Mobile device and server for task assignments based on proximity

• US 9,654,918 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Madhavi Jayanthi
• Original Assignee: Madhavi Jayanthi
• Inventors: Jayanthi, Madhavi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US14/957,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20160088434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 701213, 701408, 701409, 701411, 4554563, 4554561, 340988
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Mobile device for communicating arrival information at a waypoint, communicating that information to a server, receiving a set of tasks (statically assigned or dynamically assigned) for the user (for example, from the server or from another user), displaying the set of tasks to the user, receiving a completion response (successful or unsuccessful) from the user, and proceeding to the next waypoint along a route/trip plan. A coordination server facilitates communication of a list of tasks assigned to a user to be performed at a specified location. The list of tasks is delivered to the user of the first mobile device by the coordination server (if such tasks exist) when the coordination server receives notification from the first mobile device indicating arrival at a specific location.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processing circuitry, memory and storage;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver circuitry;

a client software, that is executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the client software comprises a navigation component that interacts with the GPS receiver circuitry, the navigation component capable of navigating and providing directions to a destination to a user of the mobile device;

the client software accepting a task list comprising a plurality of tasks to be completed by the user of the mobile device, based on a current location of the mobile device, a street name associated with the current location, or based on current route being navigated, wherein the client software prompts the user to mark each of the tasks in the task list as completed, skipped or deferred, and the wherein the client software records and reports the corresponding task status;

the client software prompting the user to provide a task completion status for each of the items in the task list and communicating a user task completion response;

the client software configured to report those of the task list that are incomplete; and

the client software configured to reassign a user selected selection of tasks from the task list to a second mobile device associated with a second user for completion by the second user.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the client software of the mobile device provides a task screen along with a current route waypoints list that displays one or more waypoints associated with a current route, wherein the client software prompts the user of the mobile device to specify tasks to be completed at the various waypoints along the current route.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the client software accepts a task list comprising a plurality of tasks to be completed by the user of the mobile device, in response to a notification sent by the client software announcing proximity to, or arrival at a destination.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the client software communicates a notification indicating arrival at a destination or proximity to the destination, and, in response, receives a set of tasks to be completed by the user of the mobile device, wherein the set of tasks are specified by a second user employing a second mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the client software is provided a route comprising a plurality of waypoints for navigation, wherein the client software communicates a notification whenever the first mobile device determines that it has arrived at one of the waypoints, wherein, in response to the notification it receives a dynamically assembled set of tasks to be completed while at that current waypoint among the plurality of waypoints and at subsequent waypoints.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the client software also comprises a task manager module that facilitates displaying a list of tasks assigned to the user of the mobile device for execution at individual waypoints along a given route, the client software prompting the user to provide a task completion response at each waypoint along the route, the client software communicating the task completion response to a coordination server.

7. A server communicatively coupled to a first mobile device, the server comprising:

at least one processor for communicating with the first mobile device, the at least one processor operable to, at least;

receive several tasks, along with a corresponding user identification;

receive a current location of the first mobile device, a street name associated with the current location, or a current route being navigated, from a client software in the first mobile device;

deliver to the client software of the first mobile device a task list comprising a plurality of tasks among the several tasks to be completed by the user of the first mobile device; and

receive and store a task completion status for each of the plurality of tasks as they are reported by the client software of the first mobile device.

8. The server of claim 7 wherein the task list is assembled from a plurality of tasks reported or forwarded by a plurality of authorized individuals associated with the user of the first mobile device.

9. The server of claim 7 wherein the server collects a plurality of addresses selected by the user and then determines an optimal route through those addresses selected;

and

wherein the client software in the first mobile device sends notification to other known and registered users along the optimal route to automatically inform those corresponding registered users of the approach of the user towards their locations and the subsequent arrival of the user at those locations.

10. The server of claim 7 wherein the at least one processor, upon determination of task completion for the task list, updates the status for the corresponding entries in a general pool of tasks and a user-specific pool of tasks.

11. The server of claim 7 wherein the server receives arrival information at corresponding waypoints along a route, from a plurality of mobile devices and, in response, communicates a set of dynamically assigned tasks to the corresponding users of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the server subsequently receives a completion status response from the plurality of mobile devices.

12. The server of claim 7 wherein the server receives, from a first mobile device used by a first user, a notification indicating arrival at a destination or arrival in proximity to the destination, and, in response, the server communicates to the first mobile device a set of tasks to be completed by the first user, wherein the set of tasks are specified by a second user employing a second mobile device, wherein the set of tasks are stored at the server until delivery to the first mobile device.

13. The server of claim 7 wherein the server receives a completion status response from the first mobile device from each of the waypoints, wherein the completion status response is associated with the current set of tasks communicated by the server to the first mobile device;

and

wherein the completion status response for each of the current set of tasks comprises one of the following status;

completed, skipped or deferred.

14. The server of claim 7 wherein the first mobile device is provided a route comprising a plurality of waypoints for navigation, wherein the server receives a notification from the first mobile device whenever the first mobile device determines that it has arrived at one of the waypoints, wherein, in response to the notification received, the server communicates to the first mobile device a dynamically assembled set of tasks to be completed while at that current waypoint, among the plurality of waypoints.

15. A mobile system comprising:

a plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device and a second mobile device, each of the plurality of mobile devices configured to execute and operate employing a client software capable of sending and receiving GPS based location information, the client software also configured to receive tasks lists for completion by a corresponding user;

a coordinating server communicatively coupled to a plurality of mobile devices;

the coordinating server configured to dynamically receive a plurality of item pickup requests from computers associated with a plurality of businesses, for opportunistic distribution to associated ones of the plurality of mobile devices; and

the client software configured to display the plurality of item pickup requests received from the plurality of businesses associated with, or located on, a current route being navigated by a navigation component of the corresponding one of the plurality of mobile devices.

16. The mobile system of claim 15 further comprising:

the first mobile device specifying tasks for execution by a second user currently using the second mobile device when the second mobile device communicates a notification indicating arrival at a specific destination;

the coordinating server communicating the tasks for execution when the second user reaches the specific destination; and

the coordinating server receiving a completion status response from the second mobile device as and when the second user indicates completion of an associated one of the tasks.

17. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein the coordination server offers a service that, given an address of a user, retrieves GPS coordinates and communicates it, and wherein a user employing the first mobile device can retrieve a location information for a given phone number or email address.

18. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein the completion status response provided by the second user employing the second mobile device comprises, for each assigned task, one of the following status:

completed, skipped or deferred.

19. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein the client software in the first mobile device communicates a phone number of a business to the coordination server along with the first user'"'"'s address or phone number, in response to which the coordination server determines a detailed route for traveling from a starting point associated with the first user'"'"'s phone number or address to the destination associated with the business, and sends detailed instructions that can be used by the client software in guiding the first user to the destination.

20. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein client software in the first mobile device collects a plurality of addresses selected by the first user and then determines an optimal route through those addresses selected.

21. The mobile system of claim 20 wherein the client software in the first mobile device sends notification to other known and registered users along the optimal route to automatically inform those corresponding registered users, of the approach of the first user using the first mobile device, towards their locations and the subsequent arrival of the first user at those locations.

22. The mobile system of claim 20 wherein a notification manager in the coordination server facilitates receiving notification from a plurality of mobile devices and forwards them to the first mobile device for display to the user, along with proximity information, approaching information, and arrival information for the plurality of mobile devices navigating towards the first mobile device.

23. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein the client software of the first mobile device also comprises a task manager module that facilitates displaying a list of tasks assigned to the user of the first mobile device for execution at individual waypoints along a given route, the client software prompting the user to provide a task completion response at each waypoint along the route, the client software communicating the task completion response to the coordination server.

24. The mobile system of claim 15 wherein the client software of the first mobile device provides a task screen along with a current route waypoints list that displays one or more waypoints associated with a current route, wherein the client software prompts the user of the first mobile device to specify tasks to be completed at the various waypoints along the current route.