System and method for automatically and dynamically modifying functions of mobile devices based on positional data

• US 20020138598A1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bade, Steven A., McLaughlin, Mark-David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/815,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138598A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P

Abstract

The present invention is embodied in a system and method for automatically and dynamically modifying the functionality of the mobile device based on positional data, such as modifying software applications running on the mobile devices. In general, the present invention allows the user of a mobile electronic device to receive information relative to a position, and to have this information modified as the position of the device changes. This is accomplished by automatically and dynamically tracking the electronic device, within a working domain, using a predefined coordinate system. Every portion of the domain is “live”, meaning that each portion can be associated with specific data. Thus, when the electronic device moves from position to position, data relevant to that position is accessed and used to automatically and dynamically modify applications running on the mobile electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for automatically controlling an electronic device with pertinent data, comprising:

determining an actual location of the electronic device within the working domain; and

using the location of the electronic device to automatically modify functions of the electronic device dynamically as it moves within the working domain.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating locations of the working domain with corresponding locations of a digital virtual domain.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising electronically associating data related to a location of the digital virtual working domain with a corresponding location of the working domain.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing predefined operations and interfaces of the electronic device based on its actual location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actual location of the electronic device is determined by a global positioning satellite system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising using triangulation to determine the actual location of the electronic device within the working domain.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using three dimensional triangulation to provide latitudinal, longitudinal and elevational data to the receiver.

8. A system for automatically controlling an electronic device with pertinent data, comprising:

a positioning device that determines an actual location of the electronic device within the working domain; and

a control module that uses the location of the electronic device to automatically modify functions of the electronic device dynamically as it moves within the working domain.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a digital virtual domain that has locations associated with corresponding locations of the working domain.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a secondary module that electronically associates data related to a location of the digital virtual working domain with a corresponding location of the working domain.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a secondary module that changes predefined operations and interfaces of the electronic device based on its actual location.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the actual location of the electronic device is determined by a global positioning satellite system.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising plural transmitters that transmit location information to the electronic device and wherein the electronic device includes a receiver to receive coordinate signals from the transmitters.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the working domain is a medical facility and each location is associated with a unique patient records.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions include loading different patient records.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein triangulation is used to determine the actual location of the electronic device within the working domain.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising using three dimensional triangulation to provide latitudinal, longitudinal and elevational data to the receiver.

19. The process of claim 18, further comprising associating locations of the working domain with corresponding locations of a digital virtual domain.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein the actual location of the electronic device is determined by a global positioning satellite system that uses three dimensional triangulation to provide latitudinal, longitudinal and elevational data to the receiver.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a process on an electronic device, comprising:

determining an actual location of the electronic device within the working domain;

using the location of the electronic device to automatically modify functions of the electronic device dynamically as it moves within the working domain; and

changing predefined operations and interfaces of the electronic device based on its actual location.