Methods and systems for latitude/longitude updates

• US 8,560,934 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reddick, Charlie, Garris, Charles W., Cole, Robert A., Ingman, Robert M., Glascoe, Roy E. Jr., Mankowski, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vaughn, Gregory J
• Application Number:
  US09/957,986
• Time in Patent Office: 4,407 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500, 715/505, 715/522, 715/523, 715/530, 715/539, 715/200, 715/221, 715/224, 715/225, 715/226, 715/248, 715/249, 715/255, 715/272
• US Class Current: 715/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for automated verification and entry of customer facility location data. The customer facility location data is subsequently used for the computer-based dispatching of service technicians in a resource-efficient fashion.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for updating location data comprising:

receiving a work order record indicating the dispatch of a service technician;

extracting a customer site address from the work order record;

searching a data repository for location data corresponding to the customer site address;

if a match is found in the data repository, saving the location data and the work order record in a match file;

formatting the match file; and

using the formatted match file to update a work order database;

wherein if no match is found in the data repository, extracting second data from the work order record, searching a second data repository for location data corresponding to the second data; and

if a match is found in the data repository, saving the location data and the work order record in a match file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data comprises a latitude and a longitude.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first text field for accepting the site address and a second text field for accepting the location data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data repository comprises a database.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the second data is a wire center identifier and the second data repository is wire center database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

if no match is found in the second data repository, extracting third data from the work order record, searching a third data repository for third data corresponding to the third data;

if a match is found in the data repository, saving the location data and the work order record in a match file.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the third data is a cross-connect identifier and the third data repository is a cross-connect database.

9. A computer implemented system for updating location data comprising:

a server storing a data repository;

a receiver for receiving a work order record indicating the dispatch of a service technician;

an extractor for extracting a customer site address from the work order record;

a search element for searching a data repository for location data corresponding to the customer site address to determine if a match is found in the data repository and saving the location data and the work order record in a match file;

a formatter for formatting the match file; and

an insertion means for inserting the formatted match file to update a work order database;

wherein if no match is found in the data repository, the extractor extracts second data from the work order record, and the search element searches a second data repository for location data corresponding to the second data;

if a match is found in the data repository, saving the location data and the work order record in a match file.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the location data comprises a latitude and a longitude.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a display having a graphical user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first text field for accepting the site address and a second text field for accepting the location data.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the data repository comprises a database.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the second data is a wire center identifier and the second data repository is wire center database.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein:

if no match is found in the second data repository, the extractor extracts third data from the work order record, and the search element searches a third data repository for third data corresponding to the third data;

if a match is found in the data repository, saving the location data and the work order record in a match file.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the third data is a cross-connect identifier and the third data repository is a cross-connect database.