Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus is provided for use in scheduling events on behalf of a plurality of participating physical entities. The apparatus comprises evaluating means and scheduling means, the evaluating means being arranged to evaluate a received event request containing information about the event and to generate an input to the scheduling means with respect to one or more physical entities identified in the received event request. The evaluating means is arranged, on behalf of physical entities identified in the received event request, to calculate a value for each of a plurality of predetermined measures, including a measure of the importance of the requested event to an identified entity, using an appropriate rule set for each measure, and using a further rule set, to combine the calculated values and so derive and output a value representative of the overall degree of support by the identified physical entity for the requested event, for input to the scheduling means. Preferably, the apparatus uses fuzzy processing techniques to calculate the various values, represented as fuzzy sets. The fuzzy sets, fuzzy rules and rule weightings are personalised to individual participants, or groups, to enable adjustment of the evaluating means based upon participant feedback.

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First Claim