METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AN INCENTIVE TO TRAVEL WITHIN A PARTICULAR AREA

• US 20170255892A1
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: WITKIN, CATHERINE S., BHARGAVA, ESHA, HIRSCH, JEFFREY N., SPIRO, ALEXANDER R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,438,158 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/105 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing an incentive to an officer to travel through a particular area is provide herein. During operation a device will provide an officer with a map of their patrol area. Along with the map, various roads and/or paths will have “breadcrumbs” shown on them. These breadcrumbs will be “picked up” (disappear) when an officer travels over them.

Claims

1. A method to incentivize an officer to travel within an area, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving via a wireless receiver, locations for electronic breadcrumbs, wherein the electronic breadcrumbs are placed on an electronic map within the area assigned to the officer to patrol, and the electronic breadcrumbs disappear from the electronic map when the officer travels near the electronic breadcrumbs;

displaying on a display device, the breadcrumbs on the electronic map;

determining by location-finding circuitry, a location of a device;

determining by a microprocessor that the location of the device is within a predetermined distance from a breadcrumb; and

removing the breadcrumb from the display device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the breadcrumbs are placed in an area having a crime most likely to occur.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a numerical value exists on each breadcrumb, and wherein the numerical value represents a number of times the officer is to travel past the breadcrumb during a shift.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein breadcrumbs regenerate after a predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined period of time is based on the historic crime data.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver receiving locations for electronic breadcrumbs, wherein the electronic breadcrumbs are placed on an electronic map within an area assigned to an officer to patrol, and the electronic breadcrumbs disappear from the electronic map when the officer travels near the electronic breadcrumbs;

a graphical-user interface displaying the breadcrumbs on the electronic map;

location-finding circuitry determining a location of a device; and

a microprocessor determining that the location of the device is within a predetermined distance from a breadcrumb and removing the breadcrumb from the graphical user interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the breadcrumbs are placed in an area having a crime most likely to occur.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a numerical value exists on a breadcrumb, and wherein the numerical value represents a number of times an officer is to travel past the breadcrumb during a shift.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein breadcrumbs regenerate after a predetermined period of time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the predetermined period of time is based on the historic crime data.