Time tracking apparatus

• US 5,877,953 A
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stratos Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stratos Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Clendenen, David B., Cornell, Teresa D., McLam, George E., Fields, Kyle D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/956,921
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 364/140-146, 364/401, 364/406, 364/709.04, 364/710.04, 364/715.01, 364/705.02, 364/705.06, 395/232, 395/233, 395/234
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries

Abstract

A handheld apparatus for tracking, recording and retrieving time by account, task and date. The device permits entry of one or more account numbers and one or more tasks associated with each account number. When working on an activity for a selected account and task, a "timer" can be started for that account'"'"'s activity and the device will keep track of total accumulated time. Recorded data can be retrieved on the internal display or transferred to a computer for processing.

Claims

1. A handheld time tracking apparatus, comprising:

(a) keypad means for entering and retrieving data;

(b) display means for displaying entered and retrieved data;

(c) memory means for storing data;

(d) control processor means for tracking time data by account, task and date, said control processor means including normal mode means for tracking and storing time data and review mode means for reviewing tracked and stored time data, said control processor means operatively connected to said keypad means and said display means;

(e) switchable reminder means for audibly indicating, at uniform periodic time intervals, operation of said apparatus in a timing mode;

(f) display blanking means for preventing data from being displayed on said display means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus in a timing mode is displayed during operation of said display blanking means; and

(g) keypad locking means for disabling said keypad means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said keypad means and said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus in a timing mode can be still displayed on said display means.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising visual indicator means for visually indicating in a first color that said apparatus has started a timing mode and for visually indicating in a second color that said apparatus has ended said timing mode.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for simultaneously displaying elapsed time for an event being timed in connection with an account and total elapsed time for said account.

4. A handheld time tracking apparatus, comprising:

(a) keypad means for entering and retrieving data;

(b) display means for displaying entered and retrieved data;

(c) memory means for storing data;

(d) control processor means for tracking time data by account, task and date, said control processor means including normal mode means for tracking and storing time data and review mode means for reviewing tracked and stored time data, said control processor means operatively connected to said keypad means and said display means;

(e) means for entering and displaying a user identification code associated with said apparatus;

(f) keypad locking means for disabling said keypad means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said keypad means and said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus in a timing mode can be still displayed on said display means;

(g) display blanking means for preventing data from being displayed on said display means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus in a timing mode is displayed during operation of said display blanking means; and

(h) visual indicator means for visually indicating in a first color that said control processor has started a timing mode and for visually indicating in a second color that said apparatus has ended said timing mode.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising switchable reminder means for audibly indicating, at uniform periodic time intervals, operation of said apparatus in a timing mode.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for simultaneously displaying elapsed time for an event being timed in connection with an account and total elapsed time for said account.

7. A handheld time tracking apparatus, comprising:

(a) keypad means for entering and retrieving data;

(b) display means for displaying entered and retrieved data;

(c) memory means for storing data;

(d) control processor means for tracking time data by account, task and date, said control processor means including normal mode means for tracking and storing time data and review mode means for reviewing tracked and stored time data, said control processor means operatively connected to said keypad means and said display means;

(e) switchable reminder means for audibly indicating, at uniform periodic time intervals, operation of said apparatus in a timing mode;

(f) means for entering and displaying a user identification code associated with said apparatus;

(g) visual indicator means for visually indicating in a first color that said apparatus has started a timing mode and for visually indicating in a second color that said apparatus has ended said timing mode;

(h) keypad locking means for disabling said keypad means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said keypad means and said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus in a timing mode can be still displayed on said display means; and

(i) display blanking means for preventing data from being displayed on said display means without disabling functionality of said apparatus except for said display means, and wherein a visual indication of operation of said apparatus operating in a timing mode is displayed during operation of said display blanking means.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising means for simultaneously displaying elapsed time for an event being timed in connection with an account and total elapsed time for said account.