US006961586B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Barbosa et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`NOV. 1, 2005
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`FIELD ASSESSMENTS USING HANDHELD
`DATA MANAGEMENT DEVICES
`
`Inventors: Frank A. Barbosa, Carrollton, TX
`(US); Luis M. Ortiz, Dallas, TX (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Field Data Management Solutions,
`LLC, Albuquerque, NM (US)
`
`5,990,932 A * 11/1999 Bee et a1. .............. .. 348/1408
`6,064,968 A *
`5/2000 SchanZ ..................... .. 705/1
`6,083,353 A *
`7/2000 Alexander, Jr.
`202/158
`6,172,620 B1 *
`1/2001 Brick et a1. .............. .. 341/22
`6,650,647 B1 * 11/2003 Ishikawa et a1. ..
`.... .. 370/400
`6,662,193 B1 * 12/2003 Christensen ........... .. 707/104.1
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`
`408055161 A * 2/1996
`
`......... .. G06F 17/60
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 392 days.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Melur Ramakrishnaiah
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(65)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/955,543
`
`Filed:
`
`Sep. 17, 2001
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0192329 A1
`
`Sep. 30, 2004
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Provisional application No. 60/233,120, ?led on Sep.
`18, 2000.
`
`Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. H04M 1/00
`
`US. Cl. ............................. .. 455/556.1; 455/566.2;
`455/903; 705/2
`Field of Search ........................ .. 455/5561, 556.2,
`455/661, 90.1, 90.2, 90.3; 705/1, 2
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`Systems for and methods of conducting ?eld assessments
`utilizing handheld data management devices are diclosed.
`Methods and systems for executing ?eld assessments use
`handheld devices provide assessors portable access to indus
`try-speci?c programs and data useful in carrying out a ?eld
`assessment. Field assessment data synchronization and/or
`delivery is enabled using Wireless capabilities resident in
`handheld personal computing devices. Data may be syn
`chroniZed With a server over a network using Wireless radio
`transmission, or directly to a computer Workstation using
`Wireless infrared or radio transmission or connected means
`(e.g., modems, cradles, docking stations). It is another aspect
`of the present invention to provide for tWo-Way communi
`cation betWeen remote computing means (e.g., servers,
`desktop computers) and handheld data management devices
`to facilitate real-time access to remote programs, assistance
`and/or information related to the ?eld assessment being
`undertaken by using a handheld data management device
`user.
`
`8/1995 Bennett et a1. .............. .. 705/8
`5,444,615 A *
`5,561,446 A * 10/1996 Montlick .................. .. 345/173
`
`32 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`GPS-assisted Navigation
`to worksite
`
`V 701
`
`Begin program
`
`702
`
`Obtain client-speci?c /703
`information
`
`704
`Identify assessment /
`problem
`
`705
`Information /
`Requested from assessor
`
`706
`Information provided by /
`assessor
`
`_
`
`_
`
`Data rs compiled
`
`707
`
`708 \ Information analyzed
`by handheld device
`
`709
`Information
`provided to remote /
`r
`for anlysis
`
`Output provided to
`handheld device
`
`710
`
`Starbucks Corporation, et al. – Ex. 1002
`U.S. Patent No. 9,454,748
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`20
`\
`
`MICROPROCESSOR
`l
`
`3/
`ROM
`|
`
`C
`
`R
`
`f f 2 4 3 3
`
`m W.
`m w w W.
`
`R
`C
`T1 m CB
`M mm m mo
`/ f 8 6 2 1:.
`
`C
`
`m
`
`m mm W M? W cm
`
`C
`
`W. M \ \
`
`FIG. 2
`
`3&1
`3m F .l D
`8_ .
`_m
`a 0 4
`
`6
`
`3//%
`
`3
`
`6 A.
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`m o.
`5
`
`0 I m;
`
`“71d
`6 F w\w w
`
`r1
`
`_
`
`4
`
`4/?_
`_ _4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 1, 2005
`Nov. 1, 2005
`
`Sheet 2 0f 9
`Sheet 2 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`/57
`
`[:l--@-:
`
`I
`
`51
`
`
`
`58 Im“
`
`59
`
`61
`
`FIG. 6
`FIG. 6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`701
`GPS-assisted Navigation
`to worksite /
`
`Begin program / 702
`
`Obtain client-speci?c /
`information
`
`Identify assessment
`problem
`
`/
`
`Information / 705
`Requested from assessor
`
`Information provided by
`assessor
`
`/
`
`Data is compiled
`
`/
`
`708 \ Information analyzed
`by handheld device
`
`709
`Information
`provided to remote /
`computer for anlysis
`
`710
`Output provided to
`handheld device /
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1, 2005
`
`Sheet 4 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`Identify Job/date / 801
`
`Select/Begin program / 802
`
`803
`Size of building‘? /
`
`Provide structural
`characteristics information
`
`Provide information on
`building use
`
`Provide location-based
`marketing information
`
`Proposed payment method
`
`.
`Compile data
`
`808
`
`809
`
`Information analyzed
`by handheld device
`
`Information provided
`to remote computer
`
`for analysis /s10
`
`Output provided to /
`handheld device
`
`FIG. 8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 5 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`90 1
`Device-server
`synchronization /
`
`Template/task completion / 902
`
`906\
`
`Device-server /
`synchronlzation
`
`904
`Updated template created /
`by server
`
`905
`Un?nished/new task /
`preapared for assignment
`to to new user
`
`FIG. 9
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 6 6f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`1001
`Operational readiness
`program selected /
`
`User provided assessment / 1002
`steps
`
`Run report after all steps /
`are completed
`
`1 004
`Recommendation /
`provided
`
`.
`1 005
`Report provided to remote /
`server for
`archiving/analysis
`
`FIG. 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 7 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`Start inventory program / 1 101
`
`1 102
`Identify service schedule /
`
`1 l 03
`Synchronize schedule /
`with inventory manager
`
`1 104
`Obtain product/part /
`availability status
`
`1 l 05
`Obtain product/part /
`consistent with schedule
`
`FIG. 11
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1, 2005
`
`Sheet 8 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`1201
`Start criminal
`investigation program /
`
`Identify crime / 1202
`
`1203
`Checklist provided to user /
`
`1204
`
`1205
`
`Checklist data stored on
`handheld
`
`Checklist data provided to
`remote server
`
`FIG. 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 1,2005
`
`Sheet 9 0f 9
`
`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`1301
`Remote assessor provided
`with instruction /
`
`Template provided by / 1302
`server
`
`I
`I
`
`Communication with 'l/
`remote personnel
`
`1304
`Dataftemplate provided to /
`remote server
`
`FIG. 13
`
`

`

`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`1
`FIELD ASSESSMENTS USING HANDHELD
`DATA MANAGEMENT DEVICES
`
`This application claims priority to Provisional Patent
`Application, Ser. No. 60/233,120, entitled “Field Assess
`ment Using Handheld Data management Devices,” ?led
`Sep. 18, 2000.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is generally related to applications
`for handheld data management devices (e.g., personal digital
`assistants, handled computers, tWo-Way pagers, Web/WAP
`enabled telephony, etc.). More particularly, the present
`invention is related to systems for and methods of conduct
`ing ?eld assessments utiliZing handheld data management
`devices.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`One problem With groWth and demand for services in
`many of the professions, trades and industries Wherein ?eld
`assessments, estimates or appraisals are required is that less
`experienced personal may be undertaking the initial tasks of
`data collection and, sometimes, the analysis and trouble
`shooting of problems in the ?eld. Field personnel are usually
`required to collect facts regarding a situation in the ?eld that
`may later be used by more senior, experienced and/or
`responsible personnel to make decisions (business, techni
`cal, administrative and/or political). Even the most experi
`enced professionals may ?nd themselves lacking access to
`critical information or support that Would be helpful in
`undertaking ?eld operations.
`Individuals in the construction industry, for example, are
`often responsible for carrying out ?eld assessments and
`estimates. The consequences of under bidding a project in
`the construction ?eld may be very costly and/or may affect
`performance and quality of services/activities related to the
`underbid project. In cases Where a project cost estimate, or
`bid, must be provided for a construction project, a business
`oWner or senior journeymen may oftentimes be compelled to
`personally go the ?eld and collect information regarding a
`project in order to render a realistic and pro?table bid
`because an inexperienced estimators may render inaccurate
`appraisals. Construction project estimates require an accu
`rate assessment and analysis of a job site/projects in order to
`develop the data/facts necessary for an estimate to be
`rendered regarding use of labor, materials and completion
`time for a project.
`If a ?eld estimator Was provided With guidance, access to
`supplemental information and/or years of experience (e.g.,
`lessons learned by senior personnel), ?eld operations may
`proceed more accurately and professionally. A ?eld estima
`tor, hoWever, is unlikely to have reasonable means to ef?
`ciently access the information or the information may not be
`updated. Materials typically used in the ?eld may include
`reference materials such as codes, regulations and price lists.
`Personal digital assistant (PDA) is the generic name used
`for a device belonging to a family of portable handheld data
`managing devices Well knoWn in the art. Currently, handheld
`data management devices such as PDAs or Palm PCs can
`have as much computing poWer as some desktop personal
`computers and have been used in a Wide variety of appli
`cations, including Wireless communication (infrared and
`radio frequency), GPS (global positioning system) mapping,
`Internet access and database storage. Web-phones are also
`being introduced to the Wireless marketplace that have
`PDA-like capabilities.
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`2
`Handheld data management devices are generally enabled
`With connectivity to data sources over, for example, the
`connection-oriented Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
`Protocol (TCP/IP) or message oriented TME/X protocol.
`Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) is a TCP/IP based
`technology that supports Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) or
`Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) Wireless connections to
`mobile devices. Cellular service is generally available
`throughout the World from major service providers. With
`CDPD, data can be transferred over sWitched PSTN circuits
`or packet-sWitched netWorks. Currently, CDPD supports
`data transmissions up to 19.2 Kbps. Global System for
`Mobile Communication (GSM) and Personal Communica
`tions Systems (PCS) netWorks operate in the 800 MHZ, 900
`MHZ, and 1990 MHZ range, PCS provides narroWband
`digital communications in the 900 MHZ range for paging,
`and broadband digital communications in the 1900 MHZ
`band for cellular telephone service. In the US, PCS 1900 is
`identical to GSM 1900. GSM operates in the 900 MHZ,
`1800—1900 MHZ frequency bands. GSM 1800 is Widely
`used throughout Europe and throughout many parts of the
`World. In the US, GSM 1900 is the same as PCS 1900; thus,
`these tWo technologies are compatible. Currently, GSM
`netWorks support data speeds up to 9.6 Kbps. The Code
`Division Multiple Access (CDMA) netWork is a digital
`Wireless netWork that de?nes hoW a single channel can be
`segmented into multiple channels using a pseudo random
`signal (or code) to identify each user’s information. Because
`CDMA spread each call over more than 4.4 trillion channels
`across the entire frequency band, it is more immune to
`interference than TDMA or other current Wireless netWorks
`and can support more users per channel in some situations.
`Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) cellular/Wireless
`system are currently deployed throughout the Wireless com
`munication markets. Currently, some netWorks support data
`at speeds up to 14.4 Kbps. Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA),
`Which is called CDMA 2000 in North America, Will be
`implemented in the USA in the near future. W-CDMA is a
`true 3G Wireless technology. W-CDMA increases transfer
`rates by using multiple 1.25 MHZ cellular channels com
`pared to the single channel currently used by CDMA 1.
`The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) netWork is a
`2.5G technology that bridges the gap betWeen the current
`Wireless technologies and the next generation of Wireless
`technologies knoWn as 3G Wireless technologies. GPRS is a
`packet-data transmission technology that Will initially pro
`vide data transfer rates up to 115 Kbps. GPRS Will Work
`With CDMA and TDMA, and it supports X25 and IP
`communications protocols. It Will also enable features like
`Voice over IP (VOIP) and multimedia services. BlueTooth is
`a Personal Area NetWork (PAN) technology. Adopted by a
`consortium of Wireless equipment manufacturers called the
`BlueTooth Special Interest Group (BSIG), it is emerging as
`a global standard for loW cost Wireless data and voice
`communication. The current speci?cation for this standard is
`the 2.4 GHZ ISM frequency band.
`BlueTooth technology is based on a short-range radio
`transmitter/receiver built into small application speci?c cir
`cuits (ASICs) and embedded into support devices. Initially,
`BlueTooth enabled devices Will have 1 mW of transmitter
`poWer and Will be capable of asymmetrical data transfers of
`up to 721 Mbps over distances of 10M. The BlueTooth
`speci?cation permits up to 100 mW of poWer, Which Will
`increase the range to 100M. In addition, it can support up to
`three voice channels. Using short data packets and frequency
`hopping of up to 1600 hops per second, it is a true 3G
`Wireless technology that Will enable a host of neW applica
`
`

`

`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`3
`tions and possibilities for Wireless data communication.
`Wireless application protocol
`and Extensible
`Markup Language (XML) are examples of current technol
`ogy being used in Wireless devices and system to provide
`Web-based (Internet) content on Wireless devices.
`Despite the groWing poWer and popularity of portable
`data management devices and the diverse telecommunica
`tions alternatives for data communication, feW applications
`are available today that directly relate to interactive or
`industry-speci?c programs providing management of asso
`ciated data and providing users With access to daily business
`practices and procedures related to a particular industry.
`What is apparently needed in industries requiring ?eld
`assessments is access to industry-speci?c information and/or
`support that may enable ?eld assessors, estimators, investi
`gators and the like to more ef?ciently and accurate render
`?eld assessments.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to provide methods
`for executing ?eld assessments using handheld devices.
`It is an aspect of the present invention to provide assessors
`portable access to industry-speci?c programs and data useful
`in carrying out a ?eld assessment.
`It is another aspect of the present invention provides a
`handheld data management device and solutions for assist
`ing personnel in conducting ?eld assessments.
`It is another aspect of the present invention to provide
`methods for ?eld assessment data synchroniZation and/or
`delivery using Wireless capabilities resident in handheld
`personal computing devices. Data may be synchronized With
`a server over a netWork using Wireless radio transmission, or
`directly to a computer Workstation using Wireless infrared or
`radio transmission or connected means (e.g., modems,
`cradles, docking stations).
`It is another aspect of the present invention to provide for
`tWo-Way communication betWeen remote computing means
`(e.g., servers, desktop computers) and handheld data man
`agement devices to facilitate real-time access to remote
`programs, assistance and/or information related to the ?eld
`assessment being undertaken by using a handheld data
`management device user.
`Ahandheld data management device for ?eld assessments
`can include a memory for storing ?eld assessment programs
`and related data; microprocessor for executing ?eld assess
`ment programs; ?eld assessment softWare stored Within said
`memory; user interface for enabling a user to interact With
`said ?eld assessment softWare; and sychroniZation means for
`providing data to and retrieving data from remote computing
`resources. The systems and devices may also include a ?eld
`assessment program module for analyZing input data asso
`ciated With a ?eld assessment, analyZing said data, and
`rendering output data in response to said input data and said
`analyZing; a positioning module, for providing handheld
`device location identi?cation; and a Wireless communication
`module for providing access to remote data resources to said
`device.
`Aprogramming module containing ?eld assessment soft
`Ware may include softWare used to accomplish at least one
`of:
`construction industry analysis;
`HVAC analysis;
`project management;
`equipment readiness;
`troubleshooting;
`inventory tracking;
`
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`inventory ordering;
`legal investigation;
`multi-users function coordination.
`A method of conducting a ?eld assessment using a
`handheld data management device can include the steps of
`providing access to a industry-speci?c ?eld assessment
`program module; executing said program module to conduct
`a ?eld assessment; providing ?eld-speci?c information
`required by said program module for said program module
`to render data from said module useful in support of said
`assessment; and retrieving data from said handheld data
`management device in support of said assessment. The
`method may further include providing data to a remote
`resource for analysis, and retrieving enhanced data from said
`remote resource for use in conducting the ?eld assessment.
`A method of conducting a assessment of a ?eld problem
`by an assessor utiliZing a handheld data management device,
`may also include the steps of obtaining direction to a ?eld
`problem using positioning and navigation means provided
`through said handheld data management device; starting an
`assessment program associated With the ?eld problem; pro
`viding speci?c information required by the assessment pro
`gram and related to the ?eld problem; analysis of said
`speci?c information by said handheld data management
`device; and rendering output by said handheld data man
`agement device for use in support of said ?eld problem.
`The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent
`features of the present invention. These features should be
`construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more
`prominent features and applications of the invention. Many
`other bene?cial results can be attained by applying the
`disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the
`invention as Will be described. Accordingly, other aspects
`and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by
`referring to the folloWing Detailed Description of the pre
`ferred embodiment.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`A more complete appreciation of the invention and many
`of the attendant advantages thereof Will become readily
`apparent With reference to the folloWing detailed descrip
`tion, particularly When considered in conjunction With the
`accompanying draWings, in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a portable electronic
`device usable in accordance With carrying of methods of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of various components of the
`device;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a device including a
`communication module to facilitate communication of the
`device.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram shoWing an infrared commu
`nications link betWeen the device and a personal computer;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram shoWing a GPS module
`associated With the device;
`FIG. 6 an illustration of a basic operational environment
`for the handheld device and methods of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 7 illustrates a How chart related to a construction
`industry in accordances With a method of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 8 illustrates a How chart illustrating a more speci?c
`assessment relating to the HVAC industry;
`FIG. 9 illustrates a How chart of a method relating to
`project management;
`
`

`

`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 10 illustrates a How chart outlining a method relating
`to equipment readiness;
`FIG. 11 illustrates a How chart outlining a method relating
`to inventory tracking/ordering;
`FIG. 12 illustrates a How chart illustrating an assessment
`relating to criminal investigation; and
`FIG. 13 illustrates a How chart directed to multi-user
`functions in accordances With methods of the present inven
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention noW is described more fully here
`inafter With reference to the accompanying draWings, in
`Which preferred embodiments of the invention are shoWn.
`Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. This inven
`tion may, hoWever, be embodied in many different forms and
`should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set
`forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that
`this disclosure Will be thorough and complete, and Will fully
`convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
`Aspects of the present invention are directed to assisting
`people in the ?eld With rendering accurate assessments of a
`situation, job, environment, project, etc. Reference to a
`particular ?eld environment (e.g., projects Within the con
`struction industry) made throughout the description are
`provided for exemplary purposes only and should not be
`taken as a limitation of the present invention. The present
`invention provides portable, handheld data management
`devices (e.g., handheld or palm computer/PC, PDA, mobile
`telephony devices) With access to industry/profession-spe
`ci?c processes and applications to enable users to be more
`productive in ?eld assessments.
`A handheld data management device in accordance With
`the present invention may be in the form of any one of a
`number of commercially available hand-held devices such
`as personal digital assistants (PDAs), tWo-Way pagers, and
`Web/WAP-enabled mobile phones. Referring to FIG. 1, a
`device 10 exemplary of a prior art PDA that could imple
`ment softWare and/or communication methods in accor
`dance With carrying out methods of the invention is illus
`trated. The device 10 includes an outer housing 12
`sufficiently small to be easily portable such that it substan
`tially ?t Within the palm of a users hand, a display 14 that
`may also preferably include touch-screen technology to
`operate in combination With control buttons 16 to provide a
`User Interface (UI) for operating, controlling and/or other
`Wise interacting With the device 10. Not shoWn on the device
`10, but Well knoWn in the art to be incorporated in such
`devices are communication ports (Wired and Wireless).
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of various components of the
`device 10. The device 10 includes a system bus or plurality
`of system buses 20 to Which various resident components
`are coupled and by Which communication betWeen the
`various components is accomplished. A processor 22 is
`connected to the system bus 20 and is supported by a read
`only memory (ROM) 24 and a random access memory
`(RAM) 26. The ROM 24 contains among other code the
`code controlling basic hardWare operations. The RAM 26 is
`the main memory into Which the operating system and
`application programs are loaded. Also connected to this
`system bus 20 are various I/O controllers, including a
`controller 28 providing the hardWare interface for the con
`trol buttons 16, and a controller 30 providing the hardWare
`interface for the display 14. A controller 32 provides the
`hardWare interface for a speaker 34. One of the preferred
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`implementations of the invention is as a set of instructions
`in a code module resident in the RAM 26 of the device. The
`set of instructions may hoWever be stored in some other
`computer memory such as a hard disk drive of a personal
`computer (PC) or even doWnloaded from a server via the
`Internet until required by the device 10. As shoWn in FIG. 3,
`the device 10 may also include an integrated communication
`module 42 to facilitate Wired and Wireless communication.
`Communication may be had With remote resources 44 (e.g.,
`servers) through netWork and to enable monitoring and
`feedback of ?eld assessment operations. Wireless commu
`nication module 42 may include digital communication
`technology and/or Wireless modem for facilitating local area
`communication. The module 46 also preferably uses Wire
`less IP technology, Which is also knoWn as Cellular Digital
`Packet Data (CDPD). CDPD is a method of transmitting
`data in small packets of information over existing cellular
`phone netWorks. CDPD is a fully digital netWork overlay,
`providing all the bene?ts of digital service, including loWer
`error rates and loWer costs. or cellular-based communica
`tions. Communications module 42 provides Wireless real
`time access to servers and personnel in support of assess
`ments, and may also provide more traditional information
`available over netWorks, (e.g., e-mail, chat, Intranet and
`Internet information). Preferably, no plugging in or dialing
`up in needed through integration of the communication
`module 42 into a handheld device.
`As shoWn in FIG. 4, the device 10 can preferably com
`municate With a PC 36 through an infrared communications
`link 38 to exchange and update information both Ways. This
`feature makes it particularly easy to update and change
`personal schedules as needed. The device 10 may include an
`integrated modem 40 to provide data transfer functions and
`for remote connectivity. This feature alloWs a person (such
`as a supervisor, counselor or service representative) remote
`from the user to provide tasks, ansWers to queries, notes and
`other information for use and display on the users device 10
`using standard telecommunications technology (e.g.,Wired
`and Wireless GSM, CDMA, CDPD, and paging netWorks).
`Referring to FIG. 5, the handheld device may also be
`equipped Within a position module 46 to enable the handheld
`device to utiliZe positioning systems or methods knoWn in
`the art such as satellite position (e.g., Global Positioning
`System (GPS)) or signal triangulation techniques. A GPS
`compatible system, for example, may be used to determine
`a device location information and may also provide navi
`gational assistance to users (e.g., to ?nd a ?eld problem/job)
`When used in combination With navigation softWare or
`resources, such as the Mapblast.com (TM) resource avail
`able from the World Wide Web. A navigation module Will
`include positioning and navigational capabilities. Commer
`cially available navigation technology Will alloWs users to
`doWnload a door-to-door route from any tWo locations in the
`US. The device Will constantly update the user’s current
`position and provide updated directions. This feature alloWs
`point to point navigational instructions to be provided to the
`users.
`In accordance With the present invention, a handheld
`device 10 may be interactive With the ?eld assessor When
`programs operated by the microprocessor ask questions or
`provide guidance related to a particular ?eld problem. An
`interactive question and ansWer session may also include the
`provision of checklists and relevant data in support of a user
`dialogue With the device. Interactivity may also be provided
`to remote resources When tWo-Way communication is pro
`vided betWeen the device and a remote server and/or support
`representative. As mentioned above, the present invention
`
`

`

`US 6,961,586 B2
`
`7
`may be effectively practiced together With a client/server
`programming environment. As is knoWn by those skilled in
`this art, client/server is a model for a relationship betWeen
`tWo computer programs in Which one program, the client,
`makes a service request from another program, the server,
`Which ful?lls the request. Although the client/server model
`can be used by programs Within a single computer, it is more
`commonly used in a netWork Where computing functions
`and data can more ef?ciently be distributed among many
`client and server programs at different netWork locations.
`With a client/server relationship, multiple client programs
`share the services of a common server. Client programs and
`Server programs are often part of a larger program or
`application. Relative to the Internet, a Web broWser is a
`client program that requests services (the sending of Web
`pages or ?les) from a Web server (Which technically is called
`a Hypertext Transport Protocol or HTTP server) in another
`computer someWhere on the Internet. Similarly, a computer
`With TCP/IP installed alloWs client requests for ?les from
`File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers in other computers on
`the Internet.
`Referring to FIG. 6, an environment for extended opera
`tion/communication betWeen a handheld device 10 (client)
`and remote management system 58 (e.g., server, desktop
`PC) is illustrated. At least one device 10/10‘ can be remotely
`linked to a management system that may provide templates
`(e.g., task/punch lists) and/or programs to a group of users.
`A template may be stored locally on a user’s personal digital
`assistant (PDA). Job templates and/or programs may also be
`centrally stored Within one or more databases 61/59 acces
`sible to management system or the directly by the a handheld
`device 10/10‘. Accordingly, users may access a central
`template through a private or public computer netWorks in a
`conventional manner via Wireline or Wireless communica
`tions. By maintaining a template in a central location, such
`as a management system, updates can be made to the
`template as procedures, best practices, and/or laWs are
`added, amended or deleted. Accordingly, users can be pro
`vided With up-to-date information on assessment activities.
`Auser in the ?eld may utiliZe a handheld device 10 for
`assessment of a ?eld problem. The user can execute a
`industry-speci?c program on the handheld device 10 related
`to the problem being addressed. The user interacts With the
`handheld executed program to obtain an initial ?eld assess
`ment. The program Would prompt the user for input of data
`related to the problem. During program execution, the user
`may access remote resources (e.g., information, data, assis
`tance) via Wireless communication systems 51 and netWorks
`55. Information may be obtained from a server 58 located at
`the user’s enterprise, or from other netWork 55 resources
`available to the user (e.g., Web pages provided/obtained
`over the Internet). Realtime analysis of data obtained may
`also be undertaken by remote processor (e.g., server, desktop
`PC). At completion of data processing by a handheld device
`remote processor 10 a ?nal output, such as a report, bid,
`recommendation, or the like may be provided to the user.
`The user may use the information to counsel a third party,
`render a ?nal output for the third party, or to troubleshoot
`equipment. The remote processor (e.g., 58) may also be used
`as a collection point for data provided from multiple users
`(e.g., 10, 10‘). The data Would then be analyZed by the
`remote processor and a comprehensive report may result
`remote user/device location and data can also be provided
`via satellite 57. Location is determinable using, for example,
`GPS. A handheld device user may be provided With direc
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`25
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`35
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`40
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`tions to a requested location, based on the user’s position,
`either textually or through knoWn mapping programs (e.g.,
`MapBlast(TM)).
`It should be appreciated that data collected With the
`device 10 may be processed Without the assistance of remote
`resources and can be directly utiliZed to render output to the
`user via the device UI, printed using data rendering devices,
`or may be stored in local memory for subsequent use (e.g.,
`synchroniZation With a desktop, rendering, remote compu
`tation, compilation for use With input from other sources).
`Data provided to remote systems can generally undergo
`computing operations beyond the resident capabilities of the
`handheld device. A limited softWare program may be used
`for gathering of data during a ?eld assessment, Where after
`a larger softWare application and computing resources may
`be necessary to render a comprehensive analysis relating to
`the particular ?eld problem. A smaller handheld executed
`program, for example, may only provide a device user With
`a more abbreviated list of questions needed to address a ?eld
`problem. For example, a larger computing capability may
`utiliZe data collected by several handheld devices deployed
`to assess ?eld problems.
`Methods of the present invention are no