Med-monotype (known as "The Eye"), a system and equipment for collecting and verifying service performance data

• US 20080291028A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Riggs, James Foxx
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Riggs, James Foxx
• Inventors: Riggs, Edward J., Foxx, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems

Abstract

A system of equipment, communication networks, and computer programs automates the recording of worker identity, location, arrival time and departure time at multiple worksites of workers in a mobile field workforce. The equipment comprise a location identifying means, an operator identifying monitor, and a data processing means having connectivity to a data communicating means such as the Internet. The location identifying means may comprise an optically sensed label, magnetic striped card, a radio frequency interrogated tag, or an electrically connectable circuit. The monitor comprises a means to keep time, to scan, interrogate, or connect and communicate with the location identifying means, and to communicate time, location, and operator identifying data over a network such as the public switched telephone network, internet, or cellular telephone network. Optionally, the monitor may also comprise other means such as an interface to charge and control a mobile phone, a magnetic card reader, and a biometric sensor such as a fingerprint scanner.

Claims

1. A system comprising

a. an operator identifying means,

b. a location identifying means,

c. a server data processing means,

d. a means whereby the operator identifying means is able to identify an unique or relatively unique location identifying means,

e. a first data communication means whereby the operator identifying means is able to transmit time, location, and operator identification data to a data processing means,

f. a second data communication means whereby the data processing means is able to report operator arrival and departure entries to subscribing customers and to regulating, funding, and authorizing agencies.

2. An operator identifying means comprising

a. a housing,

b. a portable power source such as a battery, fuel cell, solar cell, or capacitor,

c. an operator control, such as a button switch to initiate operation,

d. a controller means,

e. a location detecting means,

f. a stored unique identifying symbol means such as a name, character string, or serial number,

g. a storage means to retain data to be communicated until such time as communication is successful,

h. one or more indicating means such as light, sound, or vibration generators, moveable flags, or optical screens

i. a data communication means.

3. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, wherein the data communication means is a modem connectable to the public switched telephone network.

4. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, wherein the data communication means is a connection to a controllable cellular telephone handset, said handset controllably connectable to a dial-up modem portal of a data network such as the internet.

5. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, wherein the data communication means is a connection to a controllable cellular telephone handset, said handset controllably connectable to a data network such as the internet, and controllably able to send data messages to the data processing means.

6. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the location detecting means is an active or passive optical scanning means able to detect and decode an optically or graphically encoded tag or label.

7. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the location detecting means is a magnetic strip card reader.

8. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the location detecting means is a radio frequency tag reader.

9. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein a biometric sensor such as a fingerprint scanner verifies operator identity.

16. An operator identifying means as in claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, in which one or more functions, such as the magnetic card reader or radio frequency tag or “

smart card”

reader is housed within the enclosure of a cellular handset.

10. A location identifying means comprising a magnetically coded card securely attachable to a location.

11. A location identifying means comprising an optically or graphically coded label, tag, or card securely attachable to a location.

12. A location identifying means comprising an optically or graphically coded label, tag, or card adhesively attachable to a location in such manner that attempts to detach it are likely to alter or destroy the encoding.

13. A location identifying means comprising a radio frequency tag capable of being securely attached to a location to be identified, and having a means to transmit a radio signal encoded with a unique identifying symbol.

14. A location identifying means comprising

a. a housing such as a modular surface mount RJ11 jack,

b. a connection means such as an RJ11 connector to provide separate connections for a responder means and for the public switched telephone network,

c. a connection means between the indicating circuit in an adhesive tamper-evident attachment means and a responder means,

d. a responder means operable by connection to the operator identifying means, which transmits to the operator identifying means an unique or relatively unique identifying symbol means such as a name, character string, or serial number.

15. A tamper-evident attachment means comprising

a. a first highly aggressive layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive,

b. a layer of structural foam of sufficient thickness to conform to surface irregularities typical of the intended target surface,

c. a second adhesive layer of reduced aggressive property

d. an electrically conductive or resistive film, adhesive, or ink arranged in a meandering pattern so as to contact the connecting areas of a resistance or conductance measuring circuit within the responder.

e. a filament or tape arranged above or below the meandering pattern so as to break the pattern if separation of the responder contacts from the attachment means is attempted

f. a release film or paper treated to protect the second adhesive layer until application, then permit removal of the film or paper,

g. a second release film or paper to protect the highly aggressive first adhesive layer,

h. a highly conductive wire or tape concealed under or within the second release film or paper and arranged to connect to the connecting areas of conductive film and responder until the release film is removed in preparation for application of the attachment means.