Patent Publication Number: US-8978096-B2

Title: System and method for facilitating the transfer of information relating to quality of an organization

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/421,639, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING FIELD FORCE AUTOMATION IN BIG BOX RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS,” filed Apr. 22, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,694,352. 
     The patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/317,646, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA BETWEEN A WIRELESS MOBILE HAND-HELD COMPUTER AND A BACK-END COMPUTER SYSTEM,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,039. 
     The patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/323,562, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ASSET INSTALLATION AND EVALUATION,” filed concurrently herewith on Dec. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,990. 
     The patent application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/324,130, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING SALES UTILIZING CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY,” filed concurrently herewith on Dec. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,202. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to wireless handheld computing devices and computer servers that communicate with the devices for managing quality of an organization. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for facilitating the transfer of information relating to quality of an organization from a server to a wireless handheld computing device and from the mobile handheld computing device to the server in real-time or near real-time. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many organizations have several different members who may be located in diverse geographic locations. This is often the case for businesses who may have several different locations. For example, a retail business can have several different stores in several different neighborhoods across a city. For national organizations, a retail business can have dozens of stores in several cities of different states. 
     While organizations such as retail businesses embrace this geographical diversity because it equates to more sales volume, this geographical diversity can also add to operation costs and to the complexity of running each retail front uniformly. Organizations, such as retail businesses, understand the value of repeat consumers associating a certain level of quality with a brand of a business. To achieve this consistent level of quality at each geographic location as perceived by an ordinary repeat consumer, each business under the umbrella of the brand must provide the same service(s) or product(s) (or both). 
     In order to provide exact same service(s) or product(s) (or both) at each geographic location, an organization must prepare a set of guidelines or standards that each business at a particular geographic location must follow. It is in this way that an organization can maintain a certain level of quality irrespective of the location of its business. In the past and currently, leaders of organizations, such as businesses, prepare standards and guidelines addressing quality on paper and distribute these paper standards and guidelines to each of its members. These paper documents can be sent via fax, mail, post, or courier. In some conventional organizations, documents can be distributed via e-mail in which each member of the organization would receive the document and print it out at the location received with a printer. 
     While the aforementioned delivery methods are advanced when compared to the plain post-and-mail traditional method of past, all of these methods still waste significant amounts of paper whenever a standard or guideline is updated by a leader of the organization. Further, lag time still exists between the completion of a standard or guideline and the actual receipt with implementation by a particular member. For example, even in the conventional e-mail context, a busy manager of local business may not have time to print out new guidelines or standards when a leader at the national level has e-mailed a change to all of the collective local businesses. This lag time in receiving a change in or receiving a completely new standard or guideline can be significant. 
     For example, if a leader at the national level wanted to introduce a new product or service at the same time at all geographic locations, those members who did not print out the guidelines when the e-mail containing the information about the new product or service would never know about the new product or service. Even more significant from a business perspective, if a leader of a business organization wanted to increase prices for a product or service across all geographic locations, those members who did not receive this directive would equate to substantial losses in profits for the business organization. 
     Once a local member of national organization receives a standard or guideline, success in implementing the standard or guideline is also not guaranteed. To help with implementing standards, leaders of organizations also provide quality tests or measures to its local members. Often these tests are on paper forms and they are self-administered by a member who fills out the form and then mails it back to the leader(s) of the organization. The leader(s) of the organization will sometimes outsource the grading of these forms to a third party agency who will compile the results of all members and provide scores to the leader(s). This grading “process” can take some time and if an organization is constantly changing its guidelines or standards, the leader(s) will never know the true performance of each of its members in maintaining a certain level of quality for product(s) or service(s) (or both). 
     Another drawback associated with quality tests or measures is that leader(s) often rely on its members to grade themselves. While honest answers from each member would help the overall organization to identify its members who are strong and its members who are weak, it becomes apparent that self-administered tests by members would not attract absolute honesty for obvious reasons. For example, a local member who is afraid that he may lose his membership from an organization due to low or poor performance on quality tests may inflate his true or actual scores in order to deceive leaders that the local member is performing adequately or above the normal range for concern. 
     Another problem with quality tests or measures and even the creation of policies and/or guidelines is the ability to track the evolution of these elements and any interrelationships among common elements. For example, in certain areas of businesses, certain elements can overlap. For example, in food product safety, procedures can be common to several different types of food products. When handling raw food, employees should wear gloves to prevent spreading germs. An organization may have guidelines or procedures for handling different types of specific food products. So if there is a guideline or procedure that is common to two or more different products, such as wearing gloves when handling a food product, it may be necessary for an organization to update each guideline or procedure under each product separately even if they share a common guideline or procedure. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a method or system that help track guidelines or procedures that may be common to different products or services. There is also a need in the art for a method and system that can provide members of an organization with the most current information on quality so that each of the members can provide uniform products or services (or both). There is a further need in the art for a method and system that can allow members of an organization to accurately measure its performance relative to quality information provided by the organization. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention satisfies the above-described and other needs by providing a system and method for facilitating the transfer of information relating to quality or standards of an organization from a server to a wireless handheld computing device and from the wireless handheld computing device to the server in real-time or near real-time. The system and method can allow an organization, such as a business, to distribute information in real-time or near real-time relating to quality or standards when this information is updated. This ability to transfer quality or standards information in real-time or near real-time after the information has been updated can be valuable to organizations that may have operations in several different geographic locations. For example, in retail businesses or franchises that have several stores at different locations, the ability to maintain a certain level of quality that is consistent from one store to another is very important and allows retail businesses or franchises to create brand security. 
     To achieve brand security, an organization usually requires each of its members to follow policies and procedures that are closely connected with the organization&#39;s quality or standards. The inventive system and method can allow an organization to create policies and procedures on a central computer server and to distribute them in real-time or near real-time to each of its members with wireless handheld computing devices. This means that each member of an organization can have the same policies and procedures as soon as any of the policies and procedures are updated. 
     In addition to distributing updated policies and procedures in real-time or near real-time, the inventive system and method can allow an organization to also measure compliance and conformance with the distributed policies and procedures. With the handheld computing devices, each member of an organization can complete tests that are closely tied to the distributed policies and procedures. The results of these tests can be transmitted in real-time or near real-time from the handheld computing devices to a central computer server so that an organization can track current performance of all its members relative to the policies and procedures and relative to each other. 
     The inventive system and method can provide a computer program for creating policies, procedures, and tests that are distributed to the wireless handheld computing devices. The computer program can allow an organization to create policies, procedures, and tests in a consistent manner and in which related elements are linked to one another. In other words, if any policies, procedures, or tests have related or overlapping elements, any updates to one element can automatically be applied to any related elements. For example, if a first test has a first question and a second test has the same first question, any updates to the first question of the first test can be automatically applied to the same first question in the second test. In this way, the inventive method and system can also control quality of the policies, procedures, and tests that are distributed to the wireless mobile handheld computing devices. 
     According to another exemplary aspect, the inventive method and system can provide separate data stores for an organization and each member of the organization. In other words, a single member of an organization, such as a retail store, can complete tests associated with policies and procedures and save the results of these tests in a data store that is only accessible by the retail store itself. This secure storage of data that is only accessible by the retail store itself can promote honesty and integrity in the answers for the tests so that the individual retail store can measure its own true performance. Meanwhile, the organization can maintain its own separate data store for tests that are completed by management when management visits its members, such as a retail store. 
     According to one exemplary aspect, the data store that maintains the results of the tests completed by senior management can be shared with each member of the organization so that each member, such as a retail store, can compare the results of the management tests against the results of the retail store&#39;s private tests. This data store that maintains the results of the tests completed by senior management allows the organization track performance across the entire organization as well as the performance of each individual member of the organization. 
     Additional aspects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a functional block diagram of some core architectural components for a middleware system that communicates data between wireless mobile hand-held computers and a database according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a functional block diagram of two locations of an organization that can store quality test results in separate private databases and a public national database according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1C  is an exemplary screen display of software running on the middleware server for creating task sheets according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1D  is an exemplary screen display of software running on the middleware server for creating quality requirements or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1E  is an exemplary screen display of software running on a wireless handheld computer for answering questions relating to quality requirements or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1F  is an exemplary screen display of software running on a wireless handheld computer for displaying quality requirements or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1G  is an exemplary screen display of software running on the middleware server for creating summary scoring reports based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers at different locations according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1H  is another exemplary screen display of software running on the middleware server for creating detailed scoring reports based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers at a single location according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1I  is yet another exemplary screen display of software running on the middleware server for creating budget reports based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers at different locations according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1J  is a bar chart comparing results of tests from a first location relative to a second location of a organization based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers at the two locations according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for creating task sheets on quality that are destined for wireless hand-held computers according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for processing task sheets on quality with wireless hand-held computers according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for synchronizing wireless hand-held computers with a middleware server according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for uploading files from a wireless hand-held computer to a middleware server according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for downloading files from a middleware server to a wireless hand-held computer according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A system and method can help transfer information relating to quality or standards of an organization from a server to a wireless handheld computing device and from the wireless handheld computing device to the server in real-time or near real-time. The system and method can allow an organization, such as a business, to distribute information in real-time or near real-time relating to quality or standards when this information is updated. Each member of an organization can have the same policies and procedures as soon as any of the policies and procedures are updated. 
     In addition to distributing updated policies and procedures in real-time or near real-time, the inventive system and method can allow an organization to also measure compliance and conformance with the distributed policies and procedures. With the handheld computing devices, each member of an organization can complete tests that are closely tied to the distributed policies and procedures. The results of these tests can be transmitted in real-time or near real-time from the handheld computing devices to a central computer server so that an organization can track current performance of all its members relative to the policies and procedures and relative to each other. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to indicate like elements. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , this Figure is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary operating environment for implementation of various exemplary embodiments of the inventive system  100 . Network devices are interconnected via a network  120 . The network  120  can comprise a wired or wireless telecommunication means by which network devices can exchange data, including for example, a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), an intranet, an Internet, or any combination thereof. Throughout the discussion of exemplary embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the terms “data” and “information” are used interchangeably herein to refer to text, images, audio, video, signatures, and/or any other form of information that can exist in a computer-based environment. 
     A network device can be any device capable of transmitting and receiving data over the network  120 . For example, a network device can be a middleware server  130 , a handheld device (comprising a wireless handheld computer)  105 , and/or dedicated storage devices, such as a database  155 . The middleware server  130  can comprise software for interacting, e.g., via the network  120  and/or a direct data link (not shown), for processing data from the database  155 . A desktop computer  145  can interact with the middleware server  130  via the network  120  using web browser application software. 
     The middleware software  170  running on the middleware server  130  can comprise software as described in “System and Method For Communicating Data Between Wireless Mobile Hand-Held Computer and a Back-End Computer System,” filed on Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. The middleware software  170  can manage information received from and transmitted to numerous wireless handheld computers  105 . 
     The policy/standards software  180  can comprise software for creating and managing task sheets that are sent to wireless handheld computers  105 . The software can comprise software as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/421,639, entitled “Systems and Methods for Providing Field Force Automation in Big Box Retail Environments,” filed Apr. 22, 2003, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     By way of illustration only, the handheld device  105  can be a Microsoft Windows® CE-based device, such as the Casio ‘Cassiopeia,’ the Dell™ ‘Axim™,’ etc., a Palm OS-based personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other suitable handheld computing device. The handheld device  105  can comprise input/output (“I/O”) devices, such as a display screen  107 , integrated controls (buttons)  109 , a camera  115 , a scanner (not shown), a microphone  111 , a speaker (not shown), and a printer  112 . The handheld device  105  can be configured with any combination of integrated I/O devices or add-on I/O devices. Add-on I/O devices can be coupled to the handheld device  105 , e.g., by way of an expansion slot, port, wireless link, or other suitable interface. The display screen  107  can be touch-sensitive or motion-sensitive to accept input signals from a pointing device  113 , such as a stylus or finger. 
     The handheld device  105  can further comprise communication capabilities in any well-known or emerging form, including, e.g., a modem, a network interface, or the like. Through such capabilities, the handheld device  105  can communicate with the network  120  via a wireless connection and/or via a wired connection. By communicating via a wireless connection, for example, the handheld device  105  can transmit data to, and receive data from, the middleware server  130  in real-time or near real-time. Thus, an organization can monitor performance of organization members in real-time or near real-time. By way of example, see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/323,562, entitled “Systems and Method For Managing Asset Installation and Evaluation,” filed concurrently herewith on Dec. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,957,990, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     A handheld device user can continually receive updated organization information relating to quality that can assist them in performing their work assignments at different locations. In one embodiment of the invention, the handheld device  105  can communicate with the network  120  via another network device, for example, if connected to the other network device by way of a cradle, cable, or other device or wireless connection. The handheld device  105  can be configured to communicate according to any suitable communication protocol(s). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , handheld devices  105 , a middleware server  130 , desktop computer  145  may all be interconnected by way of a network  120 . Desktop computers  145  may include any processor-driven devices that are configured to communicate with the middleware server  130  via the network  120  or a dedicated communications link. 
     In the environment shown in  FIG. 1 , data collected with a handheld device  105  by an organization representative may be transmitted to the middleware server  130  and may be made instantly (or nearly instantly) available to the other handheld devices  145  connected to the network  120 . The middleware server  130  may include or be in communication with the database  155  for storing the data received by the handheld device  105 . The database  155  may be configured to store data in an encrypted format, using a relational data storage model, an object oriented data storage model, a data aggregate storage model (e.g., one or more XML aggregates) or any other suitable data storage model. As one example, desktop computers  145  may interact with the middleware server  130  via the network  120  using web browser software. By way of example, see discussed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/421,639, entitled “Systems and Methods for Providing Field Force Automation in Big Box Retail Environments,” filed Apr. 22, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,694,352, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/317,646, entitled “System and Method For Communicating Data Between Wireless Mobile Hand-Held Computer and a Back-End  20  Computer System,” filed on Dec. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,039, each of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     Each organization representative may use a handheld device  105  to collect data while working and or visiting a location  150 . The organization representative may complete task sheets that relate to quality of the organization by using the handheld device  105 . The handheld device  105  of the invention may be configured with hardware and/or software for receiving and storing various types of data, including text, signatures, images and sounds. By way of illustration only, the handheld device  105  may comprise a Microsoft Windows CE-based device, such as the Casio ‘Cassiopeia,’ the Dell ‘Axim,’ etc., a Palm OS-based personal digital assistant (PDA), or any other suitable handheld computing device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , this figure is a functional block diagram of two locations  150 A,  150 B of an organization that can store quality test results in separate private databases  155 A,  155 B and a public national database  155 C according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. A first organization rep  215 A that manages the first location  150 A can use a wireless handheld computer  105 A to track quality measures, such as answers to questions that relate to quality. For example, a first organization rep  215 A can track the cleanliness of two pieces of equipment, such as a first refrigerator  157 A and a first oven  159 A. 
     The data produced by the first wireless handheld computer  105 A can be stored in the first private database  155 A that is only accessible by the first organization rep  215 A. Similarly, a second organization rep  215 B that manages the second location  150 B can use a wireless handheld computer  105 B to track quality measures, such as answers to questions that relate to quality. For example, the second organization rep  215 A can track the cleanliness of two pieces of equipment, such as second refrigerator  157 B and a second oven  159 B. The data produced by the second wireless handheld computer  105 B can be stored in the second private database  155 B that is only accessible by the second organization rep  215 B. 
     A third organization rep  215 C can track the cleanliness of all the pieces of equipment from the first and second locations  150 A,  150 B such as the first and second refrigerators  157 A,  158 B and the first and second ovens  159 A,  159 B. Unlike the data from the first and second wireless handheld computers  105 A,  105 B, the data from the third wireless handheld computer  105 C can be stored in a national public database  155 C that can be accessed by the first, second, or third organization reps  215 A,  215 B,  215 C. 
     In this way, each location  150  can complete tests associated with policies and procedures and save the results of these tests in a data store  155 A,  155 B that is only accessible by the location itself. This secure storage of data that is only accessible by the location  150  itself can promote honesty and integrity in the answers for the tests so that the individual location  150  can measure its own true performance: Meanwhile, the organization can maintain its own separate data store for tests that are completed by the third organization reps  215 C when each third organization rep  215 C visits an organization member location  150 A,  150 B. 
     The third data store  155 C that maintains the results of the tests completed by senior management can be shared with each member of the organization so that each member, such as a the first and second locations  150 A,  150 B, can compare the results of the management tests against the results of a location&#39;s private tests. This third data store  155 C that maintains the results of the tests completed by senior management allows the organization track performance across the entire organization as well as the performance of each individual member of the organization. The organization can access the third data store  155 C with a desktop  145  that can display results of the various locations  150 A,  150 B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1C , this Figure is an exemplary screen display  100  of software running on the middleware server  130  for creating task sheets according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The screen display  100  comprises a task sheet formation area. Within the task sheet formation area, a user can enter a title  102 . With the task sheet formation interface, a user can create questions that can be used to measure quality of an organization. The example illustrated in  FIG. 1C  has the title  102  of “Food Safety.” 
     To form a task sheet that comprises a sequence of questions  103  that relate to a quality standard or directive, such as “Food Safety”, a user can select questions from a database or list of questions  111 . For example, a user can select a question  107  for insertion into the sequence of questions  103  at next question region  105 . A user can scroll through the list of questions  111  by using a button  109  on a scroll bar. A user can also create new questions by entering a new question using a keyboard in the next question region  105 . Any new questions can be automatically added to the database or list of questions  111 . Further details of how new questions are entered and tracked by the database are described below in connection with  FIG. 2A  described below. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1D , this Figure an exemplary screen display  123  of software running on the middleware server  130  for creating quality requirements or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this Figure, the exemplary screen display  123  can comprise a declarative form of the questions made with the task sheet formation area of  FIG. 1C . In the specific embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1D , declarative statements for Food Safety Requirements are listed. A user can edit these statements that will also change the related questions in the corresponding task sheets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1E , this Figure is an exemplary screen display  133  of software running on a wireless handheld computer  105  for answering questions relating to quality requirements or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. To answer these questions, a user can use an answer selection button  135  that can display a list of answers that can be selected by a user. Alternatively, a user can key-in answers in the box regions beneath the questions and adjacent to the answer selection buttons  135 . 
     A user can also select a view/edit button  137  to display answers to the questions as well as editing the answers. The view/edit button  137  can also be selected to view the declarative form of the standard or directive that is the basis for a particular question. As noted above, these questions can be the most current measures that have been issued by an organization for accessing the performance of its members. Unlike paper, these questions displayed on a wireless handheld computer  105  can be updated frequently and so that all wireless handheld computers  105  of an organization display the same questions. After the questions are answered, the wireless handheld computers  105  can store the answers until the wireless handheld computers  105  are synchronized with the middleware server  130 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1F , this Figure is an exemplary screen display  143  of software running on a wireless handheld computer  105  for displaying quality standards, requirements, or directives according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Screen display  143  can be displayed in response to selection of the view/edit button  137  of  FIG. 1E . For the specific embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1F , screen display  143  can comprise food safety requirements. These food safety requirements are the same ones produced from the task sheets in  FIG. 1C  that are also illustrated in  FIG. 1D . The screen display  143  can be used by a representative of an organization if he or she needs to understand the larger picture or perspective behind questions being presented on a specific task sheet of a wireless handheld computer  105 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1G , this Figure is an exemplary screen display  153  of software running on the middleware server  130  for creating summary scoring reports  10  based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers  105  at different locations  150  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Each summary scoring report  10  can list location names  13 , sheet types  16  used at each location  150  of a member of an organization, points earned  19  at each location  150 , points available  22  at each location  150 , points earned  25  at each location  150 , and questions asked  28  by particular task sheets running on wireless handheld computers  105 . With the summary scoring report  153 , an organization can assess the relative performance of each one of its members at their respective locations  150 . This summary report  153  can be made available on the national public database  155 C. The data collected for this summary report  153  can be made by national reps  215 C who visit each location with their wireless handheld computers  105 C. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1H , this Figure is another exemplary screen display  163  of software running on the middleware server  130  for creating detailed scoring reports  33  based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers  105  at a single location  150  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Each detailed scoring report  33  can list the performance of a particular location  150 . Each detailed scoring report  33  can list points in a section  31 , points evaluated  34 , points earned  19 , and a score  37 . Detailed scoring reports  33  can be completed by both national reps  215 C and individual members  215 A,  215 B. 
     However, the detailed scoring reports  33  completed by individual members  215 A,  215 B would not be public and would be stored on the respective private databases  155 A,  155 B. Detailed scoring reports  33  completed by national reps  215 C would be available to all members of an organization through the public national database  155 C. The detailed scoring reports  33  can list the scores for particular sections evaluated with their respective subsections. For example, under the section of “Cleanliness,” its respective subsections and the scores of the subsections can be displayed. Cleanliness includes the subsections of dining areas, exterior, front counter, playground, and restrooms. As noted above, by keeping detailed scoring reports  33  completed by individual members private, members are more encouraged to answer questions more honestly and thoroughly so that each member can use the reports  33  to improve performance of a location  150  within an organization. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1I , this Figure is yet another exemplary screen display  173  of software running on the middleware server  130  for creating budget reports  38  based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers  105  at different locations  150  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Similar to the detailed scoring reports  33  illustrated in  FIG. 1H , each budget report  38  can list points in a section  31 , points evaluated  34 , points earned  19 , and a score  37 . The budget report  38  can summarize scores across multiple sections that were evaluated, such as site construction, concrete. metals, wood and plastics, etc. However, unlike the detailed scoring reports  33  of  FIG. 1H , the budget reports  38  list sections without any subsections. The budget reports  33  can be completed by both national reps  215 C and individual members  215 A,  215 B. Reports completed by national reps  215 C can be made available to members on the national public database  155 C while reports completed by individual members  215 A,  215 B can be stored on respective private databases  155 A,  155 B. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1J , this Figure is a bar chart  42  that can compare results of tests from a first location  150 A relative to a second location  150 B of a organization based on answers received from one or more wireless handheld computers  105  at the two locations  150  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The bar chart  42  can display the results of one or more tests that were performed at respective locations  150 . With the bar chart  42 , an organization can assess the relative performance of each one of its members at their respective locations  150 . This bar chart  42  can be made available on the national public database  155 C. The data collected for this bar chart  42  can be made by national reps  215 C who visit each location  150  with their wireless handheld computers  105 C. 
     The processes and operations of the middleware software  170  described below with respect to all of the logic flow diagrams may include the manipulation of signals by a processor and the maintenance of these signals within data structures resident in one or more memory storage devices. For the purposes of this discussion, a process can be generally conceived to be a sequence of computer-executed steps leading to a desired result. 
     These steps usually require physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, or otherwise manipulated. It is convention for those skilled in the art to refer to representations of these signals as bits, bytes, words, information, elements, symbols, characters, numbers, points, data, entries, objects, images, files, or the like. It should be kept in mind, however, that these and similar terms are associated with appropriate physical quantities for computer operations, and that these terms are merely conventional labels applied to physical quantities that exist within and during operation of the computer. 
     It should also be understood that manipulations within the computer are often referred to in terms such as listing, creating, adding, calculating, comparing, moving, receiving, determining, configuring, identifying, populating, loading, performing, executing, storing etc. that are often associated with manual operations performed by a human operator. The operations described herein can be machine operations performed in conjunction with various input provided by a human operator or user that interacts with the computer. 
     In addition, it should be understood that the programs, processes, methods, etc. described herein are not related or limited to any particular computer or apparatus. Rather, various types of general purpose machines may be used with the following process in accordance with the teachings described herein. 
     The present invention may comprise a computer program or hardware or a combination thereof which embodies the functions described herein and illustrated in the appended flow charts. However, it should be apparent that there could be many different ways of implementing the invention in computer programming or hardware design, and the invention should not be construed as limited to any one set of computer program instructions. 
     Further, a skilled programmer would be able to write such a computer program or identify the appropriate hardware circuits to implement the disclosed invention without difficulty based on the flow charts and associated description in the application text, for example. Therefore, disclosure of a particular set of program code instructions or detailed hardware devices is not considered necessary for an adequate understanding of how to make and use the invention. The inventive functionality of the claimed computer implemented processes will be explained in more detail in the following description in conjunction with the remaining Figures illustrating other process flows. 
     Further, certain steps in the processes or process flow described in all of the logic flow diagrams below must naturally precede others for the present invention to function as described. However, the present invention is not limited to the order of the steps described if such order or sequence does not alter the functionality of the present invention. That is, it is recognized that some steps may be performed before, after, or in parallel other steps without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2A , this Figure is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method  200 A for creating task sheets on quality that are destined for wireless hand-held computers  105  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Step  201  is the first step in the process in which the task sheet type can be defined for the current standard, policy, or directive being created. Software  170  that executes method  200 A can be accessed through the server  130 . The type of task sheets that can be created can include, but are not limited to, the following: Call Sheet; Reset Sheet; Survey; Promotion; RTV; PK; Special Project; Cross-Merchandising; Weekend Call Sheet; Store Walk; Inventory; Labels; Sales Driver; Assemble Display; Maintenance; Service Comments; POP; Down Stock; Management; Store Wide; Action Plans; Staffing; New Store Sheet; Planogram Integrity; Events; Order; MAP; Set Integrity; Display Building; Out of Service; Violation; Training; Audits; Inspections; Quality Management; Administrative; Food Safety; and/or Personnel. 
     Next, in step  204 , a name  102  can be assigned for the task sheet being created. See  FIG. 1C  and the name  102  of “Food Safety” assigned to the task sheet being created in screen display  100 . In step  207 , a question  107  can be selected from a list  111  of questions as illustrated in  FIG. 1C . The selected question  107  can be inserted into the task sheet adjacent to other questions  103 . 
     In decision step  210 , it is determined if a new question is desired to be created. If the inquiry to decision step  210  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed to decision step  219 . If the inquiry to decision step  210  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  213  in which input can be received for a new question. For example, in  FIG. 1C  input can received in can be saved. The version number, date, and time allow can allow an organization to track the evolution of its policies, procedures, or directives. 
     In decision step  219 , it is determined if an existing question from the list of questions is being modified. If the inquiry to decision step  219  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed to step  234 . If the inquiry to decision step  219  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  222 . In step  222 , the version number of the question is identified. Next, in step  225 , the version counter is increased by an increment. In step  228 , input regarding the change to the question can be accepted. Next, in step  231 , the change to the question, the version number, date, and time for the question are stored in memory. In step  232 , all questions with the old version number are updated with the modified or new question. In this way, any updates to similar policies, procedures, or directives are automatically updated even if the user is working in a specific area on quality for an organization. 
     Subsequently, in decision step  234 , it is determined if the user is finished with creating the task sheet. If the inquiry to decision step  234  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed back to step  207 . If the inquiry to decision step  234  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  237 . 
     In step  237 , an integrity check is conducted. An integrity check interrogates all of the user defined tasks to ensure that all of the required elements of the task are complete. The system allows a user to do partial work and then complete their work at a later time. The integrity checks ensure that all task formulations created by the user are supported by the various task driven application components. For example, some environments do not support the nesting of looping question types where other environments do. The integrity check will detect non-supported task formulations and prevent these tasks from negatively impacting environments that do not support the task formulation. Performing the integrity check when the user “commits” their work ensures that all required elements are in place before the task is used in subsequent processes such as publishing the task sheet or attaching the task sheet to a task recipient. 
     In decision step  240 , it is determined if the integrity check was successful. If the inquiry to decision step  240  is negative, the “No” branch is followed back to step  237  in which another integrity check is executed. If the inquiry to decision step  240 , the “Yes” branch is followed to decision step  243 . 
     In decision step  243 , it is determined if the user desires to publish the new created task sheet or updated task sheet to all of the wireless handheld computers  105  that in the organization. If the inquiry to decision step  243  is negative, then the new or updated task sheet is saved and the “No” branch is followed back to step  201 . If the inquiry to decision step  243  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  246 . In step  246 , the new created task sheet or updated task sheet is distributed to all the wireless handheld computers  105 . The process then ends. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2B , this Figure is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method  200 B for processing task sheets on quality with wireless hand-held computers  105  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Routine  200 A is the first part of the method  200 B in which task sheets can be created with the software  170 . Details of Routine  200 A are illustrated and discussed above in reference to  FIG. 2A . 
     Next, routine  300 A is the next stage of method  200 B. In routine  300 A, one or more wireless handheld computers  105  are synchronized with the server  130  and software  170 . Further details of routine  300 A are discussed below with respect to  FIG. 3 . Next in step  249 , a list of available task sheets on quality can be displayed with a wireless handheld computer  105 . In step  252 , a selection for a task sheet on quality can be received with a wireless handheld computer  105 . In step  255 , one or more questions of a task sheet on quality can be displayed with a wireless handheld computer  105  as illustrated in  FIG. 1E . 
     In step  258 , input for answer(s) to questions on quality can be received with one or more wireless handheld computers  105 . Next, in step  261 , input for each answer to questions on quality can be stored with a wireless handheld computer  105 . In decision step  264 , it is determined if a wireless link to server  130  is available. If the inquiry to decision step  264  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed to decision step  270 . If the inquiry to decision step  264  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to routine  300 B in which the wireless handheld computer  105  is synchronized. Further details of routine  300 B are discussed below in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     In decision step  270 , it is determined if a standard, directive, or procedure associated with a question on quality of a task sheet should be displayed. In this step, a user. can select the view/edit button  137  in order to view the declarative form of a standard, directive, or procedure associated with question of a task sheet on quality. If the inquiry to decision step  270  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed to step  276 . If the inquiry to decision step  270  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  273  in which the standard or directive associated with a question can be displayed with a wireless handheld computer  105 . For example, see  FIG. 1F , that illustrates Food Safety requirements that are associated with questions of a task sheet. 
     Next, in step  276 , the questions on quality of a task sheet can be displayed on the wireless handheld computer  105 . In step  279 , input for one or more answers to the questions of quality can be received with the wireless handheld computer  105 . In decision step  281 , it is determined if a wireless link to server  130  is available. If the inquiry to decision step  281  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed to decision step  284 . If the inquiry to decision step  281  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to routine  300 C in which the wireless handheld computer  105  is synchronized. Further details of routine  300 C are discussed below in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     In decision step  284 , it is determined if a user is finished with the task sheet being displayed on a wireless handheld computer  105 . If the inquiry to decision step  284  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed back to step  276 . If the inquiry to decision step  284  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to decision step  287 . In decision step  287 , it is determined if the user of the wireless handheld computer  105  desires to work on another task sheet. If the inquiry to decision step  287  is negative, then the “No” branch is followed back to step  249 . If the inquiry to decision step  287  is positive, then the “Yes” branch is followed to step  290  in which the server  130  can generate a scoring report based on the input received by one or more wireless handheld computers  105 . Exemplary scoring reports are illustrated in  FIGS. 1G-1I . 
     In step  293 , requests are received at the server  130  for one or more scoring reports. In step  296 , the one or more scoring reports can be transmitted over the network  120  to desktop computer  145  or wireless handheld computers  105  (or both). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , this Figure is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary routine  300  for synchronizing wireless hand-held computers  105  with a middleware server  130  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. Details of routine  300  are more fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/317,646, entitled “System and Method For Communicating Data Between wireless Mobile Hand-Held Computer and a Back-End Computer System,” filed on Dec. 23, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,039, which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     However, an overview of this synchronization routine  300  is provided below. After it is determined that a wireless connection is available in step  301 , the middleware server  130  receives a synchronization request containing a particular identifier from the wireless handheld computer  105  in step  305 . In step  310 , the middleware server  130  associates the identifier with the database  135 . The identifier can associate each member into different groups or classifications in the database. For example, a member of an organization may be associated with different divisions or territories based on where the member is assigned. These classifications make it more efficient to determine the updated information that the members receive on their wireless handheld computers  105 . 
     In routine  315 , the files are uploaded from the wireless handheld computers  105  to the middleware server  130 . Upon successful storage of the upload file, the middleware server  130  acknowledges successful upload to the wireless handheld computers  105 . Upon acknowledgement, the wireless handheld computer  105  archives and/or deletes the source upload file and continues to transmit each remaining upload file following the same process. Routine  315  will be discussed in more detail below in reference to  FIG. 4 . After processing all upload files, the wireless handheld computer  105  downloads files from the middleware server  130  in routine  320 . Routine  320  will be discussed in more detail below in reference to  FIG. 5 . Upon completion of the upload and download protocols, the wireless handheld computer  105  then disconnects from the middleware server  130  without awaiting an acknowledgement that the files were received intact and successfully stored in the appropriate database. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , this Figure is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method  315  for uploading files from a wireless hand-held computer to a middleware server  130  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The exemplary routine  315  is merely illustrative and, in alternative embodiments of the invention, certain steps can be performed in a different order, in parallel with one another, certain steps can be omitted entirely, and/or certain additional steps can be performed. 
     According to the middleware software  170 , uploads from a wireless handheld computer  105  to the middleware server  130  are meant to be “fast and dumb.” To facilitate a rapid upload process, the middleware client  170  specifies that each wireless handheld computer  105  maintains an index of files to be uploaded to the middleware server  130 . In step  400 , the index is transmitted to the middleware server  130  during the initial synchronization request of step  305 . In step  405 , the middleware server  130  parses the index received from the wireless handheld computer  105  and cross-references each indexed file against its list of files received from the wireless handheld computer  105 . 
     In step  410 , the middleware server  130  then instructs the wireless handheld computer  105  to upload only those indexed files that have not been previously received and/or not received within a certain timeframe by the middleware server  130 . 
     In step  415 , the wireless handheld computer  105  uploads its files to a queue on the middleware server  130 . In step  420 , the middleware server  130  processes the queued files. Part of the processing in step  420  involves formatting the queued files into an understandable format. In step  425 , the middleware server  130  transfers the queued files to the database  155 . 
     In step  430 , any files received intact from the wireless handheld computer  105  are added to the list maintained by the middleware server  130 . The list may be specific to the wireless handheld computers  105  (e.g., identified by a handheld identification number) and may record the date and time of reception for each file. 
     Finally, in step  435 , the database  155  can communicate through the middleware server  130  again to utilize the middleware software  170  to transmit updated task sheets to wireless handheld computers  105  that have previously requested the data or to wireless handheld computers  105  that have just requested the data. The transmission of the updated or newly created task sheets allows the wireless handheld computers  105  connected to the network to have near real-time access to the new or updated information. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , this Figure is a logic flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method  320  for downloading files from a middleware server  130  to wireless hand-held computers  105  according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention. The exemplary routine  320  is merely illustrative and, in alternative embodiments of the invention, certain steps can be performed in a different order, in parallel with one another, certain steps can be omitted entirely, and/or certain additional steps can be performed. 
     According to the middleware software  170 , files downloaded from the middleware server  130  to the handheld device  105  are staged in advance of the file synchronization request in step  305 . Therefore, in step  500 , the middleware server  130  will have previously determined which files need to be downloaded to the wireless handheld computer  105  in advance of the receipt of a synchronization request. Files may be associated with particular wireless handheld computers  105 , particular groups of members of an organization, particular locations  150 , etc., by assigning unique identifiers to any such entities. When a file synchronization request is received at the middleware server  130  from a wireless handheld computer  105  in step  305 , the middleware server  130  may detect one or more identifiers associated with the wireless handheld computer  105  in step  505 . In step  510 , the middleware server  130  transmits any files associated with the identifier(s) to the wireless handheld computer  105 . A hierarchy of priorities for each type of identifier (e.g., handheld device ID, group ID, etc.) may be established so that file downloads may be managed at the device level and/or at the group level. A determination as to whether to download a file to a wireless handheld computer  105  may be based on the “last change” date of the file and/or the date the file was last sent to the wireless handheld computer  105 . Of course, such dates may be ignored in an appropriate case and all files associated with the identifier(s) of the wireless handheld computer  105  may be downloaded. 
     After receiving the files in step  510 , the wireless handheld computer  105  sorts and displays new or updated task sheets on quality in step  515  based on the software of the wireless handheld computer  105  and the preferences set a member. In step  520 , a member  215  can make selections on the wireless handheld computer  105  to view the particular categories in order to review the customer information. After the member  215  makes a selection, the wireless handheld computer  105  can display the next level of information associated with the particular category comprising the most current information on quality for the organization. 
     It will be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of the invention overcome the limitations of the prior art. From the description of the exemplary embodiments, equivalents of the elements shown therein and ways of constructing other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to practitioners of the art. Many other modifications, features and embodiments of the invention will become evident to those of skill in the art. It should be appreciated, therefore, that many aspects of the invention were described above by way of example only and are not intended as required or essential elements of the invention unless explicitly stated otherwise. Accordingly, it should be understood that the foregoing relates only to certain embodiments of the invention and that numerous changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It should also be understood that the invention is not restricted to the illustrated embodiments and that various modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims.