Worker self-management system and method

• US 10,467,564 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hugh Hull
• Original Assignee: Hugh Hull
• Inventors: Hull, Hugh, Stringer, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Padot, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US14/096,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20140249877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 705 715
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

This Application relates to a system and method for timely and accurate self-management by workers and employees of their own reporting of task related statistical data and information to their contractors and employers. This is a labor and service management system utilizing a “cloud based” server, and a portable “Smartphone” device that is in continual communication with the server by a wireless telecom service provider to the individual worker/employee, the effect being that each worker or employee has his or her own individual mobile GPS enabled “punch clock” device. Additionally, this system supports custom interfaces between the contractor/employer and the worker/employee, and a wealth of management information in custom report formats. Taken together, the hardware and software of the System create a worker self-management process, which generates, connects and transforms raw data and information for the benefit of both the worker/employee, and their contractor/employer.

Claims

1. A time management system comprising:

a server;

a Supervisor device;

at least one Smartphone; and

a communication network for connecting said server to said Supervisor device and to said at least one Smartphone;

said at least one Smartphone being configured to record time data entries for a Worker,

each of said Worker time data entries including a time-stamp generated by said Smartphone and a geolocation-stamp generated by said Smartphone, and to forward said Worker time data entries to said server, via said communication network;

said at least one Smartphone further being configured to support ‘

buddy punching’

for a second Worker, by forwarding to the server, Worker time data entries for the second Worker, including time-stamp and geolocation data generated by said Smartphone, and a photograph of the second Worker;

said server being configured to determine whether said ‘

buddy-punch’

was made within a predetermined geofence, to store said ‘

buddy-punch’

in a data record for said second Worker, to store said ‘

buddy-punch’

as part of a performance history for said Worker, and to forward said data record to said Supervisor device for endorsement;

said Supervisor device being configured to display said data record, and to provide an interface to endorse said data record.

2. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said system provides active tracking and passive policing.

3. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said system provides periodic reporting of employee performance history.

4. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server system is configured to forward time-stamped Worker time data submissions entries to a supervisor device for endorsement.

5. The time management system of claim 2 wherein said active tracking and passive policing includes recording a departure from a work site in the Worker'"'"'s performance history but not sending an alarm to a supervisor device.

6. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server is configured to prepare and forward reports comprising positive performance factors rather than negative performance factors, thereby encouraging positive behaviors rather than discouraging negative behaviors.

7. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said Worker time data entries further comprise task types, and said server is configured to monitor performance on a per-task basis.

8. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said at least one Smartphone further comprises a software application (app) which is downloadable from an online, public, software app website.

9. The time management system of claim 7 wherein said system is further configured to list performance of Workers in order based on positive performance statistics.

10. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said system is configured to generate and send feedback reports to Workers.

11. The time management system of claim 6 wherein said positive performance factors are selected from the group consisting of:

the percentage of the time that the Worker arrives at the job-site on time, hours worked, and percentage of the Worker'"'"'s time spent on billable work.

12. The time management system of claim 2 wherein said active tracking and passive policing comprises asking the Worker to provide an explanation for lateness and recording said explanation as part of the Worker'"'"'s performance history.

13. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server or said Smartphone is operable to issue a ‘

forced punch’

to the Worker, prompting him to update his status.

14. The time management system of claim 1 wherein Worker location is determined periodically and is not tracked continuously.

15. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said Smartphone is operable to allow said Worker to edit time data, but edited time data records are flagged on the Smartphone and on the server as having been edited, a number of edits being tracked as a performance indicator, and the Worker is being prompted to provide an explanation as to why a time edit was made.

16. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server is configured to store standard task lists for common projects, and to upload said standard task lists to said Smartphone as required.

17. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server is configured to provide to the Smartphone, a listing of tasks against which Worker time data entries may be logged.

18. The time management system of claim 1 wherein said server is configured to respond to an attempt by the Worker to enter a time record outside the geofence by challenging the Worker to provide an explanation.

19. The time management system of claim 13 wherein said server determines the time between the issuance of a ‘

forced punch’ and

the entry of a time record by the Worker, tracking the time difference as a performance metric.

20. A method of time management comprising:

providing a server, a Supervisor Device, at least one Smartphone, and a communication network for connecting said server to said Supervisor Device and said at least one Smartphone;

configuring said at least one Smartphone to record time data entries for a Worker, each of said Worker time data entries including a time-stamp generated by said Smartphone and a geolocation-stamp generated by said Smartphone, and to forward said Worker time data entries to said server, via said communication network;

further configuring said at least one Smartphone to support ‘

buddy punching’

for a second Worker, by forwarding to the server, Worker time data entries for the second Worker, including time-stamp and geolocation data generated by said Smartphone, and a photograph of the second Worker;

configuring said server to determine whether said ‘

buddy-punch’

was made within a predetermined geofence, to store said ‘

buddy-punch’

in a data record for said second Worker, to store said ‘

buddy-punch’

as part of a performance history for said Worker, and to forward said data record to said Supervisor device for endorsement; and

configuring said Supervisor device to display said data record, and to provide an interface to endorse said data record.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing active tracking and passive policing.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing periodic reporting of employee performance history.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising configuring said server to forward Worker time data entries to a supervisor device for endorsement.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein providing active tracking and passive policing includes recording a departure from a work site in a Worker'"'"'s performance record but not sending an alarm to a supervisor device.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising reporting on positive rather than negative performance factors, thereby encouraging positive behaviors rather than discouraging negative behaviors.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein Worker time data entries further comprise task types, and said method comprises said server monitoring performance on a per-task basis.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising downloading a software app to said at least one Smartphone from an online, public, software application (app) website.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising listing performance of Workers in order based on positive performance statistics.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising generating and sending feedback reports to Workers.

30. The method of claim 20 further comprising responding to a negative performance event by requiring an explanation, and making the negative performance event and explanation part of the Worker'"'"'s performance history.