MOBILE DATA COLLECTION AND VALIDATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090089403A1
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Donna, Marco, Zampini, Francesco, Mutarelli, Gabriele, D'Angelo, Giovanni, Franco, Andrea
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/12 Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials

Abstract

Methods and systems for collecting and validating data are provided. Data may be collected from users at a variety of locations with a mobile device. The mobile device may wirelessly transmit the collected data to a central location. The collected data may then be validated at the central location and any resulting error messages may be transmitted to the mobile device while the mobile device remains in close proximity to the user so that the data may be corrected.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of collecting and validating data, the method comprising:

(a) collecting data from a user at a digital pen data collection system;

(b) wirelessly transmitting the collected data to a data collection server that is remote from the user;

(c) validating the collected data; and

(d) wirelessly transmitting validation errors to the digital pen data collection system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital pen data collection system includes an electronic ink capture device coupled to a mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein (d) comprises wirelessly transmitting validation errors to the mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein (d) comprises transmitting a short message service (SMS) message to the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic ink capture device and mobile terminal are configured to exchange data using a short-range radio connection.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the short-range radio connection comprises a Bluetooth connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises collecting package delivery data from the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises collecting sales contract data from the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises comparing the collected data to a rules set.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the rules set includes rules relating to the delivery of packages.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises wirelessly transmitting a least one suggestion for correcting the collected data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises collecting inputs provided by a user to an electronic form.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

prior to (a) wirelessly transmitting the electronic form to the digital pen data collection system.

14. A mobile data collection and validation system comprising:

a digital pen data collection system configured to present a form to a user, collect data from the user and wirelessly transmit the collected data; and

a data collection server connected to the digital pen collection system via a wireless link configured to validate data received from the digital pen data collection system and wirelessly transmit validation errors to the digital pen data collection system.

15. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 14, wherein the digital pen data collection system includes an electronic ink capture device coupled to a mobile terminal.

16. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 15, wherein the electronic ink capture device and mobile terminal are configured to exchange data using a short-range radio connection.

17. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 16, wherein the short-range radio connection comprises a Bluetooth connection.

18. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 14, wherein the data collection center comprises a rules engine and a rules set.

19. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 18, wherein the rules set includes rules relating to the delivery of packages.

20. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 14, wherein the form comprises an electronic form.

21. The mobile data collection and validation system of claim 14, wherein the form comprises digital paper.

22. A computer-implemented method of collecting and validating package delivery data, the method comprising:

(a) collecting data from a user at a digital pen data collection system at the time of delivery of a package;

(b) wirelessly transmitting the collected data to a data collection server that is remote from the user;

(c) comparing the collected data to a set of package delivery rules to identify errors; and

(d) wirelessly transmitting the identified errors to the digital pen data collection system.