Mobile data collection and validation systems and methods

• US 9,348,437 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Zampini, Francesco, Mutarelli, Gabriele, D'Angelo, Giovanni, Donna, Marco, Franco, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): FABBRI, ANTHONY E
• Application Number:
  US12/025,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20090089403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,032 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 data, said method comprising:

receiving a first electronic form associated with a first validation procedure and subsequently receiving a second electronic form associated with a second validation procedure in a forms database of a data collection server, said second electronic form comprising an updated version of said first electronic form;

wirelessly transmitting a first request for said first electronic form from a data collection system at a first location to said data collection server, said data collection server being remote from said data collection system;

receiving said first electronic form at said data collection system from said forms database of said data collection server;

collecting first data entered by a user into said first electronic form at said data collection system while said user is at said first location, wherein said data collection system includes a digital pen and an electronic capture device, wherein said first data comprises a first electronic signature and is entered, using said pen, into said first electronic form displayed on said electronic capture device;

while said user remains proximate to said first location, wirelessly transmitting said first data to said data collection server, wherein said data collection server is operable to validate said first data according to said first validation procedure associated with said first electronic form in real time while said user remains proximate to said first location;

wirelessly receiving second data, in real time while said user remains proximate to said first location, from said data collection server at said data collection system and in response to said data collection server receiving said first data, wherein said second data is associated with at least one error in said first data, wherein said at least one error comprises a violation of an age requirement associated with said first electronic signature, and wherein said second data comprises textual information describing said at least one error, a code that causes said first electronic form to include an icon next to said first electronic signature to identify said at least one error, and a suggestion to collect a second electronic signature for correcting said at least one error;

transmitting, from said data collection server, a status of a task to be fulfilled at said first location in association with said first data entered into said first electronic form to a computing device at a second location remote from said first location;

receiving, at said data collection server, third data entered by a customer at said computing device at said second location, wherein said third data is related to said at least one error in said first data;

updating, with said electronic capture device and said pen, while said user remains proximate to said first location, said first data entered into said first electronic form, thereby generating updated first data that includes said second electronic signature for correcting said at least one error;

wirelessly transmitting said updated first data to said data collection server for validation of said updated first data at said data collection server according to said first validation procedure and based at least in part on said third data; and

based on a validation of said updated first data at said data collection server;

fulfilling said task at said first location, and

wirelessly transmitting a second request for said second electronic form from said data collection system to said data collection server such that, following fulfillment of said task at said first location, said second electronic form can be displayed on said electronic capture device, data can be entered into said second electronic form, and said data can be validated according to said second validation procedure at said data collection server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said age requirement comprises a minimum age requirement.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said data collection system includes a mobile terminal, wherein said pen is operable to capture said first data, and wherein said wirelessly transmitting further comprises wirelessly transmitting said first data to said data collection server via said mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said mobile terminal comprises an application configured to route said first data from said pen to said data collection server.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said wirelessly receiving further comprises wirelessly receiving said at least one error via said mobile terminal.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said pen and said mobile terminal are configured to communicate using a short-range radio connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly transmitting further comprises communicating said first data as a short message service (SMS) message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said wirelessly receiving further comprises communicating said second data as a short message service (SMS) message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first data is selected from a group consisting of package delivery data and sales contract data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said validating further comprises comparing said first data to a rules set.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said rules set comprises rules associated with one or more of a signature requirement, a delivery location, and a type of delivery.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second electronic forms are operable to be rendered on a display device of said data collection system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first and second electronic forms are received wirelessly at said data collection system.

14. A data collection system comprising:

an electronic capture device operable to collect first data entered by a user into a first electronic form while said user is at a first location, wherein said electronic capture device includes a digital pen, wherein said first data comprises a first electronic signature and is entered, using said pen, into said first electronic form displayed on said electronic capture device;

a mobile terminal operable to request, prior to said first data being entered into said first electronic form, said first electronic form from a data collection server that is remote from said data collection system while said user is at said first location, said data collection server having received said first electronic form in a forms database and subsequently having received a second electronic form comprising an updated version of said first electronic form in said forms database said first electronic form being associated with a first validation procedure and said second electronic form being associated with a second validation procedure, wherein said mobile terminal is further operable to receive said first electronic form from said forms database of said data collection server, wherein said mobile terminal further is operable to access and transmit said first data in real time while the user is at said first location to said data collection server, and wherein said mobile terminal is further operable to receive, in real time while said user remains proximate to said first location, second data from said data collection server in response to said data collection server receiving said first data, wherein said second data is associated with at least one error in said first data, wherein said at least one error comprises a violation of an age requirement associated with said first electronic signature, and wherein said second data comprises textual information describing said at least one error, a code that causes said first electronic form to include an icon next to said first electronic signature to identify said at least one error, and a suggestion to collect a second electronic signature for correcting said at least one error; and

a computing device at a second location remote from said first location, said computing device operable to receive, from said data collection server, a status of a task to be fulfilled at said first location in association with said first data entered into said first electronic form, said computing device further operable to collect and transmit third data entered by a customer to said data collection server, wherein said third data is related to said at least one error in said first data;

wherein in response to receiving said second data, said electronic capture device is further operable to collect updated first data that includes said second electronic signature entered into said first electronic form with said capture device and said pen while said user remains proximate to said first location for correcting said at least one error, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further operable to access and transmit said updated first data to said data collection server for validation of said updated first data at said data collection server according to said first validation procedure and based at least in part on said third data, such that based on a validation of said updated first data at said data collection server;

said task can be fulfilled at said first location, and

said mobile terminal can wirelessly request said second electronic form from said data collection server such that, following fulfillment of said task at said first location, said second electronic form can be displayed on said electronic capture device, data can be entered into said second electronic form, and said data can be validated according to said second validation procedure at said data collection server.

15. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said age requirement comprises a minimum age requirement.

16. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said pen is operable to capture said first data, and wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to route said first data from said pen to said data collection server.

17. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said wirelessly receiving further comprises wirelessly receiving said second data via said mobile terminal.

18. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said capture device and said mobile terminal are configured to communicate using a short-range radio connection.

19. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said first data is communicated as a short message service (SMS) message.

20. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said second data is communicated as a short message service (SMS) message.

21. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said first data is selected from a group consisting of package delivery data and sales contract data.

22. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said mobile terminal comprises a display device, and wherein said mobile terminal is further operable to render said first and second electronic forms using said display device.

23. The data collection system of claim 14, wherein said mobile terminal is further operable to wirelessly receive said first electronic form prior to collecting said first data.

24. A data collection server comprising:

a component operable to

receive a first electronic form associated with a first validation procedure and subsequently receive a second electronic form associated with a second validation procedure in a forms database of said component, said second electronic form comprising an updated version of said first electronic form,

wirelessly transmit said first electronic form to a data collection system remote from said component, wherein said data collection system is operable to, while said user is at a first location, collect first data entered by a user into said first electronic form and transmit said first data to said component in real time, wherein said data collection system includes a digital pen and an electronic capture device, wherein said first data comprises a first electronic signature and is entered, using said pen, into said first electronic form displayed on said capture device,

receive said first data from said data collection system;

a memory operable to store at least one rule; and

a rules engine operable to validate said first data using said at least one rule according to said first validation procedure in real time while said user remains proximate to said first location, and

wherein said component is further operable to wirelessly transmit second data associated with at least one error in said first data to said data collection system in real time in response to said component receiving said first data while said user remains proximate to said first location, wherein said at least one error comprises a violation of an age requirement associated with said first electronic signature, and wherein said second data comprises textual information describing said at least one error, a code that causes said first electronic form to include an icon next to said first electronic signature to identify said at least one error, and a suggestion to collect a second electronic signature for correcting said at least one error,

wherein said component is further operable to transmit a status of a task to be fulfilled at said first location in association with said first data entered into said first electronic form to a computing device at a second location remote from said first location,

wherein said component is further operable to receive third data entered by a customer at said computing device at said second location, wherein said third data is related to said at least one error in said first data,

wherein, in response to receiving said second data, said first data entered into said first electronic form is updated, with said electronic capture device and said pen and while said user remains proximate to said first location, thereby generating updated first data that includes said second electronic signature for correcting said at least one error, and

wherein said component is further operable to receive and validate said updated first data according to said first validation procedure and based at least in part on said third data, such that;

said task can be fulfilled at said first location, and

said component can receive a request for a second electronic form from said data collection system and wirelessly transmit said second electronic form to said data collection system, such that, following fulfillment of said task at said first location, said second electronic form can be displayed on said electronic capture device, data can be entered into said second electronic form, and said data can be validated according to said second validation procedure at said component.

25. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said age requirement comprises a minimum age requirement.

26. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said component is further operable to receive said first data from a mobile terminal of said data collection system.

27. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said component is further operable to transmit said second data to a mobile terminal of said data collection system.

28. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said first data is communicated as a short message service (SMS) message.

29. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said at least one error is communicated as a short message service (SMS) message.

30. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said first data is selected from a group consisting of package delivery data and sales contract data.

31. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said rules engine is further operable to validate said first data by comparing said first data to said at least one rule.

32. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said at least one rule is associated with one or more of a signature requirement, a delivery location, and a type of delivery.

33. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said memory is further operable to store said first and second electronic forms in said forms database.

34. The data collection server of claim 24, wherein said first and second electronic forms are operable to be rendered on a display device of said data collection system.