METHOD FOR TRACKING TIME ATTENDANCE OF EITHER A DEDICATED USER OR MULTIPLE NON-DEDICATED USERS, INTERCHANGEABLY, USING A SINGLE MULTI-FUNCTION ELECTRONIC HAND-HELD DEVICE

• US 20080296364A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exaktime Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exaktime Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Pappas, Anthony H., Bulatewicz, Thomas F. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/377
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity

Abstract

A method for tracking time attendance for either a single dedicated user, and typically owner, of a single multi-function electronic hand-held device without the need of entering password information, or selectively interchangeable to multiple non-dedicated users which must enter passwords to access their time tracking screens is provided. The time tracking software on the hand-held device can be placed into solo mode for a single dedicated user, which can be selectively deactivated so as to enable multiple non-dedicated users to enter their passwords to log in and clock-in or clock-out. The solo mode may be selectively reactivated so as to automatically log in the dedicated user and display his or her time tracking screen. An authorized administrator'"'"'s password may be necessary to activate or deactivate solo mode.

Claims

1. A method for tracking time attendance for either a single dedicated user or multiple non-dedicated users, interchangeably, using a single multi-function electronic hand-held device, comprising the steps of:

providing a time tracking software application installed on the multi-function hand-held device;

activating the time tracking software;

determining if the time tracking software is in a solo mode dedicated to a single user of the hand-held device;

if the time tracking software is not in the solo mode;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) each non-dedicated user entering a password on the password screen to log in; and

c) displaying a time tracking screen for each non-dedicated user, enabling the user to clock-in or clock-out;

if the time tracking software is in the solo mode;

a) automatically logging the dedicated single user in; and

b) displaying a time tracking screen of the dedicated user, enabling the dedicated user to clock-in or clock-out;

if the time tracking software is in the solo mode, selectively deactivating the solo mode, and displaying a password screen enabling the dedicated user or non-dedicated users to enter their passwords to log in and clock-in or clock-out; and

if the time tracking software is not in the solo mode, selectively reactivating the solo mode, and automatically logging the dedicated user in and displaying the time tracking screen for the dedicated user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-function hand-held device comprises a personal digital assistant or a cell phone including Palm operating system installed thereon.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the providing step includes the step of installing the time tracking software on the multi-function hand-held device so as to be operable with the Palm operating system software.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively deactivating the solo mode step includes the step of requiring an authorized administrator to deactivate solo mode.

5. The method of claim 4, including the step of determining if an entered password is of an authorized administrator.

6. The method of claim 5, including the step of permitting deactivation of solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator.

7. The method of claim 5, including the step of not permitting deactivation of solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selectively activating the solo mode step includes the step of requiring an authorized administrator to activate solo mode.

9. The method of claim 8, including the step of determining if an entered password is of an authorized administrator.

10. The method of claim 9, including the step of permitting activation of solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator.

11. The method of claim 10, including the steps of displaying a list of registered employees, and the authorized administrator selecting an employee from the list to be the dedicated user in solo mode for the hand-held device.

12. The method of claim 9, including the step of not permitting activation or reactivation of solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator.

13. A method for tracking time attendance for either a single dedicated user or multiple non-dedicated users, interchangeably, using a single multi-function electronic hand-held device, comprising the steps of:

providing a time tracking software application installed on the multi-function hand-held device;

activating the time tracking software;

determining if the time tracking software is in a solo mode dedicated to a single user of the hand-held device;

if the time tracking software is not in the solo mode;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) each non-dedicated user entering a password on the password screen to log in; and

c) displaying a time tracking screen for each non-dedicated user, enabling the user to clock-in or clock-out;

if the time tracking software is in the solo mode;

a) automatically logging the dedicated single user in; and

b) displaying a time tracking screen of the dedicated user, enabling the dedicated user to clock-in or clock-out;

requesting deactivation of the solo mode, including the steps of;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) entering a password;

c) determining if the password is of an authorized administrator; and

d) denying the deactivation request if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator, or deactivating the solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator, and displaying a password screen such that users enter their passwords to log in and clock-in or clock-out; and

requesting activation of the solo mode, including the steps of;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) entering a password;

c) determining if the password is of an authorized administrator; and

d) denying the activation request if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator, or activating the solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator, and displaying the time tracking screen of the dedicated user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the multi-function hand-held device comprises a personal digital assistant or a cell phone including Palm operating system installed thereon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing step includes the step of installing the time tracking software on the multi-function hand-held device so as to be operable with the Palm operating system software.

16. The method of claim 13, including the steps of displaying a list of registered employees, and the authorized administrator selecting an employee from the list to be the dedicated user in solo mode for the hand-held device.

17. A method for tracking time attendance for either a single dedicated user or multiple non-dedicated users, interchangeably, using a single multi-function electronic hand-held device, comprising the steps of:

providing a multi-function hand-held device comprises a personal digital assistant or a cell phone including Palm operating system installed thereon;

installing a time tracking software application on the multi-function hand-held device to be used in connection with the Palm operating system;

activating the time tracking software;

determining if the time tracking software is in a solo mode dedicated to a single user of the hand-held device;

if the time tracking software is not in the solo mode;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) each non-dedicated user entering a password on the password screen to log in; and

c) displaying a time tracking screen for each non-dedicated user, enabling the user to clock-in or clock-out;

if the time tracking software is in the solo mode;

a) automatically logging the dedicated single user in; and

b) displaying a time tracking screen of the dedicated user, enabling the dedicated user to clock-in or clock-out;

requesting deactivation of the solo mode, including the steps of;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) entering a password;

c) determining if the password is of an authorized administrator; and

d) denying the deactivation request if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator, or deactivating the solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator, and displaying a password screen such that users enter their passwords to log in and clock-in or clock-out; and

requesting activation of the solo mode, including the steps of;

a) displaying a password screen;

b) entering a password;

c) determining if the password is of an authorized administrator;

d) denying the activation request if it is determined that the entered password is not of an authorized administrator, or activating the solo mode if it is determined that the entered password is of an authorized administrator, displaying a list of registered employees, and the authorized administrator selecting an employee from the list to be the dedicated user in solo mode for the hand-held device and automatically displaying the time tracking screen of the selected dedicated user.