Systems, methods and devices for trip management functions

• US 9,565,273 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Rudow, Richard, Janky, James M., Allen, Robert Joseph, Howard, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): OH, HARRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/271,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,007 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 340/990, 340/995, 340/996, 342/190, 342/191, 342/357.06, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A network based computerized system for managing a trip. The network based computerized system includes a network, which includes one or more of the Internet and a wide area network. The network based computerized system includes a server coupled to the network running a network based application for allowing a user of a client computer coupled with the network to store, on the server, data relating to the trip. The network based computerized system includes a cellular telephone system coupled to the network for allowing a user of a portable electronic device disposed for wirelessly communicating with the cellular telephone system to access the server and download the data relating to the trip. The portable electronic device performs a geo-locating function for determining a geographic location of the portable electronic device and accesses a signal relating to the geographic location generated by a system for determining the geographic location.

Claims

1. A network based computerized system for managing a trip, the system comprising:

a network, said network comprising one or more of;

the Internet; and

a wide area network;

a server coupled to said network and running a network based application, said server configured to allow a user of a client computer coupled with said network to store, on said server, data relating to said trip, said server further configured to receive from said client computer a search relating to said trip, wherein said search comprises a location name, a radius around a location corresponding to said location name, and a query to a database for a geographic position corresponding to said location; and

a cellular telephone system coupled to said network, said cellular telephone system configured to allow a user of a portable electronic device to wirelessly access said server and download therefrom said data relating to said trip;

wherein said portable electronic device performs a geo-locating function for determining a geographic location of said portable electronic device, wherein said portable electronic device accesses a signal relating to said geographic location, said signal generated by a system for determining said geographic location;

wherein said portable electronic device is configured to access from said server a portion of said data relating to said trip via a browser based application, wherein said portion of said data relating to said trip is associated with said determined geographic location of said portable electronic device, wherein said data relating to said trip to be displayed on the portable electronic device comprises a first list comprising a plurality of locations within a radius of said geographic position corresponding to said location, and a second list comprising stored trip data relating to said plurality of locations from said first list, and wherein said trip data relating to said trip comprises a plurality of map tiles dynamically displayed on said portable electronic device such that, as said geographic location changes to a new geographic location, a next sequential map tile corresponding to said new geographic location is automatically downloaded from said server and displayed on said portable electronic device;

wherein said portable electronic device further comprises a processor configured to plan and manage said trip using said data relating to said trip at said portable device, wherein said trip is a new trip; and

wherein said server is configured to bill the user of the portable electronic device for performing said accessing said server.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said system for determining said geographic location comprises one or more of Global Positioning System, a Global Navigation Satellite Service, a television signal based position determining system, wherein said portable electronic device accesses said signal generated by said system for determining said geographic location.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said portable electronic device comprises one or more of:

a cellular telephone wherein said geo-locating function is performed with a Global Positioning System functionality;

a handheld position determining device, wherein said handheld position determining device comprises functionality for performing a cellular telephone function; and

a computer comprising functionality for performing a cellular telephone function and said geo-locating function.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein each map tile of said plurality of map tiles comprises a border, wherein said border comprises a boundary separating one said map tile from another said map tile, and wherein said boundary corresponds to a substantially linear contour of a geographical area circumscribed by said border.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more databases located on a database server distinct from said server wherein at least one of said databases comprises a map database and wherein said map is retrieved from said map database.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said data relating to said trip relates to an elevation.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said map comprises a contour map.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data relating to said trip comprises a graphical image.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 wherein said graphical image comprises an aerial/space photograph.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data relating to said trip is a Hypertext Markup Language document or a Wireless Markup Language document.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone system further allows said portable electronic device to wirelessly access said server and upload thereto information relating to said geographical location and wherein said server stores said information relating to said geographical location with said data relating to said trip.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said server allows an authorized person to access said data.