System and method for performing substitute fulfillment information complication and notification

Abstract

Disclosed is an Internet-based database system and method (ASP), that enables school districts and temporary employment agencies to automate the dispatching (24 / 7) of pre-qualified substitute / temporary personnel to specified school / work site locations for specific absent employees / job openings. The system includes a profile database of permanent and substitute (temporary) employees, positions, skills, working dates / shifts, rates of pay, work sites, lesson plans / comments, reasons for absence and corresponding budget codes. Approved substitute / temporary employees may access the database using a multi-level access and secure logon code through their Internet-based browser device. The software filters job / position information to match specific job openings to the skills, qualifications (certification), preferences and availability of the substitute / temporary employee / s. As job openings (absences) are entered into the system by employees, the school district or employment agency, job details are immediately available through Internet “distributed technology” to all appropriate substitute / temporary employees through their web browser device. Substitute / temporary employees may review, accept, or reject, each job opening. They may also change their availability, work preferences, preferred locations and electronic address, i.e. e-mail address / pager or other device. When a new job order is entered, requested substitutes are notified immediately. The system utilizes e-mail / e-page or other wireless browser devices to inform them that a current job position is available.

Description

REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION [0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 150,001, filed Aug. 20, 1999, by Charles E. Bernasconi and Shannon Wainright, entitled Provisional Patent Application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to an electronic online ASP database system. More specifically it relates to a secure Internet-based database Application Service Provider (ASP) system and method that receives absence / job order information and automatically (24 / 7) dispatches substitute and / or temporary employees to job sites for school districts and employment agencies. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Temporary placement of skilled workers due to planned and unplanned absences or temporary work overloads is critical to our specialized economy. The inherent problem is the tight job market and efficient and accurate placement of those temporary personnel. Absences from work cost employers in lost productivity and sic...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] Unlike the present invention, IVR systems are limited to contacting personnel in a specific parameter (number) of phone lines, further separated as either incoming and outgoing lines. The present invention provides immediate job opening information to all qualified and available temp and substitute employees Also with the present invention, school districts and employment agencies are provided with a productivity advantage in competing for a limited pool of substitutes and temps each day. The neighboring districts or competitor agencies that use IVR or other “manual” or local computer systems are incapable of immediate distribution of absence information to all personnel. The present invention uses the “distributed technology” of the Internet to immediately make that absence and other information available to all appropriate personnel. While phone (IVR) calling systems automatically contact one substitute or temp at a time, going through a list of personnel, they often take hours to finally contact a person that will accept the position. With this invention, our system immediately distributes absence information to all (not rejected) qualified personnel, virtually eliminating the waste of time caused by busy signals.

[0025] The present invention works as an automated Application Service Provider “ASP” through the Internet. The present invention eliminates large capitalization costs to districts and agencies for hardware setup, installation and support. Also eliminated are overtime costs to hire additional staffing dispatchers to work off-hours in order to manually process absence information and availability on a 24 / 7 basis.

[0028] The current invention also provides online training of substitutes and employees on how best to use the Internet based system. Included are on-screen “Help” links at each step and a demo / tutorial hyper-linked to the ASP server. Users receive directions and a step-by-step “slide show” of how the system works. They may use the “Help” functions only as needed and do the training and practice at their convenience, home or elsewhere, thus saving large group training expenses.

[0029] As mentioned previously, the present invention provides a system that requires little or no capitalization costs by the school district or agency. The invention is designed to work as an ASP and therefore utilizes a small user fee (currently less than $1.00) per absence / day transaction versus the capitalization costs of IVR systems. It is therefore possible for even the smallest school district or employment agency to be able to afford a 24 / 7 automated dispatching system.

Problems solved by technology

The inherent problem is the tight job market and efficient and accurate placement of those temporary personnel.

Absences from work cost employers in lost productivity and sick leave pay.

Although temporary workers cannot immediately replace trained professionals, they can provide relief for school, office, or other professions that require a person / s with specific skills or expertise.

In the example of public school districts there is a national shortage of qualified substitute teachers to replace absent teachers / employees.

This creates a daily problem for districts and individual schools as they often have to “compete” with neighboring districts, often drawing from a narrow “pool” of common substitutes.

Absences are often unpredictable and may occur any time 7 days a week and 24 hours a day (24 / 7).

School districts however, are often financially limited in their ability to either purchase expensive automated equipment and software or hire additional dispatchers to work off-hours in order to process absence information on a 24 / 7 basis.

IVR systems are also limited in transacting absence information by the number of phone lines available, i.e. 4 for an average district's budget.

Because of the short window of time before classes start each day, the limited number of phone lines increase busy signals and time delays.

IVR systems may often take hours to finally contact a substitute that will accept the position.

Another problem with automated IVR systems is the giving and receiving of specific instructions regarding the absence day / s (lesson plans).

Another large expense item for school districts using automated IVR systems is the on-site training of substitutes and employees on how best to use the IVR system.

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