Patent ID: 8971853
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A computer-based method to convert GPS signal data from a GPS-enabled cellular phone, tablet computer or electronic device into motion indicator data and idle indicator data which motion and idle data is classified as a task-related event or a privacy event, the method operative with a database populated with a plurality of tasks represented by unique task data collections and task person data, each one of said unique task data collections having task situs location data, projected time of arrival data, time-on-site data, and task assignment data, said task person data representing at least contact data for that task person, said database coupled to a web-based processor which in turn is coupled to a telecommunications network, said GPS-enabled device coupled to said telecommunications network, the method comprising: periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data from said GPS-enabled device adapted to be used by said task person assigned to said unique task via a web-based communications channel between said web-based processor and said GPS-enabled device; determining when said GPS-enabled device is in an idle mode defined by a territory about a present GPS location data by monitoring a distance between at least one earlier position of said GPS-enabled device and the present GPS location data and generating an idle ON status indicator when a distance threshold is not exceeded; determining when said GPS-enabled device moves by comparing at least one earlier position of said GPS-enabled device and the present GPS location data to one of said distance threshold, a velocity threshold and a change in velocity threshold and generating a movement ON status indicator; determining when said GPS-enabled device is in the idle mode and the present GPS location data matches said task situs location and generating time-on-site data, the time-on-site data including a start time, a duration and an end-of-task time, the end-of-task time determined, when the idle ON status indicator changes and the movement ON status indicator is generated; gathering privacy event data from said task person either prior to the step of periodically gathering GPS time stamped location data or prior to the step of determining the idle mode and generating the idle ON status indicator, said privacy event data including at least a privacy start time; classifying, in substantially real time, a privacy block over the idle ON status indicator and the movement ON status indicator when privacy event data is compiled; accepting an end-of-privacy time from the assigned task person as part of said privacy event data; classifying, in substantially real time, idle indicator data when the idle ON status indicator is present and publishing the idle indicator data for the assigned task person upon command beyond the privacy block; classifying, in substantially real time, motion indicator data when the movement ON status indicator is present and publishing the motion indicator data for the assigned task person upon command beyond the privacy block; accepting a privacy block re-classification request from the assigned task person after the classification of either of the idle indicator data and motion indicator data and reclassifying one or both of the idle indicator data and the motion indicator data in the privacy block; determining when said GPS-enabled device is in the idle mode and the present GPS location data does not match said task situs location; and initiating a communications session with the task person assigned to the unique task, and accepting either task related event data or privacy data from the task person during the communications session including: a traffic delay indicator; a real time privacy event data; a vendor assistance indicator; an equipment needed indicator; and a co-worker needed indicator.