Systems, Methods and Devices for Trip Management Functions

• US 20090070033A1
• 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 9,565,274 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 Web based application system for managing a trip. The Web based application system for managing a trip includes a graphical user interface for allowing a client computer coupled to a network to access a server computer to retrieve and store data relating to the trip therewith, one or more interactive windows functioning with the graphical user interface to perform the retrieving and the storing such that the data include a Web document and the graphical user interface and the interactive windows include a first application, and a wireless device interface for allowing a portable device wirelessly coupled, with a cellular telephone system, with the network to access the Web document. The portable device includes a cellular telephone functionality, a geo-locating functionality and a processor for processing the Web document. The processing helps manage the trip. Downloading and processing the Web document include a second application.

Claims

1. A Web based application system for managing a trip comprising:

a graphical user interface for allowing a client computer coupled to a network to access a server computer to retrieve and store data relating to said trip therewith;

one or more interactive windows functioning with said graphical user interface to perform said retrieving and said storing wherein said data comprise a Web document and wherein said graphical user interface and said interactive windows comprise a first application;

a wireless device interface for allowing a portable device wirelessly coupled, with a cellular telephone system, with said network to access said Web document wherein said portable device comprises;

a cellular telephone functionality for wirelessly coupling with said cellular telephone system and downloading said Web document therefrom;

a geo-locating functionality operable with said cellular telephone functionality for determining a geographic location of said portable device wherein said device accesses a signal relating to said geographic location, said signal generated by a system for determining and reporting said geographic location; and

a processor for processing said Web document wherein said processing helps manage said trip, wherein said downloading and processing said Web document comprise a second application.

2. A computer implemented method for managing a trip, comprising:

storing data relating to said trip with a server coupled with a network wherein said data are stored as a Web document;

upon an authorized portable device accessing said server with a cellular telephone system, downloading said Web document to said portable device, wherein said Web document provides data to support trip management.

3. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 wherein said portable device comprises:

a cellular telephone functionality for wirelessly coupling with said cellular telephone system;

a geo-locating functionality operable with said cellular telephone functionality for determining a geographic location of said portable device wherein said device accesses a signal relating to said geographic location, said signal generated by a system for determining and reporting said geographic location; and

a processor for processing said Web document wherein said processing helps manage said trip.

4. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 3 wherein said portable device comprises one or more of:

a cellular telephone wherein said geo-locating function is performed with a position determining 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.

5. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 wherein said data relating to said trip comprises a map.

6. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 5 wherein said map comprises a plurality of map tiles.

7. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 6 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.

8. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 5 wherein said storing comprises retrieving said map from a map database.

9. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 8 wherein said map database comprises a database associated with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

10. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 5 wherein said data relating to said trip relates to an elevation.

11. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 10 wherein said map comprises a contour map.

12. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 wherein said data relating to said trip comprises a graphical image.

13. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 12 wherein said graphical image comprises an aerial/space photograph.

14. The computer implemented method 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.

15. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 wherein said data relating to said trip is a Hypertext Markup Language document or a Wireless Markup Language document.

16. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

billing a user of said cellular telephone system for performing at least one of said storing and said accessing wherein said method comprises a business method for operating said cellular telephone system.

17. The computer implemented method as recited in claim 16 wherein said billing is based on a subscription, a pay per use, or a promotional.