Method and apparatus for monitoring contractor performance

• US 6,751,650 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Journyx, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, William, Finch, Curtis L. II, Anderson, Chris V., Leake, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartuska, F. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUDY, ANDREW J
• Application Number:
  US09/606,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 702/182, 345/700, 345/762, 345/763, 345/776, 345/777, 705/11, 705/32, 709/203, 709/223, 709/224, 709/230, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes

Abstract

A system and method for building GUI screens for a time keeping and expense tracking system includes a time keeping and expense tracking (TKET) server that includes computer instructions that define logic for building GUI screens according to user definitions, communication channel throughput capacity, and terminal capacity. Initially, the TKET server examines a user'"'"'s ID to determine his group affiliations and ability levels for modifying the parameters, objects, and layout of a GUI screen. Thereafter, the TKET server allows the user to make changes according to his defined abilities. For subsequent sessions, the TKET server builds a GUI screen according to the previously defined parameters. One embodiment of the present invention, the TKET server is operable to receive communication signals transmitted by way of a wireless communication channel and to generate corresponding display screens that are responsive to the user terminal type. If the user terminal is a mini laptop having wireless communication capability, for example the TKET server transmits GUI screen display signals in a WAP protocol for display thereon the user terminal. On the other hand, if the user terminal is merely a cellular phone, then the TKET server is operable to transmit a very limited set of display signals primarily comprising text and control characters. The TKET server is operable to act as a remote time clock. Accordingly, the TKET server is formed to receive and interpret signals that define the user ID, an account code, and whether a start or stop timekeeping event has been selected. The TKET server also is operable to monitor the performance of the contract employees and employers, and, more specifically, to monitor average unit cost and several responsiveness parameters.

Claims

1. A time keeping and expense entry server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing computer instructions that define the operational logic of the server; and

a bus coupled to enable the processor to receive and execute the computer instructions wherein the computer instructions define logic to;

generate a project responsiveness rating for a time keeper;

generate a time keeping responsiveness rating for time and expense entries made over a network for the time keeper;

determine time keeper performance with respect to at least one of time and expense entries and the project responsiveness;

store the determined time keeper performance; and

generate performance reports.

2. The server of claim 1 further including logic for receiving one of performance data or a performance rating from an external system.

3. The server of claim 1 further including logic for receiving an average unit cost for at least one employee.

4. The server if claim 1 further including logic for receiving a project responsiveness rating.

5. The server if claim 1 further including logic for determining a time entry responsiveness rating.

6. The server of claim 1 further including logic for determining contract employer performance ratings based upon the determined time keeper performance for each of its employees.

7. The server of claim 1 further including receiving an assignment date and generating the performance reports based in part on the assignment date.

8. A time keeping and expense entry server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing computer instructions that define the operational logic of the server; and

a bus coupled to enable the processor to receive and execute the computer instructions wherein the computer instructions define logic to;

receive time entries for contract employees and forward the time entries to corresponding managers;

receive time entry approval from the corresponding managers;

receive an indication of a total number of units produced by the contract employees;

calculate at least one of an average unit cost for each contract employee and an average unit cost per employer of contract employees;

generate a time keeping responsiveness rating for time and expense entries made over a network for at least one of the contract employee and the employer of contract employees;

store the time keeping responsiveness rating; and

generate performance reports detailing performance of at least one of the contract employees and the employer of contract employees.

9. The server of claim 8 further including logic for generating performance reports for employees as well as contract employees.

10. The server if claim 8 further including logic for producing reports illustrating contract employee performance in relation to employee performance.

11. The server if claim 8 further including logic for determining a time entry responsiveness rating of employees.