System and method for worker supervision

• US 7,532,125 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vuorinen, Petri K., Vesikivi, Petri, Tiainen, Ilkka, Viitaniemi, Pekka K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk; Samuel J
• Application Number:
  US10/930,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 101- 106, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity

Abstract

Systems and methods applicable, for instance, in the supervision of workers. A worker device may, for example, be employed to access a storage element associated with a workplace location, and/or a sensor may capture. The worker device might, for example, provide to another device dispatch including, for instance, sensor output and/or data read from the storage element.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a node, data accessed from a storage element;

specifying, at the node in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor;

initiating, at the node, a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time; and

sending, from the node in response to the sensor capture, a dispatch to a remote destination,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch provides evidence that a workplace location was visited by the user of the node.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the capture included with the dispatch provides evidence that a task was performed at a workplace location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a camera.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an audio sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an altimeter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor captures for a particular period of time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the node acts in operation of the sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage element is a radio frequency identification tag.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage element is wirelessly-accessible memory.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing the storage element as a service tag.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising recognizing the storage element to be suitable.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the node, additional data provided by the user of the node via a user interface of the node.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a user interface for employment of the sensor is provided.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the dispatch includes some or all of the additional data.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is integrated into the node.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is peripheral to the node.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein a storage element interface is integrated into the node.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein a storage element interface is peripheral to the node.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch is sent to a remote server entity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein dispatched storage element data is correlated with one or more workplace locations via a database at the remote server entity.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch is associated with a session between the node and a remote server entity.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the session endures for a working day of the user of the node.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein a destination of the dispatch is predefined.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the node, software provided by a remote server entity,

wherein the software includes dispatch sending program code and sensor capturing initiation program code.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch corresponds to a request for assistance.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch includes a time stamp.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispatch includes user identification.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein some or all of the dispatch is available to a supervisor.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is linked to the capture.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is combined with the capture.

117. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing at the node, where the user of the node fails to act in operation of the sensor before the expiration of the amount of time, one or more of making a log entry and dispatching a message.

36. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, a dispatch sent from a node,

wherein the node receives data accessed from a storage element,

wherein the node specifies, in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor,

wherein the node initiates a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time,

wherein the node sends the dispatch in response to the sensor capture,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispatch provides evidence that a workplace location was visited by the user of the node.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the capture included with the dispatch provides evidence that a task was performed at a workplace location.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is a camera.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is an audio sensor.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensor is an altimeter.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the storage element is a radio frequency identification tag.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein the storage element is wirelessly-accessible memory.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the node recognizes the storage element as a service tag.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispatch is associated with a session between the node and the server.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the session endures for a working day of the user of the node.

51. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispatch corresponds to a request for assistance.

52. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispatch includes a time stamp.

53. The method of claim 36, wherein the dispatch includes user identification.

54. The method of claim 36, wherein some or all of the dispatch is available to a supervisor.

55. The method of claim 36, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is linked to the capture.

56. The method of claim 36, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is combined with the capture.

57. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

sending, from the server to the node, software,

wherein the software includes dispatch sending program code and sensor capturing initiation program code.

118. The method of claim 36, wherein the node performs, where the user of the node fails to act in operation of the sensor before the expiration of the amount of time, one or more of making a log entry and dispatching a message.

58. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

receiving, at a node, data accessed from a storage element;

specifying, at the node in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor;

initiating, at the node, a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time; and

sending, from the node in response to the sensor capture, a dispatch to a remote destination,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch provides evidence that a workplace location was visited by the user of the node.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the capture included with the dispatch provides evidence that a task was performed at a workplace location.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is a camera.

62. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is an audio sensor.

63. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

64. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

65. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

66. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

67. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is an altimeter.

68. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor captures for a particular period of time.

69. The system of claim 58, wherein the user of the node acts in operation of the sensor.

70. The system of claim 58, wherein the storage element is a radio frequency identification tag.

71. The system of claim 58, wherein the storage element is wirelessly-accessible memory.

72. The system of claim 58, wherein the processor further performs recognizing the storage element as a service tag.

73. The system of claim 58, wherein the processor further performs recognizing the storage element to be suitable.

74. The system of claim 58, wherein the processor further performs:

receiving, at the node, additional data provided by the user of the node via a user interface of the node.

75. The system of claim 58, wherein a user interface for employment of the sensor is provided.

76. The system of claim 74, wherein the dispatch includes some or all of the additional data.

77. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is integrated into the node.

78. The system of claim 58, wherein the sensor is peripheral to the node.

79. The system of claim 58, wherein a storage element interface is integrated into the node.

80. The system of claim 58, wherein a storage element interface is peripheral to the node.

81. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch is sent to a remote server entity.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein dispatched storage element data is correlated with one or more workplace locations via a database at the remote server entity.

83. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch is associated with a session between the node and a remote server entity.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the session endures for a working day of the user of the node.

85. The system of claim 58, wherein a destination of the dispatch is predefined.

86. The system of claim 58, wherein the processor further performs:

receiving, at the node, software provided by a remote server entity,

wherein the software includes dispatch sending program code and sensor capturing initiation program code.

87. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch corresponds to a request for assistance.

88. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch includes a time stamp.

89. The system of claim 58, wherein the dispatch includes user identification.

90. The system of claim 58, wherein some or all of the dispatch is available to a supervisor.

91. The system of claim 58, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is linked to the capture.

92. The system of claim 58, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is combined with the capture.

119. The system of claim 58, wherein the processor further performs:

performing at the node, where the user of the node fails to act in operation of the sensor before the expiration of the amount of time, one or more of making a log entry and dispatching a message.

93. A system, comprising:

a memory having program code stored therein; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory for carrying out instructions in accordance with the stored program code;

wherein the program code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform;

receiving, at a server, a dispatch sent from a node,

wherein the node receives data accessed from a storage element,

wherein the node specifies, in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor,

wherein the node initiates a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time,

wherein the node sends the dispatch in response to the sensor capture,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the dispatch provides evidence that a workplace location was visited by the user of the node.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the capture included with the dispatch provides evidence that a task was performed at a workplace location.

96. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is a camera.

97. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is an audio sensor.

98. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is a global positioning system sensor.

99. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

100. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

101. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

102. The system of claim 93, wherein the sensor is an altimeter.

103. The system of claim 93, wherein the storage element is a radio frequency identification tag.

104. The system of claim 93, wherein the storage element is wirelessly-accessible memory.

105. The system of claim 93, wherein the node recognizes the storage element as a service tag.

106. The system of claim 93, wherein the dispatch is associated with a session between the node and the server.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein the session endures for a working day of the user of the node.

108. The system of claim 93, wherein the dispatch corresponds to a request for assistance.

109. The system of claim 93, wherein the dispatch includes a time stamp.

110. The system of claim 93, wherein the dispatch includes user identification.

111. The system of claim 93, wherein some or all of the dispatch is available to a supervisor.

112. The system of claim 93, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is linked to the capture.

113. The system of claim 93, wherein, in the dispatch, some or all of the data is combined with the capture.

114. The system of claim 93, wherein the processor further performs:

sending, from the server to the node, software,

wherein the software includes dispatch sending program code and sensor capturing initiation program code.

120. The system of claim 93, wherein the node performs, where the user of the node fails to act in operation of the sensor before the expiration of the amount of time, one or more of making a log entry and dispatching a message.

115. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a node to perform:

receiving, at the node, data accessed from a storage element;

specifying, at the node in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor;

initiating, at the node, a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time; and

sending, from the node in response to the sensor capture, a dispatch to a remote destination,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.

116. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium containing program code that when executed causes a server to perform:

receiving, at the server, a dispatch sent from a node,

wherein the node receives data accessed from a storage element,

wherein the node specifies, in response to receiving the data from the storage element, via a user interface an amount of time for a user of the node to aim a sensor,

wherein the node initiates a capture from the sensor in response to expiration of the amount of time or detecting an action from the user of the node to have the sensor capture before the expiration of the amount of time,

wherein the node sends the dispatch in response to the sensor capture,

wherein the dispatch includes the capture and at least a portion of the data received from the storage element.