Patent Application
20080306797
IBM® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer software, and more particularly to a method and system for automated resource management and optimization.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conservation and efficient use of resources is always an important consideration for an organization. In an organization, resources, such as a conference rooms, are reserved on a repeated basis. In some instances, the number of individuals utilizing a conference room may be significantly less than the capacity of the reserved conference room, while another group may actually require the larger capacity conference. In other instances, the amenities of the conference room may not match the requirements of the reserving group. Conference room amenities may include communication, teleconferencing, networking equipment and their associated connections, as well as multimedia equipment, presentation and recording equipment, and computer and various other types of office and information processing equipment. Finally, conference rooms may be reserved on a repeated scheduled basis, and subsequently not used. The inefficient use of conference room space leads to increased overhead for an organization including increased utility and rental costs. Therefore there is a need to better manage and utilize resources, such as conference room space, by an organization.
Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for automated resource management and optimization, wherein the method includes: monitoring one or more of the following: resource usage, level of resource utilization, and resource amenities; receiving a request for reserving a resource; determining whether the request for the resource is granted as originally requested; wherein the determining of whether to grant the request for resources as originally requested is based one or more thresholds and conditions; wherein the one or more thresholds and conditions are based on the monitoring of at least one of the following: resource usage, the level of resource utilization; and resource amenities; and wherein if the request for reserving a resource fails to meet the one or more thresholds and conditions the request is either denied or modified.
A system for automated resource management and optimization, the system includes: one or more server devices in communication with one or more client devices through a network; the server devices and the client devices configured to execute electronic software that manages the resource management and optimization; wherein the electronic software is resident on storage mediums in signal communication with the client and server devices; wherein the electronic software comprises a series of algorithms for: monitoring one or more of the following: resource usage, level of resource utilization, and resource amenities; receiving a request for reserving a resource; determining whether the request for the resource is granted as originally requested; wherein the determining of whether to grant the request for resources as originally requested is based one or more thresholds and conditions; wherein the one or more thresholds and conditions are based on the monitoring of at least one of the following: resource usage, the level of resource utilization; and resource amenities; and wherein if the request for reserving a resource fails to meet the one or more thresholds and conditions the request is either denied or modified.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings.
As a result of the summarized invention, a solution is technically achieved for a method and system for automated resource management and optimization. A software algorithm monitors resource usage and the level of resource utilization, and is configured to perform dynamic scheduling and to provide optimization of the resource.
The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for automated resource management and optimization. A software algorithm monitors resource usage and the level of resource utilization, and is configured to perform dynamic scheduling and to provide optimization of the resource.
In an embodiment of the invention, a software algorithm is configured to monitor usage and the level of utilization of conference rooms. The software algorithm has the ability to cancel room reservations of parties that consistently do not use the conference room, thereby freeing up the room for another group to use. The algorithm also takes into account the size of the group reserving a room, so as to save larger rooms for larger groups that require them. The algorithm tracks the amenities of the conference rooms, and matches the requirements of the reserving group with an appropriately equipped room. Conference room amenities may include communication, teleconferencing, networking equipment and their associated connections, as well as multimedia equipment, presentation and recording equipment, and computer and various other types of office and information processing equipment. Embodiments of the software algorithm of the invention may also collect data so as to determine what further equipment and other resources may be needed for future use.
In embodiments of the invention, software algorithms utilize a frequency of usage evaluation module and a quality of usage evaluation module. The frequency of usage evaluation module evaluates the requested reservation of resources against the actual historical usage of the requested resource. If usage of the resource by the requestor is below a predetermined level, a warning is sent to the reserving user. If the resource usage is also below the cancellation limit, then the reservation is cancelled, and the resource is released and made available to others for the time period of the cancelled reservation. The quality of usage evaluation module determines if the number of elements requiring a requested resource can be optimized. For example, if only ten people repeatedly use a conference room that can seat twenty people, then a smaller room may be located and used if available. Additional filters configured for the optimization of resource usage may comprise the length of the event that the reservation of the resource is for, and the type of amenities and facilities infrastructure that are required by the reserving entity. In embodiments of the invention, filters can be weighted to optimize customer satisfaction, as well as to accommodate requesting users by rank. In addition, filters can be utilized to generate reports on how to improve available resources and or facilities. For example, a determination can be made on where and what types of audio-visual equipment is required.
Algorithms of the present invention can be applied to resources such as conference rooms, hospital rooms, ticket sales, boat slips, nursing home facilities, inventory or floor stock in a retail environment, zoos, kennels, warehouse storage, freight and shipping systems, among others.
The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof.
As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately.
Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided.
The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention.
While the preferred embodiments to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may male various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.
