Methods and systems for tracking time in a web-based environment

Abstract

Methods and systems for tracking time in a web-based environment are described. In some embodiments, a web-based application to track time associated with a plurality of records is provided. A record in an active state is identified. A session associated with the record is generated, which includes activating a timer. An indication is received indicating that the record is in an inactive state. In response to receiving the indication, the session is ended, which includes deactivating the timer. A duration of the session is recorded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of tracking time comprising:
 providing a web-based application to track time associated with a plurality of records;   receiving a selection of a first record;   in response to receiving the selection of the first record, generating a first session associated with the first record, wherein generating the first session associated with the first record comprises activating a timer associated with the first session of the first record;   detecting a selection of a second record; and   in response to detecting the selection of the second record:   ending the first session associated with the first record, wherein ending the first session associated with the first record comprises deactivating the timer associated with the first session of the first record; and   recording a duration of the first session associated with the first record.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to detecting the selection of the second record, generating a first session associated with a second record.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web-based application is hosted in a cloud-computing environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each record in the plurality of records is defined by separate tabs in a multi-tabbed web-browser. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of records is defined by sub-tabs within a single tab in a multi-tabbed web-browser. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a total duration of the first record, wherein the total duration is based on the duration of each session associated with the first record; and   recording the total duration for the first record.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 continuously updating the duration of the first session of the first record;   continuously updating the total duration of the first record;   displaying the continuously updated total duration of the first session of the first record in substantially real time; and   displaying the continuously updated duration of the first session of the first record in substantially real time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 detecting that a predetermined total duration of the record has been exceeded; and   providing an indication to a user of the web-based application that the predetermined total duration for the record has been exceeded, wherein the indication comprises changing a color of an indicator.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a deactivation selection of the timer during the first session associated with the first record in the active state;   in response to receiving the deactivation selection, deactivating the timer;   receiving a reactivation selection during the first session associated with the first record in the active state; and   in response to receiving the reactivation selection, reactivating the timer.   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, direct the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:
 providing a web-based application to track time associated with a plurality of records, wherein the web-based application is hosted in a cloud-computing environment, wherein each of the plurality of records is defined by sub-tabs within a single tab in a multi-tabbed web-browser;   identifying a record in an active state;   generating a session associated with the record in the active state, wherein generating a session associated with the active record comprises activating a timer;   receiving an indication that the record is in an inactive state, wherein receiving an indication that the record is in the inactive state comprises identifying that a second record is in an active state;   in response to receiving the indication that the record is in the inactive state, ending the session, wherein ending the session comprises deactivating the timer;   continuously updating the duration of the record for the session associated with the record;   continuously updating the total duration of the record;   calculating a total duration of the record, wherein the total duration is based on the duration of each session associated with the record;   displaying the continuously updated total duration of the record in substantially real time;   displaying the continuously updated duration of the record for the session in substantially real time;   detecting that a predetermined total duration of the record has been exceeded;   providing an indication to a user of the web-based application that the predetermined total duration for the record has been exceeded, wherein the indication comprises changing a color of an indicator;   receiving a deactivation selection of the timer during the session associated with the record in the active state;   in response to receiving the deactivation selection, deactivating the timer;   receiving a reactivation selection during the session associated with the record in the active state;   in response to receiving the reactivation selection, reactivating the timer;   recording the total duration for the record; and   recording a duration for the session.