System and methods for management of mobile field assets via wireless handheld devices

• US 8,494,581 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Riulistro Solutions NY LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Barbosa, Frank A., Ortiz, Luis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US12/547,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/66.1, 455/90.01, 455/90.02, 455/90.03, 705/7, 705/400, 705/500
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Communication from enterprise servers to handheld devices in the field supports dispatch, data synchronization, logistics and personnel. Bi-directional data delivery from enterprise-based servers over wireless data networks is enabled using wireless capabilities resident in handheld personal computing devices. Real time communications facilitates real-time access to remote programs, assistance and/or information related to the field operations and asset (personnel and inventory) resource management. Management is facilitated for at least one of: construction industry project analysis, HVAC system analysis, project management, equipment readiness inspection, troubleshooting, inventory tracking, inventory ordering, sales (e.g., providing cost estimates to customers), customer invoicing, conducting legal investigations, field data collection, and multi-user remote function coordination.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using a handheld device to access an assessment program stored in a memory of a computing device located geographically remote from the handheld device, the assessment program being configured to enable a field assessment in a specific industry;

collecting field data associated with the field assessment using the handheld device in response to the assessment program;

using the handheld device to determine a geographical location of the handheld device; and

communicating the field data collected using the handheld device and the geographical location of the handheld device to the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating field assessment data by rendering the collected field data with the assessment program to complete the field assessment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising wirelessly transmitting the collected field data to the computing device using a wireless transmitter in the handheld device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless transmitter in the handheld device includes an infrared transmitter.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the computing device includes a server configured to store the assessment program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessment program includes at least one of a construction industry analysis program, HVAC analysis program, project management program, equipment readiness program, troubleshooting program, inventory tracking or ordering program, legal investigation program, or multi-user coordination program.

7. A handheld device, comprising:

a communication module configured to download a field management program stored in a computing device located remotely from the handheld device;

a memory configured to store the field management program after the download;

a position module configured to enable identifying a geographic location of the handheld device; and

a processor configured to execute the stored field management program to enable collecting field data associated with a field assessment while at a field;

wherein the communication module is further configured to communicate the field data and the geographic location of the handheld device to the computing device.

8. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the communication module is further configured to wirelessly download the field management program stored in the computing device.

9. The handheld device of claim 7, wherein the communication module is further configured to enable real-time access to the field management program stored in the computing device.

10. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the communication module is further configured to establish a two-way communication channel between the handheld device and the computing device.

11. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the field management program includes at least one of a construction-industry, HVAC, project management, equipment readiness, troubleshooting, inventory management, legal investigation, or multi-user coordination field management program.

12. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the communication module is further configured to synchronize the field management program or the collected field data between the handheld device and the computing device.

13. The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the communication module is further configured to synchronize the field management program or the collected field data using a wireless radio channel between the handheld device and the computing device.

14. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to analyze the collected field data to render output data.

15. The handheld device of claim 9, further comprising an infrared transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the field data and the geographic location of the handheld device to the computing device.

16. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the position module is further configured to provide navigable instructions to enable finding the geographic location of the field.

17. The handheld device of claim 9, wherein the field management program includes an inventory program accessible from the handheld device and configured to enable access to inventory data stored in the computing device.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a two-way communication channel between a server and at least one handheld device located at a field geographically distant from the server;

means for accessing a program stored at the server to enable an assessment at the field using the at least one handheld device;

means for managing data collected at the field using the at least one handheld device responsive to program;

means for determining a geographic location of the at least one handheld device; and

means for enabling communicating the data collected at the field and the geographic location of the at least one handheld device between the at least one handheld device and other devices or the server.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for tracking a location of the at least one handheld device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for enabling updating field operation assignments for each of the at least one handheld device.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for enabling the at least one handheld device to identify service schedule requirements.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for enabling synchronization of a service schedule on the at least one handheld device with inventory data stored in the server.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for enabling troubleshooting a field problem and collecting data related to the field problem;

means for collecting information related to the field problem responsive to the program using the at least one handheld device;

means for enabling analysis of the information; and

means for rendering post-analysis instructions from the at least one handheld device for use in resolving the field problem.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for providing data to the server for analysis; and

means for retrieving enhanced data from the server for use in conducting the field assessment.