Geolocation compliance for a mobile workforce

Abstract

A system and method that uses geo-location and a rules engine to facilitate compliance to federal, state, and local regulations as well as company policies across different jurisdictions that may have different compliance regulations. A mobile workforce may use the techniques herein to manage work assignments, report activities, and to manage and track time. This technology may be used, e.g., in the transportation industry, but is not limited to this industry.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereon; and   a processor that executes the computer-readable instructions to:
 identify a current region based on a first location of a mobile unit; 
 determine that the mobile unit has entered a new region; 
 identify a first set of rules associated with the current region and a second set of rules associated with the new region; 
 compare the first set of rules with the second set of rules to identify one or more new rules that are included in the second set of rules but not in the first set of rules; and 
 monitor compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules based upon information received from at least one of the mobile unit or an individual associated with the mobile unit. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first set of rules and the second set of rules are based on a role of the individual. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more rules is associated with a start time and an end time within which the each of the one or more rules is to be complied with. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein to determine that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the processor executes computer-readable instructions to:
 receive a second location of the mobile unit;   determine a defined region based on the second location;   compare the defined region with the current region; and   upon determining that the defined region is different from the current region, designate the defined region as the new region.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein to determine that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the processor executes computer-readable instructions to:
 determine based on the first location and the second location that the mobile unit has traveled a predetermined distance; and   determine the defined region upon the mobile unit having traveled the predetermined distance.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein to monitor compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the processor further executes computer-readable instructions to:
 receive an activity from the individual; and   determine the compliance based upon the activity.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein to monitor compliance of a rule of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the processor further executes computer-readable instructions to:
 determine one or more activities previously received from the individual, wherein each activity of the one or more activities has a start time after a rule start time of the rule and before a rule end time of the rule, and an activity type associated with the rule;   determine that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule; and   designate the rule as satisfying compliance upon determining that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:
 identify a current region based on a first location of a mobile unit;   determine that the mobile unit has entered a new region;   identify a first set of rules associated with the current region and a second set of rules associated with the new region;   compare the first set of rules with the second set of rules to identify one or more new rules that are included in the second set of rules but not in the first set of rules; and   monitor compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules based upon information received from at least one of the mobile unit or an individual associated with the mobile unit.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein the first set of rules and the second set of rules are based on a role of the individual, and wherein each of the one or more rules is associated with a start time and an end time within which the each of the one or more rules is to be complied with. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein to determine that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the processor executes computer-readable instructions to:
 receive a second location of the mobile unit;   determine a defined region based on the second location;   compare the defined region with the current region; and   upon determining that the defined region is different from the current region, designate the defined region as the new region.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 21 , wherein to determine that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the processor executes computer-readable instructions to:
 determine based on the first location and the second location that the mobile unit has traveled a predetermined distance; and   determine the defined region upon the mobile unit having traveled the predetermined distance.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein to monitor compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the processor further executes computer-readable instructions to:
 receive an activity from the individual; and   determine the compliance based upon the activity.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein to monitor compliance of a rule of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the processor further executes computer-readable instructions to:
 determine one or more activities previously received from the individual, wherein each activity of the one or more activities has a start time after a rule start time of the rule and before a rule end time of the rule, and an activity type associated with the rule;   determine that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule; and   designate the rule as satisfying compliance upon determining that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule.   
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 identifying, by a processor, a current region based on a first location of a mobile unit;   determining, by the processor, that the mobile unit has entered a new region;   identifying, by the processor, a first set of rules associated with the current region and a second set of rules associated with the new region;   comparing, by the processor, the first set of rules with the second set of rules to identify one or more new rules that are included in the second set of rules but not in the first set of rules; and   monitoring, by the processor, compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules based upon information received from at least one of the mobile unit or an individual associated with the mobile unit.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first set of rules and the second set of rules are based on a role of the individual. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein each of the one or more rules is associated with a start time and an end time within which the each of the one or more rules is to be complied with. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein for determining that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the method further comprises:
 receiving, by the processor, a second location of the mobile unit;   determining, by the processor, a defined region based on the second location;   comparing, by the processor, the defined region with the current region; and   upon determining that the defined region is different from the current region, designating, by the processor, the defined region as the new region.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein for determining that the mobile unit has entered the new region, the method further comprises:
 determining, by the processor, based on the first location and the second location that the mobile unit has traveled a predetermined distance; and   determining, by the processor, the defined region upon the mobile unit having traveled the predetermined distance.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein for monitoring compliance of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the method further comprises:
 receiving, by the processor, an activity from the individual; and   determining, by the processor, the compliance based upon the activity.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein for monitoring compliance of a rule of the one or more new rules and the first set of rules, the method further comprises:
 determining, by the processor, one or more activities previously received from the individual, wherein each activity of the one or more activities has a start time after a rule start time of the rule and before a rule end time of the rule, and an activity type associated with the rule;   determining, by the processor, that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule; and   designating, by the processor, the rule as satisfying compliance upon determining that at least one of the one or more activities satisfies the rule.