Abstract:
The invention provides an apparatus for diarizing the performance of janitorial services during a patrol. The apparatus can be in a personal digital assistant format (“PDA”) that includes one or more built-in peripherals, such as a bar-code scanner. The bar-code scanner is used to scan bar codes that are applied at various locations throughout a facility. The bar codes identify individual locations in the facility that are to be cleaned as part of a janitorial patrol. The PDA is further operable to allow the janitor or cleaner to add enter electronic comments about one or more particular cleaning tasks that are performed at the location respective to each bar code. Other functions are also included in the PDA.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. 60/466,952, filed Apr. 30, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to janitorial services, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for the diarizing the performance of janitorial services during janitorial patrols.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Janitorial services need to be provided in virtually all public facilities, particularly where there are public restroom facilities. Cleanliness and sanitation are important for the health and comfort of patrons. Accordingly, it is well known to provide regular, scheduled cleaning of such public facilities. The task of scheduling can be relatively straightforward or exceedingly complex, depending on the size of the facilities, the number of patrons who use the facilities, and the frequency with which the facilities are used. Thus, the proverbial small bistro with a single restroom may only need one or two cleanings a day, whereas a major international airport will have dozens of restrooms, eating facilities, hallways, waiting lounges that may need require scheduled cleanings several times a day, and over fairly regular intervals over any given twenty-four hour period. A further complication with large facilities is the management of the several hundred cleaning staff that are responsible for all of the scheduled cleanings. Still further complexity is added when those cleaning staff are not directly employed by the facility, but are employed by a cleaning services company that is contracted to provide such services to the facility.  
           [0004]    The diarizing of the performance of janitorial services is also an important aspect of the provision of such services. While a cleaning schedule may be established and various cleaning staff assigned, such a schedule will be meaningless if it is not actually performed, and it is therefore also known to diarize the actual performance of cleaning services. Again, where such services are performed by a cleaning services company under contract, then the facility will typically require a diary or record proving that the services are actually being performed. Additionally, such diaries may be relevant in any lawsuit involving allegations that a facility&#39;s lack of cleanliness lead to personal injury—e.g. a slip and fall on a puddle of water.  
           [0005]    Typically, the diarizing is done using pen and paper. It is very common to provide an sheet of paper on a clipboard which is carried by the janitor as they move throughout the facility during their cleaning patrol. The sheet of paper is updated by a cleaner once a particular area of that facility has been cleaned. The sheet may also include room for other information, such as notes about any items that may required repair or replacement in the area being cleaned.  
           [0006]    This manual system presents a number of disadvantages. First, the cleaner must take additional time out of their cleaning schedule to complete the form. Further, there is typically no convenient surface in the facility to complete the form, which may therefore force the cleaner to carry a clipboard with him or her, thereby further burdening the cleaner with extra equipment. Additionally, once the sheet is completely filled, the cleaner may have to carry their own blank sheets. Still a further disadvantage is the need for someone to collect the sheets on a periodic basis and, if reports are to be provided, the data on each sheet needs to be tabulated and entered into a computer, leading to extra labour and a delay between the time the service was performed and the availability of a report to the facility verifying that such services were performed. An additional disadvantage is that the cleaner&#39;s handwriting may not be legible, or the spaces provided on the sheet to small, so patrons do not get the benefit of seeing when the facility was last cleaned in a convenient manner. Furthermore, it is often the case that cleaning staff&#39;s may represent a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and first languages, making the explanation of how the sheets are to be completed a difficult task. Still further disadvantages to the current diarizing system will occur to those of skill in the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel apparatus for diarizing janitorial services during patrol that obviates or mitigates at least one of the above-identified disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0008]    An aspect of the present provides an apparatus for diarizing janitorial services during a cleaning patrol comprising: an outer casing that frames a display and a plurality of keys, a docking port, a barcode reader. Computing hardware interconnecting the display, the keys, the docking port and the barcode reader. The barcode reader is operable to receive barcode scans representative of at least one cleaning zone in a facility and bar code scans representative of at least one task to be performed in the at least one cleaning zone.  
           [0009]    Another aspect of provides a portable computer-based method of diarizing the performance of janitorial services comprising the steps of:  
           [0010]    i. determining a zone of a facility for cleaning;  
           [0011]    ii. presenting the determined zone to a user;  
           [0012]    iii. waiting for a scan of a barcode that matches with a barcode affixed to the determined zone;  
           [0013]    iv. determining a task to be performed;  
           [0014]    v. presenting the task to the user;  
           [0015]    vi. waiting for a scan of a barcode on a task list that matches with a barcode respective to the task;  
           [0016]    vii. repeating steps iv-vi until all tasks in a zone have been performed; and,  
           [0017]    viii. repeating steps i-vii until all zones have been cleaned.  
           [0018]    The computer-based method of diarizing the performance of janitorial services can include the additional steps of:  
           [0019]    recording times when the barcode scans occur; and  
           [0020]    uploading the recorded times to a host computer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    Embodiments of the invention will now be discussed, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, in which:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a floorplan of an exemplary facility to which embodiments of the present invention can be applied;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a doorway entering one of the zone in the facility of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a portable computing device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a task list in the form of a plurality of cards in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method of diarizing janitorial services in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is shows a janitor using the device of FIG. 3 to scan a barcode associated with the zone;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 shows the device of FIG. 3 to scan the task list;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 shows the device of FIG. 3 being docked to a computer for uploading;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a portable computing device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and,  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a portable computing device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a facility to which embodiments of the present invention are applicable is indicated generally at  30 . Facility  30  in the present embodiment is a restaurant, however, other facilities to which the present invention is applicable include airports, bus stations, railway stations, malls, office towers, office complexes, schools, and such other institutions where patrols of janitorial or cleaning services may be performed.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 1, facility  30  includes a number of cleaning zones  34 . Table I shows the specific cleaning zones  34  of facility  30 .  
                           TABLE I                                   Reference Number   Cleaning Zone Description                           34a   Private Dining Room           34b   Administration Office           34c   Women&#39;s Restroom           34d   Men&#39;s Restroom           34e   Kitchen           34f   Main Dining Room           34g   Bar           34h   Hall                      
 
         [0034]    As can be seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of doors connect the various zones  34  of facility  30 . In particular, the door identified at reference numeral  38  in FIG. 1 connects hall  34   h  with men&#39;s restroom  34   d . Referring now to FIG. 2, door  38  is shown in greater detail. Door  38  in FIG. 2 is shown from the perspective of a person entering men&#39;s restroom  34   d  from hall  34   h . As can be seen through door  38 , there are a set of mirrors  43  and a sink  44  within men&#39;s restroom  34   d . Affixed to the interior frame of door  38  is a barcode  42 . Barcode  42  contains machine readable indicia that uniquely identifies men&#39;s restroom  34   d . Thus, while not shown in the figures, each zone  34  of facility  30  has its own barcode that uniquely identifies that particular zone  34  within facility  30 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a portable computing device (“PCD”) in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  46 . PCD  46  has a form-factor suitable for handheld carrying and operation by a janitor. PCD  46  is characterized by a ruggedized clam-shell type outer casing  50  that has a number of openings that frame a display  54  and a plurality of keys  58 . One end of PCD  46  includes a docking port  62 , while the other end of PCD  46  includes a barcode reader  66 . The hardware functionality of PCD  46  can be built from custom components, or it can be obtained from a manufacturer such as Symbol Technologies, Inc., Symbol Technologies—Corporate Headquarters, One Symbol Plaza, Holtsville, N.Y. 11742-1300, United States. An example of suitable equipment that includes desired hardware components of PCDs include SPT 1700 Pocketable Computers, made by Symbol Technologies, Inc., and which are based on the Palm® computing platform.  
         [0036]    Whichever form-factor is chosen for PCD  46 , it is presently preferred that PCD  46  be carriable by a janitor, in a carrying holster either worn by the janitor or attached to the janitor&#39;s cleaning cart. By pushing an appropriate key  58  to activate barcode reader  66 , PCD is thus operable to read and recognize barcode  42  and other barcodes distributed throughout facility  30  and as are associated with various zones  34 . Further details about the hardware and software functionality of PCD  46  will be discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0037]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a machine readable task list in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  70 . In a present embodiment, task list  70  includes a plurality of laminated cards  74 . Each card  74  is substantially the same size and has a small hole  78  punched in one corner. A releasable ring  82 , such as a key ring, is passed through each hole and thereby holds cards  74  together. In this format, cards  74  can be conveniently flipped along ring  82 , thereby allowing the user to view each card  74 . Each card  74  includes a text and/or pictorial description  86  of a particular task that is to be performed as part of the cleaning patrol through facility  30 . In addition, each card includes a barcode  90  corresponding to the description  86 . In the example shown in FIG. 4, the top facing card  74  includes the description  86  in text form as “Mirrors”, and the barcode  90  underneath the text “Mirrors” includes a barcode that is also representative thereof. Barcode  90  may thus be structured as ASCII text which spells the word “Mirrors”, or as a unique number that corresponds in a table to the term “Mirrors”, as desired. While task list  70  is shown as a plurality of cards  74 , it is to be understood that task list  70  can be presented in other formats. For example, multiple tasks  70  can be put on each card, making the card  74  larger, as needed. A convenient format for list  70 , however, is presented in FIG. 4 as it allows the janitor to clip ring  82  to his or her belt, and/or to his or her cart.  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIG. 5, a method of diarizing janitorial services is indicated generally at  95 . It is contemplated that the following discussion will assist in the foregoing understanding the functionality of PCD  46  when used during a janitorial patrol of facility  30 . However, those of skill in the art will recognize that the operation and sequence of steps of method  95  can be varied, and need not actually be implemented on a system identical to PCD  46  or in facility  30 , and such variations are within the scope of the invention.  
         [0039]    Commencing at step  100 , a cleaning patrol is commenced. In the present embodiment, a janitor will collect the cleaning supplies and equipment needed onto cleaning a cart. The janitor will also collect PCD  46  and task list  70  and add those items to the cart. It will be assumed that the janitor is cleaning facility  30 .  
         [0040]    Next at step  110 , the next zone for cleaning is determined. In the present embodiment, the janitor will use PCD  46  and identify him or herself by entering appropriate data into software executing on PCD  46 . The janitor will also identify that facility  30  is being cleaned. PCD  46  will then access a table of data regarding the various zones and tasks that need to be cleaned in facility  30 . Using that table of data, and/or a preprogrammed schedule for performing a janitorial patrol of facility  30 , PCD  30  will then determine the initial zone to be cleaned and present that information to the janitor. As an example, it will be assumed that PCD  46  determines that men&#39;s restroom  34   d  is the first zone  34  to be cleaned, and that this information is presented to the janitor.  
         [0041]    At step  120 , PCD  46  will then sit in a “wait” state until it receives confirmation that the particular zone has been entered. In the present embodiment, PCD  46  will wait until a barcode  42  corresponding to the zone determined at step  110  is scanned. In the present example then, this wait state continues until the janitor reaches door  38  of men&#39;s restroom  34 , and, as shown in FIG. 6, once the janitor scans barcode  42  located on the door frame of door  38 , PCD  46  will confirm that “yes” entry to the zone determined at step  110  was entered, and the method will advance to step  130 .  
         [0042]    At step  130 , the next task to be performed in the zone determined at step  110  will be determined. In the present embodiment, PCD  46  will then access a table of data regarding the various tasks that need to be cleaned in zone  34   d  of facility  30 . Using that table of data, and/or a preprogrammed schedule for performing a janitorial patrol of facility  30 , PCD  46  will then determine the initial task to be performed in zone  34  and present that information to the janitor. As an example, it will be assumed that PCD  30  determines that “Cleaning mirrors” is the first task to be performed in zone  34   d , and that this information be presented to the janitor.  
         [0043]    At step  140 , PCD  46  will then sit in a “wait” state until it receives confirmation that a particular task has been completed. In the present embodiment, PCD  46  will wait until a card  74  from task list  70  and bearing a barcode corresponding to the task at step  120  is scanned. In the present example then, this wait state continues while the janitor performs the task of cleaning mirrors  43  of men&#39;s restroom  34 . Once the task is completed, the janitor scans barcode  90  on the card  74  bearing the description  86  “Mirrors”. The performance of this scanning is represented in FIG. 7. At this point, PCD  46  will confirm that “yes”, the task has been completed and the method will advance to step  150 .  
         [0044]    At step  150 , PCD  46  will determine if there are additional tasks to be performed. If, for example, PCD  46  contains a table that sink  43  is also to be cleaned, then at step  150 , PCD  46  will determine “Yes”, further tasks are to be performed in zone  34   d , and the method will return to step  130 , where such other additional tasks will be determined, and thusly steps  130 - 150  will be repeated until it is determined at step  150  that “no”, there are no further additional tasks are to be performed and the method will advance to step  160 .  
         [0045]    By the same token, at step  160 , PCD  46  will determine if there are additional zones to be cleaned. If, for example, PCD  46  contains a table that women&#39;s restroom  34   c  is also to be cleaned as part of this particular cleaning patrol, then at step  1650 , PCD  46  will determine “Yes”, further tasks are to be performed in facility  30 , and the method will return to step  110 , where such other additional zones will be determined, and thusly steps  110 - 160  will be repeated until it is determined at step  150  that “no”, there are no further additional zones  34  to be cleaned and the method will advance to step  170 .  
         [0046]    At step  170 , a cleaning patrol report is uploaded to another computing device for storage and/or review. As shown in FIG. 8, PCD  46  is connected to a host computer  200  via docking port  62 . It will thus be apparent that the medium for docking port  62 &#39;s connection to computer  200  is not particularly limited, and can be based on RS232, USB, Infra-red or the like. Thus, the particulars of the cleaning patrol performed at steps  110 - 160  will thus be uploaded to computer  200 . Such particulars may also include the exact times that scans of barcodes, such as barcodes  42  and/or  90  were effected, and thereby provide statistical information as to the times needed or consumed to perform a particular patrol.  
         [0047]    In turn, computer  200  is connected to a local area network and/or a wide area network  300 , such as the internet, and such connectivity can be used to present reports of uploaded data in web (or another) format to any interested party. Of particular interest, where cleaning patrols are performed by employees of a service company under contract with facility  30 , then such web-based reports can provide substantially real-time confirmation that the cleaning services are actually being performed.  
         [0048]    The method then advances to step  180 , at which point the cleaning patrol ends.  
         [0049]    Referring now to FIG. 9, a portable computing device (“PCD”) in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  46   a . PCD  46   a  is thus substantially the same as PCD  46 , except in this embodiment, PCD  46  is programmed to include at least one screen that includes a number of softkeys  59   a  that appear on a touch-screen display  54   a . Each softkey  59   a  (not all of which are marked with reference  59   a  in FIG. 8) includes an icon that represents a particular task. FIG. 8 shows one icon of a softkey  59   a  that has been enlarged. The enlarged icon shows a rectangle, which is representative of mirrors  43 . Thus, each softkey  59   a  represents one particular task, much in the same way that cards  74  each represent a task. In this embodiment, however, the need for cards  74  is obviated, as the task list is now presented in soft form directly to the janitor using PCD  46 . Thus, when a task has been completed, the janitor simply pushes the icon and the corresponding softkey  59   a  is thereby activated. Using this embodiment, a variation of how to perform step  140  of method  95  is thus illustrated.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIG. 10, a portable computing device (“PCD”) in accordance with another embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  46   b . PCD  46   b  includes at least the same set of features as PCD  46 , including a display  54   b , a plurality of keys  58   b , docking port  62   b , and a barcode scanner  66   b . PCD  46   b  also includes modem and a radio (not shown) connected to an external antenna  410  to provide PCD  46   b  with the capacity to communicate over radio-frequencies, using a proprietary standard or a public standard such as 802.11b, Bluetooth, or the like. The modem and radio in PCD  46   b  can also be based on wider area technologies, such as cellular telephone technologies like GSM (including GPRS), or CDMA. PCD  46   d  is thus operable to dynamically upload data to a host computer, such as host computer  200 , where the host computer is equipped with a corresponding modem and radio. PCD  46   b  can also be operable to download new cleaning schedules of various zones and/or tasks to be performed.  
         [0051]    PCD  46   b  also includes voice-recording capability, implemented with a microphone  414  and speaker  418 . Microphone  414  and speaker  418  can thus allow the janitor to record comments and/or notes about particular tasks when they are performed. Such comments can also include, for example, information about items that need to be repaired by maintenance crews at a later date. The comments can be digitized in a voice file that are uploaded when a particular task is complete (via wireless), or when a zone is complete (via wireless) or when a entire patrol is complete (via wireless, or by returning to a central location where a docking station is available.) In general, microphone  414  and speaker  418  can be used as an input/output device alternate or supplementary to keys  58   b  and display  54   b . It will now be understood that a cellular phone could be modified to provide the functionality of PCD  46   b.    
         [0052]    While only specific combinations of the various features and components of the present invention have been discussed herein, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that desired subsets of the disclosed features and components and/or alternative combinations of these features and components can be utilized, as desired. For example, while each door of facility  30  is referred to above as only having one barcode affixed thereto that is respective to a particular zone  34 , it is to be understood that where a door connects zones  34  that are part of a cleaning patrol, then a barcode for each zone  34  being connected by that door can be affixed on either side of the door.  
         [0053]    Also, while the embodiments herein show barcodes for each zone  34  being affixed to a wall, and task lists being carried, it is to be understood that tasks could also be affixed to a wall proximal to where the task is to be performed. Or, a list of zones can be used (instead of affixing the zone identification to the wall), similar to task list  70 , which could be scanned by the janitor as various zones are entered or exited, as desired.  
         [0054]    Additionally, while method  95  shows the steps of determining the next zone for cleaning, and waiting until confirmation of that zone is received, (steps  110 ,  120 ), it is to be understood that these steps can be varied so that the janitor picks his or her own order of cleaning certain zones, and/or omitting various zones as they may see fit. Similarly, method  95  can be modified to allow the janitor to elect to skip certain zones and/or tasks, with the additional option of entering in comments as to why or why not a particular zone was skipped. Overall, method  95  can be modified to eliminate or override automatic scheduling, allowing the janitor to simply clean zones and/or perform tasks within those zones on an ad hoc basis, according to the janitor&#39;s own preferred sequence or schedule for cleaning the facility.  
         [0055]    Additionally, while description  86  is shown in text on card  86  in FIG. 4, it can be preferred to use icons or pictograms for ease of flipping through cards  74  and/or to eliminate or reduce language barriers and/or differences that may exist between different cleaners who may be assigned to perform the same patrol during different shifts or times.  
         [0056]    While the embodiments discussed herein refer to barcodes, it is to be understood that other types of machine readable indicia and/or mediums can be used. For example, instead of barcodes, radio frequency tags (“RF tags”) could be used and corresponding functionality added to the portable computing device or other equipment being used by janitors and cleaners to read such RF tags.  
         [0057]    The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.