Handover Definition

A handover is an optional action that some tasks may be allowed to perform. When handovers are allowed, a task may be assigned multiple timeslots and/or resources. During task execution the task may switch between sequential timeslots and resources as necessary to maximize its duration. STK Scheduler will attempt to find task assignments for the entire duration of the scheduling period, limited only by the maximum total task time defined by you (if any). Additional constraints may be applied to tasks to require gaps between assignments or overlaps. Overlaps can only be applied to 2 sequential assignments and no more. Duration for the task will not be accounted for twice during an overlap; the overlap duration will only be included once for accounting task duration.

Tasks may be defined in STK Scheduler to allow temporal breaks of any length between successive assignments, as well as requiring assignments to overlap.

Permitting Handovers

To define a task that allows handovers, create or edit a task. Once the Task Definition Form opens, click on the Duration Tab. Select the Variable Duration option button. With this option selected, you may also define the minimum segment time for each individual assignment, maximum aggregate total time for all assignments of the task, minimum total duration, and any gaps or overlap requirement. If any minimum segment task time constraint cannot be met by a single assignment, the task will not receive any assignments. If no maximum time limit is set, the algorithms will attempt to maximize the duration for the entire scheduling period (within timeslot and resource constraints).

Resource Usage For Handover/Handoffs

Resource accommodation and capacity usage is dependent on whether the same resource is applied to the handover tasks duration during an overlap. Resource accommodation and capacity are applied to the full duration of both assignments where the resource is not used by both segments (no overlap). If the same resource is used by both segments during an overlap, the accommodation and capacity will be applied to the first assignment start to finish (including the entire overlap). At the end of the overlap, the second segment will begin using the resource. This is done to ensure that accommodation and capacity are not double counted during the overlap.

A gap can be enforced between assignments by applying a virtual resource to the resource formula (where the virtual resource is used in every possibility). Set the virtual resource with a minimum setup time to the desired minimum gap duration.