# US 8,788,375 B2 · Method and system for pre-populating job assignment submissions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,375 B2 - Document ID: US8788375B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/268,382 - Filed: 2011-10-07 - Published: 2012-04-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-23 - Assignees: Canadian National Railway Company - Applicants: Leonard John Podgurny; Alan Bruce Randall; Matthew Oren Owens; Michael Anthony Moroz - Inventors: Leonard John Podgurny; Alan Bruce Randall; Matthew Oren Owens; Michael Anthony Moroz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788375B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/105: Human resources - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 40/12: Accounting - G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) - 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 method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company. The method comprises executing software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a CPU at a client associated with the employee to implement a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to supply particulars relating to a work shift for a member of a crew during a particular transportation trip. The GUI including a plurality of information capture fields for displaying particulars of the shift. The method comprises identifying among a plurality of data records, a data record associated with the particular trip, receiving data elements at the client derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements. Allowing the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for pre-populating an end of shift submission by an employee of a transportation company, said method comprising: (a) providing a database arrangement storing data records, each record containing items of information related to a trip carried out by a transportation company, each trip being performed by a vehicle operated by a crew, a data record for a given trip identifying crew members operating the vehicle performing the given trip; (b) executing non-transitory software encoded on a machine readable storage medium by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) at a client device operable by the employee, including implementing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the employee to supply particulars relating to a work shift as a member of a crew during a particular one of the trips, the GUI including a plurality of information display fields for displaying particulars of the shift; (c) identifying among the plurality of data records, the data record associated with the particular trip on which the employee acts as a member of the crew; and (d) receiving data elements at the client device derived from the record associated with the particular trip and pre-populating the information display fields with the respective data elements; and (e) configuring the GUI to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the pre-populating including loading data in the first set of information display fields and leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields include an identifier of the employee. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, including storing in the data record for the particular trip a function as a crew member assigned to the employee during the shift. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields convey the function assigned to the employee during the shift, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the employee is a first employee and the crew includes the first employee and a second employee, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip an identifier of the second employee, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields include the identifier of the second employee, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as defined in claim 6, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a function as a crew member assigned to the second employee, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields conveying the function assigned to the second employee during the shift, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a time at which the shift was initiated, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method as defined in claim 9, includes performing the identifying at a server arrangement that is remote from the client device and that communicates with the client device via a data network, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed and performing the pre-populating on the basis of the end of shift data and other data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client device associated with the employee. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A method as defined in claim 6, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, derived from the data record for the particular trip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the data record for the particular trip an identification of an engine of the train. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the second set of information display fields includes at least one field for receiving information entered by the first employee relating to equipment failure experienced during the shift. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about mandatory rest taken by the first employee during the shift. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the information about the mandatory rest includes duration of a rest period taken by the first employee during the shift. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the trip spans two or more days and requires lodging facilities for the first employee, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about lodging used by the first employee. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the information about lodging includes a name of a hotel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes a telephone number of the hotel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes a room number of the hotel at which the first employee stayed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the information about lodging includes wake-up call information. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the second set of information display fields include at least one field for receiving information from the first employee about transportation services required by the first employee to reach a location at which the shift was initiated. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the information from the first employee about transportation services includes information about a type of transportation service used. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the information from the first employee about transportation services includes information about an expense incurred by the first employee for the transportation service. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the GUI including an end of shift submission control that can be operated by the employee to send to server arrangement in communication with the client device via a data network the information in the information display fields. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method as defined in claim 25, including computing at the server arrangement, at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the GUI is a first GUI, including implementing at the client device a second GUI to display to the employee the computed employee compensation data. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method as defined in claim 27, wherein the employee compensation data conveys a number of hours worked during the shift for which the employee is to be paid. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the second GUI includes an employee compensation data acceptance control. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A method as defined in claim 29, wherein in response to actuation of the employee compensation data acceptance control, the second GUI sending data to the server arrangement indicating that the employee has accepted the employee compensation data. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A method as defined in claim 30, including paying to the employee a compensation according to the employee compensation data. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, including performing the identifying at a server arrangement that is remote from the client device and that communicates with the client device via a data network. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the identifying including searching the database on the basis of data that identifies the particular trip. ### Claim 34 A computer readable storage medium encoded with non-transitory software for execution by a Central Processing Unit (CPU) for implementing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for allowing an employee to submit an end of shift report, wherein the employee is a member of a crew operating a transportation vehicle, the execution of the software by the CPU at a client device associated with the employee: (a) displaying the GUI to the employee, the GUI having a plurality of information display fields for holding respective data elements associated with the shift, the information display fields including an end of shift information display field that indicates a time at which the shift ended; (b) in response to end of shift data received at the client device from a remote server arrangement, pre-populating the end of shift information display field, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit the information in the pre-populated end of shift information display field; (c) providing the GUI with a validation control that can be selectively actuated by the employee to indicate that the employee considers the edited information in the pre-populated end of shift information display field and in other information display fields accurate; (d) sending data to the remote server arrangement to indicate that the employee has actuated the validation control. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the pre-populating including loading data in the first set of information display fields and leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the information display fields include an employee name information display field, in response to employee name data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the employee name information display field. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 36, wherein the information display fields include an employee function information display field, in response to employee function data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the employee function information display field. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 34, wherein the information display fields include an equipment information display field, in response to equipment data received at the client device from the remote server arrangement, pre-populating the equipment information display field. ### Claim 39 A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from an employee an end of shift report for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising: a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including: i. executing program code by a CPU and determining if the employee required lodging services during the train trip; ii. presenting the employee via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) at the remote client system with a plurality of information display fields for data elements relating to the shift; iii. conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining, if the determining established that lodging services were required for the employee during the train trip including in the information display fields, information display fields allowing the employee to input information about the lodging services used by the employee; and iv. sending to the server arrangement the information captured in the information display fields. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) A method as defined in claim 39, the step of conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining including, if the determining established that lodging services were not required for the employee during the train trip preventing entry of information about lodging services in the GUI. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the preventing including hiding from view lodging services information display fields. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) A method as defined in claim 40, wherein the preventing including precluding lodging services information display fields from receiving data input. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) A method as defined in claim 40, including providing an override control on the GUI to allow the employee to enter lodging services information when the determining established that no lodging services were required. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the method including deriving data elements from the server arrangement relating to the shift and pre-populating the first set of information display fields by loading the data elements in respective information display fields of the first set, the method further including leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields of the first set. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set include an identifier of the employee. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set convey a function assigned to the employee during the shift. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the preventing including hiding from view transportation services information display fields. ### Claim 48 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the preventing including precluding transportation services information display fields from receiving data input. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, including providing an override control on the GUI to allow the employee to enter transportation services information when the determining established that no transportation services were required. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was initiated, wherein the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated. ### Claim 51 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) A method as defined in claim 51, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) A method as defined in claim 52, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client system. ### Claim 54 (depends on 44) A method as defined in claim 44, the method including storing in the server arrangement information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip. ### Claim 55 (depends on 54) A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the server arrangement an identification of an engine of the train. ### Claim 56 (depends on 39) A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the method includes computing at the server arrangement at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift and paying to the employee a compensation according to the compensation data. ### Claim 57 A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from an employee an end of shift report for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising: a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including: i. executing program code by a CPU for determining if the employee required transportation services to transport the employee to a location at which the shift was initiated; ii. presenting the employee via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) at the remote client system with a plurality of information display fields for data elements relating to the shift; iii. conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining, if the determining established that transportation services were required for the employee including in the information display fields, fields allowing the employee to provide particulars about the transportation services used; and iv. sending to the server arrangement the information captured in the information display fields. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) A method as defined in claim 57, the step of conditioning the GUI on the basis of the determining including, including if the determining established that transportation services were not required for the employee during the train trip preventing entry of information about transportation services in the GUI. ### Claim 59 (depends on 57) A method as defined in claim 57, wherein the plurality of information display fields define a first set of information display fields, the GUI including a second set of information display fields, the method including deriving data elements from the server arrangement relating to the shift and pre-populating the first set of information display fields by loading the data elements in respective information display fields of the first set, the method further including leaving the second set of information display fields to be filled out by the employee via the GUI, the GUI being configured to allow the employee to edit one or more of the pre-populated information display fields of the first set. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set include an identifier of the employee. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) A method as defined in claim 59, wherein the data elements pre-populating the information display fields of the first set convey a function assigned to the employee during the shift. ### Claim 62 (depends on 59) A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was initiated, wherein the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was initiated. ### Claim 63 (depends on 59) A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement a time at which the shift was completed, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the time at which the shift was completed. ### Claim 64 (depends on 59) A method as defined in claim 59, the method including storing in the server arrangement information about equipment used to perform the particular trip, the data elements pre-populating the first set of information display fields convey the information about equipment used to perform the particular trip. ### Claim 65 (depends on 64) A method as defined in claim 64, wherein the particular trip is a train trip, the information about equipment used to perform the trip includes an identification of an engine of the train, the method including storing in the server arrangement an identification of an engine of the train. ### Claim 66 (depends on 64) A method as defined in claim 64, including receiving at the server arrangement end of shift data indicative of the time at which the shift was completed. ### Claim 67 (depends on 65) A method as defined in claim 65, wherein the end of shift data originates from a source other than the client system. ### Claim 68 (depends on 57) A method as defined in claim 57, wherein the method includes computing at the server arrangement at least in part on the basis of the information in the information display fields sent to the server arrangement, employee compensation data for work performed during the shift and paying to the employee a compensation according to the compensation data. ### Claim 69 A method for a rail transportation company to obtain from a group of employees an end of shift submission for work performed during a train trip, the method comprising: a. performing an exchange of data between a server arrangement and a remote client system associated with a first employee of the group of employees over a data network, the exchange of data implementing an end of shift information gathering operation, including: i. presenting the first employee at the remote client system with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) a plurality of information display fields for displaying data elements relating to the shift, the information display fields including at least one field associated with the first employee and at least one field associated with a second employee of the group of employees; and ii. the first employee operating a control to transmit to the server arrangement the information supplied by the first employee in the information display field associated with the first employee and the information supplied by the first employee in the information display field associated with the second employee wherein the exchange of data is a first exchange of data, the remote client system is a first remote client system and the GUI is a first GUI; b. performing a second exchange of data between the server arrangement and a second remote client system associated with the second employee over the data network, including: i. presenting the second employee with a second GUI including an information display field about the shift and associated with the second employee that is pre-populated on the basis of the information supplied by the first employee; and ii. the second employee operating a certification control component and transmitting data to the server arrangement indicating that the second employee certifies the information in the information display field as being correct.