System and method for electronic time reconciliation

Abstract

The invention relates to systems, methods, and devices for automatically reconciling information among multiple records. Systems and methods of the invention are operable to automatically reconcile differences among a gatelog, a shift ticket, and an activity report by applying rules. Since the invention is able to automate and standardize the reconciliation, the results are rapid and predictable and conform to expectations.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for reconciling contractor service invoice data, the system comprising:
 a contractor computer system comprising a processor coupled to a tangible, non-transitory memory, wherein the system is operable to:   receive a gatelog from an independent customer computer system, the gatelog including a badge-in and badge-out time generated by a technician's use of a security device at a facility of the customer;   automatically determine a work duration from the badge-in time and the badge-out time;   receive a reported billable time from the technician;   automatically identify a discrepancy among the approved time, the reported billable time, the work duration, and an approved time for billing;   automatically apply a rule to the discrepancy to determine a conforming time; and   automatically produce a report comprising the conforming time for use in billing the customer for work done by the contractor.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further wherein the system is operable to transmit the report to the customer computer system. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein system is operable to:
 make a comparison between a list of equipment used and an approved equipment list;   apply a rule to the comparison to determine a final equipment list; and   include the final equipment list in the report.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the rule provides that the approved time for billing will be the conforming time unless the work duration is less than the approved time for billing by a preset threshold. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the preset threshold is zero. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the rule provides that the conforming time will be the higher of the approved time for billing and the reported billable time except that in no case will the conforming time exceed the work duration. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a ruggedized tablet computer operable to be used by the technician on-site at the facility to record hours worked and provide the reported billable time to the system.