METHOD AND SYSTEM TO RECORD AND VISUALIZE TYPE, PATH AND LOCATION OF MOVING AND IDLE SEGMENTS

• US 20130090090A1
• 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 8,977,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A GPS signal is converted into motion and idle indicator data. A task database includes task situs-location data, assignment and person data. Determining an idle mode generates idle ON indicia. Determining a movement ON status generates movement tracking indicia with location and time-based tracking over a subject time period. A map over a geographic region encompasses the idle and movement locations and overlays, on proximal locations on the map, the idle mode ON indicia and the movement tracking indicia. The marked map is published. Enhancements define the subject time period as the present plus a predetermined time; a historic period; a selectable time; and sequential historic time. Further, the subject time period is selectable over the location or path of the movement tracking indicia. A privacy event masks the publication of idle and movement indicia during a privacy block.

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, the method operative with a database populated with task situs location data and 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 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 when a distance threshold is not exceeded;

generating idle mode ON indicia in the presence of the idle ON status and a time-based idle ON indicia;

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;

generating movement tracking indicia associated with the movement ON status, the movement tracking indicia representing location and time-based tracking during a subject time period;

obtaining a map for a geographic region encompassing a location of the idle ON status location and the movement tracking indicia locations;

overlaying, on proximal locations on said map, the idle mode ON indicia and the movement tracking indicia; and

publishing, upon command, the map overlaid with the indicia.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the subject time period for the time-based movement tracking indicia includes one of:

a predetermined time period including the present time;

a historic daily, weekly or monthly time period;

a selectable time period including the present time; and

sequentially historic time periods.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the subject time period is selectable over the location or path of the movement tracking indicia.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event and the method includes:

accepting a privacy block command for a time block or a location and masking the publication of idle mode ON indicia and movement tracking indicia during the privacy block time.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event and the method includes:

accepting a privacy block command for a time block or a location and masking the publication of idle mode ON indicia and movement tracking indicia during the privacy block time.

8. 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, the method operative with a database populated with task situs location data and 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 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 either a distance or a velocity from an earlier position of said GPS-enabled device and generating a idle ON status when a threshold is not exceeded;

generating idle mode ON indicia in the presence of the idle ON status and a time-based idle ON indicia;

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;

generating movement tracking indicia associated with the movement ON status, the movement tracking indicia representing location and time-based tracking during a subject time period;

obtaining a map for a geographic region encompassing a location of the idle ON status location and the movement tracking indicia locations;

overlaying, on proximal locations on said map, the idle mode ON indicia and the movement tracking indicia; and

publishing, upon command, the map overlaid with the indicia.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the subject time period for the time-based movement tracking indicia includes one of:

a predetermined time period including the present time;

a historic daily, weekly or monthly time period;

a selectable time period including the present time; and

sequentially historic time periods.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the subject time period is selectable over the location or path of the movement tracking indicia.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event and the method includes:

accepting a privacy block command for a time block or a location and masking the publication of idle mode ON indicia and movement tracking indicia during the privacy block time.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event and the method includes:

accepting a privacy block command for a time block or a location and masking the publication of idle mode ON indicia and movement tracking indicia during the privacy block time.

15. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program to convert GPS signal data from a GPS-enabled cellular phone, tablet computer or electronic device into motion indicator data and idle indicator data, the method operative with a database populated with task situs location data and 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, comprising:

periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data from said GPS-enabled device adapted to be used by said task person 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 when a distance threshold is not exceeded;

generating idle mode ON indicia in the presence of the idle ON status and a time-based idle ON indicia;

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;

generating movement tracking indicia associated with the movement ON status, the movement tracking indicia representing location and time-based tracking during a subject time period;

obtaining a map for a geographic region encompassing a location of the idle ON status location and the movement tracking indicia locations;

overlaying, on proximal locations on said map, the idle mode ON indicia and the movement tracking indicia; and

publishing, upon command, the map overlaid with the indicia.

16. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program as claimed in claim 15 wherein the subject time period for the time-based movement tracking indicia includes one of:

a predetermined time period including the present time;

a historic daily, weekly or monthly time period;

a selectable time period including the present time; and

sequentially historic time periods.

17. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program as claimed in claim 16 wherein the subject time period is selectable over the location or path of the movement tracking indicia.

18. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program as claimed in claim 15 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.

19. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program as claimed in claim 18 wherein the motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event and the method includes:

accepting a privacy block command for a time block or a location and masking the publication of idle mode ON indicia and movement tracking indicia during the privacy block time.

20. A computer readable medium having stored therein non-transient computer program as claimed in claim 19 wherein the time-based idle ON indicia includes one of a duration of the idle ON status, a start time for the idle ON status, an end time for the idle ON status.