Telephone-based personnel tracking system

Abstract

A computer system includes hardware for interfacing with the public telephone network and for accepting incoming telephone calls. The computer system detects from the incoming telephone calls automatic number identification data (ANI data), such as Caller-ID data, which identifies the calling telephone and further accepts personal identification codes from the caller. The system generates reports of the incoming telephone calls in which reports the location of the calling telephone is correlated with the person who is making the telephone call. Preferably, the system is applied for recording remotely, through the telephone network, the arrival and departure times of field based employees at various work sites.

1 . A method for tracking users over a telephony network, the method comprising: 
 receiving data indicating a telephone station upon placement of a call by a user from the telephone station, wherein the data is provided by the telephony network;    receiving user information provided by the user via the call;    accessing a database to verify the user information; and    storing a record of the call, the record including the data indicating the telephone station, and the user information.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 generating a report containing the record.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , the method comprising: 
 determining a location of the user based on the received data.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , the method comprising: 
 receiving a code via the call indicating that the user has arrived at the location or is departing the location.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data is based on one of an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and a Caller Identification (ID).  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the telephony network includes a cellular system, and the data is associated with a cellular location within the cellular system.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the code is provided by a device coupled with the telephone station.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data is received before the call is answered.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the data is provided without manual intervention by the user.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for tracking users over a telephony network, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of: 
 receiving data indicating a telephone station upon placement of a call by a user from the telephone station, wherein the data is provided by the telephony network;    receiving user information provided by the user via the call;    accessing a database to verify the user information; and    storing a record of the call, the record including the data indicating a telephone station, and the user information.    
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of: 
 generating a report containing the record.    
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of: 
 determining a location of the user based on the received data.    
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of: 
 receiving a code via the call indicating that the user has arrived at the location or is departing the location.    
     
     
         14 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the data is based on one of an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and a Caller Identification (ID).  
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the telephony network includes a cellular system, and the data is associated with a cellular location within the cellular system.  
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the code is provided by a device coupled with the telephone station.  
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the data is received before the call is answered.  
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium according to  claim 10 , wherein the data is provided without manual intervention by the user.  
     
     
         19 . A system for providing tracking services, the system comprising: 
 a telephony system configured to receive a call placed by a user from a telephone station, wherein the telephony system generates data indicating the identity of the telephone station; and    a computer configured to receive the data indicating the identity of the telephone station, wherein the computer is configured to perform the steps of, 
 receiving user information provided by the user via the call,  
 accessing a database to verify the user information, and  
 storing a record of the call, the record including the location of the user, and the user information.  
   
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the computer is further configured to generate a report containing the record.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the computer is further configured to determine the location of the user based on the received data.  
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein the computer receives a code via the call indicating that the user has arrived at the location or is departing the location.  
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the data is based on one of Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and Caller Identification (ID).  
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the telephony system communicates with a cellular system, and the data is associated with a cellular location within the cellular system.  
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the code is provided by a device coupled with the telephone station.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the data is received before the call is answered.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 20 , wherein the data is provided without manual intervention by the user.