Appointment Slot Assignment Using Guest Attributes to Reduce Rescheduling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing appointment scheduling systems fail to consider the availability of both the host and the guest, leading to frequent rescheduling and inefficiencies in scheduling meetings.

Innovation Solution

An appointment management system that includes an appointment slot setting unit, guest attribute information storage, and an assigning unit to allocate slots based on guest attributes and preferences, reducing rescheduling and optimizing schedules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If appointment slots are assigned based only on host availability, then the host's schedule can be efficiently managed, but the guest's convenience is compromised leading to frequent rescheduling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling efficiencyVSAvoidappointment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting guest availability information in advance through questionnaires before the actual appointment assignment. This allows the assigning unit to pre-calculate optimal slots that satisfy both host and guest constraints, preventing the need for rescheduling later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using guest responses to availability questions to inform the appointment assignment process. The assigning unit continuously adjusts slot assignments based on guest feedback regarding their availability preferences, ensuring final assignments meet both parties' requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If manual rescheduling requests are sent to guardians, then individual preferences can be accommodated, but the time required for schedule adjustment increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschedule flexibilityVSAvoidtime for rescheduling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing guardians to independently input their availability preferences through questionnaires. The assigning unit then automatically processes these inputs and makes appropriate slot assignments without requiring manual intervention from school staff to send and track rescheduling requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual communication (sending rescheduling requests) with an automated information processing system. The computer-based assigning unit automatically matches guests to slots based on collected preferences, eliminating the need for repetitive manual messaging and coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If all guardians are asked to answer questionnaires about preferred dates and times, then comprehensive preference data is collected, but the complexity of coordinating schedules increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreference information completenessVSAvoidscheduling coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by breaking down the complex scheduling task into separate, manageable components: (1) collecting host availability constraints, (2) collecting guest availability preferences through questionnaires, (3) processing this segmented information through the assigning unit, and (4) generating final assignments. This modular approach reduces overall coordination complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary - the assigning unit - that mediates between host constraints and guest preferences. This intermediary automatically processes the information from both sides and reconciles any conflicts, eliminating the need for complex manual coordination between all parties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250299163A1Method, apparatus, and program for appointment management, and appointment management system

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 RISO KAGAKU CORP

AI summary

An appointment management apparatus includes: an appointment slot setting unit in which a plurality of appointment slots prepared by a host are set in advance; a guest attribute information storage unit that stores attribute information of a plurality of guests who make appointments from among the plurality of appointment slots; a desired appointment slot receiving unit that receives a desired appointment slot selected by each guest from among the candidate appointment slots for each guest; and an assigning unit that assigns an appointment for each guest from among the plurality of appointment slots based on the desired appointment slot of each guest and the attribute information of each guest.