Conducting field operations using handheld data management devices

• US 7,593,751 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Field Data Management Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Barbosa, Frank A., Ortiz, Luis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/262,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/66.1, 455/90.01, 455/90.02, 455/90.03, 705/1, 715/733, 715/964, 715/210, 709/203
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Providing users in the field includes portable access to industry-specific programs, instructions and data. Field data synchronization and/or delivery is enabled using wireless capabilities resident in handheld personal computing devices. Data can be synchronized with a server over a network using wireless radio transmission, or directly to a computer workstation using wireless infrared or radio transmission or connected physical connection. Two-way communications is provided between remote computers and handheld data management devices to facilitate real-time access to remote programs, assistance and/or information related to the field assessment being undertaken by using a handheld data management device user. Field data management includes activities for at least one of: construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, troubleshooting, inventory tracking, inventory ordering, sales (e.g., providing cost estimates to customers), customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

Claims

1. A handheld device for use in conducting operations in the field and for the management of data during operations in the field, comprising:

a memory for storing programs including at least one field data management program and related data, wherein programs stored in said memory enable a user to;

find a field location, collect data at the field location, wirelessly access remote resources while at the field location, provide data to a remote resource, and retrieve data related to the operation from said remote resource;

a microprocessor for executing programs including said at least one field data management program, wherein execution of said program includes execution of programming instructions enabling a user to;

find a field location, collect data at the field location, wirelessly access remote resources while at the field location, provide data to a remote resource, and retrieve data related to the operation from said remote resource;

a display for viewing field related data, mapped direction to field locations and third party information retrieved from the Internet;

a wireless communication module for providing access to the remote resources for access to data and support from remote personnel and to enable a user of the handheld device to obtain data including field operation instructions, real-time guidance and access to third party information in support of a field operation from the Internet using said handheld data management device;

a positioning and navigational means for determining the handheld data management device location and providing navigable directions to the user of the handheld data management device on a map, thereby enabling the user to find a field location; and

a user interface adapted for enabling the user to interact with the handheld device, said programming instructions and said at least one field data management program.

2. The handheld data management device of claim 1, further comprising a GPS as said positioning module for providing handheld device location identification in support of instructions enabling the user to find a field location.

3. The handheld data management device of claim 1, wherein said at least one field data management program stored within said memory and includes instructions for the handheld data management device user to collect and retrieve data related to at least one of:

construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis1 project management, equipment readiness inspection, equipment troubleshooting, remote inventory tracking, inventory ordering, carrying out a sale, providing cost estimates to customers, customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations in the field, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

4. A method for managing data in the field using a handheld field data management device, comprising:

providing a handheld field data management device to a user to enable the user to manage data collected a a field operation location, wherein said field data management device includes;

a memory containing at least one field data management program module for providing instructions enabling a handheld field assessment device user to find a field operation location, collect industry-specific data at the field operation location, communicate and transfer data to and from a remote server, and including instructions enabling the user to manage inventory and data related to the inventory;

a microprocessor executing said at least one field data management program;

a positioning module providing handheld device location identification;

a user interface adapted for enabling the handheld data management device user to interact with said at least one field data management program; and

a wireless communication module for providing communications between the handheld field assessment device and the remote server;

enabling the user to start an inventory program from a handheld data management device, said program used to ensure that the proper inventory will be provided to the handheld data management device user prior to the user undertaking a daily field service schedule;

enabling the user to identify service schedule requirements;

enabling the user to synchronize the schedule with inventory data stored in a server wirelessly accessible by said handheld data management device;

said handheld management device adapted to conduct in cooperation with the server an assessment of service schedule requirements and available inventory;

providing the user with inventory availability status through the handheld data management device that is based on inventory needs identified in said service schedule;

enabling the user to access instructions from at least one field data management program to assist the user in finding a field operation location;

enabling the user to access instructions from at least one field data management program to assist the user in collecting industry-specific data at the field operation location; and

enabling the user to access instructions from at least one field data management program to assist the user to communicate with a remote server using the handheld field data management device before, during and after the collection of industry-specific data.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein inventory needed and available for said service schedule are reserved through said program and said server to an inventory supplier, and wherein needed inventory is available to the user for scheduled service calls.

6. A method for managing data during a field operation using a handheld field data management device, comprising the steps of:

providing a handheld field data management device to a user, said handheld field data management device configured to enable the user to manage data collected at a field operation location, wherein said field data management device includes;

a memory containing at least one field data management program module for working with a microprocessor to process instructions enabling a handheld field assessment device user to find a field operation location, collect industry-specific data at the field operation location, and communicate in real-time with a remote server to transfer data to and from a remote server, obtain updated instructions or procedures, and for retrieving third party information useful for the field operation from the Internet;

a microprocessor executing said at least one field data management program;

a positioning module including GPS for determining handheld device location and configured to coordinate with mapping software to provide map directions to field operation locations;

a display for viewing field related data, maps and third party information retrieved from the Internet;

a user interface adapted for enabling the handheld data management device user to interact with said at least one field data management program; and

a wireless communication module for providing communications between the handheld field assessment device and the remote server, and for providing communications with third party resources from the Internet in support of field operations;

enabling the user to access instructions including mapped directions from at least one of said field data management program and said remote sever to assist the user in finding a field operation location based on the location of the handheld field data management device;

enabling the user to access instructions from said at least one field data management program to assist the user in collecting industry-specific data at the field operation location; and

enabling the user to access instructions from said at least one field data management program to assist the user in communicating with a remote server using the handheld field data management device before, during and after the collection of industry-specific data at the field operation location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one field data management program includes instructions enabling the user to carry out a crime scene investigation and said industry-specific data includes information related to the collection of crime scene data, said instructions comprising the steps of:

starting a legal investigation program within a jurisdiction identified as the field operation location;

identifying the subject matter for the legal investigation;

obtaining investigative requirements including procedural rules and laws applicable to the jurisdiction identified as the field operation location and applicable to the subject matter identified for legal investigation, said investigative requirements obtained from at least one of the remote server or the Internet based on the GPS location of said handheld field data management device; and

obtaining guidance through the handheld data management device to perform a compliant legal investigation.

8. The method of claim 7, said guidance and said investigative requirements further enabling the user to carry out the steps of:

collecting factual data at the jurisdiction in accordance with the guidance;

entering the factual data into the handheld data management device; and

wirelessly communicating said data entered into said handheld data management device to a remote server for real-time remote analysis.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one field data management program includes instructions enabling the user to troubleshoot a field problem and collect data related to the field problem, said instructions comprising the steps of:

starting an assessment program associated with a field problem;

providing information related to the field problem as requested by the field data management program;

enabling analysis of said specific information by the user and said handheld data management device; and

rendering post-analysis instructions from said handheld data management device for use in resolving the field problem.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said analysis includes communication and support through a remote server.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said analysis includes communication with and support from a remote expert over a communications network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of providing data to a remote resource for analysis includes communications providing industry-specific data to the remote expert as query message from the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein data from said remote resource is a response message provided by said remote counselor in response to said query message, and wherein said response message includes supporting data files.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing data to a remote resource for analysis; and

retrieving enhanced data from said remote resource for use in conducting the field assessment.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing two-way communication between remote computing means and handheld data management devices to facilitate real-time access to remote programs, assistance and/or information related to the field assessment being undertaken by using a handheld data management device user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein data is provided to said remote resource in the form of a query message from a field operator to a remote counselor and enhanced data from said remote resource is a response message provided by said remote counselor in response to said query message.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising accessing a remote data resource for retrieving data in support of said assessment.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said data resource is a third party database accessible over the Internet.