Methods and systems for logging time with a mobile computing device

• US 9,549,046 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2013
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Dupler, Craig E., Fox, Matthew M., Toney, Felicco
• Primary Examiner(s): Gillis, Brian J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ling, Amy
• Application Number:
  US13/771,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Methods and systems for logging time are described. In one embodiment, the method is performed by a server computing device communicatively coupled to a mobile computing device and communicatively coupled to a workstation computing device executing computer-executable instructions for logging time and associated task descriptions. The server computing device includes a memory including at least one task indicator corresponding to at least one task description. The method includes receiving, by the server computing device, at a first time, a first task indicator from the mobile computing device. The method additionally includes comparing, by the server computing device, the first task indicator to the at least one task indicator in the memory of the server computing device and determining a first corresponding task description, and logging time by transmitting the first corresponding task description to the workstation computing device for logging.

Claims

1. A method for logging user time using a first mobile computing device, a server computing device communicatively coupled to the first mobile computing device and communicatively coupled to a workstation computing device that executes computer-executable instructions for logging user time and associated task descriptions, the server computing device including a memory including at least one task indicator corresponding to at least one task description, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server computing device, at a first time, a first task indicator, corresponding to a first task performed by a first user, and a timestamp, corresponding to receipt of the first task indicator at the first time, from the first mobile computing device;

comparing, by the server computing device, the first task indicator to the at least one task indicator in the memory of the server computing device and determining a first corresponding task description;

transmitting a confirmation message from the server to the first mobile computing device, the confirmation message including the first corresponding task description;

transmitting the first corresponding task description and the timestamp from the server computing device to the workstation computing device;

logging, at the workstation computing device, time spent by the first user performing the first task based on the first corresponding task description and the timestamp; and

transmitting, by the server computing device, a notification of completion of the first task by the first user to at least a second mobile computing device that is associated with a second user performing a second task that requires completion of the first task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first corresponding task description includes determining that the first corresponding task description is associated with a beginning of the first task by the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at the server computing device, at a second time, a second task indicator;

comparing, by the server computing device, the second task indicator to the at least one task indicator in the memory of the server computing device and determining a second corresponding task description; and

transmitting the second corresponding task description to the workstation computing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first corresponding task description corresponds with the first task and wherein determining the second corresponding task description includes determining that the second corresponding task description is associated with an end of the first task.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first corresponding task description corresponds with the first task and wherein determining the second corresponding task description includes determining that the second corresponding task description is associated with a beginning of the second task by the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a prompt to the first mobile computing device asking whether to activate a display coupled to the workstation computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an identifier of the display of the workstation computing device; and

transmitting an instruction to the workstation computing device to activate the display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a mobile computing device identifier in association with the first task indicator;

comparing the mobile computing device identifier with at least one mobile computing device identifier stored in the memory of the server computing device in association with at least one user identifier and determining a corresponding user identifier; and

transmitting the corresponding user identifier to the workstation computing device.

9. A server computing device for facilitating logging user time using a first mobile computing device, said server computing device being communicatively coupled to the first mobile computing device and communicatively coupled to a workstation computing device that executes computer-executable instructions for logging user time and associated task descriptions, said server computing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, said memory including at least one task indicator corresponding to at least one task description and further including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said server computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving at a first time, a first task indicator, corresponding to a first task performed by a first user, and a timestamp, corresponding to receipt of the first task indicator at the first time, from the first mobile computing device;

comparing the first task indicator to the at least one task indicator in said memory and determining a first corresponding task description;

transmitting a confirmation message to the first mobile computing device, the confirmation message including the first corresponding task description;

transmitting the first corresponding task description and the timestamp from the server computing device to the workstation computing device for logging time spent by the first user performing the first task based on the first corresponding task description and the timestamp; and

transmitting a notification of completion of the first task by the first user to at least a second mobile computing device that is associated with a second user performing a second task that requires completion of the first task.

10. The server computing device of claim 9, wherein said memory further contains computer-executable instructions such that determining the first corresponding task description includes determining that the first corresponding task description is associated with a beginning of the first task by the first user.

11. The server computing device of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause said server computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving, at a second time, a second task indicator;

comparing the second task indicator to the at least one task indicator in said memory and determining a second corresponding task description; and

transmitting the second corresponding task description to the workstation computing device.

12. The server computing device of claim 11, wherein the first corresponding task description corresponds with the first task and wherein said memory further includes computer-executable instructions such that determining the second corresponding task description includes determining that the second corresponding task description is associated with an end of the first task.

13. The server computing device of claim 11, wherein the first corresponding task description corresponds with the first task and wherein said memory further includes computer-executable instructions such that determining the second corresponding task description includes determining that the second corresponding task description is associated with a beginning of the second task by the second user.

14. The server computing device of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause said server computing device to perform the steps of:

transmitting a prompt to the first mobile computing device asking whether to activate a display coupled to the workstation computing device;

receiving an identifier of the display of the workstation computing device; and

transmitting an instruction to the workstation computing device to activate the display.

15. The server computing device of claim 9, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause said server computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving a mobile computing device identifier in association with the first task indicator;

comparing the mobile computing device identifier with at least one mobile computing device identifier stored in said memory in association with at least one user identifier and determining a corresponding user identifier; and

transmitting the corresponding user identifier to the workstation computing device.

16. A computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for facilitating logging user time using a first mobile computing device, wherein, a server computing device configured to communicatively couple to the first mobile computing device, the server computing device including a processor coupled to a memory including at least one task indicator corresponding to at least one task description, when executed by the server computing device processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the server computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving at a first time, a first task indicator, corresponding to a first task performed by a first user, and a timestamp, corresponding to receipt of the first task indicator at the first time, from the first mobile computing device communicatively coupled to the server computing device;

comparing the first task indicator to the at least one task indicator in the memory and determining a first corresponding task description;

transmitting a confirmation message to the first mobile computing device, the confirmation message including the first corresponding task description;

transmitting the first corresponding task description and the timestamp from the server computing device to a workstation computing device executing computer-executable instructions for logging time spent by the first user performing the first task based on the first corresponding task description and the timestamp; and

transmitting a notification of completion of the first task by the first user to at least a second mobile computing device that is associated with a second user performing a second task that requires completion of the first task.

17. A system for facilitating logging user time, said system comprising:

a first mobile computing device associated with a first user;

a workstation computing device executing software for logging user time and associated task descriptions;

a display that is remotely located from said first mobile computing device and is communicatively coupled to said workstation computing device to display the software for logging user time and associated task descriptions; and

a server computing device that is communicatively coupled to said first mobile computing device, said workstation computing device, and said display, said server computing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory, said memory including at least one task indicator corresponding to at least one task description and further including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said server computing device to perform the steps of;

transmitting an instruction to the workstation computing device to activate said display;

receiving at a first time, a first task indicator, corresponding to a first task performed by the first user, and a timestamp, corresponding to receipt of the first task indicator at the first time from the first mobile computing device;

comparing the first task indicator to the at least one task indicator in said memory and determining a first corresponding task description;

transmitting a confirmation message to the first mobile computing device, the confirmation message including the first corresponding task description;

transmitting the first corresponding task description and the timestamp to the workstation computing device for logging time spent by the first user performing the first task based on the first corresponding task description and the timestamp; and

transmitting a notification of completion of the first task by the first user to at least a second mobile computing device that is associated with a second user performing a second task that requires completion of the first task.