Mobile data collection systems, methods and computer program products

• US 6,304,851 B1
• Filed: 03/13/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coca-Cola Company (The Coca-Cola Company)
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Krigline, Kevin K., Tipsword, Jackie L., Kmack, Kenneth C., Morgan, William C. Jr., Vallejo, Vicente E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tesfamariam, Mussie
• Application Number:
  US09/042,361
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 705/11, 705/32, 705/35, 708/110, 708/139, 702/136
• US Class Current: 705/7.27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products are configured for conducting time and motion studies using a portable computing device having a memory, wherein the internal clock of the portable computing device measures the elapsed time for an observed activity as a user (i.e., time and motion study analyst) identifies the observed activity and any associated parameters, counts, measurements or comments via one or more customized user interfaces displayed on the portable computing device screen. The customized user interfaces are generated from data tables created during setup. The elapsed time, activity name, and the associated parameters, counts and comments are recorded in the memory of the portable computing device as an activity record for subsequent analysis.

Claims

1. A method for conducting time and motion studies where an analyst observes and records data for activities performed by a worker, wherein the analyst records the time and event data utilizing a portable computing device having a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a setup table stored at a workstation and comprising session identifiers and a list of activities, wherein associated with at least one activity is a parameter having a list of pre-selected values;

transferring the setup table to the portable computing device;

generating a graphical user interface for the portable computing device based on the setup table, wherein the graphical user interface presents the activities to the analyst as selectable options;

selecting an activity being performed by the worker from the list of activities displayed via the graphical user interface;

generating a graphical user interface for the portable computing device based on the selected activity, wherein the graphical user interface is limited to presenting to the analyst the parameters associated with the selected activity; and

recording an activity record in the memory, wherein the activity record includes a time reference that represents an elapsed time for the activity and a parameter value inputted into the portable computing device via the graphical user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of marking an end of the activity, and wherein said step of recording the activity record is responsive to said step of marking the end of the activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a parameter associated with the selected activity is a count, further including the step of receiving via the graphical user interface a incremental count value associated with the activity selected.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of recording an activity record includes the step of recording a session identifier in the activity record.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a session identifier associated with one of the analyst and worker via the graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of recording an activity record includes the step of recording a session identifier, an activity name, associated parameter values, and a count in the activity record.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of receiving a request of the analyst via the graphical user interface to save the activity record for review, and wherein said step of recording an activity record includes the step of marking the activity record in response to the request.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving via the graphical user interface a manually entered comment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of recording an activity record includes the step of recording the comment in the activity record.

10. A system for conducting time and motion studies using a portable computing device having a memory, comprising:

a workstation including a setup program that creates a setup table comprising a list of activities, wherein associated with at least one activity is a parameter having a list of pre-selected values;

a communication link connecting the workstation to the portable computing device, for transmitting the setup table from the workstation to the portable computing device, wherein the setup table is stored in the memory of the portable computing device;

the portable computing device includes a data collection program for generating a graphical user interface having at least one selectable activity based on the setup table, wherein the graphical user interface presents only the parameters associated with a selected activity; and

wherein the portable computing device includes a memory in which is stored in an activity record having a time reference that represents an elapsed time for an activity and a parameter value inputted into the portable computer device via the graphical user interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the setup table includes session identifiers.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data collection program records an activity record in the memory of the portable computing device, wherein the activity record includes a time reference that represents an elapsed time for the activity and a parameter value inputted into the portable computing device via the graphical user interface.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory of the portable computing device includes a data table comprising activity records.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the data collection program generates a graphical user interface comprising a list of selectable predefined values for a parameter associated with the selected activity.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprises a report based on said data table.

16. A computer program product for conducting time and motion studies in which an analyst observes a worker performing an activity and records data using a portable computing device, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for generating a setup table stored at a workstation and comprising session identifiers and a list of activities, wherein associated with at least one activity is a customized parameter having a list of pre-selected values;

computer readable program code means for transferring the setup table to the portable computing device;

computer readable program code means for generating a graphical user interface for the portable computing device based on the setup table, wherein the graphical user interface presents the activities to the analyst as selectable options;

computer readable program code means for selecting an activity being performed by the worker from the list of activities displayed via the graphical user interface;

computer readable program code means for generating a graphical user interface for the portable computing device based on the selected activity, wherein the graphical user interface presents to the analyst only the parameters associated with the selected activity; and

computer readable program code means for recording an activity record in the memory, wherein the activity record includes a time reference that represents an elapsed time for the activity and a parameter value inputted into the portable computing device via the graphical user interface.