Time tracking device and method

• US 9,953,303 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZR Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: ZR Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Cherry, Rocky, Cherry, Zack, Hess, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayles, Ashford S
• Application Number:
  US14/788,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20150302362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 705 30
• 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

A system and method to manage employee time at a set of job sites. A time management system comprises a server in communications with a database in which a set of job site data is stored. An employee device application is installed on a set of employee devices. The set of employee devices are in communication with the server through the employee device application. The set of employee devices collect a set of time punch data and a set of photos from the set of employees at check-in events and check-out events. The set of time punch data and the set of photos are sent to the server and stored in the database with the set of job site data. A supervisor management application is installed on a set of supervisor devices to monitor the set of job site data, validate photos and activate employee devices.

Claims

1. A method of employee time management at a set of job sites on a time management server, the method comprising:

authenticating, by the time management server, an employee device;

receiving, by the time management server, an employee image from the employee device in response to a time punch event, the employee image pertaining to the time punch event;

receiving, by the time management server, location information pertaining to the employee device in response to the time punch event, the location information comprising location data of the employee device at the time punch event;

comparing, by the time management server, the location information to an expected job site location to determine a location match condition;

generating, by the time management server, a set of time punch data for a work shift for the expected job site location when the set of location information matches the expected job site location;

comparing, by the time management server utilizing electronic facial recognition, the employee image to an archived image to derive an employee match condition;

validating, by the time management server, the set of time punch data using the employee match condition; and

deriving, by the time management server, a payment amount based on the set of time punch data, the location match condition, and the employee match condition,

wherein the location information comprises a WI-FI location address pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event, wherein comparing the location information further comprises comparing the WI-FI location address pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event with a WI-FI address location pertaining to the expected job site location to determine a location match condition; and

when the WI-FI location address pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event does not match the WI-FI address location pertaining to the expected job site location, generating an alert message via the time management server indicating that the location data of the employee device does not match the expected job site location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the archived employee image;

receiving a check-in image related to a beginning time punch event receiving a check-out image related to an ending time punch event;

displaying the archived employee image adjacent the check-in image and the check-out image.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a check-in employee location at a beginning time punch event;

receiving a check-out employee location at an ending time punch event;

displaying the expected job location adjacent the check-in location and the check-out location.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining a set of overtime parameters;

defining a set of rounding parameters;

rounding a set of check-in times and a set of check-out times, based on the set of rounding parameters; and

, computing a sum of regular hours and a sum of overtime hours for the set of work shifts from the set of check-in times, the set of check-out times and the set of overtime parameters.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

allocating the sum of overtime hours to each job site, in the set of job sites.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

allocating the sum of overtime hours to each work shift, in the set of work shifts.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a biometric reading; and

comparing an archived biometric reading to the biometric reading.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event, wherein comparing the location information further comprises comparing the GPS coordinates pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event with a GPS coordinates pertaining to the expected job site location to determine a location match condition;

and when the GPS coordinates pertaining to the location data of the employee device at the time punch event does not match the GPS coordinates pertaining to the expected job site location, generating an alert message via the time management server indicating that the location data of the employee device does not match the expected job site location.

9. A system for employee time management for an employee, comprising:

an employee device having a first processor and an image sensor;

a computer server connected to the employee device, the computer server comprising a second processor executing a first set of program instructions;

a second set of program instructions, installed in the employee device, that when executed, directs the employee device to;

authenticate the employee device with the computer server;

generate a set of time punch data for a set of work shifts at a set of job sites;

generate employee location information pertaining to the employee device for at least one job site of the set of job sites;

capture a set of onsite images at the image sensor, each onsite image of the set of onsite images comprising an employee image;

send the set of time punch data and the set of onsite images to the computer server;

the first set of program instructions, that when executed, further directs the computer server to;

authenticate with the employee device;

receive the set of onsite images and the set of time punch data into the first memory;

compare the employee location information to an assigned job site location to determine a location match condition;

validate the set of time punch data using the location match condition;

compare, utilizing electronic facial recognition, the employee image to an archived image to derive an employee match condition; and

allocate a number of regular hours and a number of overtime hours to each work shift in the set of work shifts and to each job site in the set of job sites based on the location match condition, the employee match condition, and the set of time punch data,

wherein the employee location information comprises a WI-FI location address pertaining to the at least one job site, wherein the first set of program instructions, that when executed, further directs the computer server to;

compare the WI-FI location address pertaining to the at least one job site with a WI-FI address location pertaining to the assigned job site to determine a location match condition; and

when the WI-FI location address pertaining to the at least one job site does not match the WI-FI address location pertaining to the assigned job site, causing the first set of program instructions, when executed, to generate an alert message indicating that the at least one job site does not match the assigned job site.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a supervisor device connected to the computer server;

a third set of program instructions stored on the supervisor device, that when executed by a third processor, directs the supervisor device to;

monitor the set of time punch data;

display a first alert signal on the supervisor device when the employee location does not match the assigned job site;

display the set of onsite images;

display the number of regular hours and the number of overtime hours; and

, display a second alert signal on the supervisor device if when the number of regular hours surpasses a predefined limit.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the first set of program instructions, that when executed, further directs the computer server to:

activate the employee device for check-in at a first job site in the set of job sites; and

inactivate an employee device for check-in at a second job site in the set of job sites.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the third set of program instructions, that when executed by the third processor on the supervisor device, further directs the supervisor device to communicate with the computer server to:

activate the employee device for check-in at a first job site in the set of job sites; and

, inactivate an employee device for check-in at a second job site in the set of job sites.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a set of overtime parameters further comprising a predetermined allocation of overtime hours;

a set of rounding parameters; and

, wherein the first set of program instructions further directs the computer server to;

round a set of check-in times and a set of check-out times, from the set of time punch data for the set of work shifts, based on the set of rounding parameters;

compute a sum of regular hours and a sum of overtime hours for the set of work shifts from the set of check-in times, the set of check-out times and the set of overtime parameters; and

, allocate the sum of overtime hours to the set of work shifts and the set of job sites in the predetermined allocation.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the employee location information comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates pertaining to the at least one job site, wherein the first set of program instructions, that when executed, further directs the computer server to:

compare the GPS coordinates pertaining to the at least one job site with GPS coordinates pertaining to the assigned job site to determine a location match condition; and

when the GPS coordinates pertaining to the at least one job site does not match the GPS coordinates pertaining to the assigned job site, causing the first set of program instructions, when executed, to generate an alert message indicating that the at least one job site does not match the assigned job site.