Method and apparatus for interlocking communication and tracking applications in a wireless communication device

• US 7,853,271 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US11/345,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20070178908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455418-420, 4554561-4566, 455/457, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 379/102.01
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

A wireless communication device transmits location information associated with a mobile worker, and provides an option to the mobile worker to disable such location transmissions. The use of the location transmission function is enhanced by interlocking the location tracking function with one or more other functions of the wireless communication device. When the tracking function is disabled, one or more other functions that the mobile worker finds valuable are also disabled, thus reducing the likelihood that the mobile worker will disable location tracking. Rules may be implemented to disable the other functions only in the event that disabling the tracking function violates a violated. Location monitoring for such workers is thereby enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing the use of location tracking in a wireless communication device that provides location tracking functionality and the option for a user to disable the location tracking function, comprising:

periodically tracking the location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device;

determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function;

accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device;

determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, or if the current work assignment of the user is past due; and

disabling at least one function of the wireless communication device when it is determined that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule, wherein the at least one function is different than the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification that the location tracking function has been disabled.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling comprises:

disabling at least one of a voice communication function and a data messaging function.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule comprises:

comparing the current time with a business schedule; and

determining that the rule is violated when the current time is within the business schedule.

5. A wireless communication device, comprising:

a wireless transmitter/receiver operable to send/receive wireless signals over a wireless communication network;

a location sensor operable to determine a location of the wireless communication device and output location information;

a user interface operable to receive a predetermined input from a user of the wireless communication device to disable transmission of the location information; and

a controller operably interconnected to said wireless transmitter/receiver, said location sensor, and said user interface, said controller operable to periodically cause the transmission of said location information from said wireless transmitter/receiver, disable said transmission when the predetermined input is received from said user interface, to access a rule associated with the wireless communication device, and to determine that disabling the transmission violates the rule if a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, or if the current work assignment of the user is past due, wherein

when the predetermined input is received, the controller is further operable to disable at least a first function of the wireless communication device that operates independently of the location information if it is determined that disabling the transmission violates the rule.

6. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least a first function includes at least one of a voice communications function and a data messaging function.

7. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controller is farther operable to cause the transmission of a notification when said predetermined input is received.

8. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 5, wherein when said predetermined input is received, said controller is operable to disable said transmission and staff a timer, said timer stopped when a second input is received that re-enables said transmission, wherein said first function is disabled when said timer expires.

9. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said timer is reset when said second input is received.

10. A computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a programmable device to perform:

initiating a location tracking function of a wireless communication device to track a location of the wireless communication device;

determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function;

accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device;

determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, or if the current work assignment of the user is past due; and

disabling at least one function of the wireless communication device when it is determined that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule, wherein the at least one function is different than the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.

11. The computer readable medium, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said determining comprises:

determining if an input from a user interface is received to disable the location tracking function; and

generating a notification that the location tracking function has been disabled.

12. The computer readable medium, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the disabling comprises:

disabling at least one of a voice communication function and a data messaging function.

13. A wireless communication device, comprising:

means for sending/receiving wireless signals over a wireless communication network;

means for determining a location of the wireless communication device and outputting location information;

means for receiving a predetermined input from a user of the wireless communication device to disable transmission of the location information; and

operably interconnected to said means for sending/receiving wireless signals, said means for determining a location of the wireless communication device, and said means for receiving a predetermined input from a user, means for periodically causing the transmission of said location information from said means for sending/receiving wireless signals, for disabling said transmission when the predetermined input is received from said means for receiving a predetermined input, for accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, for determining that disabling the transmission violates the rule if a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, or if the current work assignment of the user is past due, and for disabling at least a first function of the wireless communication device that operates independently of the location information if it is determined that disabling the transmission violates the rule, when the predetermined input is received.

14. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for causing the transmission of a notification when said predetermined input is received.

15. The wireless communication device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for disabling said transmission when said predetermined input is received, for starting a timer, for stopping the timer when a second input is received that re-enables said transmission, and for disabling said first function when said timer expires.