Vehicle installed mobile device and server for task assignments and collaboration

• US 10,621,798 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bindu Rama Rao, Madhavi Jayanthi
• Original Assignee: Bindu Rama Rao, Madhavi Jayanthi
• Inventors: Jayanthi, Madhavi, Rao, Bindu Rama
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louie, Wae L
• Application Number:
  US15/841,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20180122162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 701206, 701 324, 701400
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

Mobile device installed in a vehicle for communicating a current location and a current destination, to a coordination server, receives a set of tasks (statically assigned or dynamically assigned) for the user/driver, with automatic collaboration initiated with a second driver for task completion, and facilitating VR based user training, as required.

Claims

1. A coordination server that retrieves and presents information based on location, the coordination server comprising:

a mapping manager that maps a contact information into geo coordinates and when provided with the contact information responds back with a corresponding geo coordinates comprising latitude, longitude and elevation;

a task coordinator that, when triggered by the mapping manager as it receives from a first mobile device the contact information, dynamically responds with a list of tasks and presents it to a first mobile device for completion by a user;

the coordination server receives and processes, from the first mobile device, a corresponding user provided response and status information for the list of tasks;

the coordination server presents alerts to the user of the first mobile device when it detects that the user has exited a location without completing one or more tasks from the list of tasks that have been assigned for completion at that location;

wherein the list of tasks comprises a first set of tasks currently assigned to the user and a second set of tasks, if any, created by the user; and

wherein coordination server also comprises at least one processor, memory and storage, wherein the at least one processor when instructed, or as required, executes the mapping manager and the task coordinator in order to provide their corresponding functionality.

2. The coordination server of claim 1 provides the list of tasks on a map presented to the first mobile device for visual inspection and task completion by a user, wherein each of a plurality of items in the list of tasks is represented by an icon on the map presented;

wherein, the coordination server, in response to selection of any of the plurality of items by the user, provides audio and textual instructions that aid in execution of the corresponding task, along with details of the corresponding task; and

wherein a route manager highlights the user'"'"'s favorite restaurants, users preferred banks and user'"'"'s preferred gas stations on the map along the route.

3. The coordination server of claim 2 wherein the first mobile device is a portable head-up display device that is mountable on the steering wheel of a vehicle as well as on the dashboard of a vehicle.

4. The coordination server of claim 3 that provides the list of tasks on a map presented to the first mobile device for visual inspection and completion by a user, wherein each of a plurality of items in the list of tasks is represented by an icon on the map presented;

the coordination server presents on the map, when requested by the user, local areas frequented by the user, businesses frequented by the user, businesses that frequently deliver food and supplies to the user regularly, time spent by the user of various local landmarks, and related statistical data;

the coordination server receives from the first mobile device requests for food, requests for drinks, requests for supplies provided by the user and communicates them to one or more local business along a current route;

the coordination server receives confirmation messages from the one or more local business in response to the requests for food, requests for drinks, requests for supplies and communicates it to the first mobile device; and

the coordination server facilitates navigation by the user to the one or more local business for pickup of corresponding food, drinks and supplies requested.

5. The coordination server of claim 1 wherein the contact information is one of an address, a phone number and a name, the coordination server further comprising:

an address to geo coordinates converter that, when provided with an address of a residence, building or office responds back with a latitude, longitude and elevation;

a phone number to geo coordinates converter that, when provided with a phone number associated with a residence, a building or an office responds back with the latitude, longitude and elevation; and

the mapping manager also maps the name of a business or residence into geo coordinates, and when provided with the name responds back with a corresponding geo coordinates comprising latitude, longitude and elevation.

6. The coordination server of claim 1 manages tasks, sends messages to the first mobile device and receives user selections from the first mobile device provided as user'"'"'s voice commands and hand gestures;

and

the task coordinator receives user specified new tasks from the first mobile device and stores them for subsequent distribution to the user, or subsequent retrieval by the user, based on a current location of the first mobile device.

7. The coordination server of claim 1 processes user voice commands received to locate places in proximity determined to be of interest to the user based on observed user habits and responds by providing geo coordinates and directions to those places in proximity;

and

the coordination server sends detailed instructions that can be used by the first mobile device in guiding the first user to a user specified destination along with the list of tasks along that route to be completed by the first user enroute to the user specified destination, wherein the detailed instructions comprise textual directions, audio directions, maps, places to see and things to do at those locations, or a combination of these.

8. The coordination server of claim 1 prompts the user using the first mobile device to select one of plurality of restaurants along a current route;

the coordination server receives from the user an user order for purchasing an item for sale; and

the coordination server communicates the user order to the one of plurality of restaurants.

9. The coordination server of claim 1 determines that a user of the first mobile device has only partially completed a specific task A from the first set of tasks or the second set of tasks and reassigns the partially completed task A to a second user associated with a second mobile device;

and

the coordination server, upon determining that the second user employing the second mobile device is also travelling along a current route taken by the first user employing the first mobile device, reassigns a subset of the list of tasks to the second mobile device for completion by the second user.

10. The coordination server of claim 1 receives a task training request for a specific task from the user of the first mobile device, communicates training material to first mobile device, and selectively conducts a charging transaction to charge the user a training fee;

wherein the training material comprises an interactive virtual reality video session that trains the user on executing the specific task.

11. The coordination server of claim 10 wherein the coordination server, when requested, provides a virtual tour video session to the first mobile device showing a turn by turn street level virtual reality video from the current location of the first mobile device to one or more destinations along a route formed by the locations associated with a dynamically determined second list of tasks.

12. The coordination server of claim 1 wherein the list of tasks, presented to the first mobile device for completion by the user, is dynamically determined based on the type of vehicle the user is currently employing for his commute or travel.

13. A mobile device for telematics and user interaction, the mobile device comprising:

a processor, memory, storage, and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver circuitry;

the mobile device configured to be mounted inside a vehicle, the mobile device also configured to interact with a coordination server;

a client software in the mobile device that communicates a contact information to the coordination server, receives a list of tasks provided by the coordination server and displays them to a user for completion by the user;

the client software in the mobile device displays locations where the individual tasks from the list of tasks are to be completed, on a map optionally displayed to the user;

the client software alerts the user of the mobile device when it detects that the user has exited a location among the locations without completing one or more tasks from the list of tasks that have been assigned for completion at that location;

the client software prompts and collects confirmation from the user that the individual tasks from the list of tasks were completed or not;

and

the client software provides instructions that aid in execution of the one or more tasks by the user.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising:

the client software in the mobile device dynamically displaying a virtual reality video, when requested by the user, comprising street-level details along a dynamically computed route leading through the locations where individual tasks from list of tasks are expected to be completed; and

the client software in the mobile device showing to the first user of the mobile device the execution of a task completed by a second user assigned to collaborate with him, wherein the second user employs a second mobile device communicatively coupled with the mobile device to conduct a similar or related task;

wherein the showing employs video streaming between the mobile device and the second mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 13 further comprising:

the client software receives from the user of the first mobile device requests for food, requests for drinks, requests for supplies and communicates them to one or more local business along a current route; and

the client software receives and displays confirmation messages from the one or more local business in response to the requests for food, requests for drinks, requests for supplies and displays them on the mobile device.

16. A mobile device that is configured to interact with a server system the mobile device comprising:

a microphone configured to capture a first portion of input data;

a touch and gesture sensitive screen configured to capture a second portion of input data;

a first communication circuitry configured to connect with a communication means of the server system;

a processor configured to support a first operational mode and a second operational mode, the first operational mode involving, based on the first and second portions of the input data, retrieving a stored task list, and the second operational mode involving delivering at least a portion of the first and second portions of the input data to the server system and receiving from the server system a dynamically computed task list,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

receive instructions that aid in completion of a first one of the tasks from the stored task list and or from the dynamically computed task list, wherein the first one of the tasks has been assigned for completion at a first location; and

prompt a user to provide completion status for the first one of the tasks, upon determining the arrival at the first location; and

alert the user of mobile device when it detects that the user has exited the first location without completing the first one of the tasks at the first location.

17. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to further:

monitor task assignment to the user and task completion by the user when located inside a vehicle used for travel by the user;

monitor the behavior of the vehicle, the behavior of a driver of the vehicle and report them to the coordination server;

track routes frequently taken by the user;

retrieve from the coordination server tasks dynamically assigned to the user that are to be conducted at locations along a changed route taken by the user;

and

track incomplete ones of the dynamically assigned tasks.

18. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the first operational mode involving both the first and second portions of the input data comprises:

in response to the input data, presenting previously saved route and highlighting the route on a map shown; and

in response to the input data, selectively displaying user'"'"'s preference of businesses, restaurants and gas stations on a map shown, and upon further user request providing navigation information to the user to user selected businesses, restaurants and gas stations.

19. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device electronically records receipts, invoices, tokens and bills for products purchased, products delivered, services rendered and information collected as part of the execution by the user, of one of the tasks from the dynamically computed task list.

20. The mobile device of claim 16 wherein the mobile device provides supplementary information in audio, video or virtual reality format to the user for any of the tasks to be completed from the dynamically computed task list.