System, apparatus, and method for providing workforce management

Abstract

A computer system is provided for improved workforce management including: (A) one or more base stations including a base unit, an enclosure for a tablet computer, the enclosure being connectable to the base unit, the tablet computer including one or more utilities; and (B) a server computer linked to the one or more base stations; the server computer including a server application; wherein the base stations are configured to function both as a (i) multi-user workforce management base station, which may be a stationary base station (whether mounted on a wall or laid on a table for example) and (ii) a mobile device, detachable from the base station, that may be used for one or more enterprise defined operations, and access one or more workforce management utilities, implemented. An enclosure and base unit design is provided for the base station. Applications for extending the functionality of the computer system are also provided, as well as workforce management methods.

1 . A computer system for improved workforce management comprises:
 one or more base stations including a base unit, an enclosure for a tablet computer, the enclosure being connectable to the base unit, the tablet computer including one or more utilities; and   a server computer linked to the one or more base stations; the server computer including a server application repository comprising a plurality of enterprise computer applications for enterprise circumscribed functions;   
       wherein the tablet computer is configured to automatically connect to the sever computer in order to access one or more of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application, and wherein the tablet computer is configured to function in multiple operating modes comprising a multi-user stationary mode, where the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations, and a mobile mode wherein the tablet computer is detachable from the stationary base station, wherein while operating in the .multi-user stationary mode the tablet computer is configured to access a first set of enterprise computer applications of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application, and wherein while operating in the mobile mode the tablet computer is configured to access a second set of enterprise computer applications of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application. 
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the server computer is configured to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations to automatically trigger the multi-user stationary mode, and wherein the server computer is configured to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is detached from the stationary base station to automatically trigger the mobile mode. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the first set of enterprise computer applications relate to multi-user enterprise functionality. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the second set of enterprise computer applications relate to mobile enterprise functionality. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1  further comprising an access control utility to authentication a user of the tablet device, wherein an operating mode of the multiple operating modes is implemented on a per user type to restrict user access to applications and provide access to enterprise selected enterprise computer applications for the particular user type. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is configured to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations to automatically trigger the multi-user stationary mode, and to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is detached from the stationary base station to automatically trigger the mobile mode. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the tablet computer is configured with a device manager to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations to automatically trigger the multi-user stationary mode, and to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is detached from the stationary base station to automatically trigger the mobile mode. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 7  wherein the device manager captures and stores information to monitor use of the tablet computer and perform analysis of use comprising: how long the tablet computer is used, peak usage periods, average length of use, and a log of what user of the tablet device used what enterprise applications. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1  further comprising an analytics engine configured to receive and process usage data for the tablet computer and enterprise computer applications to generate usage reports. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the enterprise computer applications are selected from applications consisting of human capital management applications, license tracking applications, training applications, retail establishment applications, messaging applications, way finding applications, product information applications, safety tracking applications, task management applications, production tracking applications, machine maintenance applications, and health care applications. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 1  further comprising multiple base stations in an enterprise location, wherein each tablet computer is configured to communicate with the other tablet computers and base stations. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure prevents circumvention of the access control provided by the operating modes. 
     
     
         13 . An improved workforce management enclosure for a tablet computer, the enclosure being connectable to the base unit of a base station, the tablet computer including one or more enterprise utilities; and wherein the enclosure is linked to a server computer comprising a server application repository comprising a plurality of enterprise computer applications for enterprise circumscribed functions; and wherein the enclosure is configured to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations to automatically trigger a multi-user stationary operating mode for the tablet computer, and to automatically detect whether the tablet computer is detached from the stationary base station to automatically trigger the mobile mode operating mode for the tablet computer, wherein the functionality for the tablet computer is restricted by the multi-user stationary operating mode and the mobile mode wherein the multi-user stationary operating mode and the mobile mode provide different functionality, wherein the functionality is configured for a particular enterprise purpose. 
     
     
         14 . The enclosure of  claim 13  wherein the base stations function both as a (i) multi-user workforce management base station, which may be a stationary base station and (ii) a mobile device enclosure detachable from the base station, that automatically connects to the sever computer in order to enable a user to access one or more of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application. 
     
     
         15 . A computer method for improved workforce management comprises:
 providing one or more base stations including a base unit, an enclosure for a tablet computer, the enclosure being connectable to the base unit, the tablet computer including one or more utilities;   providing a server computer linked to the one or more base stations; the server computer including a server application repository comprising a plurality of enterprise computer applications for enterprise circumscribed functions;   automatically connecting the tablet computer to the sever computer in order to access one or more of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application;   automatically detecting whether the tablet computer is connected to a stationary base station of the one or more base stations to automatically trigger the multi-user stationary mode, wherein while operating in the .multi-user stationary mode the tablet computer is configured to access a first set of enterprise computer applications of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application; and   automatically detecting whether the tablet computer is detached from the stationary base station to automatically trigger the mobile mode, wherein while operating in the mobile mode the tablet computer is configured to access a second set of enterprise computer applications of the plurality of enterprise computer applications from the server application.   
     
     
         16 . The computer method of  claim 15  further comprising
 detecting an application state; and 
 maintaining the application state across multi-user stationary mode and mobile mode. 
 
     
     
         17 . The computer method of  claim 15  further comprising
 detecting an operating time; and 
 automatically trigger an operating mode for the tablet computer based on the operating time. 
 
     
     
         18 . The computer method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 providing an access control utility; 
 authenticating a user using the access control utility; 
 determining a user type for the user; and 
 restricting user access to selected enterprise selected enterprise computer applications for the particular user type. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computer method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 providing an analytics engine; 
 receiving and processing usage data for the tablet computer and enterprise computer applications; and 
 generating usage reports. 
 
     
     
         20 . The computer method of  claim 15  wherein the enterprise computer applications are selected from applications consisting of human capital management applications, license tracking applications, training applications, retail establishment applications, messaging applications, way finding applications, product information applications, safety tracking applications, task management applications, production tracking applications, machine is maintenance applications, and health care applications.