Real-time interactive system and method for making and updating changes to infrastructure data

• US 20100030810A1
• Filed: 08/04/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crosswire Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Flat Hill Ideas, LLC
• Inventors: Marr, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

A real-time interactive system and method for updating infrastructure information, and using the same to implement new changes to the infrastructure, can utilize a wireless enabled portable data collection device for capturing infrastructure information in the field at an access interface; an infrastructure information database containing previously recorded infrastructure information, if any; a remote server communicating with the portable data collection device and the infrastructure information database; wherein infrastructure information is wirelessly communicated to the remote server and the remote server controls a real-time interactive session with the portable data collection device to verify previously recorded infrastructure information, update the infrastructure information database with the current infrastructure information, and facilitate making the new changes using updated infrastructure information. The portable data collection device can be a cell phone having a camera, for capturing the images, and a GPS receiver, for obtaining GPS data associated with the access interface.

Claims

1. A real-time interactive system for updating infrastructure information and using updated infrastructure information to implement new changes to the infrastructure, said system comprising:

a. a wireless enabled portable data collection device for capturing infrastructure information in the field at an access interface, said infrastructure information comprising;

i. any current infrastructure information associated with said access interface,

ii. identification information corresponding to said access interface, and

iii. new changes made to said infrastructure information;

b. an infrastructure information database, said infrastructure database containing previously recorded infrastructure information, if any, corresponding to said access interface identification information;

c. a remote server communicating with said portable data collection device and said infrastructure information database via a suitable data network;

d. wherein at least one of said current infrastructure information, said identification information, and said new changes are wirelessly communicated to said remote server; and

e. wherein said remote server controls a real-time interactive session with said portable data collection device to at least one of;

i. verify said previously recorded infrastructure information is consistent with said current infrastructure information at said access interface,

ii. update said infrastructure information database with said current infrastructure information if needed,

iii. facilitate making said new changes using updated infrastructure information, and

iv. further update said infrastructure information database with said new changes.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable data collection device further comprises at least one of a digital camera and a scanning device to capture an image of at least one of said current infrastructure information and said identification information at said access interface, said digital camera or scanner being integral or connectable to said portable data collection device to transfer said images thereto.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable data collection device further comprises a GPS receiver for obtaining GPS data associated with said access interface, and said GPS data comprising at least part of said identifying information.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said portable data collection device comprises a cell phone with a camera for capturing said images and a GPS receiver for obtaining GPS data associated with said access interface.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said portable data collection device comprises at least one of a laptop computer, PDA, Blackberry, micro-PC, PMP, portable internet device, and iPhone.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

i. a cell phone;

ii. wherein said portable data collection device communicates with said server via said cell phone; and

iii. wherein said portable data collection device connects to said cell phone via one of a wireless connection and a serial cable connection.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein further comprising:

i. said server converting said image to text and extracting said identifying information; and

ii. wherein said server initiates said real time interactive session by automatically requesting said previously existing infrastructure data corresponding to said identifying information.

8. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

i. said portable data collection device communicating said GPS data to said server; and

ii. wherein said server initiates said real time interactive session by automatically requesting said previously existing infrastructure data corresponding to said GPS data for said access interface.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising controlling said real time interactive session to request specific user input at said portable data collection device and limits options for said new changes to only such options as are authorized for the specific access interface, so as to minimize user input, communications bandwidth and time requirements.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said server analyzes said preexisting and updated infrastructure data from said infrastructure database in relation to said specific user input at said portable data collection device and communicates to said portable data collection device said limited options available for effecting said new changes at said access interface.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising said server analyzing said previously recorded and said current infrastructure information in relation to said specific user input to determine said limited options for making said new changes.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising said server validating changes to said infrastructure information.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising prohibiting improper changes to said infrastructure information, by said server.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said infrastructure information comprises telecommunications industry infrastructure, and said previously recorded infrastructure data comprises at least one of cable pairs and wire pairs.

15. A real time interactive method for updating infrastructure information and using updated infrastructure information to implement new changes to the infrastructure, said method comprising:

a. capturing infrastructure information in the field at an access interface, by a portable data collection device, said infrastructure information comprising;

i. any current infrastructure information associated with said access interface,

ii. identifying information corresponding to said access interface, and

iii. new changes made to said infrastructure information;

b. wirelessly communicating at least one of said current infrastructure information, said identifying information to a remote server, and said new changes;

c. obtaining, by said remote server, previously recorded infrastructure information, if any, for said access interface from an infrastructure database using said identifying information; and

d. controlling, by said remote server, a real-time interactive session with said portable data collection device to at least one of;

i. verify said previously recorded infrastructure information is consistent with said current infrastructure information at said access interface,

ii. update said infrastructure information database with said current infrastructure information if needed,

iii. facilitate making said new changes using such updated infrastructure information, and

iv. further update said infrastructure information database with said new changes.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising capturing an image of at least one of said current infrastructure information and said identification information at said access interface, and wirelessly communicating said image to said server.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

i. converting said image to text;

ii. extracting said identifying information from said text; and

ii. initiating said real time interactive session by automatically requesting said previously existing infrastructure data corresponding to said identifying information.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising;

i. obtaining GPS data associated with said access interface; and

ii. using said GPS data to verify said identifying information associated with said access interface.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising obtaining GPS data associated with said access interface.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

i. using said GPS data as said identifying information; and

ii. initiating said real time interactive session by automatically requesting said previously existing infrastructure data corresponding to said identifying information.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

i. requesting specific user input from said portable data collection device; and

ii. limiting options for making said new changes to only such options as are authorized for the specific access interface, such that user input, communications bandwidth and time requirements are minimized.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising analyzing, by said server, said previously recorded and said current infrastructure information in relation to said specific user input to determine said limited options for making said new changes.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising validating changes to said infrastructure information, by said server.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising prohibiting improper changes to said infrastructure information, by said server.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said infrastructure information comprises telecommunications industry infrastructure, and said previously recorded infrastructure data comprises at least one of cable pairs and wire pairs.