The present invention relates to a method of providing a work history of a subject to a client. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of providing a work history of a subject to a client comprising the steps of transferring a work history object from a mobile phone to a smart card and providing the smart card to the client. In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method of a client controlling access by a subject to a work site. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of a client controlling access by a subject to a work site comprising the steps of the subject proving a smart card to a client, the smart card comprising at least one work history object, and the client reviewing the at least one work history object and adding an access control code to the smart card. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an access control system. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention comprises an access control system comprising a smart card comprising a work history object and client access code and a lock adapted to open on receiving the access code from the smart card.

In the building profession a large percentage of building workers (including builders, electricians, joiners, plumbers etc) are se!f-employed. The building contractor will employ these self-empioyed workers for a particular job. Many may not have worked for the contractor before.

Before starting work there are a number of formalities that need to be completed. As a non- limiting example the contractor needs to check the worker has the required insurance, has been on courses to acquire the required skill set to perform the job and has attended the required health and safety courses. This is an administrative burden on the contractor.

This can also be difficult for the worker. A worker may be employed by a number of different contractors on different sites at the same time. A worker will need to keep track of all his relevant paperwork between a number of contractors. Often he or she cannot provide the relevant paperwork to one contractor as it is being processed by another contractor. It is not unknown for one worker to be sent on the same heaith and safety course several different times by different contractors often in a short period of time due to paperwork difficulties.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of providing a work history of a subject to a client comprising providing a mobile electronic device, the mobile electronic device storing at least one work history object; transferring at least one work history object to a smartcard; and, providing the smart card to the client.

The method according to the invention has the advantage that the worker (subject) can maintain a central repository of all their work history documents. When attending a work site they can download the work history on the smart card and provide it to the contractor (client). If the worker then attends a different site then he can again download the central repository of work history documents onto a further smart card and provide to the new contractor.

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of either the client or the subject adding an access code to the smart card, the access code enabling the smart card to open a lock.

The access code can be unique to the smart card.

Alternatively the same access code is added to every smart card..

Preferably, the mobile electronic device is any of a mobile telephone, a tablet or a PDA.

Preferably, the step of transferring the at least one work history object to the smart card is performed wireiessly, preferably by Bluetooth of Near Field Communication (NFC) In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of a client controlling access by a subject to a work site, the method comprising the steps of

(a) the subject providing a smart card to the client, the smart card comprising at least one work history object;

(b) the client reviewing the at least one work history object to determine if it is acceptable and if so either adding an access code to the smart card or validating an access code added to the smart card by the client, the access code being for opening a lock controlling access to the work site.

The method according to the invention provides a simple method by which the client can control the access the subject has to a work site. The client reviews the work history documents provided by the subject. It is only when the client is satisfied that they upload the access code to the smart card. The smart card is then returned to the subject who uses it to open a lock controlling access to the work site.

Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of

(a) the subject providing the smart card to the lock;

(b) the lock reading the access code from the smart card and comparing the access code to a database of access codes; and,

(c) the lock opening if the smart card access code is in the database.

The same access code can be added to each smart card.

Alternatively, a unique access code can be added to each smart card.

Preferably, the at least one work history object comprises at least one of a health file, an insurance file, a CRB file and a file comprising financial or accounting information.

Preferably, the at least one work history object comprises at least one skills accreditation file.

Preferably, at least a portion of the skills accreditation file is digitally signed to ensure authenticity.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an access control system comprising

(a) a smart card, the smart comprising at least one work history object and a client access code; and, (b) a lock adapted to read the client access code from the smart card on presentation of the smart card to the lock, the lock being adapted to compare the access code to a database of access codes and open if the access control code is in the database.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a method according to the invention in schematic form; and,

Figure 2 shows a further method according to the invention in schematic form.

Shown in figure 1 is a method according to the invention in schematic form. The subject 1 (typically the self-employed worker) possesses a mobile electronic device 2. This is typically a mobile phone, a tablet or a PDA. The subject 1 downloads an application (a 'mobile app') to enable the method.

The subject 1 stores at least one work history object 3 on the mobile electronic device 2. The work history object 3 is data relating to the subject 1. The work history object 3 can be a health file. The health file can include data relating to the subject 1 such as blood group, allergies, current medication, health history, doctor, next of kin etc. The mobile app typically encrypts the data in case the mobile electronic device 2 is lost.

A further possible work history object 3 is an insurance file. The insurance file can include such details and professional indemnity cover details, site specific insurances, other forms of insurance (eg collateral warranties and bonds) and details of insurance claims or actions. Again this data can be encrypted. The app may only keep details of insurance policies which are in force. If the insurance has expired the app may automatically delete the details of the policy. A further possible work history object 3 is a CRB file. The CRB file can include details such as police checks and local authority checks. Again, this information is typically encrypted.

A further example of a work history object 3 is a financial/ accounts file. This can include such details as UTR number and tax deduction percentage, National insurance number and bank details. Again, these details are typically encrypted.

The most common type of work history object 3 is a skills accreditation file. The skills accreditation file can include such details as skills cards and accreditations, CSCS cards, first aid certificates, CiTB registrations, City and Guilds apprenticeship accreditations, NVQs, professional body accreditations and certificates of attendance at health and safety courses. Such details can often be digitally signed to ensure authenticity. Again, they are typically encrypted.

In a first step the subject 1 downloads one or more work history object 3 from the portable electronic device 2 onto a smart card 4. This is typically done by Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC). This can be a smart card 4 owned by the subject 1. Alternatively, the subject 1 may attend the work site of a client 5 and be provided by a smart card 4 by the client 5. The client 5 will then review the work history object (s) 3 to determine if the subject 1 can work on the site.

If the work history object 3 is deficient in some respect (for example the subject 1 has not attended a recent health and safety course) the subject 1 will be required to attend the required course. The course provider can then upload the attendance certificate to the subjects portable electronic device 2 at the end of the course. The subject 1 can then re-visit the client 5 and re-download the work history object 3 onto the smart card 4 for review by the client 5.

An important advantage of the method according to the invention from the perspective of the subject 1 is that he/she need only correct the missing requirement once and the full corrected work history object 3 is available to him at ail times on his portable electronic device 2. He/she can immediately provide the fuil work history object 3 to a plurality of clients 5 without waiting for one client 5 to finish reviewing the data before providing it to the next client 5. There are a number of advantages from the perspective of the client 5. Firstly if the data on the smart card 4 is digitally signed the client 5 has a reasonable expectation that the data is genuine and so no independent checks are necessary. Further, the client 5 is not faced with the problem of a subject 1 stating they have the required documentation but it is with another client 5 for review.

if the subject 1 is accepted to work on the site the subject 1 will typically wear the smart card 4 so their work history can be checked at any time. The smart card 4 may also contain biometric information such as a photo or fingerprint data so the client can check that the correct subject is wearing the correct card 4. This biometric data can be downloaded by the subject 1 onto the smart card 4. Preferably it is uploaded by the client 5 to the smartcard 4 before returning it to the subject 1.

Shown in figure 2 is a further method according to the invention. This method is similar to that of figure 1 except before returning the smart card 4 to the subject 1 the client 5 uploads an access code 6 to the smartcard 4.

Access to the work site is through one or more gates opened by a lock 7. In order to open the lock 7 the subject 1 presents the smart card 4 to the lock 7. Typically this is by sliding the card 4 through a card reader or by touching the smart card 4 to the lock 7 so the lock 7 can read the smart card 4 by wireless communication. The lock 7 reads the access code 6 on the smart card 4 and compares it to a database 8. If the access code 6 is in the database 8 the lock 7 opens the gate. Otherwise the subject 1 is denied access.

The client 5 may upload the same access code 6 to all smart cards 4 in which case the database 8 will only comprise one access code 6. In an alternative embodiment the client 5 may upload a different access code 6 to each smart card 4. In this case the client 5 may also need to upload the access code 6 to the lock database 8. This may need to be done as a separate operation. Alternatively, the lock 7 may be connected by a network to the clients computer and when a new access code 6 is issued to the smart card 4 this is automatically uploaded to the database 8 of the lock 7. In a further alternative the lock database 8 may contain a number of access codes 6 from which the client 5 can choose.

The client 5 will keep a record of which subject 1 has been issued with which access code 6. If the subject 1 loses the card 4, comes to the end of his employment or for some other reason is no longer allowed access the site the client 5 can simply remove the subjects access code 6 from the database 8 of the lock 7.

The smart card 4 may be an intelligent smart card 4. When the client 5 uploads an access code 6 to the smart card 4 he may also upload a validity time limit. When the time limit is reached the smart card 4 automatically deletes the access code 6. Similarly, the time limit can also be uploaded to the lock database 8. The subject 1 can also time limit his data so that any data uploaded as part of a work history object 3 to the computer of the client 5 will delete itself after a predetermined time.

The smart card 4 may also perform more sophisticated processing of the data uploaded to it. For example if the smart card 4 detects that the insurance of the subject 1 has expired it may automatically delete the access code 6.

The method of figure 2 has been described with reference to the client 5 adding the access code 6 to the smart card 4. In an alternative embodiment the subject 1 provides the access code 6 to the smart card 4. When the client 5 decides that the at least one work history object 3 is acceptable the client 5 validates the access code 6. This is typically done by the client 5 adding the access code 6 to the lock database 8.

The access code 6 can be a string of characters, preferably an alphanumeric string. Other forms of access code 6 are possible such as a photograph, fingerprint(s) or retinal scans. In this case the client 5 will validate the access code 6 by checking it correctly identifies the subject 1 before adding it to the database 8. In a further embodiment of the invention the smart card 6 includes a GPS positioning system. This allows the client 5 to keep track of the subject 1. it may also be useful if the subject 1 has an accident in the workplace enabling the subject 1 to be found quickly.