Integrated communication and geographic positioning system and method of using same

• US 20020073196A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Westermar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Westermar, Inc.
• Inventors: Westervelt, John P., Jakob, Mario E.
• Application Number:
  US09/732,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20020073196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An integrated communication and geographic positioning system and method provide integrated mobile communications with individual employees to automate administrative efforts. The system enables the determination of an individual'"'"'s geographic position and the monitoring of an individual'"'"'s activity. According to the present invention, such individual information is automatically formatted and accessible by a system user from any wireless communication array.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the activity of at least one individual by a user comprising:

a. at least one user computer having at least one administrative software program;

b. a server unit in communication with the at least one user computer, comprising;

(i) a database for storing information concerning the at least one individual being monitored; and

(ii) a central processing unit having a plurality of application program modules for processing said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored;

at least one of said application program modules comprising a software integration function that receives and processes from said server unit information concerning the at least one individual being monitored, and formats said information for direct download into the at least one administrative software program in the at least one user computer; and

c. a means for relaying information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to said server unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises:

(a) identification information;

(b) task information; and

(c) location information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said server unit communicates with said at least one user computer over a computer network;

the server unit providing a navigable interface on the at least one user computer.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said computer network comprises the Internet.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said at least one user computer communicates with said server unit to enable said user to communicate with the at least one individual being monitored.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for relaying to the server unit said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises a telephone employing audio relay of such information to the user for manual entry into the server unit.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for relaying to the server unit said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises a wireless telecommunication device capable of automatic entry of such information concerning the at least one individual into the server unit.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for relaying to the server unit said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises a computer terminal capable of communication with said server unit for automatic entry of such information into the server unit.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a means for automatically determining a geographic position to identify location information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for automatically determining a geographic position comprises a space based GPS satellite system.

11. A method of monitoring the location and activity of at least one individual by a user with a communication system, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one user computer having at least one administrative software program;

b. providing a server unit in communication with the at least one user computer, comprising;

(i) a database for storing information concerning the at least one individual being monitored; and

(ii) a central processing unit having a plurality of application program modules for processing said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored;

at least one of said application program modules comprising a software integration function that receives and processes from said server unit information concerning the at least one individual being monitored, and formats said information for direct download into the at least one administrative software program in the at least one user computer;

c. providing a means for relaying said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to said server unit;

d. receiving at the server unit, transmission of information concerning the at least one individual being monitored from said means for relaying said information;

e. receiving at the server unit an authorization communicated by said at least one user computer to said server unit; and

f. in response to receipt of such authorization, processing and transferring at the server unit said formatted information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to the at least one administrative software program in the at least one user computer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises:

(a) identification information;

(b) task information; and

(c) location information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said server unit communicates with said at least one user computer over a computer network;

the server unit providing a navigable interface on the at least one user computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said computer network comprises the Internet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one user computer communicates with said server unit to further enable said user to communicate with the at least one individual being monitored.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the means for relaying to the server unit said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises a telephone employing audio relay of said information concerning said at least one individual to the user for manual entry into the server unit.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the means for relaying information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to said server unit is through a wireless telecommunication device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the means for relaying information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to said server unit comprises a computer terminal capable of communication with said server unit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information concerning the at least one individual being monitored comprises:

(a) identification information;

(b) task information; and

(c) location information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the wireless telecommunication device comprises a cellular telephone.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the means for determining geographic position comprises a space based GPS satellite platform.

19. A method of monitoring the location and activity of at least one individual by a user with a communication system, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one user computer having at least one administrative software program;

b. providing a server unit in communication with the at least one user computer, comprising;

(i) a database for storing information concerning the at least one individual being monitored;

(ii) a central processing unit having a plurality of application program modules for processing said information concerning the at least one individual being monitored;

at least one of said application program modules comprising a software integration function that receives and processes from said server unit information concerning the at least one individual being monitored, and formats said information for direct download into the at least one administrative software program in the at least one user computer; and

c. providing a wireless telecommunication device for communicating information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to said server unit including transmitting a position signal;

d. providing a means for automatically determining a geographic position to identify location information based upon such position signal transmission from said wireless telecommunication device;

e. receiving at the server unit, said position signal transmission from said wireless telecommunication device from which location information concerning the at least one individual being monitored may be determined;

f. receiving at the server unit, authorization information communicated by said at least one user computer to said server unit; and

g. in response to receipt of the authorization information, processing and transferring at the server unit said formatted information concerning the at least one individual being monitored to the at least one user computer.