Calendar Resource Accounting Integration for Timekeeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer and web-based scheduling programs lack integration with resource accounting information, leading to inaccurate timekeeping, manual errors, and difficulties in resource and budget planning.
Innovation Solution
The integration of digital scheduling programs with customizable resource accounting categories and electronic monitoring/communication systems to automatically generate and update events on calendars with elapsed details, reducing manual entries and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current scheduling programs are used without integration with resource accounting systems, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision of timekeeping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges scheduling programs with resource accounting systems by integrating calendar events with charge code databases and time tracking applications. This combination allows automatic synchronization of event details with resource accounting information, eliminating the need for separate manual time tracking while improving measurement precision of timekeeping.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions within a single platform: scheduling events, tracking time, assigning charge codes, and generating reports. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized applications, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or improving measurement precision through automated data capture.
2Productivity
If manual time tracking is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity of resource planning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing event details at the time of scheduling and pre-assigning charge codes before time tracking begins. This advance preparation eliminates the need for retrospective manual time allocation, significantly improving productivity of resource planning while the automation handles complexity in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system continuously feedbacks between scheduling programs and resource accounting systems, automatically updating charge code assignments and time tracking records based on actual event occurrences. This real-time feedback loop enables proactive resource planning and budgeting, improving productivity without requiring complex manual intervention.
3Loss of time
If retrospective time reporting is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time in decision-making deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures time and resource information at the moment of event occurrence rather than requiring retrospective reporting. By automatically recording event details, duration, and charge codes in real-time, the system eliminates the lag between time consumption and data availability, enabling immediate decision-making while maintaining ease of operation through automated capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system continuously monitors and records time utilization, event occurrences, and resource allocation in real-time without interruption. This continuous automated capture ensures that decision-makers always have access to current, up-to-date information about resource consumption and time tracking, eliminating the delays inherent in periodic retrospective reporting.
4Ease of operation
If separate time tracking applications are used, then measurement precision of resource accounting is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines scheduling programs with time tracking and resource accounting systems into a single integrated platform. This merging ensures that event details, time utilization, and charge code information are automatically synchronized across all functions, maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface while preventing information loss through continuous data integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system acts as an intermediary that automatically translates and synchronizes data between scheduling events and resource accounting records. This intermediary function ensures accurate data exchange between calendar events, time tracking, and charge code databases, maintaining information accuracy while eliminating the need for users to manually switch between separate applications.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention comprises a software functionality that expands existing computer and web-based scheduling programs (e.g., calendar) in personal information management systems (e.g., Microsoft Outlook) to include customizable resource accounting categories (e.g., charge/cost codes). When used with time tracking and/or billing applications (e.g., Workday effort tracking system, ADP electronic timecards), it can transfer event details with time utilization and cost code information to timecards, while it can pull cost code information from time tracking applications to calendars. When used with computer monitoring/communication systems (e.g., audio/video conferencing tools), the invention integrates these systems with scheduling programs and/or time tracking and billing applications to automatically generate/update events on calendars with elapsed event details. The aggregate information inclusive of the user's entries is used for timekeeping/tracking and to determine resource utilization and resource and budget planning through reporting capabilities across multiple dimensions (e.g., users, projects, departments) over adjustable time periods (e.g., seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years).