Method and apparatus for interlocking communication and tracking applications in a wireless communication device
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing the use of a location tracking function of a wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function, comprising:
- periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function;
determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function;
selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and
disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising;
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, anddisabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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Accused Products
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.
18 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing the use of a location tracking function of a wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; 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, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions including a location tracking function, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to; determine that the predetermined input is received to disable the location tracking function, select a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location, and disable the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; 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, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location tracking function of the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; 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, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions including a location tracking function and an option to disable the location tracking function, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; 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, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for enhancing the use of location tracking in a wireless communication device comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining that a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions including a location tracking function, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to, when a user of the wireless communication device disables the location tracking function, disable a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining that a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A non-transitory computer program medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining that a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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28. An apparatus, comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining that a priority of a current work assignment of the user is higher than a pre-set priority, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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29. A method for enhancing the use of a location tracking function of a wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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30. A wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions including a location tracking function, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to; determine that the predetermined input is received to disable the location tracking function, select a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location, and disable the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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31. An apparatus, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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32. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location tracking function of the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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33. A method for enhancing the use of a location tracking function of a wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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34. A wireless communication device that provides a plurality of functions including a location tracking function, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to; determine that the predetermined input is received to disable the location tracking function, select a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location, and disable the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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35. An apparatus, comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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36. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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periodically tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location tracking function of the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device provides a plurality of functions and an option to disable the location tracking function; determining that a user of the wireless communication device has disabled the location tracking function; selecting a subset of one or more functions from the plurality of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location; and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule if a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device.
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37. A method for enhancing the use of location tracking in a wireless communication device comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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38. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to, when a user of the wireless communication device disables the location tracking function, disable a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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39. An apparatus, comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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40. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a status of the user is below a pre-set status, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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41. A method for enhancing the use of location tracking in a wireless communication device, comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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42. A wireless communication device, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver 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 for disabling the location tracking function; and a controller operably connected to the wireless transceiver, the location sensor, and the user interface, the controller operable to, when a user of the wireless communication device disables the location tracking function, disable a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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43. An apparatus, comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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44. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program capable of causing a wireless communication device to perform a method, the method comprising:
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tracking a location of the wireless communication device using a location sensing component within the wireless communication device; and when a user of the wireless communication device disables a location tracking function, disabling a selected subset of functions of the wireless communication device without disabling the wireless communication device, comprising; accessing a rule associated with the wireless communication device, determining that disabling the location tracking function violates the rule upon determining a current work assignment of the user is past due, and disabling the subset of functions of the wireless communication device, wherein at least one function in the selected subset of functions is different from the location tracking function and operates independently of the tracked location.
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Specification