Systems, Methods and Devices for Trip Management Functions

• US 20090070032A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Janky, James M., Howard, Craig, Allen, Robert Joseph, Rudow, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A network based computerized system for managing a trip. The network based computerized system includes a network, which includes one or more of the Internet and a wide area network. The network based computerized system includes a server coupled to the network running a network based application for allowing a user of a client computer coupled with the network to store, on the server, data relating to the trip. The network based computerized system includes a cellular telephone system coupled to the network for allowing a user of a portable electronic device disposed for wirelessly communicating with the cellular telephone system to access the server and download the data relating to the trip. The portable electronic device performs a geo-locating function for determining a geographic location of the portable electronic device and accesses a signal relating to the geographic location generated by a system for determining the geographic location.

Claims

1. A network based computerized system for managing a trip, comprising:

a network, said network comprising one or more of;

the Internet; and

a wide area network;

a server coupled to said network and running a network based application for allowing a user of a client computer coupled with said network to store, on said server, data relating to said trip; and

a cellular telephone system coupled to said network for allowing a user of a portable electronic device disposed for wirelessly communicating with said cellular telephone system to access said server and download therefrom said data relating to said trip, wherein said portable electronic device performs a geo-locating function for determining a geographic location of said portable electronic device wherein said device accesses a signal relating to said geographic location, said signal generated by a system for determining said geographic location.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system for determining said geographic location comprises one or more of Global Positioning System, Galileo™

, Global Navigation Satellite Service, a Rosum position determining system, or another position system, wherein said portable electronic device accesses said signal generated by said system for determining said geographic location.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said portable electronic device comprises one or more of:

a cellular telephone wherein said geo-locating function is performed with a Global Positioning System functionality;

a handheld position determining device, wherein said handheld position determining device comprises functionality for performing a cellular telephone function; and

a computer comprising functionality for performing a cellular telephone function and said geo-locating function.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data relating to said trip comprises a map.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein said map comprises a plurality of map tiles.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein each map tile of said plurality of map tiles comprises a border, wherein said border comprises a boundary separating one said map tile from another said map tile, and wherein said boundary corresponds to a substantially linear contour of a geographical area circumscribed by said border, and wherein said map comprises a dynamic display with said portable electronic device wherein each said map tile comprises a next sequential map tile to a map tile separated therefrom with said border, wherein, as said geographic location changes, said next sequential map tile is downloaded and displayed.

7. The system as recited in claim 4 further comprising one or more databases wherein at least one of said databases comprises a map database and wherein said map is retrieved from said map database.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said map database comprises a database associated with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein said data relating to said trip relates to an elevation.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said map comprises a contour map.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data relating to said trip comprises a graphical image.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said graphical image comprises an aerial/space photograph.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said graphical image substantially complies with a standard of one or more of the Joint Picture Experts Group and the Motion Pictures Expert Group.

14. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data relating to said trip is a Hypertext Markup Language document or a Wireless Markup Language document.

15. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone system further allows said portable electronic device to wirelessly access said server and upload thereto information relating to said geographical location and wherein said server stores said information relating to said geographical location with said data relating to said trip.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said server allows an authorized person to access said data.