# US 10,762,473 B2 · Time tracking and productivity system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,762,473 B2 - Document ID: US10762473B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/952,212 - Filed: 2018-04-12 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2020-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-19 - Applicants: Scott Porter; Quinn Baker - Inventors: Scott Porter; Quinn Baker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10762473B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/1091: Recording time for administrative or management purposes - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A system for automatically tracking employee hours. The system includes a tracking component. The tracking component is configured to determine the current location of the employee, determine if the current location of the employee is within a designated location and track the time spent by the employee within the designated location. The system also includes an evaluation module. The evaluation module is configured to receive from the tracking component the time spent by the employee within the designated location and determine if the time spent by the employee within the designated location exceeds a predetermined threshold and or to be used for the purpose of billing or to monitor and improve coordination of patient care. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for automatically tracking employee hours, the system comprising: an electronic tracking component, wherein the electronic tracking component includes: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory programmed with executable instructions, the instructions including: determine the current location of the tracking component; determine if the current location of the tracking component is within one or more designated work locations; if the current location of the tracking is within the one or more designated work locations, track the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; and send an electronic communication, the electronic communication indicative of the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; and an evaluation module, wherein the evaluation module includes: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory programmed with executable instructions, the instructions including: receive the electronic communication from the tracking component; and identify an employee to which the tracking component has been assigned; attribute the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations to the employee; determine if the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds a predetermined threshold for the employee. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking component includes a portable electronic device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the portable electronic device includes a smart phone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking component tracks the current location of the tracking component using at least one of: GPS; geofence technology; or iBeacons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the predetermined threshold is stored in a database; and the evaluation module, by the processor, retrieving the predetermined threshold from the database. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations is shown to a supervisor via a user interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user interface allows the supervisor to set the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations is integrated into an electronic medical record. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations is integrated into a billing statement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more designated work locations includes a remote location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising the tracking component, by the processor showing the employee a shift log configured to track the time of the employee's current shift. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising the tracking component, by the processor, showing the employee an aggregate log configured to track the total time worked by the employee over a designated period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the designated period of time includes one week. ### Claim 14 A system for automatically tracking employee hours, the system comprising: an electronic tracking component, wherein the electronic tracking component includes: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory programmed with executable instructions, the instructions including: determine the current location of the tracking component; determine if the current location of the tracking component is within one or more designated work locations; if the current location of the tracking is within the one or more designated work locations, track the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; and send an electronic communication, the electronic communication indicative of the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; and an evaluation module, wherein the evaluation module includes: a memory; a processor coupled to the memory programmed with executable instructions, the instructions including: receive the electronic communication from the tracking component; and identify an employee to which the tracking component has been assigned; attribute the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations to the employee; determine if the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds a predetermined threshold for the employee; and send an alert to a supervisor if the predetermined threshold is exceeded. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the evaluation module, by the processor, is configured to alert a supervisor of the employee if the time spent by the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds the predetermined threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein determining if the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds a predetermined threshold includes comparing the time spent by the employee in a current shift with an assigned shift. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein determining if the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds a predetermined threshold includes comparing the time spent by the employee in a current work week with an assigned work week. ### Claim 18 A method of automatically tracking employee hours where the employee is engaged in providing healthcare services to a patient, the method comprising: assigning each employee an electronic tracking component, wherein each electronic tracking component, by use of a processor: determines the current location of the tracking component; determines if the current location of the tracking component is within one or more designated work locations; if the current location of the tracking component is within the one or more designated work locations: logs in the tracking component for tracking; and tracks the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; if the current location of the tracking component is not within the one or more designated work locations: logs out the tracking component for tracking; and sends an electronic communication to an evaluation module, the electronic communication indicative of the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations; and the evaluation module, by a processor: receives the electronic communication from the tracking component; and identifies an employee to which the tracking component has been assigned, wherein at least a portion of the employee's duties include providing healthcare services to a patient; attributes the time spent by the tracking component within the one or more designated work locations to the employee; links the time spent within the one or more designated work locations to a medical record of the patient; determines if the time attributed to the employee within the one or more designated work locations exceeds a predetermined threshold for the employee; and alerts a supervisor if the predetermined threshold is exceeded. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein alerting a supervisor includes at least one of: a page; an email; a visual alarm; an audio alarm; a text message; or a push notification. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the employee includes a resident physician. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more designated work locations includes a hospital department.