.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting presentation attributes of the plurality of proposed personal services appointments based on a type of device presenting the proposed personal services appointment.",
    "19. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting a link to a standard scheduling screen.",
    "20. The method of claim 13, further comprising: providing event information to a point of sale; and receiving transaction information from the point of sale.",
    "21. The method of claim 13, further comprising recording a cost of providing a service associated with the at least one proposed personal services appointment.",
    "22. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting an administrative user interface configured to receive input requesting manipulation between at least one event category and users.",
    "23. The system of claim 1, wherein the service provider is a person selected from the group consisting of a staff person, an instructor, a practitioner, a beautician, a therapist, a barista, a chef, a performer, a doctor, and an attorney.",
    "24. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal services appointment is an in-person appointment at which the user and the service provider are present at the physical location during the at least one time slot."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Technical Field\n\nThe technical field generally relates to resource planning, and more particularly, to systems and methods for scheduling of events.\n\nBackground Discussion\n\nMost people are familiar with the task of scheduling meetings, appointments and other events using a virtual calendar. Businesses catering to health and fitness related services use virtual calendars to schedule various resources such as professional staff, equipment, and rooms. Businesses will often provide clients with a web-based portal or other interface that enables clients to view available classes, make a reservation, and alter their previous reservations using these virtual calendars. In addition, front-desk employees and administrative staff may perform scheduling operations through similar interfaces.\n\nSoftware that is designed to aid in the scheduling of events exists. The popularity of digital calendars such as Microsoft® Office Outlook® available from Microsoft Corp. of Redmond Wash. and Google Calendar available online from Google Inc. of Mountain View Calif. has largely homogenized the look-and-feel, function, and usability of existing systems. The traditional task of scheduling an event consists of selecting a time slot within a calendar, and entering various characteristics for the event. A user generally enters specific characteristics for the event using one or more windows and/or views and then submits the event to be published to the calendar. Once the event has been published, the event appears relative to the time slot in which the event coincides.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04L 67/306",
    "G06Q 10/1093",
    "G06Q 10/1095"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06Q 10/10",
    "H04L 29/08",
    "G06Q 30/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Core De Vie LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mark F. Comerford",
    "Ellen K Comerford"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-26",
  "publication_date": "2021-03-02",
  "grant_date": "2021-03-02",
  "priority_date": "2013-08-22",
  "application_number": "US-201615054834-A",
  "family_id": "57397163",
  "cited_by_count": 57,
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}