Generating time slot for managing time across multiple time zones

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9361594-B2
Application number	US-201213625679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2012
Priority date	Sep 24, 2012
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A time slot of regular time length and capacity is defined in time local to a time zone. The slot is defined by a local time start timestamp and a local time end timestamp. In one aspect, upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with the transition period, the time slot is prolonged beyond the transition period. The prolonged time slot is correspondingly defined by an international standard time start timestamp and an international standard time end timestamp. The prolonged time slot is generated based on the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer implemented method to plan across time zones, the method comprising:
defining a time slot of regular time length and capacity in time local to a time zone, wherein the slot is defined by a local time start timestamp and a local time end timestamp;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period, prolonging the time slot beyond the transition period;
correspondingly defining the prolonged time slot by an international standard time start timestamp and an international standard time end timestamp; and
generating the time slot based on the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
in response to prolonging the slot, adjusting the regular capacity of the slot by multiplying the regular capacity by a prolongation factor, wherein the prolongation factor is a ratio between a time length of the prolonged slot defined in the international standard time and the regular time length; and
associating the adjusted capacity with the prolonged slot.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein correspondingly defining the prolonged time slot by the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp further comprises:
converting the start timestamp of the slot from local time to a corresponding start timestamp defined in the international standard time;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period that is a result of a shift to daylight saving time (DST), subtracting one hour from the end timestamp of the slot in local time to change the end timestamp to a time that is correspondingly defined in the international standard time;
converting the changed end timestamp from local time to the international standard time;
adding one hour to the converted to the international standard time end timestamp; and
converting the end timestamp with the added one hour from the international standard time to local time to prolong the time slot.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein correspondingly defining the prolonged time slot by the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp further comprises:
converting the start timestamp of the slot from local time to a corresponding start timestamp defined in the international standard time;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period that is a result of a shift to non-DST, prolonging the slot by adding the regular time length to the end timestamp of the time slot represented in local time until the end timestamp is beyond the transition period; and
converting the prolonged end timestamp of the slot from local time to the international standard time.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a template planning period, wherein the template planning period including a first plurality of slots of regular time length, and wherein slots from the plurality of slots are assigned capacity; and
copying the template planning period to at least one planning period.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein copying the template planning period to the at least one planning period further comprises:
generating a second plurality of slots in the at least one planning period corresponding to the first plurality of slots of the template planning period; and
copying capacity of the first plurality of slots of the template planning period to the corresponding second plurality of slots of the at least one planning period.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein generating the second plurality of slots in the at least one planning period further comprises:
generating the second plurality of slots in a sequence of slots, wherein a start timestamp of a slot from the second plurality of slots is an end timestamp of a previous slot in the sequence of slots, and wherein a start timestamp of a slot first in sequence in the second plurality of slots is an end timestamp of a slot last in sequence in the first plurality of slots.

8. A computer system to plan across time zones, the system including:
a memory to store computer executable instructions; and
a processor coupled to the memory to execute the instructions to:
define a time slot of regular time length and capacity in time local to a time zone, wherein the slot is defined by a local time start timestamp and a local time end timestamp;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period, prolonging the time slot beyond the transition period;
correspondingly define the prolonged time slot by an international standard time start timestamp and an international standard time end timestamp; and
generate the time slot based on the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp.

9. The system of claim 8 further to:
in response to prolonging the slot, adjust the regular capacity of the slot by multiplying the regular capacity by a prolongation factor, wherein the prolongation factor is a ratio between a time length of the prolonged slot defined in the international standard time and the regular time length; and
associate the adjusted capacity with the prolonged slot.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein correspondingly defining the prolonged time slot by the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp further comprises:
convert the start timestamp of the slot from local time to a corresponding start timestamp defined in the international standard time;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period that is a result of a shift to daylight saving time (DST), subtract one hour from the end timestamp of the slot in local time to change the end timestamp to a time that is correspondingly defined in the international standard time;
convert the changed end timestamp from local time to the international standard time; add one hour to the converted to the international standard time end timestamp; and
convert the end timestamp with the added one hour from the international standard time to local time to prolong the time slot.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein correspondingly defining the prolonged time slot by the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp further comprises:
convert the start timestamp of the slot from local time to a corresponding start timestamp defined in the international standard time;
upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with a transition period that is a result of a shift to non-DST, prolong the slot by adding the regular time length to the end timestamp of the time slot represented in local time until the end timestamp is beyond the transition period; and
convert the prolonged end timestamp of the slot from local time to the international standard time.

12. The system of claim 8 further to:
receive a template planning period, wherein the template planning period including a first plurality of slots of regular time length, and wherein slots from the plurality of slots are assigned capacity; and
copy the template planning period to at least one planning period.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein copying the template planning period to the at least one planning period further comprises:
generate a second plurality of slots in the at least one planning period corresponding to the first plurality of slots of the template plan

Assignees

• Daum Andreas
• Sap Se

Inventors

• Daum Andreas

Classifications

• G06Q10/1093

  Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups · CPC title

• G06Q10/06311 Primary

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title