SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TIME TRACKING ON A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20100100463A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Gidwani, Siddharth, Leftwich, Michael, Molotsi, Hugh N., Leep, Thomas E., Huang, Yexin, Jacobs, Judd Conrad, Campise, Leon
• Granted Patent: US 8,135,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for tracking time using a mobile computing device. The method steps include providing a first event manager on the mobile computing device for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events, wherein each event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via an exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by a second event manager on a client machine, generating a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record, transmitting the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the client machine, extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time, and generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

Claims

1. A method for tracking time using a mobile computing device, comprising:

providing a first event manager on the mobile computing device for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events, wherein each event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via an exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by a second event manager on a client machine;

generating a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmitting the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the client machine;

extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time entry information is added to the event record manually by the user of the mobile computing device.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the mobile computing device, the exchange server, and the client machine are operatively coupled via a network,

wherein at least one selected from a group consisting of the first event manager and the second event manager is a personal productivity software,

wherein the event record comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a calendar entry, a phone call log entry, an email repository entry, and a text message log entry, and

wherein the time entry information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a time tracking category and a billable time.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the client application works in conjunction with a server application on a server operatively coupled to the client machine, and

wherein the server application comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a corporate financial application, a time entry application, an accounting application, a human resource application, and a client relationship management application.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a time stamp upon the mobile device entering and leaving a pre-determined range of a location determined using a location-tracking unit and a timer of the mobile device, wherein the location is associated with a time tracking category, and

wherein the time tracking record is generated based on the time tracking category and the time stamp.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location comprises a location of a client site, the time tracking record corresponding to time spent related to the client site, the time stamp comprising a start time, a stop time, a date, and a duration.

7. The method of claim 5,

wherein the location comprises a location of a co-worker, the time tracking record corresponding to time spent in collaboration with the co-worker, the time stamp comprising a start time, a stop time, a date, and a duration.

8. A method for tracking time, comprising:

providing a first event manager on a first machine for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events, wherein an event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via an exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by a second event manager on a second machine;

generating a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the first machine, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmitting the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the second machine;

extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the time entry information is added to the event record manually by the user of the second machine.

10. The method of claim 8,

wherein the first machine, the exchange server, and the second machine are operatively coupled via a network,

wherein at least one selected from a group consisting of the first event manager and the second event manager is a personal productivity software,

wherein the event record comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a calendar entry, a phone call log entry, an email repository entry, and a text message log entry, and

wherein the time entry information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a time tracking category and a billable time.

11. The method of claim 8,

wherein the client application works in conjunction with a server application on a server operatively coupled to the second machine, and

wherein the server application comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a corporate financial application, a time entry application, an accounting application, a human resource application, and a client relationship management application.

12. A computer readable medium storing instructions for tracking time using a mobile computing device, the instructions comprising functionality for:

providing a first event manager on the mobile computing device for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events, wherein an event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via an exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by a second event manager on a client machine;

generating a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmitting the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the client machine;

extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

13. A computer readable medium storing instructions for tracking time, the instructions comprising functionality for:

providing a first event manager on a first machine for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events, wherein an event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via an exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by a second event manager on a second machine;

generating a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the first machine, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmitting the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the second machine;

extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

14. A system for tracking time using a mobile computing device, comprising:

the mobile computing device having a first event manager for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events;

a client machine having a second event manager and a client application operatively coupled to each other;

an exchange server operatively coupled to the mobile computing device and the client machine, wherein each event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via the exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by the second event manager on the client machine; and

memory comprising instructions executed by a processor to;

generate a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the mobile computing device, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmit the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager;

extracting the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the time entry information is added to the event record manually by the user of the mobile computing device.

16. The system of claim 14,

wherein the mobile computing device, the exchange server, and the client machine are operatively coupled via a network,

wherein at least one selected from a group consisting of the first event manager and the second event manager is a personal productivity software,

wherein the event record comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a calendar entry, a phone call log entry, an email repository entry, and a text message log entry, and

wherein the time entry information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a time tracking category and a billable time.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a server operatively coupled to the client machine,

wherein the client application works in conjunction with a server application on the server, the server application comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of a corporate financial application, a time entry application, an accounting application, a human resource application, and a client relationship management application.

18. The system of claim 14, memory further comprising instructions executed by a processor to:

generate a time stamp upon the mobile device entering and leaving a pre-determined range of a location determined using a location-tracking unit and a timer of the mobile device, wherein the location is associated with a time tracking category, and

wherein the time tracking record is generated based on the time tracking category and the time stamp.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the location comprises a location of a client site, the time tracking record corresponding to time spent related to the client site, the time stamp comprising a start time, a stop time, a date, and a duration.

20. The system of claim 18,

wherein the location comprises a location of a co-worker, the time tracking record corresponding to time spent in collaboration with the co-worker, the time stamp comprising a start time, a stop time, a date, and a duration.

21. A system for tracking time, comprising:

a first machine having a first event manager for managing a plurality of event records corresponding to a plurality of events;

a second machine having a second event manager and a client application operatively coupled to each other;

an exchange server operatively coupled to the first machine and the second machine, wherein each event record of the plurality of event records is synchronized via the exchange server to a corresponding event record managed by the second event manager on the second machine; and

memory comprising instructions executed by a processor to;

generate a time tracking record comprising time entry information, wherein the time tracking record is generated based on input from a user of the first machine, wherein the time tracking record is added to the plurality of event records as a surrogate event record;

transmit the surrogate event record via the exchange server to the second event manager, wherein the second event manager is operatively coupled to a client application on the second machine;

extract the time entry information from the surrogate event record using the client application for tracking time; and

generating estimated time entry information automatically based on the event record, wherein the time entry information from the estimated time entry information is generated based on user review.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the time entry information is added to the event record manually by the user of the first machine.

23. The system of claim 21,

wherein the first machine, the exchange server, and the second machine are operatively coupled via a network,

wherein at least one selected from a group consisting of the first event manager and the second event manager is a personal productivity software,

wherein the event record comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a calendar entry, a phone call log entry, an email repository entry, and a text message log entry, and

wherein the time entry information comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a time tracking category and a billable time.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a server operatively coupled to the second machine,

wherein the client application works in conjunction with a server application on the server, the server application comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of a corporate financial application, a time entry application, an accounting application, a human resource application, and a client relationship management application.