WO1997006513A1

WO1997006513A1 - Recording system

Info

Publication number: WO1997006513A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001947
Authority: WO
Inventors: David George Amos; Mark John Leese
Original assignee: Timos Systems Limited
Priority date: 1995-08-10
Filing date: 1996-08-09
Publication date: 1997-02-20
Also published as: AU6706996A; GB9802857D0; GB9516415D0; GB2319368A

Abstract

A recording system and its method of operation for the collection and reporting of information relating to the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events, or conditions. The recording system has inputting means for inputting and internally storing information identifying the activity, etc.; time recording means for internally recording the timing and/or duration of the activity, etc.; and downloading means for subsequently and selectively downloading internally stored information directly to an external computer for processing of the information. The recording system is realised as a hand-held device (10; 20; 30) which is highly portable and easily operated, allowing contemporaneous recording without reliance on the user's memory of events. Unlike a multi-task computer terminal, the recording system is dedicated to its single use, and is always available. The invention is applicable to work records, medical experiments, and sociological monitoring.

Description

"Recording Svstem"

This invention relates to a recording system, and relates more particularly but not exclusively to a system for recording the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events or conditions for the purpose of time measurement within commerce, industry, education and scientific/medical/pharmaceutical/consumer research. Such recording may be used, for example, for the purposes of the evaluation or monitoring of processes, customer billing, speed of task performance, or noting changes in physiological parameters over time. The information generated by this recording is normally collated and manipulated after the point of recording in a variety of ways according to its application.

In this field systems already exist to perform the act of recording. These known systems include:

a) the simple writing down, by means of pencil and paper, of activity, date, time and duration, eg, in the form of a table. The act of writing these details may occur at the time of the activity being recorded, or at an earlier or later time. This form of recording is, in the case of the record of an employee's time, called a time sheet.

b) manual entry of the details of the information into a computer, probably in the form of a database. In the case of a desk-top computer this will often take place after the activity, for example when the computer is not to hand at the time that the activity takes place. The paper and pencil system at a) may be used as an aide memoire to facilitate this system.

c) manual entry of the details of the activity into a computer, typically a portable computer, at the time at which they occur.

Known recording systems have various limitations and disadvantages. The paper and pencil system suffers from a lack of accuracy, particularly if performed before or after the activity itself. Furthermore it is inherently inconvenient, requiring the relatively complex and time consuming act of manually making the record entry. In practice, it is noted that time sheets in industry and commerce are often compiled from memory, commonly up to a week after events being recorded, with concomitant loss of accuracy. This system suffers from a further disadvantage, namely that the information is not in a suitable form for subsequent use of manipulation by computer (eg producing billing information, incorporation in management reports). To do so requires copying of the information by hand into a computer database. This last disadvantage is overcome by the computer-based system mentioned at b) above, but suffers another disadvantage - to achieve good accuracy, the computer has to be available at the time. If it is not then either the individual's memory is relied on, or a paper and pencil system is interposed, and the disadvantages of complexity and time consumption detailed above are still present.

The system mentioned at c) above represents, in some respects, the current best practice, and fully gets round the problems of inaccuracy and dependence on a permanently-sited computer. However, there still remains the primary disadvantage of all computer-based time recording, namely that the device used to enter the information is a computer and that the individual performing the recording has to be able to use that computer to make the recording. The complexity of operating the computer represents a real obstacle to a large spectrum of those for whom time recording would be advantageous , either for themselves or for their employers, and may offer little or no reduction in the time taken by the user in the act of recording. Further, computing resources may be committed to other tasks at the time that recording is required.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a recording system for the collection and reporting of information relating to the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events, or conditions, the recording system comprising

(a) inputting means for inputting and internally storing information identifying or otherwise relating to an activity, event, or condition;

(b) recording means for recording and internally storing information relating to the duration and/or time of occurrence of said activity, event, or condition; and (c) downloading means for subsequently and selectively downloading the internally stored information to an external computer for processing of the information therein.

Said inputting means preferably comprises a plurality of input means, each said input means being associated with a preselected activity, event, or condition. Each said input means is preferably capable of being associated with selected types and/or classes of activity, event, or condition. Said inputting means may contain a source of pre-stored signals representing predetermined activities, events, or conditions, and the source may be such that a predetermined signal may be selected by scrolling through the pre-stored signals. Said inputting means may include audio signal generation means operable to indicate correct selection of an input means and/or to indicate the elapse of a predetermined period of time associated with a particular activity, event, or condition. The inputting means may comprise a bar-code reader means preferably compriεing visual display means operable to display a de-coded reading or to display an alternative message otherwise indicative of a read bar-code.

The recording means preferably comprises clock means which may indicate absolute time (ie time of day, and date) and/or elapsed time since initiation.

The downloading means may comprise fibre-optic cable means, infra-red broadcast or beam transmission means, closed-channel radio transmission means, or close-range inductive coupling means. The downloading means may be capable of uploading signals which may be appropriate for programming or reprogramming the recording system. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of collecting and reporting information relating to the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events, or conditions, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a recording system according to the first aspect of the present invention;

(b) selecting an activity, event, or condition about which information is to be collected and reported;

(c) operating the inputting means of said recording system to input and internally store information identifying or otherwise relating to the selected activity, event, or condition;

(d) operating the recording means of said recording system to record and internally store information relating to the duration and/or time of occurrence of the selected activity, event, or condition; and

(e) subsequently coupling the downloading means of said recording system to an external computer and selectively downloading the internally stored information to said external computer for processing of the information therein.

Where the recording means of said recording system comprises clock means which indicates only elapsed time since initiation (ie without indication of time of day, or date) and where the selected activity, event, or condition is continuous from initiation to downloading, or where a plurality of selected activities, events, or conditions are individually continuous and mutually consecutive such as to constitute a continuous series from first initiation until downloading, the external computer is preferably programmed and operated to calculate the absolute time and date of the initiation or the respective initiation of the or each activity, event, or condition by subtracting the elapsed time or respective succession of elapsed times from the absolute time of downloading.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figs 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and an end elevation of a portable time recording unit comprising a bar-code reader; Figs 3 and 4 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of a portable time recording unit having manual inputs and written or printed indicia; and Figs 5 and 6 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of a portable time recording unit having manual inputs and electronic indicators.

The preferred embodiments of the invention comprise three aspects:

(1)- A portable time recording unit (hereinafter referred to as a "PTRU"); (2)- A port method (hereinafter referred to as a "PM") which is actually a combination of hardware and its associated operating procedures, by which information can be downloaded from the PTRU to an external computer; and (3)- a specially-written piece of software (ie a special-purpose computer program) . In its simplest possible form, the PTRU is a small piece of equipment (preferably of a size and weight enabling it to be hand-held) capable of recording a series of events, including a reference identifying the events, and the duration of each of these events, either as an absolute temporal reference or as one relative to a known point of time. The events normally represent the commencement of a task or activity but may represent any predetermined facet of a task or activity. The PTRU digitally stores all data generated. This aspect of the PTRU may be termed the input function.

The PTRU must also have the capability of transmitting the event records, through the PM, to the software. This aspect of the PTRU may be termed the output function.

The above-detailed input and output functions represent the primary facilities covered by the invention. An example of a further element useful to a practical implementation is a visual indication of the event, task or activity currently recorded. There follows three practical realizations of the PTRU, which illustrate various means of achieving the input function.

Referring now to Figs 1 and 2, these illustrate a first embodiment of a PTRU arrangement 10 in which the information input function is achieved by inputting means in the form of a bar-code reading device 12 (Fig. 1) integrally mounted at one end of the PTRU 10. To use the PTRU 10 to collect information, the PTRU s held in the user's hand and the reading device 12 is drawn across a selected bar-code (not shown) in a menu of pre-printed bar-codes each signifying a different activity, event, or condition. The PTRU 10 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 14 in one face to display a decoded version of the newly-read bar-code (shown in Fig. 1 by way of example as "JONES"). The LCD 14 allows the user to check the correctness of the selection of bar-code, and the correct inputting of its information.

Simultaneously with the reading of the bar-code by the reading device 12, an internal clock (not shown) forming part of the PTRU 10 is initiated to record the instantaneous absolute time (ie time of day, and date). The recorded time is associated in the internal memory or information storage unit (not shown) of the PTRU with the information from the newly-read bar-code to correlate the respective items of information, such that these items will subsequently be downloaded together.

Additionally or alternatively to recording absolute time, the clock can be started to record elapsed time from the reading of the bar-code (in a manner analogous to use of a stop-watch) .

By suitably modifying or substituting the bar-code reading device 12, the PTRU 10 can be adapted to operation with alternative forms of machine-readable indicia (not shown), eg encoded magnetic strips.

At an appropriate subsequent time, the foregoing procedure for operating the PTRU 10 is repeated in conjunction with another bar-code (or alternative machine-readable indicia) whose information content signifies "end of charging period" or an analogous command message. When it is subsequently intended to download the information input to and stored in the PTRU 10, the PTRU 10 is transported to a suitable PTRU reading terminal (not shown) and coupled thereto by means of a suitable PM connector 16 (Fig. 2) integrally mounted in the end of the PTRU 10 opposite the reading device 12. The connector 16 provides an information transmission path for downloading stored information from the PTRU 10 into the terminal according to the predetermined PM ( "port method) . Thereafter the downloaded information can be computer processed.

Referring now to Figs 3 and 4, these illustrate a second embodiment of the PTRU 20 which is designed and arranged to record activities, events, or conditions by means of the manual operation of a selected push-button. As shown in Fig. 3, the PTRU 20 has eight push-button switches 22 arranged in two columns on the face of the PTRU 20. In a respective row to the right of each of the push-button switches 22 is an indicator lamp 24 and a label 26. Depression of a selected one of the push-button switches 22 causes illumination of the respective lamp 24 to provide a visual indication of switch operation to initiate recording of time in respect of a specific activity, event, or condition as denoted on the respective horizontally adjacent label 26.

The indicator lamp 24 may be substituted by alternative forms of indicator.

The labels 26 may be hand-written or otherwise marked (eg the labels 26 may be typed or printed) .

Instead of the push-button switches 22 representing up to eight different activities, etc, they could be allocated to two or more groups, with each group having a different function allocated to it. For example, suppose one column of four of the push-button switches 22 (designated Al, A2, A3 and A4) are respectively allocated to one of four different activities, and the other column of four of the push-button switches 22 (designated Cl, C2, C3 and C4) are respectively allocated to one of four different clients. With this organisational arrangement, use of the PTRU 20 to record activity A2 on behalf of client C4 could be initiated by the simultaneous depression of push-button switches 'A2' and 'C4'.

At the conclusion of the charging period (eg at the termination of an activity, etc, or transfer of a continuing activity to the account of a different client), charging can be stopped in respect of that client and immediately transferred to a new client, or to a general category to achieve a contiguous record, by depression of an appropriately allocated one of the push-button switches 22.

When it is subsequently intended to download the information input to and stored in the PTRU 20, the PTRU 20 is transported to a suitable PTRU reading terminal (not shown) and coupled thereto by means of a suitable PM connector 28 (Fig. 4) integrally mounted in one end of the PTRU 20. The connector 28 provides an information transmission path for downloading stored information from the PTRU 20 into the terminal according to the predetermined PM ("port method"). Thereafter the downloaded information can be computer processed.

Referring now to Figs 5 and 6, these illustrate a third embodiment of a PTRU 30 in which electronic display devices are utilised to indicate the current client and activity, etc. Mounted in the face of the PTRU 30 (Fig. 5) are a first LCD 32 and a second LCD 34. Alongside each of the LCDs 32 and 34 are a respective pair of push-button switches 36 and 38. Information to be displayed on each of the LCDs 32 and 34 are contained within the internal memory (not shown) of the PTRU 30 in the form of respective lists of words, codes, names, activities, events, conditions, or other descriptors, etc. Operation of the appropriate one of the push-button switches in each pair 36 and 38 causes the respective display 32 or 34 to scroll up or down the respective list until push-button depression is terminated upon an intended display being reached and observed on the respective display. When both displays 36 and 38 show intended selections, a further push-button switch 40 is depressed to initiate time recording against the selected allocation. As shown by way of example in Fig. 5, client "JONES" is having the activity "DRAUGHTING" charged to him. In an alternative operational arrangement, the selection of job and client could be carried out within a set period after push-button switch 40 is used to initiate time recording.

As compared to the firεt and second embodiments, the third embodiment of PTRU 30 has the advantages of allowing an indefinitely large number of items of information (eg, client names, types of activity, etc) without the previous limitation of one item per bar-code or puεh-button εwitch. In other words, the third embodiment enables variables to be stored in internal memory as virtual items selectable by scrolling, and does not depend on having a respective switch or other item of physical hardware for each item. The displays 32 and 34 may also be utilised to review internally stored information.

At some εuitable selected subsequent time, information recorded and stored in the PTRU 30 is downloaded to a PTRU-reading terminal (not shown) by means of a PM connector 42 (Fig. 6) forming part of the PTRU 30. The connector 42 provides an information transmission path for downloading stored information from the PTRU 30 into the terminal according to the predetermined PM ("port method"). The downloaded information can thereafter be computer processed. The PM connector 42 also allows uploading of information, data and programming instructions to the PTRU 30, thus enabling (for example) updating and alteration of the internally stored lists of names, activities, etc, previously described, and/or modification of operational aεpectε of the PTRU 30.

In the first, εecond and third embodiments described above, there was a manual aspect to each inputting means (eg manual swiping of a bar-code, manual depression of a push-button) . It is within the scope of the invention to utilise inputting means of the other kinds, eg voice recognition means enabling input to be made verbally.

Input arrangements, including those detailed above, may be enhanced by the inclusion of a buzzer, or other noise-making device, making a sound, either on a regular basis or on a random basiε, to draw the user'ε attention to the PTRU. Once attention iε gained, the uεer may ensure that the current recording accurately reflects the present task or activity. The timing of this reminder buzzer may be under control of the user, programmed at the PTRU, or programmed on the computer and later εent to the PTRU by the PM. The preεence of a buzzer within the PTRU, or other methodε of drawing the attention of the uεer to the PTRU, offerε an alternative mode of operation. In this mode, the current activity is recorded on the PTRU only following the sounding of the buzzer. The sounding may be programmed to occur at regular intervalε, according to a pre-determined pattern, or randomly. Thus statiεtical information on the activitieε, eventε or conditionε is arrived at. In a further variation, times εpecific to a εequence of taεkε iε pre-programmed into the PTRU, and the PTRU εoundε a prompt to indicate to the user that he or she should commence phaεeε of the εequence. Commencement may be confirmed by the uεer on the PTRU for later reporting.

The 'Port Method' is the means by which information, which may include operational parameters εuch aε battery condition, is transferred from the PTRU to the computer (the PTRU's output function). In its simplest form, the PM need only allow information to flow from PTRU to the computer although in some applications data must flow from computer to the PTRU to allow the programming and configuration of the PTRU. Examples of programming and configuration include setting of parameterε held within the PTRU such as PTRU reference number or reminder buzzer duration and frequency. Another important example, in PTRUs that record more than one level of reference (such as the client/activity combinations referred to in the descriptions of the εecond and third embodimentε) iε the ability to "screen out" certain key permutations, which are deemed to be impermissible.

Suitable methods for transmisεion of the data include:

(a) a readily attached and detached electrical or IA fibre optic cable, with data transmission by direct electrical connection or optical means; (b) broadly spread infra-red data transmission which can be rendered active when PTRU and computer are in proximity; (c) closed-channel radio transmission; (d) close inductive coupling; (e) adaptation to enable use of cabled and radio telephone links; (f) audio/ultrasonic links.

Connection methodε to PTRU and to the computer would vary according to the methods utilised, but as the PTRU is likely to be battery powered, where possible the PM should utilise such power as is available from the computer while data iε being tranεferred.

The advantages of the invention and/or the ways in which the diεadvantageε of previouεly known arrangement are overcome, include:-

- immediate recording of time information; previouεly known arrangements often required recording from memory, or following and intermediate temporary storage of information - portability of the means of recording; practical realizationε of the invention allow the recording to take place in any location, in contraεt to previouεly known arrangements which may be impossible, inconvenient or impractical to have present at the time of recording - reduces the effort and time required by users - simplicity of recording; previously known arrangements require knowledge and understanding of computer systems - the PTRU performs a specific function, and that function only, meaning that it is always available when required.

The preferred embodiments deεcribed above with reference to Figε 1-6 have referred to conventional work-charging but the invention can alεo be applied to quite different activities etc, and to the recording of respective times and durations. For example, in a medical experiment monitoring the effects of continuing pain relief, the invention can be used to record the patient's current perceived level of discomfort (eg "negligible", "mild", "severe"), together with the duration and timing of the periods spent at each such discomfort level, and the timing of medication (eg doseε of analgesic) . As another example of possible applications of the invention, a pεychological experiment could employ the invention to record the timing and duration of different formε of interaction between a mother and child, eg phyεical contact of various kindε, verbal contact, etc.

While certain preferred embodimentε have been deεcribed above, the invention is not restricted thereto, in that modifications and variations can be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A recording syεtem for the collection and reporting of information relating to the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events, or conditionε, the recording εystem comprising

(a) inputting meanε for inputting and internally storing information identifying or otherwise relating to an activity, event, or condition;

(b) recording means for recording and internally εtoring information relating to the duration and/or time of occurrence of εaid activity, event, or condition; and

(c) downloading meanε for εubεequently and εelectively downloading the internally εtored information to an external computer for proceεεing of the information therein.

2. A recording εystem as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said inputting means compriseε a plurality of input meanε, each said input means being asεociated with a preεelected activity, event, or condition.

3. A recording εyεtem aε claimed in Claim 2 wherein each εaid input meanε iε capable of being aεεociated with selected types and/or classes of activity, event, or condition.

4. A recording syεtem as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said inputting means contains a source of pre-stored signals representing predetermined activities, events, or conditions, and the εource iε εuch that a predetermined εignal may be εelected by scrolling through the pre-stored signals.

5. A recording syεtem aε claimed in any preceding claim wherein εaid inputting means includes audio signal generation means operable to indicate correct selection of an input means and/or to indicate the elapse of a predetermined period of time asεociated with a particular activity, event, or condition.

6. A recording system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inputting means comprises a bar-code reader means comprising visual display means operable to display a de-coded reading or to display an alternative message otherwise indicative of a read bar-code.

7. A recording syεtem aε claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recording meanε comprises clock means which may indicate absolute time (ie time of day, and date) and/or elapsed time since initiation.

8. A recording system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downloading means comprises fibre-optic cable means, infra-red broadcast or beam transmission means, closed-channel radio transmiεsion means, or close-range inductive coupling means.

9. A recording system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the downloading means is capable of uploading signals which may be appropriate for programming or reprogramming the recording syεtem.

10. A method of collecting and reporting information relating to the occurrence and/or timing of activities, events, or conditions, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a recording system as claimed in any preceding claim;

(b) selecting an activity, event, or condition about which information iε to be collected and reported;

(c) operating the inputting means of said recording system to input and internally εtore information identifying or otherwiεe relating to the εelected activity, event, or condition;

(d) operating the recording meanε of said recording εystem to record and internally εtore information relating to the duration and/or time of occurrence of the εelected activity, event, or condition; and

(e) subsequently coupling the downloading means of said recording syεtem to an external computer and selectively downloading the internally stored information to said external computer for proceεεing of the information therein.

11. A method aε claimed in Claim 10 where the recording means of said recording syεtem comprises clock means which indicates only elapsed time since initiation (ie without indication of time of day, or date) and where the selected activity, event, or condition is continuous from initiation to downloading, or where a plurality of selected activities, events, or conditions are individually continuous and mutually conεecutive such as to constitute a continuous series from first initiation until downloading, the external computer being programmed and operated to calculate the absolute time and date of the initiation or the respective initiation of the or each activity, event, or condition by subtracting the elapsed time or respective succession of elapsed timeε from the abεolute time of downloading.