Location visit confirmation services for wireless devices

• US 7,385,516 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Contractor, Sunil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/582,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20070096900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/306, 340/3.3, 705 8- 11, 700/111, 455/456.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A location visit confirmation service includes a portable wireless device, a schedule of predetermined sites, a location identification system, and a central processor. The central processor periodically receives position data generated by the location identification system identifying the location of the portable wireless device. The central processor compares this position data to the schedule of predetermined sites. Using a threshold based on distance, or distance and time, it is determined whether a service person completed a visit to one of the sites in the schedule. At the end of the site visit confirmation evaluation period, a summary report is generated that confirms those scheduled site visits that were completed. The summary report is provided by the wireless carrier to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A system for confirming visits to locations of predetermined sites to be visited by a service person on behalf of a subscriber, comprising:

a portable wireless device associated with the service person;

means for acquiring location data of the portable wireless device;

a processor for comparing a position based on the location data to the locations of the predetermined sites in order to confirm whether a predetermined site has been visited by the service person and the length of time that the service person was present at the predetermined site;

a report generator module that generates a report tracking the predetermined location visited by the service person; and

wherein the report generator module generates a report overlaying the predetermined locations visited onto a map so as to provide a visual context of the predetermined locations visited.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locations of predetermined sites comprise a series of X-Y pairs or latitude-longitude pairs.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the series of X-Y pairs or latitude-longitude pairs is created by converting a plurality of street addresses to the series.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the conversion is performed by accessing a geographic information system (GIS).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the report generator module generates a bill for at least one predetermined location visited by the service person.

6. A system for confirming visits to locations of predetermined sites to be visited by a service person on behalf of a subscriber, comprising:

a portable wireless device associated with the service person;

means for acquiring location data of the portable wireless device;

a processor for comparing a position based on the location data to the locations of the predetermined sites in order to confirm whether a predetermined site has been visited by the service person and the length of time that the service person was present at the predetermined site;

a report generator module that generates a report tracking the predetermined location visited by the service person; and

wherein the report generator module generates a report overlaying the predetermined locations visited, as well as any predetermined locations that were not confirmed as visited, onto a map.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the report generator module generates a report that displays the predetermined locations not confirmed as visited in a manner different from a display of the predetermined locations confirmed as visited thereby providing visual emphasis of the visited locations on the generated report.

8. A method for confirming visits to locations of predetermined sites to be visited by a service person on behalf of a subscriber, comprising:

providing a portable wireless device to a service person;

acquiring location data of the portable wireless device;

comparing a position based on the location data to the locations of the predetermined sites in order to confirm whether a predetermined site has been visited by the service person;

generating a report tracking the predetermined sites visited by the service person; and

wherein the generated report overlays the predetermined sites visited onto a map so as to provide a visual context of the predetermined sites visited.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein confirming whether a predetermined site has been visited comprises:

determining from the location data the time of arrival at the predetermined site and the time of departure from the predetermined site;

comparing the times of arrival and departure to determine the period during which the portable wireless device was present at the predetermined site; and

determining that the predetermined site has been visited only if the period is greater than a predetermined minimum time threshold.

10. A method for confirming visits to locations of predetermined sites to be visited by a service person on behalf of a subscriber, comprising:

providing a portable wireless device to a service person;

acquiring location data of the portable wireless device;

comparing a position based on the location data to the locations of the predetermined sites in order to confirm whether a predetermined site has been visited by the service person;

generating a report tracking the predetermined sites visited by the service person; and

wherein the generated report overlays the predetermined sites visited, as well as any predetermined sites not confirmed as visited, onto a map.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the generated report displays the predetermined sites not confirmed as visited in a manner different from a display of the predetermined sites confirmed as visited.