DE4443850A1 - Acquisition and entry of project data - Google Patents

Abstract

The portable data acquisition unit that has the general form of a pocket calculator (E) coupled via a serial interface to a main computer (A) that carries out an evaluation process. The acquisition unit allows code to be generated to log onto the system and to identify the correct files for data entry. Cursor controls are provided on the unit. Time of use is measured and logged against the specific projects.

Description

The invention relates to a device for detection of activity and / or project-related data of a Operation with an electronic Data processing device.

Such facilities, in particular a Should represent working time transparency, d. H. how much Time for which activities by which people for which Project needed today are mainly in the field mass production (often e.g. piecework) being also of electronic Data processing equipment for the evaluation of Timekeeping data is used. In other areas such as administration, research, development, prototyping and Services is one with today's methods activity-based time recording usually only very much rough and feasible over long periods of time.

The invention has for its object a device to provide the type mentioned at the beginning with which the various fields of activity an exact recording and evaluation of job-related data if possible little operating effort is made possible.

This object is achieved with those specified in claim 1 Features resolved.

According to the invention it is therefore provided that the Data processing device a stationary Evaluation / control station and one separated from it manageable, connectable, transportable Has detection device that one of the respective activity exercising person and / or a specific project is assigned an identifier that by means of Evaluation / control station in the recording device Configuration data are adjustable, the identifiers for Projects, activities and / or users include that of User of the detection device by means of one on this provided input device for a selected project and / or an activity a time measuring device for the Duration of the activity can be started that the Detection device has an output device with which when connected to the evaluation / control station Zeitmeßdaten are transferable to this, and that in the Evaluation / control station the recorded time measurement data can be further processed by means of an evaluation device.

These measures ensure that the Activity or project a simple employee Easy-to-use, easy-to-carry capture device for the activity and / or project-related data,  for example the size of a conventional calculator is given to hand for different projects and activities can be configured. The user of the Acquisition device only needs a currently processed Select a project and / or an activity to be carried out, after which the detection device for determination and corresponding Assignment of the time measurement data is ready. For the capture the device is autonomous, whereas the setting of the Configuration data in the acquisition device and the Evaluation of those determined by the recording device Timekeeping data happens with the evaluation / control station, to which the recording device can be connected. To the results can be an extensive evaluation software if necessary be used. The operation of the registration device is easy to learn even for the technical layperson takes little time, so it is the normal one Workflow does not interfere.

Advantageous embodiments are in the subclaims specified.

So it is possible that in the detection device by means of Evaluation / control station several projects and / or Activities are set that by means of Input device of the detection device are available. The start and stop of the timing device can simply using the appropriate start / stop buttons respectively. The display of the selected project and / or the selected activity is shown on the display window Display device can be displayed so that the user can make sure that he made the right choice Has. The display device preferably has one Liquid crystal display on. In addition, a Sound signal generator can be provided.  

To unwanted or unwanted manipulation of the preset configuration data on the acquisition device to avoid, the device is advantageously such designed that by means of the evaluation / control station configuration data set in the recording device cannot be changed from the recording device.

The time measurement data until it is read out in the recording device to hold, the detection device has a storage unit on, which is preferably designed as a ring buffer. Are the storage locations of the circular buffer (e.g. 5,000 Storage spaces), so the oldest data automatically overwritten. Unnecessary data must therefore cannot be specifically deleted.

The measure that is in the detection device is also advantageous a storage device is provided in which for the Evaluation of the time measurement data, certain parameters can be saved are. As a result, the recorded time measurement data can be stored in order in the registration device, so that the Reading from the registration device into the Evaluation / control station or in a foreign one Evaluation / control station can be done in an orderly fashion and then the data can be evaluated with little effort.

A simple data transfer between Evaluation / control station and recording device is such that the coupling of the detection device to the Evaluation / control station via a serial interface takes place and that provided in the detection device Have programs changed from the outside via the interface. This allows completely changed functions in Acquisition device (e.g. on customer request) can be realized,  without opening the device or replacing components Need to become.

For the mobility of the facility, it is beneficial if the detection device for the power supply has rechargeable battery. An unauthorized one Exclude operation, it is provided that in the A selectable secret number can be entered, with which the registration device can be locked.

Provision can be made for further evaluation of the recorded data be that at the evaluation / control station Data interface to others Data processing devices is provided.

This is a clear structure of the facility characterized in that the data processing device four Has program levels, of which the first and second in the acquisition device and the third and fourth in the Evaluation / control station are provided that the first Program level the function of the user interface of the Control device controls and for intermediate storage the timing data is responsible that the second program level the connection to a data transfer program of the third Establishes the program level of the evaluation / control station, the time measurement data to the data transfer program of the third Passes program level and that of the third program level provided configuration data in the acquisition device takes over that the third program level the connection to the data transfer program of the second program level of the Recording device produces the requested timing data from the acquisition device and this for the Provides evaluation in the fourth program level,  and if necessary, new configuration data to the Detection device passes, and that the fourth program level the dialogue with the user of the evaluation / control station controls, for collection, storage, allocation and Evaluation of those received by the recording device Timekeeping data ensures the current projects, activities and the staff involved and the Configuration status of all assigned recording devices managed, and for the need to change the Configuration status or reconfiguration of the Detection devices is provided.

The user interface controlled by program level 1 can consist of a keyboard, liquid crystal display and sound signal generator, and the time measurement data can indicate the start and end times. At program level 2 , the requested time measurement data may be transferred from the ring memory of the recording device to the data transfer program of the evaluation / control station. The configuration data transferred to program level 2 relate, for example, to the creation of new projects and activities, the deletion of projects and activities, and the transfer of a new or changed user master record, consisting of personnel number, user name and department ID.

The invention is based on a Embodiment with reference to the drawings explained in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the means for detecting activity and / or project-related data,

Fig. 2, the detection device of the device shown in Fig. 1 in an enlarged view, and

Fig. 3 is a block diagram from which individual sections of the device and their interaction can be seen.

Fig. 1 shows as main components of the means for detecting activity and / or project-related data, an evaluation / control station A and a detecting device E, which are connected to one another via an interface 17. The evaluation / control station A can consist, for example, of a personal computer, and the external device E, for example, resembles a handy pocket calculator. The interface 17 is designed, for example, as a serial V24 interface.

With the detection device E connected to the Evaluation / control station A can from the Evaluation / control station A off in the recording device E configuration data, for example the new system of projects and activities, the deletion of projects and activities and / or taking over a new or changed user master record, consisting of Personnel number, user name and department ID concern, be discontinued. From the registration device The project-related data recorded with this can be used and / or activity-related measurement data in the Transfer evaluation / control station A and evaluated there become. The set in the detection device E. Configuration data can preferably be from a user  the acquisition device itself from the acquisition device itself be changed to operate the registration device and its structure very easy to design and unwanted Avoid tampering and operating the device for the employee who is involved in the project or the activity is entrusted only with the acquisition of the measurement data restrict.

The measurement data to be recorded are generally time measurement data which are assigned to a project selected by the employee and preset in the recording device E or to a selected preset activity. To select the project or the activity, keys are provided in the present case, the projects or activities being assigned numbers, the input of which indicates the corresponding project or activity on a field of view of a display 21 , so that the operator can determine the correct one Can confirm selection. It can also be provided that the projects or activities set in the recording device E can be displayed with different character strings, special keys (hotkeys) or by scrolling with the cursor keys and selected using another key.

To record the time measurement data is in the recording device a time measuring device is provided, which after selection of a specific project and / or specific activity can be started for its duration. Alike can only change the start and end time of the activity entered and stored in a storage unit, to later go to the evaluation / control station A To be able to read further processing. For input  the start and end time of an activity Start / stop buttons may be provided or time tracking can after entering a project or an activity start yourself and when choosing another project or end another activity, then timing for the new job starts. Furthermore, a Pause button for the interruption of an activity or a "Cancel" button may be provided.

The detection device E can optionally be entered a dialable secret number against unauthorized use lock.

Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of an essential structure of the device, the data exchange is illustrated by means of arrows. The sections of the detection device E are shown on the left of the interface 17 , while sections of the evaluation / control station A are shown on the right.

Read and write access is possible on a non-volatile memory (EEPROM). A program code is contained in a program memory 2 . With special software, this area can be changed via the serial interface 17 . This makes it possible to implement changed functions in the recording device (e.g. at the customer's request) without having to open the device or replace components.

In a memory area 3 data for device identification, for. B. serial number, software version etc. filed.

A volatile memory (RAM) 4 is buffered after switching off the device via a built-in accumulator or an additional lithium battery, so that its data content is retained for years.

In a memory area 5 , message texts are stored, which are entered at the evaluation / control station A. The user of the detection device E can call up these texts using the "Info" and "Arrow" keys.

In a further memory area 6 , messages are stored which relate to the internal states of the detection device E, e.g. B. Error states after incorrect data transmission. Such states are provided with a date and time stamp and stored in the ring memory 8 . From there they can be read out by the evaluation / control station A.

The project data are stored in a memory area 7 , ie the project number, the associated short description of the project and the project status (project or activity, released or blocked). The project short name is displayed on the registration device E when the corresponding number is selected. If the "Confirm" button is pressed after selecting a project or an activity, the project number and a date and time stamp are stored in the ring memory 8 .

The ring memory 8 is used to store the recorded time measurement data. The project numbers are provided with the corresponding date and time information and saved one after the other. When the storage limit is reached, the oldest existing data will be overwritten again. A total of 5,000 data records can be saved, for example. The evaluation / control station A first reads out the latest and then the older data (last in - first out).

A memory area 9 is used for database use. This memory area is reserved for data that can be written and read by the evaluation / control station A. This data is not used for internal purposes in the recording device, but for evaluations at the evaluation / control station A (so-called master data such as cost centers, user data, etc.). This makes it possible to evaluate the time measurement data even at control stations where no master data records are stored. It is also achieved in this way that the evaluation software at the control station is automatically configured when the data is read from the recording device. This makes work easier for the user of the evaluation / control station A, since after reading out the recording device all relevant data and settings are automatically available (e.g. the user does not have to select project or employee data).

In a memory area 10 , quantities that are required for the program run (for example counter readings or intermediate results) are stored.

A memory area 11 contains the temporary program code. Code executable from the non-volatile memory 2 is copied and executed into this memory area. This is due to the fact that the code in the non-volatile memory cannot be used directly to write the same memory chip. The copying of program code also offers the possibility of also overwriting the communication core in the program code without the risk that the software in the data acquisition device E becomes unusable in the event of a malfunction during data transmission.

In a program part 12 , data is linked to the current time and date.

The time measuring device in the form of a real-time clock module 13 with calendar is supplied with current by means of an accumulator or an additional lithium battery and therefore continues to run even after the recording device E has been switched off. The time measuring device is set from the evaluation / control station A, as illustrated by the arrow 14 . The setting can take place automatically via an internal clock of the evaluation / control station or manually by entering the time and date at the evaluation / control station A. Although the time measuring device can be set directly on the recording device E, this is not possible in the present case, because of problems Avoid from the outset due to operating errors when setting the clock.

Furthermore, special software 15 is available with which new software can be imported into the detection device A. This program is used to transfer updates, special software for device testing and customer-specific software to the terminal. For security reasons, this program part is completely separate from the evaluation software 16 , since an inadvertent overwriting of the program in the detection device E can change the functionality of the detection device E and data loss can occur.

Furthermore, software 16 is provided for parameterizing the recording devices E, for reading out the time measurement data from the recording device E and for simple evaluation of the time measurement data.

The connection between registration device E and Evaluation / control station A is present via the serial Interface V24 made, and is if necessary via a corresponding interface cable is manufactured. The Data transfer usually takes only a few seconds, after the transfer is complete, the cable can be removed become.

A data interface 18 to other data processing devices is also provided. In this way, the recorded data can be transferred to external accounting software, for example. This accounting software can also be located on the evaluation / control station A or on another computer system.

The measures described result in a simple structure of the device and a simple acquisition of the data. At the evaluation / control station A, all the necessary system parameters are entered and transmitted via the interface cable 17 to the recording devices E, which then store this data permanently and at any time. The following typical operating sequence results for the employees at the recording devices:

• 1. Switch on the device by pressing the "On" button,
• 2. Select the following activity by entering a one or two-digit number. The job description assigned to the number is shown on the display 21 in plain text. Alternatively, the selection can also be made using the arrow keys d, c shown in Figure 2.
• 3. Press the "Confirm" button e, see. Fig. 2. The detection device E now stores the current date, the current time and the selected number. After it has confirmed the correct storage on the display 21 , the detection device E switches itself off.
• Repeats itself at the beginning of another activity this operating procedure. The beginning of a "new" job here means the end of the previous one Activity. So are for booking an activity usually only three to four keystrokes required, which takes so little time will ensure that the normal workflow is not disturbed. A project is booked in the above described way. A new project will be the same started with a special activity, then immediately after booking the project Activity posted. Will be after booking a project no activity booked, then the time runs out "General project". The user can at one recognize special symbol on the display whether it is the selected number is a project or an activity.
• In the event of an interruption in work or at the end of the working day, a specially reserved project ("break") is booked for which there is a separate key f (see Figure 2). Irrespective of this, work breaks can also be individually defined as independent projects. For employees with fixed break times, the breaks can also be inserted automatically with the evaluation software, so that the employee in question does not have to make an explicit booking.

So that the detection devices E are not tied to a specific location the detection device E with the accumulator for storage equipped with electrical energy. With the accumulator it is possible to stay connected for several weeks without external Power supplies to work with the acquisition device E. The battery can be recharged, for example during a working day (approx. 7 hours). Because of the network independence and its small size can the detection device E conveniently z. B. in your handbag be transported.

Claims (13)

1. Device for capturing activity and / or project-related data of a company with an electronic data processing device, characterized in that
that the data processing device has a stationary evaluation / control station (A) and a transportable detection device (E) which can be handled and connected to it separately and which is assigned to a person performing the respective activity and / or a specific project by means of an identifier,
that configuration data can be set in the recording device (E) by means of the evaluation / control station (A), which include identifications for projects, activities and / or users,
that the user of the recording device (E) can set a time measuring device ( 13 ) for the duration of the activity by means of an input device ( 20 ) provided thereon for a selected project and / or an activity,
that the recording device (E) has an output device with which the time measurement data can be transmitted to it when coupled to the evaluation / control station (A), and
that the recorded time measurement data can be further processed in the evaluation / control station (A) by means of an evaluation device ( 16 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of the input device ( 20 ) on the detection device one of several, by means of the evaluation / control station (A) set projects and / or one of several set activities can / are selected. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the input device ( 20 ) of the detection device (E) keys (a... F) for starting and stopping the time measuring device ( 13 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the detection device (E) is equipped with a display device ( 21 ) with which the projects and / or activities can be displayed. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized, that by means of the evaluation / control station (A) set in the detection device (E) Configuration data from the acquisition device (E) cannot be changed. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the recording device (E) has a storage unit ( 8 ) for the recorded time measurement data. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the storage unit is a ring memory ( 8 ). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a memory device ( 9 ) is provided in the detection device (E) in which certain parameters for the evaluation of the time measurement data can be stored. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in
that the coupling of the detection device (E) to the evaluation / control station (A) via a serial interface ( 17 ) and
that programs provided in the detection device (E) can be changed from the outside via the interface ( 17 ). 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized, that the detection device (E) for the power supply has a rechargeable battery. 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized, that a selectable in the detection device (E) Secret number can be entered with which it can be locked is. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a data interface ( 18 ) to other data processing devices is provided at the evaluation / control station (A). 13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that
that the data processing device has four program levels, of which the first and second are provided in the detection device (E) and the third and fourth in the evaluation / control station (A),
that the first program level controls the function of the user interface of the recording device (E) and is responsible for the temporary storage of the time measurement data,
that the second program level establishes the connection to a data transfer program of the third program level of the evaluation / control station (A), transfers the time measurement data to the data transfer program of the third program level and accepts the configuration data provided by the third program level into the recording device (E),
that the third program level establishes the connection to the data transfer program of the second program level of the recording device (E), accepts the requested time measurement data from the recording device (E) and makes them available for evaluation in the fourth program level and transfers new configuration data to the recording device (E) if necessary , and
that the fourth program level controls the dialogue with the user of the evaluation / control station (A), for the collection, storage, assignment and evaluation of the time measurement data received by the recording device (E), the current projects, activities and the employees concerned with them and manages the configuration status of all assigned recording devices (E) and is provided for changing the configuration status or reconfiguring the recording devices as required.