METHOD AND SYSTEM TO RECORD AND VISUALIZE TYPE, TIME AND DURATION OF MOVING AND IDLE SEGMENTS

• US 20130090089A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyphen Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: MobiWork LLC
• Inventors: Rivere, Herve
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]

Abstract

GPS signal data is converted into movement and idle indicators and is classified as a task-related or privacy event. The task data database lists personnel, location-situs, projected time-of-arrival, time-on-site and other task data. When GPS-location matches task situs, time-on-site data is generated. A movement-ON notes end-of-task. The method gathers pre-set privacy event data from the task person or the task person can, in real time, set ON a privacy block. In real time, the privacy block masks the idle ON and movement ON status until an end-of-privacy time. The method classifies, in real time, idle ON, movement ON and publishes this data on a daily calendar beyond any privacy block. The method also accepts a privacy block re-classification. In real time, status postings note traffic delays, vendor assistance, equipment needed, and co-worker needed indicator. An accounting recovery code can be assigned to the status indicators for billing and accounting purposes.

Claims

1. A computer-based method to convert GPS signal data from a GPS-enabled cellular phone, tablet computer or electronic device into motion indicator data and idle indicator data which motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event, the method operative with a database populated with a plurality of tasks represented by unique task data collections and task person data, each one of said unique task data collections having task situs location data, projected time of arrival data, time-on-site data, and task assignment data, said task person data representing at least contact data for that task person, said database coupled to a web-based processor which in turn is coupled to a telecommunications network, said GPS-enabled device coupled to said telecommunications network, the method comprising:

periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data from said GPS-enabled device adapted to be used by said task person assigned to said unique task via a web-based communications channel between said web-based processor and said GPS-enabled device;

determining when said GPS-enabled device is in an idle mode defined by a territory about a present GPS location data by monitoring a distance between at least one earlier position of said GPS-enabled device and the present GPS location data and generating a idle ON status indicator when a distance threshold is not exceeded;

determining when said GPS-enabled device moves by comparing at least one earlier position of said GPS-enabled device and the present GPS location data to one of said distance threshold, a velocity threshold and a change in velocity threshold and generating a movement ON status indicator;

determining when said GPS-enabled device is in the idle mode and the present GPS location data substantially matches said task situs location and generating time-on-site data, the time-on-site data including a start time, a duration and an end-of-task time, the end-of-task time determined when the idle ON status indicator changes and the movement ON status indicator is generated;

gathering privacy event data from said task person either prior to the step of periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data or prior to the step of determining the idle mode and generating the idle ON status indicator, said privacy event data including at least a privacy start time;

classifying, in substantially real time, a privacy block over the idle ON status indicator and the movement ON status indicator when privacy event data is compiled;

accepting an end-of-privacy time from the assigned task person as part of said privacy event data;

classifying, in substantially real time, idle indicator data when the idle ON status indicator is present and publishing the idle indicator data for the assigned task person upon command beyond the privacy block;

classifying, in substantially real time, motion indicator data when the movement ON status indicator is present and publishing the motion indicator data for the assigned task person upon command beyond the privacy block;

accepting a privacy block re-classification request from the assigned task person after the classification of either of the idle indicator data and motion indicator data and reclassifying one or both of the idle indicator data and the motion indicator data in the privacy block.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including accepting a managerial confirmation prior to reclassifying one or both of the idle indicator data and the motion indicator data in the privacy block corresponding to the privacy block re-classification request.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 including

determining when said GPS-enabled device is in the idle mode and the present GPS location data does not substantially match said task situs location;

initiating a communications session with the task person assigned to the unique task, and accepting either task related event data or privacy data from the task person during the communications session including;

a traffic delay indicator;

a real time privacy event data;

a vendor assistance indicator;

an equipment needed indicator; and

a co-worker needed indicator.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 including provisionally classifying and publishing, upon command, the

traffic delay indicator;

real time privacy event data;

vendor assistance indicator;

equipment needed indicator;

co-worker needed indicator;

in a time-segmented display in addition to projected time of arrival data for the unique task.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 including accepting a managerial confirmation of said

traffic delay indicator;

real time privacy event data;

vendor assistance indicator;

equipment needed indicator;

co-worker needed indicator;

prior to publishing, upon command, the time-segmented display.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 including:

determining an end-of-status time and the corresponding duration of;

traffic delay indicator;

vendor assistance indicator;

equipment needed indicator;

co-worker needed indicator;

when the idle ON status indicator changes and the movement ON status indicator is generated.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 including:

associating a respective accounting recovery code to;

traffic delay indicator;

vendor assistance indicator;

equipment needed indicator;

co-worker needed indicator;

time-on-site duration; and

generating a time-based monetary value for these indicator time durations.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 including:

determining a travel time to said task situs from a predetermined location and associating an additional respective accounting recovery code for said travel time for said unique task and generating either a time-based monetary value for the travel time or a geographic-based monetary value for the travel time.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of gathering privacy event data from said task person includes both:

(a) prior to the step of periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data, gathering both said privacy-start-time and end-of-privacy time as said privacy event data from said task person; and

(b) accepting, in substantially real time, the privacy-start-time from the task person;

and wherein the step of accepting the end-of-privacy time is either a substantially real time communication from the assigned task person or is determined when the idle status ON indicator changes and the movement ON status indicator is generated.