System and method for tracking a mobile worker

• US 7,004,389 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2005
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: BioPay LLC (Valsef Group)
• Inventors: Robinson, Timothy L., Schildt, Bradford R., Goff, Tennille V., Corwin, Daniel J., Watson, Timothy Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/034,055
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 235382-383, 235/375, 235/487, 235/385, 235/472.02, 705 8- 9, 705/22
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity

Abstract

A system and method of providing employers with an accessible system and convenient method for tracking the work of mobile workers. By obtaining customer biometric data upon the initiation and conclusion of a work session, an employer may ensure that a customer is billed for an appropriate amount of time.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a record of time via a biometric authorization system, said method comprising:

assigning a work session to a worker;

at a portable authorization station, receiving customer biometric data to authorize a worker to initiate said work session;

comparing customer biometric data received at said initiation to registered customer biometric data, wherein if the result of said comparison is positive said initiation is authorized and the time of said initiation is recorded;

at said portable authorization station, receiving customer biometric data to authorize a worker to conclude said work session;

comparing customer biometric data received at said conclusion to registered customer biometric data, wherein if the result of said comparison is positive said conclusion is authorized and the time of said conclusion is recorded; and

transmitting work session data to a database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said work session is ordered by said customer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said portable authorization station is one of a mobile phone, a pager, or a personal digital assistant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said portable authorization station is equipped for location tracking.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enrolling a customer in said biometric authorization system wherein said enrolling occurs at one of a time prior to said initiation or a time during said initiation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said customer biometric data is tested for liveness.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein customer biometric data is from a token.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing transpires at said portable authorization station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said comparing transpires at a database.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorization station is equipped to handle a non-biometric identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising authorizing payment using customer biometric data.

13. A method for establishing a record of time via a biometric authorization system, said method comprising:

at an authorization station, receiving customer biometric data to authorize a worker to initiate a work session;

recording the time of said initiation;

at said authorization station, receiving customer biometric data to authorize a worker to conclude said work session; and

recording the time of said conclusion.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said customer biometric data is received from one of a plurality of customers allowed to authorize said work session.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization station is portable.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization station records the location of said receiving.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said location is compared with a scheduled location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said scheduled location is determined using a work session identifier.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising marking said work session data for further action if said works session location does not match said scheduled location.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization station is equipped with a timing indicator that alerts a worker of a time-related event.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization station provides a worker with access to his work schedule.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing said received customer biometric data to registered customer biometric data.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein customer biometric data received at said initiation is compared to customer biometric data received at said conclusion and if said initiation biometric data does not match said conclusion biometric data, marking said work session data for further action.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving worker biometric data.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving customer biometric data at said authorization station as authorization for one or more of an additional service, product, and labor.

26. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting work session data to a database.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said transmitting occurs at a time subsequent to said work session.

28. The method of claim 13, further comprising authorizing payment using customer biometric data.

29. A method for establishing a record of time via a biometric authorization system, comprising:

displaying, on a portable biometric authorization device, information relating to a work session to be performed by a worker;

receiving first customer biometric data on said portable biometric authorization device at an initiation of said work session, said first customer biometric data providing a customer approval for said work session; and

at a time subsequent to said initiation of said work session, receiving second customer biometric data on said portable biometric authorization device, said second customer biometric data providing a customer approval for a time spent by said worker on said work session.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising recording a time of receipt of customer biometric data.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing said first customer biometric data to registered customer biometric data.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising comparing said second customer biometric data to said first customer biometric data.