WO2017109796A2

WO2017109796A2 - System and method of geotagging of metadata in dynamic forms

Info

Publication number: WO2017109796A2
Application number: PCT/IN2016/050455
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamojit SENGUPTA; Karthik RAVEENDRAN; Shafeer Badharudeen; Achu A R; Ligil M LAL; Arundas K V
Original assignee: Attinad Software Pvt. Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-12-26
Filing date: 2016-12-24
Publication date: 2017-06-29
Also published as: WO2017109796A3

Abstract

A method and a system for dynamic digital form generation and geotagging of metadata in the digital form. The methos involves the steps of creating a digital form using an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), generating metadata for each of the digital forms. Further, the method include steps of tagging the created metadata with specific geo coordinates and locking the tagged digital form and restricting a user from entering in data and/or viewing the digital form unless the user reaches the specific geo coordinates. Furthermore, the method involves the steps of dynamically customizing the digital form using metadata and checking if the user has reached, specific geo coordinates and unlocking the tagged digital form to permit data entry.

Description

System And Method Of Geotagging Of Metadata In Dynamic Forms

The invention generally relates to a dynamic digital form generation and more specifically to tagging of specific geo coordinates in each of the generated dynamic digital forms and allowing a user to perform certain actions at the tagged specific geo coordinates.

In today’s world, every business entity relies on data and information collection during various stages of the business process. Companies usually appoint specific personnel that are responsible for such data / information collection and the frequency of data collection depends upon business requirements. Sometimes data is collected in preset formats (referred to as “forms”) either physically on paper or on forms available on digital devices. A big disadvantage of data collected physically on paper is that the information in the paper form is unprotected and there is no way of tracking if the data was diligently collected or not. Further, the information that is entered on the paper may be corrupted or lost due to several reasons, which may result in causing severe damage to the business.

Recent advancement in technology has ensured that most of the sectors appoint employees who are authorized to collect data or information in digital form. Such collected information in digital form once again may be unprotected or not diligently entered. Some organizations may even providea GPS device to their employee who is responsible for collecting the information. Such GPS enabled device is provided only with the aim of verifying and/or monitoring employee presence at the specified location and there is no option for checking whether the actions or tasks have been accomplished or not at the appropriate data collection point.

Hence, to overcome above mentioned problems, there is a need for a system and method for generating dynamic digital forms that provides a tagging option of each digital form with specific geo coordinates to secure the digital data.

Object of Invention

The The object of the invention is to dynamically generate one or more digital forms based on metadata.

Another object of the invention is to tag specific geo coordinates with each digital form generated.

Another object of the invention is to unlock the digital form only when the user reaches the specific geo coordinates as tagged in the digital form, thereby allowing the user to perform certain actions such as entering data in and/or viewing the digital form.

The invention provides a system and method of geotagging of metadata in dynamic forms to control data entry in the forms. The system includes, a device with a display which is disposed with a GPS (Global Positioning System) module. The GPS module receives geo coordinates of the device. On the other hand, a server, disposed with a processor, is in communivation with the device is configured to tag specific geo co-ordinates (tagged geo co-ordinates) to metadata corresponding to a specific form.

Further, the server is enabled with a geo co-ordinates comparison module that is configured to compare said geolocation co-ordinates of the device with said tagged geo-cordinates and a metadata lock module in communication with the device and the server, configured to receive instructions from the GPS module to unlock the form on the device to enable data entry in the form only when said device geolocation co-ordinates are the same as said tagged geo co-ordinates.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which, like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 depicts/illustrates a dynamic form generation and geotagging network system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig.1A depicts/illustrates details of a dynamic form generation and geotagging platform of FIG.1, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 depicts/illustrates details of a server, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 depicts/illustrates details of a smart device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4shows a flowchart depicting / illustrating a method of form creation and geotagging of metadata.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart depicting / illustrating a method of dynamic form generation and unlocking of form / fields for data entry.

The The embodiments herein, the various features, and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The embodiments herein below provide a method and system of dynamic form generation based on geotagging of metadata. The method of dynamic form generation and geotagging of metadata platform involves the steps of creating a digital form using an IDE (Integrated Development Environment),generating metadata for each of the digital forms. Further, the method include steps of tagging the created metadata with specific geo coordinates and locking the tagged digital form and restricting a user from entering in data and/or viewing the digital form unless the user reaches the specific geo coordinates. Furthermore, the method involves the steps of dynamically customizing the digital form using metadata and checking if the user has reached, specific geo coordinates and unlocking the tagged digital form to permit data entry.

Referring now to the drawings, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1 depicts a dynamic form generation and geotagging network system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The network system includes a server 110 coupled to a database or data repository 150, a smart device 120 for each user, an image acquisition device(s) 140, and a network 160. The server 110 and each smart device 120 are configured with a “dynamic form generation and geotagging of metadata” platform 130, where the platform 130 includes an integrated development environment (IDE) (not shown in the Fig.1). The IDE is configured to enable a user to enter data fields in said smart device 120 for dynamic form generation

One skilled in the art may recognize that the network 160 can be various types of networks such as intranet, Local area network (LAN), Wide area network (WAN), internet, etc. The server 110 and the smart device(s) 120 may either communicate via network 160 using wired or wireless communication. Further, one skilled in the art may recognize that the smart device(s) 120 can be of various types, but are not limited, to smart phone, GPS enabled laptops, mobile phones, tablets, PDA, GPS enabled notebook, etc.

In an embodiment, referring to Fig. 1, an administrator who is an employee of an organization or business may access the platform 130 on the server 110. The administrator may use the IDE for creating a digital form and generating metadata for each of the digital form. Further, the processor (not shwn in Fig.1), present in the server 110, carry out the process of tagging the created metadata with specific geo coordinates and locking the tagged digital form and restricting a user from entering in data and/or viewing the digital form unless the user reaches the specific geo coordinates. The digital form remains locked until the server 110 receives geo coordinates from the smart device that matches with the tagged geo coordinates. Further, the administrator may transfer the locked digital form to the smart device(s) 120 enabled with a geo positing system (GPS) via the network 160.

Referring to Fig. 1, a user who is an employee of an organization or business is provided with a smart device 120 configured with platform 130 in it. Once the smart device 120 enabled with GPS, receives the digital form, the user may make use of the platform 130 to dynamically customize the digital form using metadata. The platform 130 may automatically adjust the size of the digital form with the screen size of the smart device(s) 120. Further, the platform 130 checks whether the user has reached the specific geo coordinates or not. Once the user reaches the specific geo-coordinates, the platform 130 may unlock the tagged digital form to permit data entry. Further, the platform 130 may automatically update the information to the server 110, where the updated information includes informationsuch as unlocking status of the digital forms, data entered by the user, and the actions taken on unlocking of the digital form etc.

In one embodiment, the system 100 may includethe image acquisition device 140, such as scanner or external camera or inbuilt camera etc., is interfaced with the server 110. The administrator at the server 110 may access the platform 130 and make use of the IDE to capture or scan the document through device 140. Such captured or scanned documents can be in electronically readable formats such as PDFs, JPEGs etc. The administrator mayuse the IDE for converting the format into digital forms, creating a digital form, and generating metadata for each of the digital forms. Further, the administrator may make use of the IDE for tagging the created metadata with specific geo coordinates and locking the tagged digital form and restricting a user from entering in data and/or viewing the digital form unless the user reaches the specific geo coordinates. Furthermore, the administrator may transfer the locked digital form to the smart device(s) 120 via the network 160.

In accordance to one embodiment and referring to Fig. 1, the smart device(s) 120 may process the digital forms as discussed in aforementioned smart device(s) 120 procedures of Fig. 1 description of an embodiment.

In another embodiment, referring to Fig. 1, each smart device 120 is configured with the platform 130 and an image acquisition device(s) 140 such as inbuilt camera (not shown in the Fig.1). Such acquisition device 140 is used to capture the documents that are in paper forms. The user may access the platform 130 and make use of the IDE to capture or scan the document through acquisition device 140. Such captured or scanned documents can be in electronically readable formats such as PDFs, JPEGs etc. The user may use the IDE for converting the formats into digital forms, creating a digital form, and generating metadata for each of the digital forms. Further, the processor present in the server tags the created metadata with specific geo coordinates and locking the tagged digital form and restricting a user from entering in data and/or viewing the digital form unless user reaches the specific geo coordinates. Furthermore, the user may transfer the locked digital form to the server 110 via the network 160.

In accordance to another embodiment, referring to Fig. 1, each user may access the platform 130 configured in the smart device(s) 120. The user may make use of the platform 130 to dynamically customize the digital forms using metadata such that the size of the each digital form is automatically adjusted with the screen size of the smart device(s) 120. Further, the platform 130 checks whether user has reached the specific geo coordinates or not. Once the user reaches the specific geo coordinates, the platform 130 may unlock the tagged digital form to permit data entry. Further, the platform 130 may automatically update the information to the server 110, where the updated information may include information such as unlocking status of the digital forms, data entered by the user, and the actions taken on unlocking of the digital form etc. Further, the user may perform certain actions such as “payment successfully received from the customer or consumer” etc. and such actions are again updated in the smart device(s) 120 and the server 110.

Fig. 1A depicts the dynamic form generation and geotagging platform 130 of FIG.1, in accordance to an embodiment of the invention.The platform 130 includes IDE 131, which can be accessed by an authorized administrator or user. Further, the user or administrator may use the IDE 131 to create various User Interface (UI) options such as digital form generator 132, metadata option 133, geotag option 134, and metadata locking option 134. The user or administrator may click the digital form generator 132 to create customized digital forms for different business such as “customer or consumer billing”, “financial forms”, “insurance forms”, “industrial applications”,etc. Each digital form is an electronic fillable form in which the administrator or user may add the necessary fieldsto the digital form depending on the business usage. For an instance, the fields associated with the “insurance forms” can be of “AGE”, “ADDRESS”, “CONTACT DETAILS”, “DATE OF RENEWAL OF INSURANCE”, “AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER” etc. For another instance, the fields associated with the “industrial application” can be of “TEMPERATURE”, “PRESSURE” etc.

Different businesses may have different digital forms with different fields for their business activities. The user or administrator create the fields by clicking the metadata option 133, where the fields include corresponding field validation data to be entered by the administrator or the user using the metadata option 133. For another instance, the administrator or user may make use of the metadata option 133 to enter the field validation data such as 23 in the corresponding “AGE”field, 28 degCelsius for “TEMPERATURE” field etc.Once the datais entered in the digital form, the administratoror user may make use of geotag option 134 to tag specific geo coordinates of the consumer or customer location in the digital form 132. For an instance, the group of field, the corresponding validation data, geo coordinates, and size of the digital form are together referred as metadata.Further, the administrator or user may use the metadata locking 135 optionsto lock taggeddigitalformswith the metadata and restrict a user from entering the data and/or viewing the digital form.

Referring to Fig. 1A, the platform 130 may also include other options such as image capturing option, and transfer data options (not shown in the Fig. 1A). The user or administrator may make use of the image capturing option to capture or scan the documents by enabling the image acquisition device and convert the captured or scanned documents into digital form. Further, the user or administrator may create the metadata in the converted digital form, and tag the specific coordinates in the digital form using the geo tag option 134. Once the metadata is entered in the digital form using metadata option 133, the administrator or user may use the geo tag option 134 to tag specific geo coordinates of the consumer or customer location in the digital form. Further, the administrator or user may use the metadata locking options135 to lock tagged digital forms with the metadata and restrict a user from in entering the data and/or viewing the digital form.Furthermore, the transfer options may transfer the locked digital form from/to the server to/from the smart device via the network.

Fig. 2 depicts/illustrates details of a server 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The server 200 includes a processor 202, a communication network module 204, transform module 206, dynamic form generator module 208, metadata module 210, tagging module 212, geo-coordinates comparison module 220 and metadata lock module 214. The above modules (as in Fig. 2) are coupled to the processor 202, where the processor 202 is configured to fetch and execute the method that is stored as instruction in the modules (as in Fig. 2). The communication network module 204 is configured to communicate with the smart devicesfor transferring and/or receiving information via the network (not shown in the Fig. 2)

One skilled in the art may recognize that the communication network module of various network devices(s) such as WLAN, WIFI, routers, bridges, hub, GSM, GPS etc. The server 200 may communicate with the smart device(s) via network (not shown in Fig. 2) using either wired or wireless communication.

Referring to Fig. 2, in accordance withan embodiment, the dynamic form generator module 208 may receive the data entered by the administrator via the dynamic form generator UI. Once the data is received, the module 208 may process the data to create customized digital form and the number of digital form to be generated is decided by the administrator via the dynamic form generator UI. On creation of the digital form, the administrator or user may create metadata, such as fields and field validation data, using the metadata UI option. Such metadata are received by the metadata module 210 and updated in the digital form. The administrator or user may further enter the field validation data in the corresponding field, the metadata module 210 receives such data, and again such data is updated in the digital form. Such updation in the digital form helps the administrator or user to view and/or verify whether they have entered the data correctly or not.

Referring to the Fig. 2, the tagging module 212 may receive the specific coordinates as entered by the user or administrator using the geotag option UI. On receiving the specific coordinates, the processor 202 coupled with the tagging module 212 may tag specific geo coordinates of the consumer or customer location in the digital form and updates the digital form. Further, once the tagging is done, the user or administrator may select the metadata locking option UI to lock the metadata in the digital form. Such locked information is received by the metadata lock module 214 to restrict user from viewing and/or entering in the data in the digital form. For an instance, the administrator may transmit the locked digitalform to the smart device(s) via the network by a transmitting module (not shown in the Fig.2).

Further, the server 200 is enabled with a geo co-ordinates comparison module 220, which is configured to compare received geo location co-ordinates of the smart device from the GPS module of the smart device (not shown in the Fig) with the tagged geo-cordinates. If the received geo coordinates match with the tagged geo coordinates, the server 200 unlocks the geo-tagged metada and sends it to the smart device.

In accordance to the one embodiment, once the administrator or user clicks the image capture UI option in the platform, the image acquisition device (not shown in Fig. 2) may start capturing or scanning the documents. Such captured or scanned images are received by the transform module 206, which converts the images into electronic readable format. Further, the transform module 206 again converts the electronic readable format into digital form.The dynamic form generator module 208 is configured to receive the digital form and customize the digital form such as automatically adjust the size of the digital form with the screen size of the smart device. Further, the digital form is processed by the modules such as the metadata module 210, tagging module 212, metadata lock module 214 and geo-coordinates comparison module 220, and these modules has the similar functionality as described in the aforementioned description of Fig. 1A of an embodiment.

Fig. 3 depicts/illustrates details of a smart device 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The smart device 300 includes a processor 302, a GPS module 304, a communication network module 204, an image acquisition device 308, transform module 310, dynamic form generator module 312, metadata module 314, tagging module 316, metadata lock module 318, and a decision making module 320. The above modules (as in Fig. 3) are coupled to the processor 302, where the processor 302 is configured to fetch and execute the method that is stored as instruction in the modules (as in Fig. 3). The communication network module 306 is configured to communicate with the serverfor transferring and/or receiving information via the network (not shown in the Fig. 3)

Referring to Fig. 3, in accordance to an embodiment and/or one embodiment, the GPS module 304 disposed on the smart device 300 may receive the geo-coordinates of the smart device 300. The smart device 300 may receive geo tagged digital form from the server via communication module 306. The user is unable to enter in the data and/or view the digital form until the user reaches the specific geo coordinates of the customer or consumer location. The GPS module 304 also helps in continuous tracking of the user current location or geo coordinates. The geo coordinates of smart device 300 is compared with the tagged geo coordinates in the digital form by the decision making module 320. The smart device 300 may unlock the digital form and download the metadata from the server (not shown in the Fig.1B) only when the user’s current geo coordinates matches with the tagged geo coordinates in the digital form. The decision making module 320 may further allow the user to enter in the data and/or view the digital form. Such entered data is updated in the smart device(s) 300 and the server. Further, the decision making module 320 allows the user to perform certain actions such as “payment successfully received from the customer or consumer” etc. and such actions are again updated in the smart device(s) 300 and the server.

In accordance to another embodiment, once the user clicks the image capture UI option in the platform, the image acquisition device may capture or scan the documents. Such captured or scanned images are received by the transform module 310, which converts the images into electronic readable format. Further, the transform module 310 again converts the electronic readable format into digital form. The dynamic form generator module 312 is configured toreceive the digital form and customize the digital form such as automatically adjust the size of the digital form with the screen size of the smart device. Further, the modules such as the metadata module 314, tagging module 316, metadata lock module 318 process the digital form, and these modules have the similar functionality as described in the aforementioned description of Fig. 2 of an embodiment. Further, the decision making module 320 also has the similar functionality as described in the aforementioned description of Fig. 3 of an embodiment and/or one embodiment.

In accordance to various aforementioned embodiments, the platform is implemented using the software technologies such as ASP.Net MVC, ASP.Net Web API, Angular.js, HTML5, XML, etc. that are compatible with smart device (s)and the server.

Fig. 4 depicts a method 400 of a method of dynamic form generation and geotagging of metadata in server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The method may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. The method can be implemented in any software, hardware, firmware, or combination thereof. The method 400 involves the steps to be performed in the server.

The method 400 involves the steps of creating a digital form using an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) (step 402), generating metadata for each of the digital forms (step 404), tagging the created metadata with a specific geo coordinates in the generated digital form (step 406), locking the tagged digital form and restrict a user from entering in the dataand/or viewing the digital form (step 408) and releasing the created tagged digital form to the smart device if and only if the geo coordinates received by the smart device matches with the tagged geo coordinates.

Fig. 5 depicts a method 500 of a method of dynamic form generation and geotagging of metadata platform in the smart device(s), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The method may be described in the general context of computer executable instructions. The method can be implemented in any software, hardware, firmware, or combination thereof. The method 500 involves the steps to be performed in the smart device.

The method 500 involves the steps of dynamically customizing the digital form using metadata (step 502), checking if the user has reached specific geo coordinates (step 504), and unlocking the tagged digital form to permit data entry (step 506).

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Claims

A system for geotagging of metadata in dynamic forms to control data entry in said forms, said system comprising:
a device with a display;
a global positioning system receiver disposed within said device said receiver in communication with said device and said receiver configured to receive geolocation co-ordinates of said device;
a processor in communication with said device said processor configured to tag specific geo co-ordinates (tagged geo co-ordinates) to metadata corresponding to a specific form;
a server in communication with said processor and said receiver, said server enabled with a geo co-ordinates comparison module that is configured to compare said geolocation co-ordinates of the device with said tagged geo-cordinates; and
a metadata lock module in communication with said device and said server, said module configured to receive instructions from said global positioning receiver to unlock said form on said device to enable data entry in said formonly when said device geolocation co-ordinates are the same as said tagged geo co-ordinatesr
The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a dynamic form generation module in communication with said device, said processor and said server wherein said module is configured to display customized forms on said device based on user inputs received on said server and said forms are displayed or data entry is permitted in said forms only when said tagged geo co-ordinates and said geolocation co-ordinates of the device are the same.
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said server further comprising animage acquisition module disposed within said server wherein said module is configured to receive a scan or an image of a form and convert said form to a digital form and tag geo-coordinates to said form’s metadata.
The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said device further comprising a display module that is configured to dynamically adjust the fields of said form based on the screen size of said device.
The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) disposed within a user device wherein said user device is in communication with said server and said IDE is configured to enable a user to enter data fields in said user device for dynamic form generation.
The A method of geotagging of metadata in dynamic forms to control data entry in said forms, said method comprising:
creating at least one metadata for a digital form;
tagging said metadata with specific geo coordinates (tagged geo-coordinates);
locking said tagged digital form(s) to prevent it from being viewed or data being entered in said form;
obtaininga device’s geolocation co-ordinates utilizing a global positioning system receiver ;
comparing said tagged geo-cordinates with said device’s said geolocation co-ordinates; and
unlocking said form for data entry on said device only when said device’s said geolocation co-ordinates are same as said tagged geo co-ordinates.
The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising obtaining image of a physical form and converting said image to digital form for tagging metadata corresponding to said form.
The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising generating a form utilizing an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that enables a user to use any smart device to enter data fields to generate forms dynamically.
The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising arranging the fields of the form and displaying said form dynamically based on the screen size of said device.