GEO-LOCATION SERVICES

• US 20150024790A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hwang, Jungtaik, Eyring, Matthew J., Nye, James E., Warren, Jeremy B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/222 Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems selective calling systems and call receivers H04W84/00, H04W68/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A method for geo-location services is described. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring, via a sensor, a location of a service provider in relation to a predetermined location and receiving a request for a current status of the service provider. The current status includes a current location of the service provider and a current job-related status of the service provider. Upon determining the current status of the service provider, a notification including the current status of the service provider is generated.

Claims

1. A method for geo-location services, the method comprising:

monitoring, via a sensor, a location of a service provider in relation to a predetermined location;

receiving a request for a current status of the service provider, wherein the current status comprises a current location of the service provider and a cur rent job-related status of the service provider; and

upon determining the current status of the service provider, generating a notification comprising the current status of the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on any combination of the current location of the service provider and the current job-related status of the service provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the current job-related status comprises at least one of traveling to a job, on a job, on break, and off work.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pausing a channel from subscriber program content; and

displaying the notification on at least a portion of the paused channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

learning a route of the service provider in relation to the predetermined location.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

upon learning the route of the service provider, calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on the current location of the service provider in relation to the learned route.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

upon determining the service provider is deviating from the learned route, generating a notification.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of remaining appointments of the service provider before an appointment to the predetermined location.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on the number of remaining appointments of the service provider.

10. A computing device configured for geo-location services, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of;

monitoring, via a sensor, a location of a service provider in relation to a predetermined location;

receiving a request for a current status of the service provider, wherein the current status comprises a current location of the service provider and a current job-related status of the service provider; and

upon determining the current status of the service provider, generating a notification comprising the current status of the service provider.

11. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on any combination of the current location of the service provider and the current job-related status of the service provider.

12. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the current job-related status comprises at least one of traveling to a job, on a job, on break, and off work.

13. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

pausing a channel from subscriber program content; and

displaying the notification on at least a portion of the paused channel.

14. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

learning a route of the service provider in relation to the predetermined location.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

upon learning the route of the service provider, calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on the current location of the service provider in relation to the learned route.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

upon determining the service provider is deviating from the learned route, generating a notification.

17. The computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a number of remaining appointments of the service provider before an appointment to the predetermined location.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on the number of remaining appointments of the service provider.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

monitoring, via a sensor, a location of a service provider in relation to a predetermined location;

receiving a request for a current status of the service provider, wherein the current status comprises a current location of the service provider and a current job-related status of the service provider; and

upon determining the current status of the service provider, generating a notification comprising the current status of the service provider.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

calculating an estimated time of arrival of the service provider to the predetermined location based on any combination of the current location of the service provider and the current job-related status of the service provider.