U.S. patent application number 11/027430 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for system and method for performing substitute fulfillment information complication and notification.
Invention is credited to Bernasconi, Charles E..
Application Number | 20050114195 11/027430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43981626 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050114195 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bernasconi, Charles E. |
May 26, 2005 |
System and method for performing substitute fulfillment information
complication and notification
Abstract
Disclosed is an Internet-based database system and method (ASP),
that enables school districts and temporary employment agencies to
automate the dispatching (24/7) of pre-qualified
substitute/temporary personnel to specified school/work site
locations for specific absent employees/job openings. The system
includes a profile database of permanent and substitute (temporary)
employees, positions, skills, working dates/shifts, rates of pay,
work sites, lesson plans/comments, reasons for absence and
corresponding budget codes. Approved substitute/temporary employees
may access the database using a multi-level access and secure logon
code through their Internet-based browser device. The software
filters job/position information to match specific job openings to
the skills, qualifications (certification), preferences and
availability of the substitute/temporary employee/s. As job
openings (absences) are entered into the system by employees, the
school district or employment agency, job details are immediately
available through Internet "distributed technology" to all
appropriate substitute/temporary employees through their web
browser device. Substitute/temporary employees may review, accept,
or reject, each job opening. They may also change their
availability, work preferences, preferred locations and electronic
address, i.e. e-mail address/pager or other device. When a new job
order is entered, requested substitutes are notified immediately.
The system utilizes e-mail/e-page or other wireless browser devices
to inform them that a current job position is available.
Inventors: |
Bernasconi, Charles E.;
(Mukilteo, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GRAYBEAL, JACKSON, HALEY LLP
155 - 108TH AVENUE NE
SUITE 350
BELLEVUE
WA
98004-5901
US
|
Family ID: |
43981626 |
Appl. No.: |
11/027430 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11027430 |
Dec 29, 2004 |
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09641866 |
Aug 18, 2000 |
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60150001 |
Aug 20, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/7.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/06 20130101;
G06Q 10/063112 20130101; G06Q 10/06311 20130101; G06Q 10/10
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/009 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An Internet based dispatching system comprising: at least one
database; a security logon; at least one filtering system for data
in said database; and web browser device access.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one inherent
training system for users of said database.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one inherent
training system is on-line through a web browser device.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said system of security logon
provides access levels to information.
5. The dispatching system of claim 1, wherein said database is
employed to place at least one substitute teacher in at least one
absent teacher position.
6. The dispatching system of claim 1, wherein said database is
employed to place at least one temporary employee in at least one
temporary position.
7. The dispatching system of claim 5, wherein said at least one
substitute teacher is notified automatically, by said database, of
an available job meeting qualifications of said at least one
substitute teacher.
8. The dispatching system of claim 7, wherein said automatic
notification is via a web browser device.
9. The dispatching system of claim 7, wherein said at least one
substitute teacher is specifically requested and e-paged or
emailed.
10. The dispatching system of claim 7, wherein said database holds
said available job for said at least one substitute teacher for a
period of time, and releases said available job to other substitute
teachers if no reply from said at least one substitute teacher is
received by said database.
11. The dispatching system of claim 1, wherein said at least one
filtering system uses fields of data to determine user notification
priority.
12. A method of activating an Internet database system, comprising:
managing software-based services and solutions to users across a
wide area network from a central data center; eliminating
capitalization costs for users by employing a small user fee; and
dispatching said software-based services and solutions in real
time.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said software-based services
and solutions are lesson plans and job assignments.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said software-based services
and solutions are dispatched automatically to authorized users,
eligible to accept said software-based services and solutions.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein said dispatching occurs
according to data entered into a rapid entry system.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein said managing software-based
services and solutions employs electronic processing of filtered
information from an Internet server database to all programmed
client browsers.
Description
REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/150,001, filed Aug. 20, 1999, by Charles E.
Bernasconi and Shannon Wainright, entitled Provisional Patent
Application.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an electronic
online ASP database system. More specifically it relates to a
secure Internet-based database Application Service Provider (ASP)
system and method that receives absence/job order information and
automatically (24/7) dispatches substitute and/or temporary
employees to job sites for school districts and employment
agencies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Temporary placement of skilled workers due to planned and
unplanned absences or temporary work overloads is critical to our
specialized economy. The inherent problem is the tight job market
and efficient and accurate placement of those temporary personnel.
Absences from work cost employers in lost productivity and sick
leave pay. Although temporary workers cannot immediately replace
trained professionals, they can provide relief for school, office,
or other professions that require a person/s with specific skills
or expertise.
[0004] In the example of public school districts there is a
national shortage of qualified substitute teachers to replace
absent teachers/employees. This creates a daily problem for
districts and individual schools as they often have to "compete"
with neighboring districts, often drawing from a narrow "pool" of
common substitutes.
[0005] Absences are often unpredictable and may occur any time 7
days a week and 24 hours a day (24/7). It is estimated that in any
one day, 5% to 10% of teachers may be absent in the United States.
Those school districts which efficiently process absence
information and substitute notification/dispatch of job openings,
will in most cases place substitutes first therefore providing
their students with the best available and qualified instructors.
School districts however, are often financially limited in their
ability to either purchase expensive automated equipment and
software or hire additional dispatchers to work off-hours in order
to process absence information on a 24/7 basis.
[0006] Several companies have attempted to solve these and other
problems using automated telephone calling systems. For example the
two largest, TSSI, Inc. (tssint.com) and CRS, Inc. (crs-ivr.com)
have developed Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone calling
systems designed to automate the reporting of absences and
dispatching of substitutes using touch tone phones. While these
systems are designed to work 24/7 without constant administrative
personnel (district dispatchers), unlike the present invention,
they do require significant capitalization funds. District owned
systems require several thousands of dollars to install on-site,
local computers, backup power systems, dedicated phone lines (1 to
an average a maximum of 8), maintenance equipment, and specialized
voice cards that convert data into speech. IVR systems are also
limited in transacting absence information by the number of phone
lines available, i.e. 4 for an average district's budget. Unlike
the present invention, processing transactions becomes especially
acute in the mornings. Because of the short window of time before
classes start each day, the limited number of phone lines increase
busy signals and time delays.
[0007] Also unlike the present invention, phone (IVR) calling
systems must automatically contact just one substitute at a time
going through a generated list of substitutes. IVR systems may
often take hours to finally contact a substitute that will accept
the position.
[0008] Some IVR systems also require school sites to phone in to
the system to receive summaries of who is absent that day and who
to expect as a substitute. Faxes from the district office are often
delayed and thus are not in "real time." Neither are e-mail summary
reports also from the district offices.
[0009] Another problem with automated IVR systems is the giving and
receiving of specific instructions regarding the absence day/s
(lesson plans). IVR systems only allow the substitute to hear a
short, 1 to 2 minute voice message, left by the absent employee.
Unlike the present invention, the information and directions often
have to be written down by the substitute.
[0010] Most IVR systems also require users to contact the district
office personnel during regular office hours to change personal
information such as work availability or unavailability, contact
information, job title preferences and job areas and locations
willing to work.
[0011] Another large expense item for school districts using
automated IVR systems is the on-site training of substitutes and
employees on how best to use the IVR system. Unlike our present
invention, this often requires district paid meetings and
comprehensive directions manuals.
[0012] Recently another company, Frontline Data, Inc.
(aesoponline.com) has developed a system that includes a
combination of IVR, Web based and "toll-free" phone calls. Unlike
the present invention where all contacts to the system are via
local phone company data connections, employees report absences and
substitutes are contacted with the toll charges made indirectly to
the school district.
[0013] In the highly competitive private sector, temporary
employment agencies process temporary and "temp to hire" job orders
from client companies including but not limited to the medical,
legal, accounting and technical fields. Agencies must match, notify
and place the appropriate temporary agency personnel into job
positions. Those that are the most efficient in distributing job
order information and placing their appropriate temporary
personnel, will be the most successful. Previously, software
companies have developed database systems to match and place
temporary employees. Different from the present invention, these PC
based software programs use telephone contact from the agency
office/s and require agency staff employees during regular business
hours. While employment agencies have for years used the Internet
successfully to recruit "new hires" from the general public, this
present invention is designed to actually place recruited
pre-approved (tested and qualified) temporary and "temp-to-hire"
agency personnel into matching skilled positions responding to job
orders from client companies.
[0014] There is definitely a need for an expedited system to
process absence/job information, update employee profiles 24/7 and
contact/place qualified substitute teachers or temporary
personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Accordingly, with the increasing accessibility of the
Internet and the World Wide Web, it is now possible for selected
programmed information to be distributed immediately and
automatically to all personnel in an organization (public/private)
with Internet access and a "need to know." That information may be
protected and delimited by utilizing logon (password) codes and
pre-programmed levels of data access. One example of such an
application is Substitute Online.TM. by Computer Software
Innovations, Inc., the assignee of the present invention.
[0016] The present invention provides a database and executable
code software system and method for school districts and employment
agencies. It is designed to dispatch substitute and/or temporary
employees utilizing an Application Service Provider "ASP." This
system and method expedites information (via an automated process)
through the Internet, the ASP, and various web browsers, i.e.
Microsoft's Internet Explorer or Netscape's Navigator, including
various browser devices, both wired and wireless. The database may
be any type of web based data repository. The present invention
utilizes but is not limited to Microsoft's SQL Server 7.
[0017] A secure (unique pass word) logon code and a hyper-link from
the school district or agency home page, allows the user access to
their record information. The database is customized for each
school district or temporary agency.
[0018] There are three levels of security logon. The amount and the
type of information dispersed to each user is determined by their
level of security. Substitute teachers or temporary employees are
at a Level 0 of security. They have access 24/7 to jobs that match
their qualifications and may also view and update their own
personal profile. Substitutes or temporary workers may change their
individual contact information, daily/weekly availability status,
working preferences and review and print to hardcopy, personal
summaries of prior and future assignments.
[0019] Individual teachers/employees are also at Level 0. They may
report absence information including days, shifts, reasons, charge
codes to the district and request or deny (reject) particular
substitutes the assignment. Potential employers of temporary
employees have similar capabilities in the requesting or refusing
of particular temp employees. Rejected substitutes/temporary
employees do not see information regarding job openings where they
have been rejected.
[0020] When an absent employee or client company requests one or
more specific substitute/temporary employees, the system
immediately notifies these substitutes/temporary employees via
e-mail, e-pager and/or other browser devices that they have been
requested. A certain time period, set by the school
district/agency, allows the requested person/s to respond. (This
notification of possible substitutes and temporary employees will
be explained in depth later.) At the expiration of that time
period, the job is then opened for other qualified substitutes or
temporaries to select. Once a particular assignment has been
filled, it is removed from the open jobs list.
[0021] Administrative personnel have a Level 1 security access
for/at their individual school site. Information is also available
from any Internet access point including home, library, etc. Open
positions, filled absences, assigned substitutes, time of job
acceptance and reasons for teacher absence may be viewed. Specific
skill preferences and other information regarding substitutes is
available. School sites may generate a rejection list of
substitutes that will not be assigned to any position at their
site. Administrators also have reports in "real time" including
individual summaries of absent teachers who have patterns of
personal absence or "illness" prior to weekends, holidays, etc.
[0022] School secretaries have the option of entering absences on
behalf of the absent teacher. Schools may enter en mass, absences
for "district initiated" workshops, seminars and other school
business with the appropriate budget charge codes. School personnel
may fill job openings on-site with their client computer. An
example situation might be a "holdover," where a current substitute
is asked to work another open position for the following day at
that same site but for a different teacher. The school secretary
completes the dispatch assignment immediately at their browser
device, i.e. PC. School secretaries with Level 1 access cannot view
information about other schools or other school absent employees.
Status reports are available on-site in real time but only for
employees at their site. Level 2 security is granted to staff
employees on the district level of a school system. Personnel with
level 2 access may view the profiles of all teachers,
add/edit/delete records of substitutes including personal
information (social security numbers), and change pass codes. Staff
employees at this level may enter absences on behalf of teachers,
request particular substitutes, generate absence reports, and
document reasons and duration of absences at any school or for any
employee. District staff may also "over-ride" the system and
generate lists of available substitutes to call for jobs that
require the "personal touch." In the example of temporary
employment agencies, Level 1 would be a client company and Level 2
would be represented by the internal dispatching staff of the
agency.
[0023] Unlike the present invention, IVR systems are limited to
contacting personnel in a specific parameter (number) of phone
lines, further separated as either incoming and outgoing lines. The
present invention provides immediate job opening information to all
qualified and available temp and substitute employees Also with the
present invention, school districts and employment agencies are
provided with a productivity advantage in competing for a limited
pool of substitutes and temps each day. The neighboring districts
or competitor agencies that use IVR or other "manual" or local
computer systems are incapable of immediate distribution of absence
information to all personnel. The present invention uses the
"distributed technology" of the Internet to immediately make that
absence and other information available to all appropriate
personnel. While phone (IVR) calling systems automatically contact
one substitute or temp at a time, going through a list of
personnel, they often take hours to finally contact a person that
will accept the position. With this invention, our system
immediately distributes absence information to all (not rejected)
qualified personnel, virtually eliminating the waste of time caused
by busy signals.
[0024] Through their Internet browser device, substitutes/temps are
able to see 24/7, all job openings that match their
certification/skills and choose the job/s they want to work. They
may also update their availability to work on a scheduled basis and
other personal information including contact and job/location
preferences.
[0025] The present invention works as an automated Application
Service Provider "ASP" through the Internet. The present invention
eliminates large capitalization costs to districts and agencies for
hardware setup, installation and support. Also eliminated are
overtime costs to hire additional staffing dispatchers to work
off-hours in order to manually process absence information and
availability on a 24/7 basis.
[0026] This invention also provides schools/job work sites
up-to-the-second information to be viewed on screen and/or printed
out to hardcopy on-site. IVR systems only provide a voice message
in real time and faxes/e-mail reports that are delayed in
transmission, compared to the present invention.
[0027] With the present invention, substitutes and temp employees
are also provided, through their Internet browser device, with
hardcopy (printed) instructions regarding the absence day/s (lesson
plans) or job order (driving directions, dress codes, special
equipment/tools, etc.). Lesson plans/info may be printed out with
just one key and updated at any time.
[0028] The current invention also provides online training of
substitutes and employees on how best to use the Internet based
system. Included are on-screen "Help" links at each step and a
demo/tutorial hyper-linked to the ASP server. Users receive
directions and a step-by-step "slide show" of how the system works.
They may use the "Help" functions only as needed and do the
training and practice at their convenience, home or elsewhere, thus
saving large group training expenses.
[0029] As mentioned previously, the present invention provides a
system that requires little or no capitalization costs by the
school district or agency. The invention is designed to work as an
ASP and therefore utilizes a small user fee (currently less than
$1.00) per absence/day transaction versus the capitalization costs
of IVR systems. It is therefore possible for even the smallest
school district or employment agency to be able to afford a 24/7
automated dispatching system.
[0030] Compared to IVR systems that require many instructional
step-by-step voice prompts and touch tone phone key responses, the
present invention is designed for employees to report an absence
and substitutes/temps to search and submit a request for an
assignment in approximately 3 clicks of their mouse. Because all
information is displayed automatically on their browser screen and
the system knows who the user is at logon, default settings are
immediately and automatically displayed. Lesson plans and
instructions may also be transferred from other word processors,
i.e. Microsoft Word. Information may be printed out to hard copy
with one key.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0031] FIG. 1 is a flow chart of how the information passes through
the database in a school system example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0032] Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
[0033] Application Service Provider (ASP). A third-party entity
that manages and distributes software-based services and solutions
to customers across a wide area network (Internet and World Wide
Web) from a central data center (Web server).
[0034] Client-Server. A model of interaction in a distributed
system in which a program at a site sends a request to a program at
another site and waits for a response. The requesting program is
called the "client" and the program which responds to the request,
is called the "server." In the context of the World Wide Web
(discussed below), the client is a "Web browser" (or simply
"browser") which runs on a computer of a user. The program which
responds to browser requests by serving Web pages is commonly
referred to as a "Web server".
[0035] Distributed Technology. The electronic processing of
filtered information from the Web server database to all programmed
client browsers through a wide area network (Internet).
[0036] Hyperlink. A navigational link from one document to another,
or from one portion (or component) of a document to another.
Typically, a hyperlink is displayed as a highlighted word or phrase
that can be selected by clicking on it using a mouse to jump to the
associated document or documented portion.
[0037] Hypertext System. A computer-based informational system in
which documents (and possibly other types of data entities) are
linked together via hyperlinks to form a user-navigable "web".
[0038] Internet. A collection of interconnected (public and/or
private) networks that are linked together by a set of standard
protocols (such as TCPP/IP and HTTP) to form a global, distributed
network. (While this term is intended to refer to what is now
commonly known as the Internet, it is also intended to encompass
variations which may be made in the future, including changes and
additions to existing standard protocols).
[0039] World Wide Web ("Web"). Used herein to refer generally to
both (i) a distributed collection of interlinked, user-viewable
hypertext documents (commonly referred to as Web documents or Web
pages) that are accessible via the Internet, and (ii) the client
and sever software components which provide user access to such
documents using standardized Internet protocols. Currently, the
primary standard protocol for allowing applications to locate and
acquire Web documents is HTTP, and the web pages are encoded using
HTML. However, the terms "Web" and "World Wide Web" are intended to
encompass future markup languages and transport protocols which may
be used in place of (or in addition to) HTML and HTTP.
[0040] HTML (HyperText Markup Language). A standard coding
convention and set of codes for attaching presentation and linking
attributes to informational content within documents. (Ht 2.0 is
currently the primary standard used for generating Web documents.)
During a document authoring stage, the HTML codes (referred to as
"tags") are embedded within the informational content of the
document. When the Web document (or HTML document) is subsequently
transferred from a Web server to a browser, the codes are
interpreted by the browser and used to parse and display the
document. Additionally in specifying how the Web browser is to
display the document, HTML tags can be used to create links to
other Web documents (commonly referred to as "hyperlinks"). For
more information on HTML, see Ian S. Graham, the HTML Source Book,
John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1995 (ISBN 0471-118944).
[0041] HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol). The standard World Wide
Web client-server protocol used for the exchange of information
(such as HTML documents, and client requests for such documents)
between a browser and a Web server. HTTP includes a number of
different types of messages which can be sent from the client to
the server to request different types of server actions. For
example, a "GET" message, which has the format GET, causes the
server to return the document or file located at the specified
URL.
[0042] Turning to FIG. 1, we see a flow chart of information
transfer through the online ASP database system. The explanation in
FIG. 1 is for the substitute and regular teacher database
embodiment. The other embodiment, temporary employment agencies,
has been discussed previously and is very similar in process.
[0043] The substitute teacher 10 and the absent teacher 50 are
representative of Level 0 security access. At 10 and 50,
respectively, the substitute teacher and the absent teacher have
remote "client" logon to the online ASP database "server" system
100. Substitute teacher 10 and absent teacher 50 logon to the
online ASP database server system 100 through any computer with
Internet access and a conventional web browser. They may hyperlink
from their school district home web page as well as use links to
"Help" screens and a demo/tutorial (subdemo.com) while in the
program.
[0044] There are four options represented at points 60,70,80, and
90 available to the absent teacher 50 once successful logon to the
online ASP database system 100 is complete. The option to enter a
new absence is represented at 60. At point 60, the absent teacher's
50 screen defaults to the "New Absence" option. The reporting of an
absence may be accomplished with as few as 3 clicks of the mouse.
When the option New Absence is first entered, the system defaults
to the following: 1) a one day absence of "today's date" (the next
day's date if entered after 12 noon), 2) an all day shift and 3)
for a personal illness reason. If that information is correct, the
absent teacher simply clicks on the Submit Absence command button
and the absence information is confirmed and then distributed
immediately to all available and qualified substitutes. If the
absence is not standard, the user may enter another date, other
approved reason (including district business), am or pm shift
and/or add more continuous days. That information is entered here
(point 60) before being submitted for placement on the web server.
Also at point 60, the absent teacher 50 may verify previously
requested and/or rejected substitutes.
[0045] At point 70 the absent teacher 50 may optionally enter a
lesson plan or written instructions for the substitute. The plan or
other instructions may be keyed in or the absent teacher may use
the "cut and paste" option from a word processor, if the absent is
pre-planned.
[0046] At point 80 the absent teacher 50 may review and/or cancel
one or more days/shifts of the absence/s. If an absence is
cancelled, it can be re-entered with the correction/s. If the
absence has been accepted by a substitute, only the district office
may cancel the absence. The system automatically checks for
conflicts, weekends and school holidays. Point 80 also shows the
absent teacher 50 all of their absences to date, and which
substitute teacher 10 covered each absence. Option 80 also allows
the absent teacher 50 to determine how many days of leave they have
used per annum. At Point 90 is the option for the absent teacher 50
to edit user information and parameters. Point 90 is where the
absent teacher 50 can change their e-mail address, grade level or
subject/s taught, work site, other basic personal information and
select/reject substitutes from the district approved list that
displays on their browser device.
[0047] Options 20,30, and/or 40 are available to substitute teacher
10 upon successful logon to the online ASP database system 100.
Substitute teachers may also hyperlink from the school district
home page. At point 20 the system displays all available job
openings to the substitute teacher 10. Personal requests by absent
teachers are specially marked. Filters on the online ASP database
system 100 match substitute preferences to jobs. For example, if
substitute teacher 10, wishes only to work with elementary age
children, available secondary jobs are not displayed to that
substitute on their browser. Job openings will not show on the
substitute's browser if the substitute is rejected by the absent
employee 50. Substitute teacher 10 may preview details and select
open job/s at option 20. They can mark the particular job, review
details, click the Submit Request key and then confirm their
choice/s. The ASP database system 100 automatically posts the
assignment. The system immediately returns a confirmation number to
the substitute and removes the job from the available jobs list. If
another substitute has already selected that job, a notice is
returned with directions for the substitute to select another open
position.
[0048] Option 30 gives the substitute teacher 10 a place to edit
their user profile and parameters including days of the week that
they are not available to work. This is similar to option 90 for
absent teachers 50.
[0049] Option 40 allows the substitute teacher to review previously
worked assignments in order to reconcile their pay check. The
substitute may print out a report including details of future
assignments. If a substitute has accepted an assignment and then is
not able to complete that assignment, it may be cancelled by the
substitute and returned to the server for another substitute to
accept.
[0050] Moving now to the online ASP database system 100, we are
introduced to components 110,120,130, 140, and 150. Component 110
is the Internet component of the online ASP database system 100.
Internet component 110 synchronizes the online ASP database system
100 with the World Wide Web and allows access to the system by
authorized users at logon. The Internet component 110 also provides
a conventional software "firewall" system, for security of
sensitive data, stored for school systems and temporary employment
companies. Component 120 is part of the online ASP database system
100. It 120 holds the profiles of absent teachers 50, substitute
teachers 10, school district dispatcher/s 250, and personnel at
various school sites or work locations 260. The database component
120 is located on the remote server so that individual user school
and district systems 260, 250 do not have to hold large amounts of
data on their client computers. The database system has filters to
send the correct data to the particular school 260, substitute
teacher 10, absent teacher 50, or school district dispatcher 250.
In this filter component of the database system 120, the online ASP
database system 100 is customized to each user's security level or
input preferences. In this manner, security is further heightened
in that each school site 260 cannot see data concerning other
sites.
[0051] Dispatching 130 automatically receives new absence
information 60, filters rejected substitutes, and immediately
distributes the absence information to each qualified substitute
client web site. The system also filters client requests for job
openings, validates substitute qualifications and availability
(conflicts with other assignments), assigns the position to the
first submitting substitute and returns a confirmation number for
future audit.
[0052] A part of the online ASP database system 100 is the
requested substitute notification system 140. The notification
system 140 locates the requested substitute contact information 30
for the job (e-mail address/e-pager) and processes that
information. Each job opening that has specified requested
substitute/s, is reserved for only those requested substitutes
until 6:00 pm the evening before the job begins.
[0053] Another part of the online ASP database system 100 is the
reporting system and payroll interface 150. The reporting system
150 accesses the database component 120 and 130 to generate
personnel reports and payroll/transaction reports upon request from
the individual schools 260 or school district 250. The reporting
system 150 can manipulate the data to generate number and length of
absences for particular employees, substitutes, schools, and
specific charge codes for district departments. For each payroll
period, absence data is verified at each site 260 and then
transferred to the system 100/150 to generate a flat file interface
that is manipulated by the district. The file reflects regular and
overtime pay rates, incentive pay and budget codes to be charged to
the district. When verified as correct by the district payroll
office, the data is electronically transferred to the school
district payroll system.
[0054] At the dispatcher position 250, we see that en route to the
online ASP database system 100 the dispatcher has seven possible
options. 1) manual dispatch of open jobs 180 that no substitute has
accepted, 2) modification of open and selected jobs 190, 3) holding
open jobs and releasing only when determined to be appropriate 200,
4) canceling and deleting jobs 210, 5) editing, adding and/or
deleting absent teachers/substitute teachers 220, 6) modification
of district parameters 230, i.e. reasons for absence, workshops and
other district release days including budget and authorization
codes, and 7) modification of user parameters 240, i.e. defined
holidays and valid non-working dates. Option 180 allows the
dispatcher 250 to dispatch jobs that have not been assigned via the
automated system. These jobs often require the "personal touch"
because they are very specific or no one available wants to work
that particular job. The system generates a list of available
substitutes including job skills and phone numbers in order to
contact a selected substitute. Option 190 allows the dispatcher 250
to sort and filter the list of available substitutes by last name,
seniority, least times worked and specific skills, i.e. math. The
dispatcher 250 can use option 200 to manually hold open jobs for a
particular requested substitute teacher 10. Again, the job will be
held for the requested substitute until 6 pm the evening before the
assignment begins. At option 210 the dispatcher 250 can cancel and
delete job openings. Option 210 also allows for the effective use
of the online ASP database system 100, in that jobs that are not
valid may be easily removed in a timely manner. Option 220 allows
dispatcher 250 to edit, add and/or delete permanent teachers 50
and/or substitute teachers 10. In cases of termination of
employment, or the hiring of new substitutes or permanent
employees, the dispatcher 250 enters the information into the
online ASP database system 100 through option 220. The original
data is electronically downloaded by the ASP system.
[0055] Moving to point 260 we see the connection of the on-site
personnel at the school. On-site personnel have Level 1 access,
allowing them to process absence information similar to the
district dispatcher 250 but only for employees at their school
site. Each school secretary may enter and dispatch absences on
behalf of absent teachers and select jobs for substitutes at their
particular school. Currently, some teachers and substitutes do not
have Internet access at home.
[0056] Another option at 260 is custom reporting and payroll
validation interface (verification that substitutes actually
reported for work). On-site personnel 260 can use the custom
reporting option 160 to generate reports of absences by individual
teachers 50, or reports of all teacher absences at their school. In
the payroll interface option 170 the school secretary/administrator
may upload verified payroll "time sheets" to the ASP database for
transfer to the school district payroll system.
[0057] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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