Geo-Spatial Mapping and Service Provision Analysis

• US 20160006618A1
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dufford, Connie Ann, Hoffman, Daniel Michael, McCabe, Trip, Beeco, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 10,848,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, by a processing unit, a viability of providing a service to a prospective service site at a given point of interest, comprising:

providing ingress to a service provider to existing customers from service devices;

receiving location data for a point of interest that is without service from the service provider;

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

extending a search radius out from the point of interest without service to determine a service area proposed for at least one prospective customer;

locating existing service devices within the search radius that are already providing ingress to the service provider for existing customers within the search radius;

locating the at least one prospective customer within the search radius not yet receiving service from the existing service devices that are providing ingress to the service provider for the existing customers;

querying a database for location data for the service devices located within the search radius;

displaying on the computer-generated map a graphical representation of service devices located within the search radius;

displaying a line from one service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest and another line from another service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest;

determining a length of the line from the one service device within the search radius to the point of interest and a length from the other service device within the search radius to the point of interest; and

determining whether to service the at least one prospective customer from either the one service device or the other service device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising designating one line from one of the one or more service devices to the point of interest as the line along which the service will be provided to the point of interest.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to displaying the 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.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mapping and geocoding services application is a geo-spatial enterprise mapping system (GEMS) application operative to call a mapping and geocoding services application programming interface (API).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mapping and geocoding services API is an implementation of a programming language that accesses web-based mapping and geocoding services.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying the graphical representation of the line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes displaying the graphical representation of the 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.

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

8. The system of claim 1, wherein data relevant to the area within the search radius includes customer data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein data relevant to the area within the search radius includes prospective customer data.

10. 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 processing unit;

a memory that comprises computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the system to provide;

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

providing ingress to a service provider to existing customers from service devices;

receive location data for a point of interest that is without service from the service provider;

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

display a map interface centered on the point of interest representing a position on the map interface;

receive a search radius and extend the search radius out from the point of interest without service to determine a service area proposed for at least one prospective customer;

locating existing service devices within the search radius that are already providing ingress to the service provider for existing customers within the search radius;

locating the at least one prospective customer not yet receiving service from the existing service devices that are providing ingress to the service provider for the existing customers;

provide a line drawing tool displaying a line from one service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest and another line from another service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest;

determine a length of the line from the one service device within the search radius to the point of interest and a length from the other service device within the search radius to the point of interest; and

determining whether to service the at least one prospective customer from either the one service device or the other service device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising designating one line from one of the one or more service devices to the point of interest as the line along which the service will be provided to the point of interest.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the mapping and geocoding services API is an implementation of a programming language that accesses web-based mapping and geocoding services.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein displaying the graphical representation of the line from each of the one or more service devices to the point of interest includes displaying the graphical representation of the 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.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein receiving location data for a point of interest includes receiving one of a street address, a geocode address, or a selection of a point on a map interface.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein data relevant to the area within the search radius includes customer data.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein data relevant to the area within the search radius includes prospective customer data.

17. A system for determining a viability of providing a service to a prospective service site at a given point of interest, comprising:

a processing unit;

a memory that comprises computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the system to;

providing ingress to a service provider to existing customers from service devices;

receive location data for a point of interest that is without service from the service provider;

display a graphical representation of the point of interest representing a position on a computer-generated map;

extend a search radius out from the point of interest without service to determine a service area proposed for at least one prospective customer;

locating existing service devices within the search radius that are already providing ingress to the service provider for existing customers within the search radius;

locating the at least one prospective customer within the search radius not yet receiving service from the existing service devices that are providing ingress to the service provider for the existing customers;

query a database for location data for the service devices located within the search radius;

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

displaying a line from one service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest and another line from another service device providing ingress to the service provider from within the search radius to the point of interest;

determining a length of the line from the one service device within the search radius to the point of interest and a length from the other service device within the search radius to the point of interest;

determine whether to service the at least one prospective customer from either the one service device or the other service device; and

providing ingress to the service provider for the potential customer by extending service between the point of interest and the service device along the line from the determined one of the one service device or the other service device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein prior to displaying the 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.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the mapping and geocoding services application is a geo-spatial enterprise mapping system (GEMS) application operative to call a mapping and geocoding services application programming interface (API).

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mapping and geocoding services API is an implementation of a programming language that accesses web-based mapping and geocoding services.