Method and system for location based wireless communication services

• US 20020115453A1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Buckham, Kevin Thomas, Melli, Anthony Luigi, Poulin, Ronald Leon
• Application Number:
  US10/077,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115453A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Location based wireless services and service center that provides map-serving, wireless device tracking, navigation, messaging, business, entertainment, and meeting services based on the location of wireless devices. The wireless service center comprises a processing system coupled to an interface system. The processing system is configured to provide the map-serving, wireless device tracking, navigation, messaging, business, entertainment, and meeting services based on the location of wireless devices. The interface system is configured to exchange service related information and messaging between the processing system and the wireless devices using the communication services.

Claims

1. A method for providing a location based wireless communication service, the method comprising:

receiving a service activation request regarding a first subscriber using a wireless device;

determining in relation to the service activation request the location of the wireless device relative to one of a plurality of pre-defined service areas that are independent of a communication network; and

providing, for the wireless device, at least one of service area information, venue information, and subscriber information based on the location of the wireless device relative to the one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

2. The method of claim 1 the method comprising:

processing the service activation request message to activate the communication service for the first subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1 the method comprising:

processing the service activation request message to determine if the wireless device is registered for the location based wireless service; and

if the wireless device is not registered, automatically registering the wireless device for the location based wireless service.

4. The method of claim 3 the method comprising:

prior to receiving the service activation request message, registering the first subscriber for the location based wireless service.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein registering the wireless device comprises:

receiving user information from the first subscriber;

creating a first subscriber profile based on the user information; and

recording the wireless device as a registered device in a location based service center.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the service area information comprises information on at least one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the subscriber information comprises information on other active subscribers proximately located to the first subscriber.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the subscriber information comprises information on the other active subscribers located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

9. The method of claim 8 the method comprising:

generating the subscriber information based on the first subscriber profile to provide subscriber information on other active subscribers having similar profiles.

10. The method of claim 8 the method comprising:

providing updated profile information to the wireless device comprising information on newly activated subscribers proximately located to the first subscriber.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the venue information comprises at least one of events and locations in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

12. The method of claim 7 the method comprising:

generating customized venue information comprising at least one of events and locations in the one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas that are generated based on the first subscriber profile; and

providing the customized venue information to the wireless device.

13. The method of claim 12 the method comprising:

generating the customized venue information comprising at least one of events and locations in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas that are generated based on a time of day.

14. The method of claim 12 the method comprising:

generating the customized venue information comprising at least one of events and locations in the one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas are generated based on a season of the year.

15. The method of claim 1 the method comprising:

after a pre-determined period of time, providing a deactivation message to the wireless device;

receiving a deactivation response message from the wireless device that includes one of a sign-off indication and a continue service indication;

in response to receiving the sign-off indication in the deactivation response message, processing the deactivation response message to stop providing the location based wireless communication service to the wireless device; and

in response to receiving the continue service indication in the deactivation response message, continue providing the location based wireless communication service to the wireless device.

17. The LBSC of claim 16 wherein the service manager is configured to process the service activation request message to activate the communication service for the wireless device.

18. The LBSC of claim 16 comprising:

a subscriber database configured to provide the subscriber information to the service manager, wherein the subscriber information comprises information on other active subscribers.

19. The LBSC of claim 18 wherein the subscriber information comprises profile information on the other active subscribers.

20. The LBSC of claim 19 wherein the profile information on the other active subscribers is generated based on a first subscriber profile.

21. The LBSC of claim 20 comprising:

a service area database configured to provide the venue information to the service manager, wherein the venue information comprises at least one of events and locations in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

22. The LBSC of claim 21 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on the first subscriber profile.

23. The LBSC of claim 21 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on a time of day the first subscriber is located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

24. The LBSC of claim 21 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on a season the first subscriber is located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

25. The LBSC of claim 20 wherein the service area information comprises information about at least one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

26. The LBSC of claim 19 wherein the service manager is configured to provide short message service between the first subscriber and the other active subscribers located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

28. The product of claim 27 wherein the service manager instructions are operational when executed by the processor to direct the processor to process the service activation request message to activate the communication service for the first subscriber.

29. The product of claim 27 wherein the subscriber information comprises information on other active subscribers.

30. The product of claim 29 wherein the subscriber information comprises profile information on the other active subscribers.

31. The product of claim 30 wherein the profile information on the other active subscribers is generated for the first subscriber based on a first subscriber profile.

32. The product of claim 31 wherein the venue information comprises at least one of events and locations in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

33. The product of claim 32 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on the first subscriber profile.

34. The product of claim 32 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on a time of day the first subscriber is located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

35. The product of claim 32 wherein the at least one of events and locations are generated for the first subscriber based on a season the first subscriber is located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

36. The product of claim 31 wherein the service area information comprises information on one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

37. The product of claim 30 wherein the service manager instructions are operational to provide short message service between the first subscriber and the other active subscribers located in one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of displaying comprises:

displaying on a web-based map the location of the at least one wireless device and the status of the located at least one wireless device.

40. the method of claim 38 comprising:

maintaining profile information for each of the wireless devices within the defined group, wherein the profile information at least includes a rule set defining when and where other subscribers may obtain the location and status of each of the wireless devices.

41. The method of claim 38 the method comprising:

providing short messages between wireless devices within a defined group.

16. A location based service center (“

LBSC”

) for providing a location based wireless communication service comprising;

a service manager configured to process a service activation request message from a first subscriber using a wireless device to determine the location of the wireless device relative to one of a plurality of pre-defined service areas that are independent of a communication network, and generate a response message that includes at least one of service area information, venue information, and subscriber information that is based on the location of the wireless device relative to the one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas; and

an interface system configured to receive the service activation request message for the service manager and transmit the response message to the wireless device.

27. A software product for use in operating a location based service center, the product comprising:

service manager instructions operational when executed by a processor to direct the processor to process a service activation request message from a first subscriber using a wireless device to determine the location of the wireless device relative to one of a plurality of pre-defined service areas that are independent of a communication network, and generate a response message that includes at least one of service area information, venue information, and subscriber information that is based on the location of the wireless device relative to the one of the plurality of pre-defined service areas;

interface system instructions operational when executed by the processor to receive the service activation request message for the service manager and transmit the response message to the wireless device; and

a storage medium operational to store the service manager instructions and the interface system instructions.

38. A method for providing a location based wireless communication service, the method comprising:

defining a group of wireless devices for which a subscriber may request location information;

obtaining location information for at least one wireless device in the defined group;

receiving a request from the subscriber for the location information; and

providing to the subscriber the location of the at least one wireless device and a status of the located at least one wireless device.

42. A method for providing a location based wireless communication service, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of service areas based on criteria independent of a communication network topology;

receiving a service activation request message from a first subscriber using a wireless device;

processing the service activation request message to obtain the location of the wireless device relative to one of the plurality of service areas; and

providing to the wireless device service area information relating to at least one of the plurality of service areas.

43. The method of claim 42 the method comprising:

providing to the wireless device venue information relating to at least one of activates and events in one of the plurality of service areas.

44. The method of claim 42 the method comprising:

providing to the wireless device subscriber information relating to other subscribers proximately located to the first subscriber.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the other subscribers are located in at least one of the plurality of service areas.

46. The method of claim 42 the method comprising:

obtaining user information from the first subscriber; and

processing the user information to create a first subscriber profile.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein providing to the wireless device subscriber information comprises:

providing profile information on the other active subscribers.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein providing to the wireless device subscriber information comprises:

processing the first subscriber profile to generate the profile information on the other active subscribers based on the first subscriber profile.

49. The method of claim 42 the method comprising:

putting the other active subscribers in contact with the first subscriber.