Concepts for providing notifications for events of interest

• US 10,277,536 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liang Che A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aguiar, Johnny B
• Application Number:
  US14/334,996
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709223, 709224, 4554561, 4554563, 455457, 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, the location of computing entities can be monitored to determine whether they are within a configurable distance from each other. In another embodiment, direct communications with each other can be monitored. The locations or communications can be used to initiate specific actions/steps.

Claims

1. A method for providing notifications for events of interest, the method comprising:

registering, via a server entity, a first mobile computing entity for and events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, wherein the registering the first mobile computing entity comprises automatically collecting entity information about the first mobile computing entity by establishing a connection with the first mobile computing entity using a wireless protocol, and the entity information about the first mobile computing entity comprises a unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity, the events of interest correspond to a data set describing different user action types that only a user of a second mobile computing entity is selected to perform;

storing, via the server entity, a profile for a first user associated with the first mobile computing entity, the profile comprising notification preferences of a first type and a second type of the events of interest and the unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity;

performing first monitoring, via the server entity and based at least in part on a particular unique identifier assigned to a third mobile computing entity, of the third mobile computing entity to track a location of the third mobile computing entity and of the second mobile computing entity to track a location of the second mobile computing entity, the third mobile computing entity being attached and fixed within a particular environment;

determining, via the server entity and based at least in part on the first monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within a configurable distance from each other;

responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within the configurable distance from each other;

determining and storing, via the server entity, a first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a first time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance of each other,

inferring, via the server entity and based at least on the determining the first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other, that the user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in the first type of the events of interest;

automatically generating, via the server entity, a first notification to the first mobile computing entity based at least in part on, the inferring that the user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in the first type of the events of interest

performing second monitoring, via the server entity and based at least in part on the particular unique identifier assigned to the third mobile computing entity, of the third mobile computing entity to track the location of the third mobile computing entity and of the second mobile computing entity to track the location of the second mobile computing entity;

determining, via the server entity and based at least in part on the second monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other;

responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other, determining and storing, via the server entity, a second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a second time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other; and

automatically generating, via the server entity, a second notification to the first mobile computing entity based at least in part on inferring that the user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in the second type of the events of interest.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second notification comprises the second time and the second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first monitoring and the second monitoring are performed on a periodic basis, a regular basis, or a continuous basis, and wherein the registering includes receiving access to a plurality of personal account services of the user in order to automatically receive at least some of the entity information from the plurality of personal account services.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first monitoring is performed in response to one or more triggers.

5. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

register a first mobile computing entity for providing notifications for events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, the events of interest correspond to a data set describing different user action types that only a second user of a second mobile computing entity is selected to perform, wherein registering the first mobile computing entity comprises;

causing the first mobile computing entity to display a user interface that includes a first type of the events of interest that a first user selects to be notified of;

automatically collecting entity information about the first mobile computing entity by establishing a connection with the first mobile computing entity using a wireless protocol, and the entity information about the first mobile computing entity comprises a unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity;

store a profile for the first user associated with the first mobile computing entity, the profile comprising notification preferences for the events of interest and the unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity;

perform first monitoring, based at least in part on a particular unique identifier assigned to a third mobile computing entity, of the third mobile computing entity to track a location of the third mobile computing entity and of the second mobile computing entity to track a location of the second mobile computing entity, the third mobile computing entity being attached within a particular environment or being in possession of a third user;

determine, based at least in part on the first monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within a configurable distance from each other;

responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within the configurable distance from each other;

determine and store a first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a first time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance of each other,

infer, based at least on the determining the first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other, that the second user of the second mobile computing has engaged in the first type of the events of interest,

automatically generate a first notification to the first mobile computing entity based at least in part on an inference being made that the second user performed the first type of the events of interest, the generating of the first notification includes causing the first notification to be displayed to the first mobile computing entity corresponding to the first user,

and

perform second monitoring, based at least in part on the unique identifier assigned to the third mobile computing entity, of the third mobile computing entity to track the location of the third mobile computing entity and of the second mobile computing entity to track the location of the second mobile computing entity;

determine, based at least in part on the second monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other;

responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other, determine and store a second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a second time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other; and

automatically generate a second notification to the first mobile computing entity based at least in part on the notification preferences, the generating of the second notification includes causing the second notification to be displayed to the first mobile computing entity corresponding to the first user.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second notification comprises the second time and the second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first monitoring and the second monitoring are performed on a periodic basis, a regular basis, or a continuous basis.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first monitoring is performed in response to one or more triggers, and wherein the first notification is displayed to the first mobile computing entity, the first notification includes a link configured to visually access the location of the second mobile computing entity upon a selection of the link.

9. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to register a first mobile computing entity for providing notifications for events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, wherein (a) registering the first mobile computing entity comprises automatically collecting entity information about the first mobile computing entity by establishing a connection with the first mobile computing entity using a wireless protocol, and (b) the entity information about the first mobile computing entity comprises a unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity, the events of interest corresponding to a data set describing different user action types that a second user of a second mobile computing entity is selected to perform;

an executable portion configured to store a profile for a first user associated with the first mobile computing entity, the profile comprising (a) notification preferences for a first type of the events of interest and (b) the unique identifier assigned to the first mobile computing entity;

an executable portion configured to perform first monitoring, based at least in part on a particular unique identifier assigned to a third mobile computing entity, of the third mobile computing entity to track a location of the third mobile computing entity and of the second mobile computing entity to track a location of the second mobile computing entity, the third mobile computing entity being attached within a particular environment;

an executable portion configured to determine, based at least in part on the first monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within a configurable distance from each other;

an executable portion configured to, responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are within the configurable distance from each other;

(a) determine and store a first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a first time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance of each other,

(b) infer, based at least on the determining the first location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other, that the second user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in the first type of the events of interest

(c) automatically generate a first notification to the first mobile computing entity based at least in part on, the inferring that the user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in the first type of the events of interest

an executable portion configured to determine, based at least in part on a second monitoring, whether the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other;

an executable portion configured to, responsive to determining that the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity are no longer within the configurable distance from each other, determine and store a second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other and an indication of a second time when the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other and

automatically generate a second notification to the user based at least in part on the inferring that the second user of the second mobile computing entity has engaged in another type of the events of interest.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second notification comprises the second time and the second location at which the third mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer within the configurable distance from each other.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first monitoring and the second monitoring are performed on a periodic basis, a regular basis, or a continuous basis.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the second monitoring is performed in response to one or more triggers.