Remote personnel tracking
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for remote personnel tracking. A computer-implemented method of tracking a field-based employee includes, in a server system, receiving from a remote access device, a user identification (ID) representing the field-based employee, a first series of digits and a location code, generating a second series of digits in response to the received location code, a time representing receipt of the location code, and a remote access device ID associated with the location code, and storing the time and user ID associated with the location ID if the received first series of digits match the second series of digits.
1. A computer-implemented method of tracking a field-based employee comprising:
associating, by a server system, a security device with a service location, the security device configured to periodically generate a unique series of digits;
assigning, by the server system, a location identification code to the service location;
receiving data, by the server system, the data comprising:
a user identification representing the field-based employee,
a first series of digits generated by the security device, and
the location identification code assigned to the service location;
generating, by the server system, a second series of digits based upon, at least in part:
the received user identification,
the received location identification code, and
a time of receipt of the user identification, the location identification code, and the first series of digits;
comparing, by the server system, the first series of digits and the second series of digits; and
if the first series of digits and the second series of digits match, validating, by the server system, that the field-based employee was at the service location at the time of receipt.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the security device generates a unique series of digits every minute.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first series of digits is a six-digit number and the second series of digits is a six-digit number.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising generating a report including the time of receipt, user identification, and location information code received by the server system.
5. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for tracking a field-based employee, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing apparatus to:
associate a security device with a service location, the security device configured to periodically generate a unique series of digits;
assign a location identification code to the service location;
receive data from a remote access device, the data comprising:
a user identification representing the field-based employee,
a first series of digits generated by the security device, and
the location code assigned to the service location;
generate a second series of digits based upon, at least in part:
the received user identification,
the received location identification code, and
a time of receipt of the user identification, location identification code, and the first series of digits;
compare the first series of digits and the second series of digits; and
if the first series of digits and the second series of digits match, validate that the field-based employee was at the service location at the time of receipt.
6. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the security device generates a unique series of digits every minute.
7. The computer program product of claim 5 wherein the first series of digits is a six-digit number and the second series of digits is a six-digit number.
8. The computer program product of claim 5 further operable to cause data processing apparatus to:
generate a report including the time of receipt, user identification, and location information code received by the data processing apparatus.
9. A field-based employee tracking system comprising:
a remote access device;
a security device configured to periodically generate a unique series of digits; and
a server system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including a computer program product being operable to cause the processor to:
associate the security device with a service location;
assign a location identification code to the service location;
receive data from a remote access device, the data comprising:
a user identification representing the field-based employee,
a first series of digits generated by the security device, and
the location identification code assigned to the service location;
generate a second series of digits based upon, at least in part:
the received user identification,
the received location identification code, and
a time of receipt of the user identification, location code, and a remote access device ID associated with the location code; and
store the time and user ID associated with the location ID if the received first series of digits match the second series of digits.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the remote access device is selected from the group consisting of:
a land-line telephone,
a wireless telephone,
a personal data assistant (PDA) with wireless access,
a pocket PC with wireless access, and
a smart phone with wireless access.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the remote access device comprises an internal or external security device that generates the first series of digits that is unique for the remote access device and a minute of a day.
12. The system of claim 9 wherein the first series of digits is a six-digit number and the second series of digits is a six-digit number.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer program is further operable to cause data processing apparatus to:
generate a report from stored time, user ID, and location information associated with the remote access device ID.