Method, system and computer program for detecting and monitoring human activity utilizing locations data

Abstract

A method, system and computer program for detecting and displaying a person's activity-travel pattern over time and space is provided. Person-based location data is acquired by a personal communication device and processed in accordance with an algorithm. The invention goes beyond applications that focus on the detection of the current location of the user, but rather the enhanced knowledge of the users current, past, and likely future activities and their multi-dimensional attributes. The present invention can be implemented on common hardware and is easily accessible via web-based interfaces and reporting, making various applications achievable at very low cost.

1 . A method for monitoring human activity utilizing location data comprising: (a) receiving person-based location data from a mobile device, the person-based location data being sent from a user; and (b) processing the person-based location data using an activity detection means by converting the person-based location data into activity data, the activity data including person-based activities and optionally attributes of the person-based activities. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: (a) displaying the activity data to the user; and (b) receiving feedback from the user; wherein the feedback is dynamically used by the activity detection means. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a wireless handheld, or a portable computer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the location data includes longitude and latitude coordinates. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the person-based location data is sent at an interval based on desired activity data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the interval consists of 1 second or more. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the processing of the person-based location data comprises the steps of: (a) initial classification of the person-based location data according to one or more of missing data point segments, activity segments and/or trip segments; (b) generation of summary statistics for the missing data point segments, the activity segments and/or the trip segments; (c) refinement of the missing data point segments, the activity segments and/or the trip segments; and (d) optionally detection of additional attributes related to the person-based activities. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein spatial data is included in the generation of the summary statistics. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the refinement of the missing data point segments, the activity segments, and the trip segments is achieved according to one or more activity-based rules and/or parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the activity-based rules and/or parameters are probabilistic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the activity-based rules and/or parameters: (a) convert the missing data point segments to the activity segments and the trip segments; or (b) convert and join the activity segments and the trip segments. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the activity-based rules and/or parameters include meta rules. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for monitoring human activity utilizing location data comprising: (a) a server computer; and (b) a server application linked to the server computer, the server application being operable to provide instructions to the server that enable the server to: (i) receive person-based location data from a mobile device, the person-based location data being sent from a user; and (ii) process the person-based location data by operation of an activity detection facility included in or linked to the server application, the activity detection facility being operable to convert the person-based location data into activity data, the activity data including person-based activities and optionally attributes of the person-based activities. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the server computer is operable to connect to one or more remote computers and thereby to provide access to the resources of the system at said one or more remote computers. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the server computer is operable to make the activity data accessible from the one or more remote computers. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the server application is operable on the server to receive feedback from the one or more remote computers, and wherein the feedback is dynamically used by the activity detection facility. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a wireless handheld, or a portable computer. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the location data includes longitude and latitude coordinates. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the person-based location data is sent at an interval based on desired activity data. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the interval consists of 1 second or more. 
     
     
         29 - 47 . (canceled)