Mobile Workforce Tracking via GPS Segmentation and Rule Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively monitor and visualize the movement and idle segments of GPS-tracked mobile workforce personnel, lacking analysis of movement types, paths, and corresponding appointment locations, leading to difficulties in managing mobile workforces and improving customer service efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilizes GPS-enabled devices to track and analyze time stamp location data, converting it into movement and idle segments, and visualizing the type, path, and location of each segment, while applying temporal and territorial rules to generate communications events for rule violations, thereby enhancing workforce management and customer service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If GPS tracking is implemented to monitor mobile workforce, then workforce visibility and productivity are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes GPS-enabled devices (smartphones, tablets) that mobile workers already possess, making the tracking system universally applicable without requiring specialized hardware. The system performs multiple functions including location tracking, appointment verification, and automated reporting through a single integrated platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically processes GPS data to generate movement segments, calculate time on site, and produce compliance reports without requiring manual intervention. The automated rule enforcement and communication event generation eliminate the need for manual monitoring, reducing implementation complexity while maintaining high productivity monitoring capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If detailed movement segment analysis is provided, then workforce monitoring precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides continuous GPS tracking data into discrete movement segments (moving, idle, on-site) based on predefined criteria. This segmentation simplifies the analysis by breaking down complex continuous data into manageable categories that can be easily processed and reported, maintaining high precision while reducing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms raw GPS coordinates into meaningful parameters such as movement type, speed, direction, and time stamps. By changing the parameter representation from raw data to processed metrics, the system achieves precise movement analysis while simplifying subsequent data processing and reporting operations.
3Reliability
If automated rule enforcement is implemented, then compliance monitoring is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-programs territorial rules and temporal rules into the system before deployment. These rules define acceptable behavior patterns and compliance criteria in advance, allowing the system to automatically enforce compliance without requiring complex real-time decision-making logic, thereby improving reliability while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where communication events are triggered by rule violations and sent to designated personnel. This feedback mechanism ensures compliance monitoring is automated and reliable, with the system self-correcting and notifying appropriate parties without requiring complex manual intervention processes.
Data Source
AI summary
The computer program manages a mobile workforce with task persons and GPS-enabled devices by using the GPS time-based location data. A database is populated with task situs location data, event time data and task person data and task person contact data. The database is coupled to the web-based processor, telecommunications network and GPS-enabled device. The system operator programs temporal (time) based rules and location-based rules unique to the task situs. Some rules are both time and location based. When the temporal or territorial rules are violated, first and second comm-events are generated by the system, for example, a text or IVR message to the task person. When associated time-and-territorial rules are violated, a third communications event arises. The time based rules may be associated or correlated with the event time for the task. The event time may be a “time of arrival.” Further, rules may be for approach, entry, or on-location. Territorial rules may proximal, intermediate and distal territories. Designated persons for the comm-notice may be hierarchically related to the task person. The comm-notice may be dynamically created from a designated persona as a content provider.