The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 08, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2000
Curtis L. Finch, II, Austin, TX (US);
William R. Leake, Austin, TX (US);
William Miller, Austin, TX (US);
Chris V. Anderson, Austin, TX (US);
Journyx, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for building GUI screens for a time keeping and expense tracking system includes a time keeping and expense tracking (TKET) server that includes computer instructions that define logic for building GUI screens according to user definitions, communication channel throughput capacity, and terminal capacity. Initially, the TKET server examines a user's ID to determine his group affiliations and ability levels for modifying the parameters, objects and layout of a GUI screen. Thereafter, the TKET server allows the user to make changes according to his defined abilities. For subsequent sessions, the TKET server builds a GUI screen according to the previously defined parameters. One embodiment of the present invention, the TKET server is operable to receive communication signals transmitted by way of a wireless communication channel and to generate corresponding display screens that are responsive to the user terminal type. By way of example, if the user terminal is a mini laptop having wireless communication capability, the TKET server transmits GUI display signals in a lap protocol for display thereon the user terminal. On the other hand, if the user terminal is merely a cellular phone, then the TKET server is operable to transmit a very limited set of display signals primarily comprising text and control characters. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the TKET server is operable to act as a remote time clock. Accordingly, the TKET server is formed to receive and interpret signals that define the user ID, an account code, and whether a start or stop time-keeping event has been selected. Thus, by way of example, a user may dial a specified number and may respond to, either questions generated by an IVR or to text generated by the TKET server to enter his ID, his account code, and whether he is selecting for the time-keeping function to start or stop. The TKET server then tracks time and stores the user time entries according to user ID, and according to account code. The TKET server further is operable to generate reports totaling the same.