Geo-Spatial Mapping and Service Provision Analysis

• US 20120158445A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beeco, Bruce, Hoffman, Daniel Michael, McCabe, Trip, Dufford, Connie Ann
• Application Number:
  US12/970,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5058 Service discovery by the service manager
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

A Geo-spatial Enterprise Mapping System (GEMS) application may be utilized for determining a cost associated with providing a service to a point of interest by utilizing data from a web-based mapping service application in conjunction with data from a service provider database. Maps may be utilized with polylines representing fiber and coax spans, and markers to display device, customer, and prospect information to provide a user with a quick overview of a potential profitability of a particular area or point of interest. A proximity of customers and groups of customers to a service provider network may be displayed and visible to a user in an intuitive manner. A serviceability and profitability of potential customers may be determined, as well as locating prospective customers.

Claims

1. A method of determining a viability of providing a service to a prospective service site at a given point of interest, comprising:

receiving location data for a given point of interest;

displaying a graphical representation of the point of interest on a computer-generated map;

displaying a service area about the point of interest defined by a prescribed radius extending out from the point of interest;

querying a database for location data for one or more service devices located in the service area;

displaying on the computer-generated map a graphical representation of each of the one or more service devices;

displaying a graphical representation of a line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest;

determining a length of each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest; and

determining a cost associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a cost associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest, includes determining a cost associated with providing a cable along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest for providing the service from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a cost associated with providing a cable along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest for providing the service from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes determining the cost based on a type of cable provided along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a cost associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes determining a cost associated with one or more equipment requirements associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a cost associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes determining a cost associated with a term of service associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing a cost associated with providing a service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest with a revenue associated with providing the service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether a return on investment associated with providing the service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest meets a required threshold return on investment for providing the service along each line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising designating one of a line from one of the one or more service devices to the point of interest as a line along which the service will be provided to the point of interest.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to displaying a graphical representation of the point of interest on a computer-generated map, passing the location data for the given point of interest to a mapping and geocoding services application for displaying the graphical representation of the point of interest.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying a graphical representation of a line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes displaying a graphical representation of a line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest via a line drawing tool for determining a distance between the point of interest and each of the one or more service devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving location data for a given point of interest includes receiving one of a street address, a geocode address, or a selection of a point on a map interface.

12. A system for determining a serviceability and profitability of extending a service provision to a potential customer and to locate prospective customers, the system comprising:

a geo-spatial enterprise mapping system (GEMS) application operative

to receive location data for a point of interest;

to call a mapping and geocoding services application programming interface (API);

to display a map interface centered on the point of interest;

to receive a search radius;

to query a data store for data relevant to an area within the search radius;

to utilize latitude and longitude information associated with the data to plot data points within the search radius on the map interface;

to provide a line drawing tool for determining a distance between the point of interest and other data points displayed on the map interface

to receive an indication of a plurality of latitude and longitude points plotted as polylines on the map interface;

to calculate a length of the polylines;

to feed the calculated polyline length into a calculator tool; and

to perform a calculation based upon the calculated polyline length and one or more other parameters.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the mapping and geocoding services application programming interface (API) is an implementation of a programming language that accesses web-based mapping and geocoding services.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the calculation performed by the calculator tool includes solving for a monthly recurring cost, a nonrecurring cost, or an internal rate of return.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more other parameters utilized to perform the calculation include one or more of a material type associated with a service construction, equipment costs associated with a service construction, a specified district, a length of service to which a customer is willing to agree, an internal rate of return value, a monthly recurring cost value, or a non-recurring cost value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the location data for the point of interest is a street address or a selected point on the map interface, the geo-spatial enterprise mapping system (GEMS) application is further operative to make a geocoding request to the mapping and geocoding services via an API.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the geo-spatial enterprise mapping system (GEMS) application is further operative to display a geocoding result on the map interface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein data relevant to an area within the search radius includes customer data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein data relevant to an area within the search radius includes prospective customer data.

20. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for aggregating, storing and providing project-related data items, comprising:

receiving location data for a point of interest;

calling a mapping and geocoding services application programming interface (API);

displaying a map interface centered on the point of interest;

receiving a search radius;

querying a data store for data relevant to an area within the search radius;

utilizing latitude and longitude information associated with the data to plot data points within the search radius on the map interface;

providing a line drawing tool for determining a distance between the point of interest and other data points displayed on the map interface;

receiving an indication of a plurality of latitude and longitude points plotted as polylines on the map interface;

calculating a length of the polylines;

feeding the calculated polyline length into a calculator tool; and

performing a calculation based upon the calculated polyline length and other parameters.