Context sensitive mobile device utilization tracking

• US 8,179,321 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ClickSoftware Technologies, Ltd. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xora, Inc. (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rani, Ananth, Venkatraman, Sivakumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Dao
• Application Number:
  US12/380,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.31, 342/357.4, 342/357.52, 342/357.74, 342/461, 701/213, 701/215
• US Class Current: 342/461
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating context sensitive mobile device utilization data. The method comprises retrieving mobile device utilization data from a mobile device utilization and tracking device, retrieving location data from the tracking device, retrieving context sensitive data relevant to the device, and analyzing the retrieved data to determine context sensitive mobile device utilization.

Claims

1. A method for performing context sensitive mobile device utilization tracking comprising:

retrieving mobile device utilization data from a mobile device utilization and tracking device;

retrieving location data from the mobile device utilization and tracking device; and

performing analysis on the retrieved utilization and location data to generate a set of context sensitive mobile device utilization data, wherein performing the analysis comprises (i) comparing the utilization and location data with external metrics;

(ii) determining a recommended safe driving speed based on the external metrics; and

(iii) comparing a speed of the mobile device with the recommended safe driving speed.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

computing the location data on a mobile device; and

sending the location data to the mobile device utilization and tracking device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the location data is computed from GNSS signals received by the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2 where the mobile device computes the current speed of the device from the change in location information over time.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the location data sent to the mobile device utilization and tracking device comprises the speed of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device utilization and tracking device calculates the speed of a mobile device based on the location information received.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the external metrics are chosen from a list comprising the speed limit, the weather conditions, construction zones, and zoning restrictions.

8. An apparatus for providing context sensitive utilization tracking comprising:

a mobile device utilization and tracking device for receiving location and utilization data; and

an analysis device for analyzing the location and utilization data and generating context sensitive utilization data, wherein analyzing the location and utilization data comprises (i) comparing the utilization and location data with external metrics;

(ii) determining a recommended safe driving speed based on the external metrics; and

(iii) comparing a speed of the mobile device with the recommended safe driving speed.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a mobile device for generating the location and utilization data and transmitting the data to the mobile device utilization and tracking device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the location data is computed by analysis of GNSS signals received by the mobile device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the location information computes the speed of the device from the change in location information over time.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the analysis device generates context sensitive utilization data by comparing the location and utilization data to external metrics.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the external metrics are selected from a list comprising one or more of:

the speed limit at the location of the device, weather conditions, construction zones, and zoning restrictions.