Networked time-keeping system

• US 7,114,648 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timeips, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stratitec, Inc.
• Inventors: Ginskey, David R., Chastain, M. Lance, Barger, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Thien T.
• Application Number:
  US11/048,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20060169765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 235/377, 235/462.01, 235/380, 235/385, 340/539.11, 340/572.1, 705/5.1, 705/39, 705/7
• US Class Current: 235/377
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity

Abstract

Disclosed is time keeping system for an employer. The system includes one or more time-keeping network appliances. Each of these appliances includes a small web server. The system also includes some form of employee interface which enables the employee to submit, and the time keeper to receive, identification information regarding the employee. One embodiment uses at least one of a card reader, punch key pad, bar code reader, or proximity badge reader. These devices are used to clock employees in and out. The system also optionally includes an audio-output device to give the employee audio feedback during clock in and an LCD to give the employee visual feed back. If a second network device is included in the system, it is automatically set up as a client of the original time keeper introduced into the system.

Claims

1. An employee time keeping arrangement for use with a local area network (LAN), said arrangement comprising:

a first time-keeping network appliance including a network interface, said first time-keeping network appliance being adapted to scan the LAN and to recognize any other substantially identical time-keeping network appliances on said LAN;

said first appliance adapted to configure said first appliance as a master device if no other substantially identical time-keeping network appliances are located in the LAN;

said first appliance adapted to configure said first appliance as a client if a second substantially identical time-keeping network appliance is already located in the LAN;

said first appliance further adapted to send and receive and store employee information;

said first appliance process being further adapted to cause an IP address to be displayed which enables a user to access said time keeper from a web browser on a client computer on said network by entering said IP address into said web browser;

said arrangement also including a reader for receiving identification information from an employee; and

a feedback system including one of an audio output device and a display, said feedback system adapted to inform a presenter of said item of whether a reading by said reader has been successful.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said feedback system comprises:

an audio speaker.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said feedback system comprises:

an LCD display.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said reader comprises at least one of:

a magnetic card reader, a key pad, a bar-code scanner, a proximity badge reader, and a biometric reader.

5. A method of providing an employer with a time-keeping system, said method comprising:

providing a first time-keeping network appliance which includes a network interface;

preloading software on said appliance;

adapting said software such that said first appliance, when first introduced to a local area network (LAN) searches for any other timekeeper devices, configures as a master server if no other timekeeper devices are found, and configures as a client if a second timekeeper device is found said first and second timekeeper devices being substantially identical;

further adapting said software such that upon startup it displays an IP address which if entered into a web browser on said network enables a user to access a process on said first appliance which enables said user to set up a static IP address for said first appliance which enables network access to a personnel database on said first device;

providing a reader along with said first appliance, said reader adapted to detect the presence of an employee-identifying item when said item is presented to said reader;

including a feedback system including one of an audio output device and a display, said feedback system adapted to inform a presenter of said item of whether a reading by said reader has been successful;

adapting said software to receive employee information and retain said employee information in a database; and

further adapting said software to receive and store employee clock in and clock out information in said database.

6. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which enables the user to print bar codes for the creation of said employee identifying item.

7. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which enables the user to create a photo ID card.

8. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which enables the user to generate a job-tracking report of all the hours worked on a project.

9. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which causes an email alert to be transmitted every time an employee clocks in or out.

10. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which causes an email alert to be transmitted every time an employee one of;

(i) clocks in at an unscheduled time for that employee, and (ii) clocks out at an unscheduled time for that employee.

11. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which causes an email alert to be transmitted at the end of a particular work period, said alert including a total number of hours worked that period.

12. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which causes an email alert to be transmitted when an employee is on our about to go overtime.

13. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a process in said software which causes said time keeper to be directed to an off-site backup server when a selection is made during a set up process.

14. The method of claim 5, said method comprising:

including a token which is a signature file on said first time-keeping network appliance so that when a second time-keeping network appliance is added to said LAN, said second appliance will act as a client.

15. A time-keeper device for a business, said device useable in a local area network associated with said business said device comprising:

a network interface enabling inclusion in said LAN;

a reader for detecting when an employee clocks in or out;

a communicating device which indicates to one of an employee and another when a successful clock-in or clock-out has occurred;

a database for saving clock-in and clock-out information;

preloaded software, said software adapted to determine whether any other substantially identical timekeeping devices exist on said LAN, and if not, configures said device as a master which will maintain said information for time-keeping purposes;

said software further adapted to configure said device as a client if an earlier-connected timekeeper exists on the system and then transmit said information to said earlier-connected time-keeper for the purpose of maintaining said information for time-keeping purposes;

a process in said software which-sends email alerts on the event of one of a clock-in or a clock-out; and

a first appliance process being further adapted to cause an IP address to be displayed which enables a user to access said time keeper from a web browser on a client computer on said network by entering said IP address into said web browser.