Monitoring recurring activities and locations of workers

• US 10,229,375 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J., Schenken, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stamber, Eric W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waesco, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US13/921,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for monitoring recurring activities. In one embodiment, activity data, worker data, and location data can be analyzed to identify segments of interest. The identified segments can then be provided for an interface for display.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring recurring activities, the method comprising:

receiving, via one or more processors of a network device, location data and activity data recorded by a communication device, the location data and the activity data corresponding to a worker and a work period in which the worker performed one or more recurring activities predesignated as corresponding activities performed periodically within the work period;

detecting a geolocation of the communication device, from location data captured by a location detection device, at which the worker performed the recurring activities;

determining, via the one or more processors, (i) a number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (ii) an average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period;

receiving, via the one or more processors, work data corresponding to the worker and the work period in which the worker performed the one or more recurring activities;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a plurality of inactivity segments during the work period that each meet a configurable threshold based at least in part on the activity data;

detecting, via the one or more processors, that the plurality of inactivity segments represents a time period for which the worker did not perform the one or more recurring activities during the work period even though a detection indicates the worker performed one or more other activities other than the recurring activities during one or more of the inactivity segments during the work period;

identifying, via the one or more processors, a location of the worker during at least one of the one or more inactivity segments based in part on analyzing the location data;

determining, via the one or more processors, that the other activities, other than the recurring activities, detected during at least one of the plurality of inactivity segments for the work period corresponds to a predefined numerical inactivity reason code, denoting the other activities, based at least in part on analyzing the work data; and

providing visual content to a display device to display (1) the detected geolocation at which the worker performed the recurring activities, (2) the activity data indicating, in part, (a) the determined number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (b) the average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period, (3) the at least one inactivity segment and the predefined numerical inactivity reason code, (4) a histogram of a number of packages loaded onto a loader during a recurring predetermined time period, visually on a graph relative to time, via a user interface of the display device of the network device to enable user interaction with the graph, and (5) a graphical map illustrating a plurality of locations of the worker during the work period, wherein the graphical map is associated with a playback capability that, when activated, provides an animation of movements of the worker at each of the plurality of locations corresponding to a current time indicator.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning an alert to at least one of the one or more inactivity segments, wherein each alert further identifies a location of the corresponding inactivity segment.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing display of at least a portion of the inactivity segments and at least a portion of the corresponding activity data and location data.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising increasing the granularity of the activity data and the location data displayed in response to user input.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period based at least in part on the location data; and

providing the graphical map for display of the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the predefined numerical inactivity reason code is identified as a designated valid reason for the other activities, performed by the worker, detected during the at least one inactivity segment in the work data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that one or more of the plurality of inactivity segments that meet or exceed the configurable threshold denotes unproductive performance by the worker.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the recording of the activity data by the communication device triggers the recording of the location data, by the communication device, that corresponds to the one or more recurring activities performed by the worker.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing visible data, to the display device, indicating work content pertaining to the other activities detected during the at least one inactivity segment in response to detecting an indication of a selection, via the user interface, of the at least one inactivity segment on the graph.

10. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive location data and activity data recorded by a communication device, the location data and the activity data corresponding to a worker and a work period in which the worker performed one or more recurring activities predesignated as corresponding activities performed periodically within the work period;

detect a geolocation of the communication device, from location data captured by a location detection device, at which the worker performed the recurring activities;

determine (i) a number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (ii) an average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period;

receive work data corresponding to the worker and the work period in which the worker performed the one or more recurring activities;

identify a plurality of inactivity segments during the work period that each meet a configurable threshold based at least in part on the activity data;

detect that the plurality of inactivity segments represents a time period for which the worker did not perform the one or more recurring activities during the work period even though a detection indicates the worker performed one or more other activities other than the recurring activities during one or more of the inactivity segments during the work period;

identify a location of the worker during at least one of the one or more inactivity segments based in part on analyzing the location data;

determine that the other activities, other than the recurring activities, detected during at least one of the plurality of inactivity segments for the work period corresponds to a predefined numerical inactivity reason code, denoting the other activities, based at least in part on analyzing the work data; and

provide visual content to a display device to display (1) the detected geolocation at which the worker performed the recurring activities, (2) the activity data indicating, in part, (a) the determined number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (b) the average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period, (3) the at least one inactivity segment and the predefined numerical inactivity reason code, (4) a histogram of a number of packages loaded onto a loader during a recurring predetermined time period, visually on a graph relative to time, via a user interface of the display device of the network device to enable user interaction with the graph, and (5) a graphical map illustrating a plurality of locations of the worker during the work period, wherein the graphical map is associated with a playback capability that, when activated, provides an animation of movements of the worker at each of the plurality of locations corresponding to a current time indicator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to assign an alert to at least one of the one or more inactivity segments, wherein each alert further identifies a location of the corresponding inactivity segment.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to cause display of at least a portion of the inactivity segments and at least a portion of the corresponding activity data and location data.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to increase the granularity of the activity data and the location data displayed in response to user input.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period based at least in part on the location data; and

provide the graphical map for display of the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine whether the predefined numerical inactivity reason code is identified as a designated valid reason for the other activities, performed by the worker, detected during the at least one inactivity segment in the work data.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine that one or more of the plurality of inactivity segments that meet or exceed the configurable threshold denotes unproductive performance by the worker.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the recording of the activity data by the communication device triggers the recording of the location data, by the communication device, that corresponds to the one or more recurring activities performed by the worker.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

provide visible data, to the display device, indicating work content pertaining to the other activities detected during the at least one inactivity segment in response to detecting an indication of a selection, via the user interface, of the at least one inactivity segment on the graph.

19. A computer program product for monitoring recurring activities, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive, via a network device, location data and activity data recorded by a communication device, the location data and the activity data corresponding to a worker and a work period in which the worker performed one or more recurring activities predesignated as corresponding activities performed periodically within the work period;

an executable portion configured to detect a geolocation of the communication device, from location data captured by a location detection device, at which the worker performed the recurring activities;

an executable portion configured to determine (i) a number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (ii) an average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period;

an executable portion configured to receive work data corresponding to the worker and the work period in which the worker performed the one or more recurring activities;

an executable portion configured to identify a plurality of inactivity segments during the work period that each meet a configurable threshold based at least in part on the activity data;

an executable portion configured to detect that the plurality of inactivity segments represents a time period for which the worker did not perform the one or more recurring activities during the work period even though a detection indicates the worker performed one or more other activities other than the recurring activities during one or more of the inactivity segments during the work period;

an executable portion configured to identify a location of the worker during at least one of the one or more inactivity segments based in part on analyzing the location data;

an executable portion configured to determine that the other activities, other than the recurring activities, detected during at least one of the plurality of inactivity segments for the work period corresponds to a predefined numerical inactivity reason code, denoting the other activities, based at least in part on analyzing the work data; and

an executable portion configured to provide visual content to a display device to display (1) the detected geolocation at which the worker performed the recurring activities, (2) the activity data indicating, in part, (a) the determined number of packages handled by the worker during the work period and (b) the average number of packages handled per hour by the worker during the work period, (3) the at least one inactivity segment and the predefined numerical inactivity reason code, (4) a histogram of a number of packages loaded onto a loader during a recurring predetermined time period, visually on a graph relative to time, via a user interface of the display device of the network device to enable user interaction with the graph, and (5) a graphical map illustrating a plurality of locations of the worker during the work period, wherein the graphical map is associated with a playback capability that, when activated, provides an animation of movements of the worker at each of the plurality of locations corresponding to a current time indicator.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising an executable portion configured to cause the apparatus to assign an alert to at least one of the one or more inactivity segments, wherein each alert further identifies a location of the corresponding inactivity segment.

21. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising an executable portion configured to cause the apparatus to cause display of at least a portion of the inactivity segments and at least a portion of the corresponding activity data and location data.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising an executable portion configured to increase the granularity of the activity data and the location data displayed in response to user input.

23. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period based at least in part on the location data; and

an executable portion configured to provide the graphical map for display of the plurality of locations of the worker during the work period.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine whether the predefined numerical inactivity reason code is identified as a designated valid reason for the other activities, performed by the worker, detected during the at least one inactivity segment in the work data.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

an executable portion configured to determine that one or more of the plurality of inactivity segments that meet or exceed the configurable threshold denotes unproductive performance by the worker.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein:

the recording of the activity data by the communication device triggers the recording of the location data, by the communication device, that corresponds to the one or more recurring activities performed by the worker.

27. The computer program product of claim 19, further comprising:

an executable portion configured to provide visible data, to the display device, indicating work content pertaining to the other activities detected during the at least one inactivity segment in response to detecting an indication of a selection, via the user interface, of the at least one inactivity segment on the graph.