U.S. patent application number 13/944269 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-23 for time attendance tracking method and system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chong Kah Heng, TEH HON SENG, Chok Khang Yu. Invention is credited to Chong Kah Heng, TEH HON SENG, Chok Khang Yu.
Application Number | 20140025546 13/944269 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49947376 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140025546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SENG; TEH HON ; et
al. |
January 23, 2014 |
TIME ATTENDANCE TRACKING METHOD AND SYSTEM
Abstract
Time attendance tracking methods and systems are described in
which a hand-held device is set as a primary device or a secondary
device based on an inherent mobile identity of the hand-held device
and operable in either a first mode or a second mode. The first
mode permits the user to clock-in or clock-out for attendance
recording for the user tied account while the second mode restricts
the user to clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording for the
user tied account.
Inventors: |
SENG; TEH HON; (Selangor
Darul Ehsan, MY) ; Heng; Chong Kah; (Selangor Darul
Ehsan, MY) ; Yu; Chok Khang; (Selangor Darul Ehsan,
MY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SENG; TEH HON
Heng; Chong Kah
Yu; Chok Khang |
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Selangor Darul Ehsan |
|
MY
MY
MY |
|
|
Family ID: |
49947376 |
Appl. No.: |
13/944269 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/0861 20130101;
H04W 12/06 20130101; H04W 12/08 20130101; G06Q 10/1091 20130101;
G06Q 40/125 20131203; H04W 12/00512 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/32 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/10 20060101
G06Q010/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2012 |
MY |
P12012700490 |
Claims
1. A time attendance tracking method, comprising the steps of:
providing a server in communication with a database storing a
plurality of registered primary and secondary mobile identity,
which are hand-held device specific, that each secondary mobile
identity is paired with a preset user name linked to a preset
access code, wherein each user name is tied to an account; setting
a hand-held device as a primary device or a secondary device based
on inherent mobile identity of the hand-held device sent to the
server, upon respectively matching the registered primary or
registered secondary mobile identity in the database; allowing any
user to use the primary device to operate in a first mode upon the
user provided user name and access code matching with the preset
user name and preset access code paired with the first mobile
identity; and allowing a single user to use the secondary device to
operate in the first mode upon the user provided user name and
access code matching with the preset user name and preset access
code paired with the second mobile identity; wherein the first mode
permits the user to clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording,
view the recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination derived thereof for the tied account.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
allowing any user to use the secondary device to operate in a
second mode upon the user provided user name and access code failed
to pair with the mobile identity while matching with the preset
user name and preset access code.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second mode permits
the user to view recorded attendance, export the recorded
attendance or any combination derived thereof for the tied
account.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
allowing the single user to use the primary or secondary device
operated in the first mode to record clock-in or clock-out
attendance in an offline condition.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
allowing an administrator to use the primary or secondary device to
operate in an administrative mode upon the administrator provided
user name and access code matching with preset administrator user
name and linked access code without pairing with the mobile
identity, wherein the administrative mode permits the administrator
to view recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination derived thereof for all accounts.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:
setting a hand-held device as a non-registered device based on
inherent mobile identity of the hand-held device sent to the
server, upon the provided mobile identity failed to match with any
registered mobile identity.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held device
comprises a Global Positioning System for detecting location of the
user at each clock-in or clock-out occasion and the detected
location is tagged with the related clock-in or clock-out
occasion.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access code or the
preset access code is generated from alphabetic, numeric,
alphanumeric, biometric data or a combination thereof.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held device
communicates with the server through a program installed onto the
hand-held device.
10. A time attendance tracking system, comprising: a server in
communication with a database storing a plurality of registered
primary and secondary mobile identities, which are hand-held device
specific, that each secondary mobile identity is paired with a
preset user identity linked to a preset access code, wherein each
user identity is tied to an account; and a hand-held device being
set as a primary device or a secondary device based on an inherent
mobile identity of the hand-held device sent to the server; wherein
the primary device is operable in a first mode upon any user
provided user name and access code matching with the preset user
name and preset access code paired with the first mobile identity;
wherein the secondary device is operable in the first mode upon a
single user provided user name and access code matching with the
preset user name and preset access code paired with the second
mobile identity; wherein the first mode permits the user to
clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording, view the recorded
attendance, export the recorded attendance or any combination
derived thereof for the tied account.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the secondary device
is operable in a second mode upon any user provided user name and
access code failed to pair with the mobile identity while matching
with the preset user name and preset access code.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second mode
permits the user to view recorded attendance, export the recorded
attendance or any combination derived thereof for the tied account.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The instant application claims priority to Malaysian Patent
Application Serial No. PI2012700490 filed Jul. 23, 2012, pending,
the entire specification of which is expressly incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a time attendance
tracking method and system. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a method and system of tracking time
attendance using mobile computing platforms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Systems and methods are known in the art for tracking time
attendance and location of employees. Commonly, employees are
required to clock-in and clock-out when checking in and checking
out of work respectively. Various devices can be found for time
attendance tracking, frequently by the use of time clock installed
within office or work premises using punch cards, identity card and
even fingerprints. While time tracking is achievable for workers
within their work premises, time attendance of workers outside work
premises such as business trips or customer visiting are unable to
be tracked. There also exists the possibility that time attendance
devices at a job site are not functioning, damaged due to vandalism
or even stolen. In such a case, it would be highly desirable for
the supervisor, manager or foreman to be able to not only track his
or her time, but also track the time of the employees at that job
site. Therefore, the best option of tracking time attendance of
these workers is by using mobile time tracking platforms.
[0004] Until now, time attendance tracking through wireless devices
can be found by a number of patented technologies. Of interest is
U.S. Pat. No. 8,126,788 that appears to disclose a method for
selectively tracking time attendance for either a single dedicated
user or multiple non-dedicated users using a single multifunction
electronic hand-held device. A time tracking software application
is installed on the device to enable the dedicated user and
non-dedicated users to clock-in or clock-out in a solo mode and in
multiple users mode respectively. However, this patent disclosed
that the switching of the solo mode to the multiple users mode on
the device, or the other way around, requires an authorized
password, which could be troublesome.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 7,835,955, on the other hand, appears to
disclose a time attendance system that provides a device having a
periodically changing code which is synchronized with a time clock
associated with a service location. While the patent discloses a
system to track actual location and time of employees, it does not
explore the importance of deterring buddy punching by limiting user
of a computing device used for time attendance reporting. Moreover,
the patent focuses on tracking traveling time between a departure
location and an arrival location by the computing device. Misuse of
the computing device for buddy punching is therefore not explained
which may be not a concern for this patent.
[0006] Therefore there is a need for systems and methods to track
time attendance and location of employees, even out of work
premises. Such systems and methods should also provide a way for
employees not having such devices to record their attendances
without having to go through a cumbersome request of an authorized
password method and could be done through a one-time registration
method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a system and method that offer employees extreme
flexibility of reporting time attendance anywhere and anytime. The
present invention allows the employees to record their attendances
and locations even when they are on business trips or visiting
customers, which are located out of office premises, through
network connections between a server and their hand-held
devices.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to track time
attendance of employees by using an employee's personal hand-held
device for time attendance recording to avoid "buddy punching" and
reporting of fake time attendances by a third party.
[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a time and location attendance tracking system and method that aims
to help employees to become better motivated and more productive
through observation of their working habits. The system provides
detailed time attendance records where productivity of the
workforce can be monitored and corrections of work shifts can be
applied.
[0010] To fulfill the aforementioned objectives, a time attendance
tracking method comprising providing a server in communication with
a database storing a plurality of registered primary and secondary
mobile identities, which are hand-held device specific, that each
secondary mobile identity is paired with a preset user name linked
to a preset access code, wherein each user name is tied to an
account; setting a hand-held device as a primary device or a
secondary device based on an inherent mobile identity of the
hand-held device sent to the server, upon respectively matching the
registered primary or registered secondary mobile identity in the
database; allowing any user to use the primary device to operate in
a first mode upon the user provided user name and access code
matching with the preset user name and preset access code paired
with the first mobile identity; allowing a single user to use the
secondary device to operate in the first mode upon the user
provided user name and access code matching with the preset user
name and preset access code paired with the second mobile identity;
or, optionally, allowing any user to use the secondary device to
operate in a second mode upon the user provided user name and
access code failed to pair with the mobile identity while matching
with the preset user name and preset access code; wherein the first
mode permits the user to clock-in or clock-out for attendance
recording, view the recorded attendance, export the recorded
attendance or any combination derived thereof for the tied account;
wherein the second mode permits the user to view recorded
attendance, export the recorded attendance or any combination
derived thereof for the tied account.
[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention also
provides that the method further comprises the step of allowing the
single user to use the primary or secondary device operated in the
first mode to record clock-in or clock-out attendance in an offline
condition.
[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention also
provides that the method further comprises the step of allowing an
administrator to use the primary or secondary device to operate in
an administrative mode upon the administrator provided user name
and access code matching with preset administrator user name and
linked access code without pairing with the mobile identity,
wherein the administrative mode permits the administrator to view
recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination derived thereof for all accounts.
[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the method
further comprises the step of setting a hand-held device as a
non-registered device based on inherent mobile identity of the
hand-held device sent to the server, upon the provided mobile
identity failed to match with any registered mobile identity.
[0014] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
hand-held device further comprises a Global Positioning System for
detecting location of the user at each clock-in or clock-out
occasion and the detected location is tagged with the related
clock-in or clock-out occasion.
[0015] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the
access code or the preset access code is generated from alphabetic,
numeric, alphanumeric, biometric data or a combination thereof. The
biometric data can be selected from a group comprising face
features, fingerprint, palm print or any two or more combinations
thereof.
[0016] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
hand-held device communicates with the server through a program
installed onto the hand-held device.
[0017] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a time
attendance tracking system comprises a server in communication with
a database storing a plurality of registered primary and secondary
mobile identity, which are hand-held device specific, that each
secondary mobile identity is paired with a preset user identity
linked to a preset access code, wherein each user identity is tied
to an account; a hand-held device being set as a primary device or
a secondary device based on inherent mobile identity of the
hand-held device sent to the server; wherein the primary device is
operable in a first mode upon any user provided user name and
access code matching with the preset user name and preset access
code paired with the first mobile identity; the secondary device is
operable in the first mode upon a single user provided user name
and access code matching with the preset user name and preset
access code paired with the second mobile identity; or, optionally,
the secondary device is operable in a second mode upon any user
provided user name and access code failed to pair with the mobile
identity while matching with the preset user name and preset access
code; wherein the first mode permits the user to clock-in or
clock-out for attendance recording, view the recorded attendance,
export the recorded attendance or any combination derived thereof
for the tied account; and wherein the second mode permits the user
to view recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination derived thereof for the tied account.
[0018] The present preferred embodiments of the invention consists
of novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and
particularly pointed out in the appended claims; it being
understood that various changes in the details may be effected by
those skilled in the arts but without departing from the scope of
the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will be more fully understood when considered
with respect to the following detailed descriptions, appended
claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a process flow depicting the primary
steps taken in a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow depicting the primary
steps taken in a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a process flow depicting the primary
steps taken in a third embodiment of the present invention; and
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a process flow depicting the primary
steps taken in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Hereinafter, the present invention shall be described
according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and
by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However,
it is to be understood that limiting the description to the
preferred embodiments of the invention and to the drawings is
merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is
envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various
modifications without departing from the scope of the appended
claim.
[0025] The present invention relates to a time attendance tracking
method and system. More particularly, the invention relates to a
method and system of tracking time attendance using mobile
computing platforms.
[0026] The present invention is aimed at providing a time
attendance tracking method comprising providing a server in
communication with a database storing a plurality of registered
primary and secondary mobile identities, which are hand-held device
specific, that each secondary mobile identity is paired with a
preset user name linked to a preset access code, wherein each user
name is tied to an account; setting a hand-held device as a primary
device or a secondary device based on an inherent mobile identity
of the hand-held device sent to the server, upon respectively
matching the registered primary or registered secondary mobile
identity in the database; allowing any user to use the primary
device to operate in a first mode upon the user provided user name
and access code matching with the preset user name and preset
access code paired with the first mobile identity; allowing a
single user to use the secondary device to operate in the first
mode upon the user provided user name and access code matching with
the preset user name and preset access code paired with the second
mobile identity; or, optionally, allowing any user to use the
secondary device to operate in a second mode upon the user provided
user name and access code failed to pair with the mobile identity
while matching with the preset user name and preset access code;
wherein the first mode permits the user to clock-in or clock-out
for attendance recording, view the recorded attendance, export the
recorded attendance or any combination derived thereof for the tied
account; wherein the second mode permits the user to view recorded
attendance, export the recorded attendance or any combination
derived thereof for the tied account.
[0027] The method as described in the present invention is in a
form of a software application or program particularly suited for
operation with hand-held devices such as smartphones, Personal
Digital Assistants (PDA), mobile computers or other multifunctional
electronic hand-held devices with compatible operating systems to
support the program. Preferably, the hand-held device comprises a
display screen, data entry inputs via touch screen, keyboards or
voice commands, operating system to support the program and most
preferably, it has a camera to recognize face features of the user.
The hand-held device communicates with the server through the
program installed onto the hand-held device. The hand-held device
is preferred to be a personal hand-held device to the user so as to
avoid "buddy punching." "Buddy punching" generally refers to an act
where employees at work are clocking-in or punching-in attendances
for their co-workers, especially when they are late for work. The
present invention helps to eliminate this situation because the
hand-held device having a function to clock-in or clock-out for
attendance recording is registered under, and personalized to, a
specific user.
[0028] Accordingly, the database stores the plurality of registered
primary and secondary mobile identities, preset user names and
preset access codes linked to each user name, wherein each user
name is tied to an account. Each account can be logged in with a
user name and the linked access code. Each account stores all
attendance recordings for a particular registered user and may have
further information of the registered user such as full name,
gender, address, contact number, designation or other user
particulars.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, each hand-held device bears a mobile identity, which is
assigned by its manufacturer. The mobile identity is commonly known
as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), which is stored
in the hand-held device. The IMEI is used to differentiate the
hand-held device as the primary or secondary device. For the
primary and secondary device, the owner of the hand-held device is
preferred to initially log into his or her account after
installation of the program as described. This initial log in step
is essential in the first mode as this permits the provided user
name and access code to pair up with the preset user name and
preset access code in the database. Upon this log in step, the
primary or secondary device is operable in the first mode, which
allows the users to clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording,
view recorded attendance and export the recorded attendance.
[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the user
name and access code can be in alphabetical, numerical or
alphanumerical format. The access code can be provided by the user
or generated by biometric data such as facial features,
fingerprints, palm prints or voice. For facial features, a camera
is preferred to be used to capture an image containing the facial
features of the user. Facial templates are generated on the
captured image and liveliness verification is performed. The
captured image is used to match with a preset facial template
stored in the database and verified if the user's face is live.
Other methods may be used for liveliness verification of facial
features, for example, three dimensional face recognition or blink
recognition. It is also acceptable that only biometric data is
provided to the program upon logging in.
[0031] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, there
will always be a situation when not every employee, or person who
desires to keep track of attendance, owns a hand-held device or a
hand-held device that has an operating system compatible with the
program. In such an event, the hand-held devices of employees in
managerial levels such as managers, supervisors are preferred to be
used to permit those employees not owning the required hand-held
device to clock-in or clock-out their attendance. The hand-held
devices owned by managers or supervisors are preferred to be known
as managerial devices or the primary devices. Each mobile identity
of the primary device is stored in the database of the server and
referred as the first mobile identity. The primary device operating
in the first mode allows any user to clock-in or clock-out for
attendance recording. That is to say, upon recognizing that the
hand-held device is the primary device by matching the mobile
identity of the hand-held device with the registered primary mobile
identity stored in the database, any user, one at a time, is
allowed to log into his or her account and clock-in or clock-out
for attendance recording. Each user is preferred to log out of
their accounts after accomplishing one or more desired tasks to
allow another user to log into his or her account.
[0032] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the
secondary device is operable in two modes, which is the first or
second mode. The first mode only permits a single user, who is
preferably the owner of the hand-held device, to clock-in or
clock-out for attendance recording, viewing the recorded
attendance, exporting the recorded attendance or any combination
thereof, while the second mode permits the user to view the
recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination thereof, without the capability of clocking-in or out
attendances. That is, the user in the second mode is refrained from
clocking-in or clocking-out for attendance recording. The secondary
device operates in the first mode when the provided user name,
access code and mobile identity matches with the preset user name,
preset access code and the registered secondary mobile identity,
whereas the secondary device operates in the second mode when the
provided user name and access code failed to pair with the mobile
identity while matching with the preset user name and preset access
code.
[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the
hand-held device is set as a non-registered device when the
provided mobile identity, which is sent silently to the server,
failed to match with any registered mobile identity. If the user
provides a registered user name and access code, the hand-held
device is permitted to function in the second mode. However, if the
user provided a user name and access code that failed to match with
any preset user name and access code, the program prevents the user
to log into the program. In order to log into the program, the user
must register with the administrator.
[0034] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the server
is preferred to be capable of delivering complex computing and
storage capacity to one or more of the programs. The server stores
the plurality of registered primary and secondary mobile
identities, as well as the preset user identities and linked preset
access codes. With a matched user name, access code and mobile
identity, the users are capable of accessing the programme through
their hand-held devices to clock-in or clock-out, view the recorded
attendance or export the recorded attendance, and the recorded
attendances are sent and stored in the server in communication with
the program. Comparing with conventional time attendance recording
using a punch card, the system and method as described herein can
improve manageability, require less maintenance and enable human
resources to be more rapidly adjusted to meet fluctuating and
unpredictable business demand.
[0035] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
hand-held device further comprises a Global Positioning System
(GPS). The GPS is preferred to be used because it is capable of
detecting locations of each user at each clock-in or clock-out
occasion and the detected location is preferred to be tagged with
the related clock-in or clock-out occasion. As a result, time and
location of the user can be recorded during attendance recording.
The location can be presented in geodetic location information,
civic address information or a combination thereof.
[0036] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the
recorded attendances can be viewed and exported for printing. The
recorded attendances are preferred to be stored in the server and
exported into a sheet format for printing. The attendance sheets
may be presented by having user information along with start and
end dates of working days and clock-in or clock-out time with
respect to specific locations detected by the GPS. The recorded
attendances may be exported to the attendance sheet format that is
sorted according to day, week, month or a selected date range.
[0037] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the time attendance tracking system comprises a server in
communication with a database storing a plurality of registered
primary and secondary mobile identities, which are hand-held device
specific, that each secondary mobile identity is paired with a
preset user identity linked to a preset access code, wherein each
user identity is tied to an account; a hand-held device being set
as a primary device or a secondary device based on an inherent
mobile identity of the hand-held device sent to the server; wherein
the primary device is operable in a first mode upon any user
provided user name and access code matching with the preset user
name and preset access code paired with the first mobile identity;
the secondary device is operable in the first mode upon a single
user provided user name and access code matching with the preset
user name and preset access code paired with the second mobile
identity; or, optionally, the secondary device is operable in a
second mode upon any user provided user name and access code failed
to pair with the mobile identity while matching with the preset
user name and preset access code; wherein the first mode permits
the user to clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording, view
the recorded attendance, export the recorded attendance or any
combination derived thereof for the tied account; wherein the
second mode permits the user to view recorded attendance, export
the recorded attendance or any combination derived thereof for the
tied account.
[0038] In use, the method and system of tracking time attendance
are described hereinafter:
[0039] Referring to FIG. 1, an activation process of the program
starts (101) when the user selects for first time activation (103).
Upon selecting for first time activation (103), the user is
prompted to key in a network number in either an Internet Protocol
(IP) Address page (105) or a domain name system (DNS) page (107).
In the IP address page (105), the user is prompted to provide a
static IP address and its relevant connection port, whereas in the
DNS page (107), the user is prompted to provide a DNS IP and its
relevant port. Both the IP and DNS IP addresses are preferred to be
provided by the administrator associated with the server. In an
event that the hand-held device is directly connected to the server
via a local area network (LAN), the user is required to select the
IP address page (105) for the activation process. If the IP and DNS
IP addresses are invalid, the program rejects the connection and
prompts the user to re-enter the IP or DNS IP address. If the IP or
DNS IP address is valid, the program checks for connectivity of the
program to the server and upon successful connectivity, a log in
page (109) is shown on the screen of the hand-held device. The user
is prompted to provide his or her user name and access code in the
log in page (109). If connection to the server is available, the
user name, access code and the mobile identity is matched with the
database in the server in an online mode. It is to be noted that
the mobile identity is sent silently from the hand-held device to
the server when the user provides his or her user name and access
code. User type (111) is then identified from the matching process.
If connection is not available, an offline mode appears on the
screen of the hand-held device (113).
[0040] Still referring to FIG. 1, upon entering the log in page
(109), when no connection is detected between the server and the
hand-held device or when the server is down, the time attendance
can be recorded as well. That is to say, workers on business trips
can record their time attendance even when they are in areas
without an Internet connection. The hand-held device is preferred
to be in communication with a local database provided within the
hand-held device. In the offline mode (113), the user is capable of
performing tasks like clock-in or clock-out for attendance
recording (115), checking for location (119) or seeking further
assistance in a `Help` page (121). To clock-in or clock-out in the
offline mode (113), the single user is required to log into the
first mode to clock-in or clock-out time attendance at least once
before leaving for places without Internet connections in order to
create a tag for the server to pair the program installed in the
hand-held device. That is to say, upon logging in to the program in
the online mode, the user's user name and access code are saved in
the local database. The single user herein refers to the owner of
the hand-held device. During unavailability of connection between
the program and the server, user name and access code entered in
the log in page (109) are preferred to be checked with the saved
user name and access code in the database. Upon matching of the
entered user name and access code with the saved user name and
access code, the user can be identified and allowed to proceed to
attendance recording (115). Following to that, any clock-in or
clock-out attendance in the offline mode will be saved in the local
database. Whenever an Internet connection is available, all
recorded clock-in or clock-out attendances are uploaded to the
database in the server. Upon successful attendance recording, a
message is shown on the screen of the hand-held device to notify
the user (117).
[0041] Still referring to FIG. 1, different user types can be
distinguished in the online mode (111). The program sorts the
accounts in the first mode as "user" (123), the accounts in the
second mode as "visitor" (127) and the accounts in the
administrative mode as "administrator" (125). In the user account
(123), the user can either register his or her biometric data for
first time log in or proceed for a clock-in or clock-out page.
[0042] Now referring to FIG. 2, the program prompts the user (123)
to select a desired task from a plurality of tasks including
clock-in or clock-out for attendance recording (129), view recorded
time attendance (131), export recorded attendance for printing
(133), edit settings (135) or return to the log in page (139). For
the clock-in or clock-out task (129), the user is allowed to
clock-in or clock-out (141), view history of time attendances (145)
and view current location in a map (143). To clock-in, the user may
clock-in or clock-out attendance by providing his or her face
biometric data such as face features. The biometric data is then
verified (147) by comparing it with the preset biometric data
stored either in local database or the database of the server. Upon
clocking-in or clocking-out attendance, the program preferably
checks for connection between the program and the server (149). If
connection is available, the clock-in or clock-out time and
location, or together with the verified biometric data, is sent to
the server for recording (151). If no connection can be detected,
the clock-in or clock-out time and location, or together with the
verified biometric data, is preferred to be saved in the local
database (153) and further uploaded to the server when a connection
is available. Upon successful delivery of the clock-in or clock-out
time and location, or together with the verified biometric data, to
the server or the local database for the respective online mode or
offline mode, a notification is sent to the hand-held device (155)
to notify the user that the clock-in or clock-out time is
successfully recorded.
[0043] Accordingly, upon successful log in to the first mode, the
program checks for availability of saved attendance in the local
database. Any saved attendance in the local database is preferred
to be uploaded to the server before permitting the user to proceed
for attendance recording.
[0044] Still referring to FIG. 2, to view recorded attendances
(131), the user may select to view all recorded attendances or sort
the attendances according to a list of time period including day,
week, month or a range of date (157). The recorded attendances can
be exported to a printable format to be printed out subsequently
(133). As for the task to edit settings (135), the user is allowed
to switch to different servers, change time and date format, search
for date, contact server for providing feedback, sound adjustment
or view details of the software application such as application
name, application version, device model and its operating
system.
[0045] Now referring to FIG. 3, the administrator is capable of
selecting from a plurality of tasks including view accorded
attendance (159), export recorded attendances for printing (161),
edit settings of the program (163) or return to the log in page
(165). The "administrator" is preferred to have the highest
authority compared to the "user" and "visitor" and permitted to
view recorded attendances of all registered users. To view recorded
attendances of a desired user (159), the administrator may provide
the user name of the desired user. Then, the administrator may
check all recorded attendances or sort the recorded attendances
according to a list of time period including day, week, month or a
range of date (167). The recorded attendances can be exported to a
printable format to be printed out subsequently (161). The
administrator is allowed to edit settings of the program including
switch to different servers, check for user name, contact server
for providing feedback or view details of the program such as
application name, application version, device model and its
operating system. However, the administrator is restricted from
clocking-in or clocking-out attendance.
[0046] Now referring to FIG. 4, the visitor is capable of using the
hand-held devices to perform tasks such as view recorded
attendances (171), export recorded attendances for printing (173),
edit settings of the program (175) or return to the log in page
(177). The recorded attendances can be sorted according to a
desired time period such as day, week, month or a range of dates
(179). The visitor may also edit settings of the program including
switch to different servers, change time and date format, search
for date, contact server for providing feedback, sound adjustment
or view details of the program such as application name,
application version, device model and its operating system
(181).
[0047] It is desirable that the system and method as described in
the embodiments of the present invention can control labor costs
with a consistent application of work and pay rules, observe with
penetrating visibility how operations perform against productivity
goals and benchmarks, improve workforce productivity by reducing
manual and timely administrative tasks and freeing staffs involved
in the administrative tasks for other more value-added
activities.
[0048] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
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