Methods and systems for routing travel between origin and destination service locations using global satellite positioning

• US 20040220732A1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Steven G., Hamrick, Marvin R., Morton, Roland T. Jr., Sylvester, Jeffery A., Willis, Robert H. Jr., Davis, Mitchell E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location. One exemplary method embodiment includes obtaining through a server at least one set of “from” coordinates associated with the first service location; obtaining through the server at least one set of “to” coordinates associated with the second service location; transmitting the “from” and the “to” coordinates to a mapping system; and receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “to” and the “from” coordinates. Another exemplary method embodiment includes receiving first knowledge of one or more service personnel locations, receiving second knowledge of one or more service locations, and applying an algorithm with a computer using the first and the second knowledge to facilitate moving a service person to a most appropriate service location.

Claims

1-27. -27. (Cancelled)

28. A method for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location, comprising:

obtaining through a server at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first service location;

obtaining through the server at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second service location;

transmitting the “

from” and

“

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising checking for the presence of the “

from”

coordinates in a database.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the database is operatively associated with the server.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising accessing a positioning system to obtain the “

from”

coordinates.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the positioning system includes a global satellite positioning system.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the positioning system interacts with a transponder associated with an input device.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the positioning system interacts with a transponder associated with a vehicle.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising requesting the “

from”

coordinates through an input device.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the “

to” and

“

from”

coordinates include at least one of a latitude and a longitude associated with at least one of the first and second service locations.

37. The method of claim 28, further comprising outputting the directions in an electronic format.

38. The method of claim 28, further comprising outputting the directions in a hard copy format.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the directions include at least one map.

40. A system for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location, the system comprising:

a server configured for receiving data transmissions from an input device, the input device configured for use at the first service location, the server being in connection with a positioning system configured for determining at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the input device on an as needed basis;

at least one database configured for storing at least one of a “

to”

set of coordinates associated with the second service location and the “

from”

set of coordinates; and

a mapping system operatively associated with the input device for generating directions based on the “

from” and

the “

to”

coordinates.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the positioning system includes a global positioning satellite system.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of the sets of coordinates includes at least one of a latitude and a longitude associated with the input device.

43. The system of claim 40, further comprising a customer records system operatively associated with the server, the customer records system having a database configured for storing at least one of the sets of coordinates.

44. The system of claim 40, further comprising an address guide system operatively associated with the server, the address guide system having a database configured for storing at least one of the sets of coordinates.

45. The system of claim 40, further comprising a dispatch system configured for communicating instructions through the server on work to be performed at the second service location.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the input device is configured for sending data transmissions via at least a wireless data network.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the input device is configured for sending data transmissions via at least a modem connection.

48. The system of claim 40, further comprising a protocol server operatively associated with the server for processing information transmitted from the input device.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the directions include at least one map.

50. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for assisting a computer system to perform a method for generating directions from a first service location to at least a second service location, the method comprising:

obtaining through a server at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first service location;

obtaining through the server at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second service location;

transmitting the “

from” and

“

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.

51. In a system for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location, an input device configured to perform at least the following functions:

obtaining through a server at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first service location;

obtaining through the server at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second service location;

transmitting the “

from” and

“

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.

52. The input device of claim 51, wherein the input device is further configured for communicating with the server via a wireless data network.

53. The input device of claim 51, wherein the input device is further configured for communicating with the server via a modem connection.

58. In a system for generating directions for traveling from a first service location to at least a second service location, a server configured for performing at least the following functions:

obtaining at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first service location;

obtaining at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second service location;

providing the “

from” and

“

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

receiving directions from the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.

59. The server of claim 58, wherein the server is further configured for receiving the second service location from a dispatch system.

60. The server of claim 58, wherein the server is further configured for brokering at least one transaction request between an input device and at least one system operatively connected to the server.

61. The server of claim 58, wherein the directions include at least one map.

62. A method for facilitating the movement of service personnel, the method comprising:

receiving first knowledge of one or more service personnel locations;

receiving second knowledge of one or more service locations; and

applying an algorithm with a computer using the first knowledge and the second knowledge to facilitate moving a service person to a most appropriate service location.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the most appropriate service location is a next highest priority service location.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the computer is included within a dispatch system.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the computer is included within a server.

66. The method of claim 62, wherein the service person is a next best service person.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the service person is a next available service person.

68. A method for generating directions for traveling from a first piece of critical equipment to at least a second piece of critical equipment, the method comprising:

obtaining through a server at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first piece of critical equipment;

obtaining through the server at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second piece of critical equipment;

transmitting the “

from” and

“

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

generating directions in the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising checking for the presence of the “

from”

coordinates in a database.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the database is operatively associated with the server.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising accessing a positioning system to obtain the “

from”

coordinates.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the positioning system includes a global satellite positioning system.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the positioning system interacts with a transponder associated with an input device.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the positioning system interacts with a transponder associated with a vehicle.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein at least one of the “

to” and

“

from”

coordinates include at least one of a latitude and a longitude associated with at least one of the first and second service locations.

76. The method of claim 68, further comprising requesting the “

from”

coordinates through an input device.

77. The method of claim 68, further comprising outputting the directions in an electronic format.

78. The method of claim 68, further comprising outputting the directions in a hard copy format.

79. The method of claim 68, wherein the directions include a map.

80. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for assisting a computer system to perform a method for facilitating the movement of service personnel, the method comprising:

receiving first knowledge of one or more service personnel locations;

receiving second knowledge of one or more service locations; and

applying an algorithm with a computer using the first and the second knowledge to facilitate moving a service person to a most appropriate service location.

81. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for assisting a computer system to perform a method for generating directions from a first piece of critical equipment to at least a second piece of critical equipment, the method comprising:

obtaining through a server at least one set of “

from”

coordinates associated with the first piece of critical equipment;

obtaining through the server at least one set of “

to”

coordinates associated with the second piece of critical equipment;

transmitting the “

from”

and “

to”

coordinates to a mapping system; and

generating directions in the mapping system based on the “

to” and

the “

from”

coordinates.