Method and system for pre-populating job assignment submissions

• US 8,788,375 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canadian National Railway Company
• Original Assignee: Canadian National Railway Company
• Inventors: Randall, Alan Bruce, Owens, Matthew Oren, Moroz, Michael Anthony, Podgurny, Leonard John
• Primary Examiner(s): Danneman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/268,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU at a client associated with the employee to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to supply particulars relating to a work shift for a member of a crew during a particular transportation trip. The GUI including a plurality of information capture fields for displaying particulars of the shift. The method comprises identifying among a plurality of data records, a data record associated with the particular trip, receiving data elements at the client derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements. Allowing the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields.

Claims

1. A method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company, said method comprising:

(a) providing a database arrangement storing data records, each record containing items of information related to a trip carried out by a transportation company, each trip being performed by a vehicle operated by a crew, a data record for a given trip identifying crew members operating the vehicle performing the given trip;

(b) executing non-transitory software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) at a client device operable by the employee, including implementing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the employee to supply particulars relating to a work shift as a member of a crew during a particular one of the trips, the GUI including a plurality of information display fields for displaying particulars of the shift;

(c) identifying among the plurality of data records, the data record associated with the particular trip on which the employee acts as a member of the crew; and

(d) receiving data elements at the client device derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements; and

(e) configuring the GUI to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the pre-populating including loading data in the first set of information display fields and leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields include an identifier of the employee.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, including storing in the data record for the particular trip a function as a crew member assigned to the employee during the shift.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields convey the function assigned to the employee during the shift, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the employee is a first employee and the crew includes the first employee and a second employee, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip an identifier of the second employee, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields include the identifier of the second employee, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a function as a crew member assigned to the second employee, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields conveying the function assigned to the second employee during the shift, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a time at which the shift was initiated, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, includes performing the identifying at a server arrangement that is remote from the client device and that communicates with the client device via a data network, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed and performing the pre-populating on the basis of the end of shift data and other data.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client device associated with the employee.

12. A method as defined in claim 6, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, derived from the data record for the particular trip.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip an identification of an engine of the train.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the second set of information display fields includes at least one field for receiving information entered by the first employee relating to equipment failure experienced during the shift.

15. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about mandatory rest taken by the first employee during the shift.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the information about the mandatory rest includes duration of a rest period taken by the first employee during the shift.

17. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the trip spans two or more days and requires lodging facilities for the first employee, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about lodging used by the first employee.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the information about lodging includes a name of a hotel.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes a telephone number of the hotel.

20. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes a room number of the hotel at which the first employee stayed.

21. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes wake-up call information.

22. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about transportation services required by the first employee to reach a location at which the shift was initiated.

23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the information from the first employee about transportation services includes information about a type of transportation service used.

24. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the information from the first employee about transportation services includes information about an expense incurred by the first employee for the transportation service.

25. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the GUI including an end of shift submission control that can be operated by the employee to send to server arrangement in communication with the client device via a data network the information in the information display fields.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, including computing at the server arrangement, at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the GUI is a first GUI, including implementing at the client device a second GUI to display to the employee the computed employee compensation data.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the employee compensation data conveys a number of hours worked during the shift for which the employee is to be paid.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the second GUI includes an employee compensation data acceptance control.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein in response to actuation of the employee compensation data acceptance control, the second GUI sending data to the server arrangement indicating that the employee has accepted the employee compensation data.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, including paying to the employee a compensation according to the employee compensation data.

32. A method as defined in claim 1, including performing the identifying at a server arrangement that is remote from the client device and that communicates with the client device via a data network.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the identifying including searching the database on the basis of data that identifies the particular trip.

34. A computer readable storage medium encoded with non-transitory software for execution by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for implementing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for allowing an employee to submit an end of shift report, wherein the employee is a member of a crew operating a transportation vehicle, the execution of the software by the CPU at a client device associated with the employee:

(a) displaying the GUI to the employee, the GUI having a plurality of information display fields for holding respective data elements associated with the shift, the information display fields including an end of shift information display field that indicates a time at which the shift ended;

(b) in response to end of shift data received at the client device from a remote server arrangement, pre-populating the end of shift information display field, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit the information in the pre-populated end of shift information display field;

(c) providing the GUI with a validation control that can be selectively actuated by the employee to indicate that the employee considers the edited information in the pre-populated end of shift information display field and in other information display fields accurate;

(d) sending data to the remote server arrangement to indicate that the employee has actuated the validation control.

35. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the pre-populating including loading data in the first set of information display fields and leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI.

36. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the information display fields include an employee name information display field, in response to employee name data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the employee name information display field.

37. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 36, wherein the information display fields include an employee function information display field, in response to employee function data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the employee function information display field.

38. A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the information display fields include an equipment information display field, in response to equipment data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the equipment information display field.

39. A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from an employee an end of shift report for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising:

a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including;

i. executing program code by a CPU and determining if the employee required lodging services during the train trip;

ii. presenting the employee via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) at the remote client system with a plurality of information display fields for data elements relating to the shift;

iii. conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining, if the determining established that lodging services were required for the employee during the train trip including in the information display fields, information display fields allowing the employee to input information about the lodging services used by the employee; and

iv. sending to the server arrangement the information captured in the information display fields.

40. A method as defined in claim 39, the step of conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining including, if the determining established that lodging services were not required for the employee during the train trip preventing entry of information about lodging services in the GUI.

41. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the preventing including hiding from view lodging services information display fields.

42. A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the preventing including precluding lodging services information display fields from receiving data input.

43. A method as defined in claim 40, including providing an override control on the GUI to allow the employee to enter lodging services information when the determining established that no lodging services were required.

44. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the method including deriving data elements from the server arrangement relating to the shift and pre-populating the first set of information display fields by loading the data elements in respective information display fields of the first set, the method further including leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields of the first set.

45. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set include an identifier of the employee.

46. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set convey a function assigned to the employee during the shift.

47. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the preventing including hiding from view transportation services information display fields.

48. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the preventing including precluding transportation services information display fields from receiving data input.

49. A method as defined in claim 44, including providing an override control on the GUI to allow the employee to enter transportation services information when the determining established that no transportation services were required.

50. A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was initiated, wherein the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated.

51. A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed.

53. A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client system.

54. A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip.

55. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the server arrangement an identification of an engine of the train.

56. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the method includes computing at the server arrangement at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift and paying to the employee a compensation according to the compensation data.

57. A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from an employee an end of shift report for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising:

a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including;

i. executing program code by a CPU for determining if the employee required transportation services to transport the employee to a location at which the shift was initiated;

ii. presenting the employee via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) at the remote client system with a plurality of information display fields for data elements relating to the shift;

iii. conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining, if the determining established that transportation services were required for the employee including in the information display fields, fields allowing the employee to provide particulars about the transportation services used; and

iv. sending to the server arrangement the information captured in the information display fields.

58. A method as defined in claim 57, the step of conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining including, including if the determining established that transportation services were not required for the employee during the train trip preventing entry of information about transportation services in the GUI.

59. A method as defined in claim 57, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the method including deriving data elements from the server arrangement relating to the shift and pre-populating the first set of information display fields by loading the data elements in respective information display fields of the first set, the method further including leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields of the first set.

60. A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set include an identifier of the employee.

61. A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set convey a function assigned to the employee during the shift.

62. A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was initiated, wherein the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated.

63. A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed.

64. A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip.

65. A method as defined in claim 64, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the server arrangement an identification of an engine of the train.

66. A method as defined in claim 64, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed.

67. A method as defined in claim 65, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client system.

68. A method as defined in claim 57, wherein the method includes computing at the server arrangement at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift and paying to the employee a compensation according to the compensation data.

69. A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from a group of employees an end of shift submission for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising:

a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system associated with a first employee of the group of employees over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including;

i. presenting the first employee at the remote client system with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a plurality of information display fields for displaying data elements relating to the shift, the information display fields including at least one field associated with the first employee and at least one field associated with a second employee of the group of employees; and

ii. the first employee operating a control to transmit to the server arrangement the information supplied by the first employee in the information display field associated with the first employee and the information supplied by the first employee in the information display field associated with the second employee wherein the exchange of data is a first exchange of data, the remote client system is a first remote client system and the GUI is a first GUI;

b. performing a second exchange of data between the server arrangement and a second remote client system associated with the second employee over the data network, including;

i. presenting the second employee with a second GUI including an information display field about the shift and associated with the second employee that is pre-populated on the basis of the information supplied by the first employee; and

ii. the second employee operating a certification control component and transmitting data to the server arrangement indicating that the second employee certifies the information in the information display field as being correct.