Abstract:
A system of equipment, communication networks, and computer programs automates the recording of worker identity, location, arrival time and departure time at multiple worksites of workers in a mobile field workforce. The equipment comprise a location identifying means, an operator identifying monitor, and a data processing means having connectivity to a data communicating means such as the Internet. The location identifying means may comprise an optically sensed label, magnetic striped card, a radio frequency interrogated tag, or an electrically connectable circuit. The monitor comprises a means to keep time, to scan, interrogate, or connect and communicate with the location identifying means, and to communicate time, location, and operator identifying data over a network such as the public switched telephone network, internet, or cellular telephone network. Optionally, the monitor may also comprise other means such as an interface to charge and control a mobile phone, a magnetic card reader, and a biometric sensor such as a fingerprint scanner.

Description:
PARENT CASE 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/927,126 filed May 2, 2007, Confirmation No. 7390. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The field of the invention is equipment and systems for automated data collection and management of mobile workforce. 
         [0004]    Field of Search 705/2, 3, 4, 11, 21, 30, 32; 340/572.1, 572.8 
         [0005]    2. Related Art 
         [0006]    An unfulfilled requirement exists to be able to verify the location, arrival time and departure time of field workers in such areas as Medicaid service and in other areas, and to automate the collection and processing of these data. Prior art provides verifiable systems which rely on equipment too costly and too difficult to install and maintain except at centralized worksites. Prior art also provides methods to submit service information by telephone, but such systems provide data that are generally not verifiable and are prone to entry errors. These systems require a heavy burden of labor to capture and prepare the data for management, billing, and payroll. These systems of prior art tend to create work environments which encourage inaccurate and fraudulent entry of billable time. 
         [0007]    Other systems, such as taught by S. T. Kimmel in U.S. Pat. No. 7,209,886, provide solutions optimized for management at fixed locations such as health clinics. 
         [0008]    Russell Bode in U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,200 describes a basic payroll system. 
         [0009]    Dartigues, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,929 describe a “smart card” system for clinical settings. 
         [0010]    Carroll, et. al., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,658,357 and 4,549,264 describe a transmitter-transceiver system for hospital settings. 
         [0011]    Wood, et. al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,537 describes a health care accounting system. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The invention of this disclosure is a system of equipment, communication networks, and computer programs which operate together to expedite and automate the recording of arrival and departure times of a mobile field workforce. This system uses the collected data to provide “near-real-time” reports for monitoring and management of the workforce and client base. It also transfers the data to billing and payroll systems, and provides “disinterested third party” reports to verify the accuracy of reported times and charges. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the over-all relationship of the various hardware components and communication paths of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of Item  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of Item  2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of Item  12  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the firmware program functioning in Item  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the firmware program functioning in Item  2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of software program functioning in Item  6  of  FIG. 1 , to capture and decrypt messages from Item  1  of  FIG. 1 , extract the data from each message, journal these messages, and apply the data to update the reference database in Item  6 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of software program functioning in Item  6  of  FIG. 1 , to transmit update data from the reference database to Items  7  and  8 , for display, report generation, and update of the local database in these computers by software programs depicted in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the software program functioning in Item  7  of  FIG. 1 , to provide a convenient means to enter and edit data in the local database, and to generate reports by operator manual entry of data and commands. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the software functioning in Item  7  of  FIG. 1 , to provide automated update of the local database with data from Item  6  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of the software program functioning in Item  8  of  FIG. 1 , to provide a convenient means to request, display, print, and store reports from Item  6  of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1. 
       [0024]    Item  1  of  FIG. 1  is the Monitor: an operator identifying means comprising a hand held case with “Battery  1 ”, a replaceable operating battery; “Battery  2 ”, a second battery to power the time-keeping function during replacement of Battery  1 ; a push-button switch; two indicator lamps (red and green light emitting diodes); an acoustic buzzer; an interface circuit to communicate with a location identifying means Item  2 ; a modem connecting to a modular “RJ11” jack for connection to the public switched telephone network; and a microcontroller to perform the required functions by way of stored program or “firmware”. Additionally, since the location identifying means may optionally be a securely affixed magnetic striped card, a barcode or matrix code tag or placard, or a radio frequency responding tag (i.e. “RF-ID tag”), the Monitor may be equipped with a magnet stripe card reader, a radio frequency ID tag interrogator (“reader”), and/or a barcode or matrix code scanner or reader. 
         [0025]    Other options are an interface and connection to a cellular telephone handset and AC line powered charging circuit. When the Monitor is equipped with a magnetic stripe card reader, point of sale functions may be enabled such as purchase of cellular telephone network minutes. The purchase of network minutes may also be achieved by online internet transaction. 
         [0026]    Item  2  is the location identifying means. Several options are available for this function, depending on the economics of the application. For the most transient worksites a securely affixed barcode or matrix code placard or coupon, tag, or pressure sensitive label is used.  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4  show a form of location identification suitable for longer term use in home care. In these figures a modular surface mount jack provides convenient connection to the public switched telephone network through a residential landline. It also houses a responder circuit which connects only to the Monitor, using the yellow “Aux Ring” and black “Aux Tip” positions of the RJ-11 connector. The modem in the Monitor uses the red and green “Ring” and “Tip” connections to connect to the landline. The landline is connected to the red and green connectors only. The modular jack enclosure has two mounting holes to accommodate screws. These holes are reinforced with metallic grommets which provide electrical contact between a sensing circuit within the responder and the two ends of a stable resistive path within Item  3 , an adhesive mounting pad. The identifying means of  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4  functions by being securely mounted to a permanent surface at the work site, and being connected to a telephone landline where available. In use, on arrival and on departure of the worker, the Monitor is connected to the landline and to the responder circuit by separate circuits within a short RJ11 modular cord and the button on the Monitor is depressed. The Monitor then provides operating power to the responder and sends an encoded command to the responder. The responder then measures the electrical resistance or conductance of the mounting pad and compares this value to the first value stored in non-volatile memory. If the difference between values is within a specified tolerance, the responder sends an encoded unique serial number to the Monitor. The Monitor then connects to the public switched telephone network if the landline is available, and dials Item  5  an Internet access point, logs into the network, and sends an encoded message to the reference database server Item  6  containing the current time and date, the unique serial number of the Monitor, and the unique serial number of the responder. 
         [0027]    Item  3  is a tamper evident securing means which, together with two fasteners, such as drywall screws, affixes Item  2  to a permanent surface within the worksite. In the preferred embodiment this is a double-sided adhesive tape construction comprising a first layer of highly aggressive adhesive, a second layer of structural foam of sufficient thickness to conform to irregularities common to interior wall surfaces, a third layer of adhesive having controlled adhesive property less aggressive than that of the first layer, a fourth layer as a pattern of electrically conductive ink, plastic, or adhesive arranged as a meandering path connecting metallic grommets at the screw holes, a fifth layer as a ribbon either above or below the conductive layer arranged to break the conductive layer during removal of the securing means assembly after having been affixed to the bottom of Item  2 , two further layers of release paper which cover and protect the adhesive surfaces until use, a further removable conductive path as a ribbon or wire concealed within the release paper that protects the more aggressive adhesive layer and so arranged as to connect the two ends of the conductive meandering path. In use, the conductive meandering path may take the form of a logo or other artwork and presents a stable and measurable resistance or conductance between the screw hole grommets, and therefore across the sensing circuit of the responder. The shorting ribbon or wire in the release paper is removed with the release paper during proper installation of Items  2  and  3  to provide a resistance value that is within a specified range only when Items  2  and  3  are properly installed. 
         [0028]    Item  4  is a typical customer premise connector to which Item  2  may be connected, such as a modular jack. 
         [0029]    Item  5  is a dial-up access point for Internet service. 
         [0030]    Item  6  is the reference database server, an Internet connected server (computer or system of computers, programs, and other equipment) of a trusted, disinterested third party. The function of this system is to receive the messages from the Monitors, decode the messages, extract the information from the messages and enter the information into one or more secure databases and journals. The reference database server system also prepares reports for the client and for the funding and regulating bureaus. 
         [0031]    Item  7  is a system of one or more computers and programs of one of a plurality of clients having a workforce to manage and monitor. Programs operating in this system can be used by operators manually or automatically to request and receive a variety of reports from the reference database server, and to update the local database. Other programs manually or robotically (automatically) enter data fields in records of the billing system of the funding bureau. Options in these programs may also be set to provide automatic submission at specified dates and times, of the preset billing reports. In the case of a worker failing to log both arrival and departure at an assignment, a default duration (such as one hour) may be automatically entered with a flag symbol for such a record. Various fields may be assigned as being editable only by authorized agency operators, as in the case of Medicaid fields for Location, Billing Code, and Diagnostic Code. These fields may be copied automatically by the programs from agency operator defined templates. 
         [0032]    Item  8  is a system of one or more computers and programs of a funding or regulating bureau. Programs operating in this system can be used by operators manually or automatically to request and receive a variety of reports from the reference database server. These reports may be sorted or keyed by such fields as Provider Number, County, Client, etc. 
         [0033]    Item  9  is a cellular telephone handset. Minimally, this handset must be able to interface with Item  1  to provide connection on command of Item  1 , via the public switched telephone network, to an Internet portal such as dial-up Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) server, and to provide communication through this portal to send messages to the server of Item  6 . Ideally, the handset may be commanded to send data messages such as SMS or email messages directly through the cellular and Internet networks without having to dial-up an ISP. In the preferred embodiment the interface provides connection to a charging circuit in Item  1 , and the Battery  1  of this configuration is a fixed rechargeable battery of capacity sufficient to recharge the handset battery multiple times and operate the circuitry of Item  1 . 
       FIG. 2. 
       [0034]    B 1  is the operating battery. In one embodiment it is a replaceable MN1604 nine volt battery. In embodiments with cellular handsets, B 1  is a fixed NiMH battery or lithium ion cell of 3000 mA Hr capacity or more. 
         [0035]    DP 4  is a Schottky diode to prevent harm from a reversed battery. It is only needed in embodiments using a replaceable battery. 
         [0036]    U 1  is a 3.3 V. voltage regulator. It provides power source VCC. 
         [0037]    C 1  is a filter or bypass capacitor for VCC. 
         [0038]    U 2  is a low power microcontroller using Y 1 , C 3  and  4  as a system clock and time reference for the calendar and time of day clock. It provides or controls all functions of the Monitor system. 
         [0039]    R 18  is a pull-up for the reset line for U 2   
         [0040]    Q 7  is a high voltage PNP bipolar transistor. Together with Q 5 , R 16 ,  6 ,  20  and R 11 , Q 7  forms a current limited switch. The microcontroller, U 2 , can apply a “logic 1” signal to Q 5  to apply B 1  battery voltage up to 50 mA to power the responder. With diode D 4  to protect against reverse voltage, this circuit is able to withstand accidental connection to the landline. 
         [0041]    Q 5  is a PNP small signal transistor which functions with resistors R 11 ,  5 , and  20  to detect the flow of more than approximately 15 mA to the responder. The responder can signal the Monitor by modulating the level of current drawn from this supply. Resistors R 12  and  13  form a voltage divider to scale the B 1  voltage to a value more suitable for input to U 2 . 
         [0042]    B 2  is a 3.3 V. button cell in battery holder BH 1 . B 2  powers U 2 , the microcontroller, only when B 1  is absent, reversed, or discharged. 
         [0043]    DP 3  is a pair of Schottky diodes. It isolates B 2  and VCC to source VDD. 
         [0044]    C 2  is a filter or bypass capacitor for VDD. 
         [0045]    U 3  is a modem module for communicating through the landline. F 2  protects the user and landline from excessive currents. C 5  and  6  are high voltage capacitors to absorb transient voltages on the landline and filter the output signal of the modem to remove unwanted high frequency components. 
         [0046]    Q 9  is an NPN transistor which, with R 19  and an output from U 2 , switches power supplied to U 3 , U 4 , and the optional handset interface. 
         [0047]    D 3  and D 5  are the red and green light emitting diodes with current limiting resistors R 14  and  15 . 
         [0048]    Q 3 , with resistor R 17 , switches power VCC to the buzzer, HS 1 . DP 5  provides a return current decay path for the inductive buzzer current when Q 3  switches off. 
         [0049]    L 1  is a dual core magnetic stripe read head. 
         [0050]    U 4 , together with voltage dividers formed by R 24 , 25  and R 23 , 26  provide an interface for L 1  to U 2 . 
       FIG. 2 (Continued). 
       [0051]    J 1  is a connection pattern for test and programming equipment. 
         [0052]    S 1  is a momentary contact push button switch. 
         [0053]    J 5  is a connector for the handset. The design of J 5  and of the handset interface is specific to the handset used. Due to the large number of handset designs available, the example of a typical USB host must suffice for this discussion. 
         [0054]    P 1  is an optional type A plug for connection to 50/60 Hz power mains. The AC adapter and +5 V Converter provide up to 0.5 Ampere of isolated, regulated 5.0 volt power to charge the fixed battery and the battery in a connected handset. 
       FIG. 3. 
       [0055]    Item  2  is a modular RJ11 surface mount jack. 
         [0056]    Item  11  is the responder circuit assembly. 
         [0057]    Item  12  is a voltage regulating circuit able to withstand accidental connection to a landline, as in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0058]    Item  10  is a connecting block, implemented as a set of four metallic screws able to bind wires from the four circuit modular jack and wire conductors from interior wiring telephone cable. Also represented are connections labeled  5  and  6 , which comprise each a metallic grommet and mounting screw. 
         [0059]    Item  3  is the mounting pads wherein RIO is the conductive meandering path. 
         [0060]    J 1  is a pair of solder points for connecting wires for Telco ring and tip circuits. 
         [0061]    J 2  is a pair of optional connection or test points. 
         [0062]    D 1  is a diode to protect the circuit from accidental connection to reversed ring and tip circuit voltages. F 1  protects the circuit from damaging current transients. 
         [0063]    R 1  and D 2  diode pack clamp the input voltage to acceptable values for input into microcontroller U 1   
         [0064]    U 1  is a microcontroller with internal operating clock circuit and at least one channel of voltage measuring circuit (“A to D”). 
         [0065]    D 3  isolates VDD during test and in-circuit programming, and R 5  is a pull-up for the reset line. 
         [0066]    Q 1  is a high voltage NPN which, with R 2 - 3 , modulates the power level drawn from the supply circuit. 
       FIG. 3 (Continued). 
       [0067]    J 3  is the in-circuit programming and test connection pattern. 
         [0068]    R 4  is a reference resistor which forms a voltage divider with RIO. Since the value of R 4  is accurately known, measurement of the voltage at the node common to R 4 -R 10  allows accurate calculation of the value of R 10 . The voltage is measured as a ratio or fraction of VDD with reference to VSS, thus the precise value of VDD need not be known. 
         [0069]      FIG. 4 . 
         [0070]    This figure is the schematic diagram of a voltage regulator circuit that protects the supplied circuitry from excessive input voltage, consumes little quiescent current, and operates with input voltage that exceeds output voltage by as little as one volt. 
         [0071]    Q 3 , a PNP, and Q 2 , an NPN, are high voltage transistors forming a pseudo-Darlington pair. This configuration has the high gain needed to use a high value for load resistor R 7  to minimize power at high input voltage. It also permits the pair to conduct when the input voltage is only slightly higher than the base-to-emitter voltage of Q 2 , or about 0.7 volts higher than the design output voltage. 
         [0072]    R 7  is a load resistor for Q 4 , which together form an inverting gain stage driving the output pair Q 2  and Q 3 . 
         [0073]    D 6  is a reference Zener diode which conducts through R 8  and the base of Q 4  to provide negative feedback when the output of the circuit reaches the design voltage. 
         [0074]    D 5  is a higher voltage Zener diode which conducts through R 9  to shut down the circuit when very high over voltage is applied to the input, as in the case of accidental connection to the landline.