System and method to track time and attendance of an individual at a workplace for a scheduled workshift
View Patent ↗A system and method to track time and attendance of an individual at a workplace is provided. The system includes a location tracking system that detects a presence of a portable electronic device carried by the individual, a time clock system that records a registration time of the individual at the workplace, and a main controller. If the main controller receives an electronic communication indicative that the portable electronic device is at the workplace, and if the main controller does not detect recording of the individual registration time at the time clock system, and if the main controller detects a current time at or later than a start time of a scheduled work shift time period of the individual at the workplace, then main controller automatically causes an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal acknowledging need to record the registration time.
1. A location tracking system that tracks time and attendance of an individual at a location, the system comprising:
a stationary wireless device that detects presence of a portable electronic device uniquely associated with and carried by the individual, the portable electronic device including a first microprocessor operatively connected to an interface;
a time clock system that records registration time of attendance of the individual at the location; and
a main controller having a second microprocessor connected in communication with the location tracking system and the time clock system, wherein if the main controller does not detect recording of registration time of the individual with the time clock system causes generation of an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal from the portable electronic device acknowledging need of the individual to record the registration time at the time clock system.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stationary wireless device detects presence of the portable electronic device within a predefined area of a workplace in real-time.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a location tracking database that stores collected location data acquired by or received from the location tracking system with respect to a unique individual identifier uniquely associated with the portable electronic device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device periodically transmits a presence signal.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system retrieves from a scheduling database stored information data of a predefined or predetermined work-shift.
6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the time clock system records registration time of attendance associated with the unique individual identifier of the individual at the predefined area of the workplace.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the alert is transmitted as at least one of: a visual notification, a vibratory notification or an audible notification.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the system detects transmission of a threshold number of electronic communications without detection of receipt of transmission of the feedback signal from the portable electronic device, and in response to a threshold being exceeded automatically transmits an electronic escalation communication or message to a predefined recipient.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system automatically monitors or audits presence of the individual and associated compliance with recording or registration of time attendance at the time clock system.
10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a real-time location system (RTLS) in conjunction with the time clock system to create a list of individuals scheduled to be registered or record their attendance within a certain time frame of a predefined work-shift.
11. A location tracking methodology that tracks time and attendance of an individual at a location, comprising:
using a stationary wireless device to detect presence of a portable electronic device uniquely associated with and carried by the individual, the portable electronic device including a first microprocessor operatively connected to an interface;
using a time clock system to record registration time of attendance of the individual at the location; and
using a main controller having a second microprocessor connected in communication with the location tracking system and the time clock system, wherein if the main controller does not detect recording of registration time of the individual with the time clock system to cause generation of an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal from the portable electronic device acknowledging need of the individual to record the registration time at the time clock system.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising using the stationary wireless device to detect presence of the portable electronic device within a predefined area of a workplace in real-time.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising using a location tracking database to store collected location data acquired by or received from the location tracking system with respect to a unique individual identifier uniquely associated with the portable electronic device.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising retrieving from a scheduling database stored information data of a predefined or predetermined work-shift.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using the time clock system to record registration time of attendance associated with the unique individual identifier of the individual at the predefined area of the workplace.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the alert as at least one of: a visual notification, a vibratory notification or an audible notification.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting transmission of a threshold number of electronic communications without detection of receipt of transmission of the feedback signal from the portable electronic device, and in response to a threshold being exceeded automatically transmitting an electronic escalation communication or message to a predefined recipient.
18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising automatically monitoring or auditing presence of the individual and associated compliance with recording or registration of time attendance at the time clock system.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a real-time location system (RTLS) in conjunction with the time clock system to create a list of individuals scheduled to be registered or record their attendance within a certain time frame of a predefined work-shift.
20. A computer program product for facilitating tracking time and attendance of an individual at a location, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
use a stationary wireless device to detect presence of a portable electronic device uniquely associated with and carried by the individual, the portable electronic device including a first microprocessor operatively connected to an interface;
use a time clock system to record registration time of attendance of the individual at the location; and
use a main controller having a second microprocessor connected in communication with the location tracking system and the time clock system, wherein if the main controller does not detect recording of registration time of the individual with the time clock system to cause generation of an alert at the portable electronic device prompting the individual to transmit a feedback signal from the portable electronic device acknowledging need of the individual to record the registration time at the time clock system.