Method and apparatus for providing task related navigation services

• US 20090144181A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xora, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xora, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rani, Ananth
• Application Number:
  US12/291,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20090144181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem

Abstract

A method and apparatus for task based navigation by determining a task; determining a present location of a receiver associated with a user to perform the task; generating turn-by-turn travel information related to the task, where the turn-by-turn travel information indicates a path from the present location of the receiver to a location at which the task is to be performed; and transmitting the task and the turn-by-turn travel information to the receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing task related navigation, comprising:

a controller for determining a task to be performed by a user and generating turn-by-turn travel information related to the task; and

at least one receiver, coupled to the controller, for receiving the task and related turn-by-turn directions to enable the user to travel using the turn-by-turn travel information to a location to perform the task.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises at least one task list and transmits at least one task from the at least one task list to the at least one receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller determines a location of the at least one receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the controller determines the task based on the location of the at least one receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiver comprises a GNSS receiver for determining a location of the receiver.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining a current location of the receiver; and

determining a status of the receiver depending upon the current location.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the status identifies whether the receiver has arrived at the location at which the task is to be performed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, if the receiver has arrived, clocking-in the user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein, if the receiver is deemed to leave the location at which the task is to be performed, clocking-out the user.

6. A method for providing task related navigation comprising:

determining a task;

determining a present location of a receiver associated with a user to perform the task;

generating turn-by-turn travel information related to the task, where the turn-by-turn travel information indicates a path from the present location of the receiver to a location at which the task is to be performed; and

transmitting the task and the turn-by-turn travel information to the receiver.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the task determining comprises utilizing a criteria to select a task for a particular user.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the receiver present location determining comprises requesting the present location from the receiver.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiver utilizes a GNSS receiver to determine the present location.

14. A method for determining a clock-in and clock-out time comprising:

determining a location of a receiver that is associated with a user; and

if the location is proximate a task location where the user is to perform a task, clocking-in the user to begin tracking an amount of time the user performs the task.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

monitoring the location of the receiver; and

when the location is no longer proximate the task location where the user is performing the task, clocking-out the user to cease tracking an amount of time the user performs the task.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining the task;

determining turn-by-turn travel information for a path from a present location of the receiver to the location where the task is to be performed.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the task determining and turn-by-turn travel information determining steps are performed remote from the receiver and are communicated to the receiver via a communications network.