Communication device, system, method, and computer program product for sorting data based on proximity

• US 20020147717A1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Barros, Mark Alexander, Levy, Rami Chaim
• Application Number:
  US09/769,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A proximity sorting system, method and computer program product for sorting data is provided including a communication device featuring a processor operative to access a plurality of records and position information. The communication device can include a processor operative to sort the plurality of records based on a first detected position and is operative to resort the records based on a second detected position. The device can further feature a detector that detects a change in position of a user device.

The communication device can feature a detector having a positioning device; a global positioning system; a receiver operative to receive position information; or three or more receivers operative to detect by triangulating the position. The communication device can further include a transmitter that can transmit a change in position of the user device, a storage device operative to store and retrieve said records and position information, or a zone detector operative to receive zone information. The communication device can feature a zone detector that can respond to the zone information wherein the zone information is externally definable and responsive to a user signal; or network signal. The communication device can further feature a user interface wherein the zone detector features detecting a zone responsive to a user input signal; a network signal; a position detector; a user identifiable zone; and a non-user identifiable zone.

Claims

1. A method for sorting data records comprising:

(a) determining a position of a user within a zone; and

(b) sorting data records, wherein said data records are associated with a related zone, wherein sorting is according to proximity of said related zone of said data records in relation to said position of the user.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(c) resorting said data records upon a change in said position of the user.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step (c) comprises at least one of:

(1) dynamically detecting said change in said position of the user;

(2) resorting said data records upon a change in said position of the user to within another zone;

(3) resorting upon detecting a change in said position of the user to a new zone;

(4) resorting upon receiving a resort request;

(5) resorting upon receiving a resort request from the user; and

(6) polling a device associated with the user to determine said change in said position of the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises at least one of:

(1) determining said zone of said position of the user;

(2) receiving said position of the user; and

(3) polling a device associated with the user to determine said position of the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said data records comprise at least one of:

items on a shopping list, wherein said zone comprises at least one of an aisle and a floor in a store;

items slated for delivery comprising at least one of mail and packages;

radio stations, wherein said zones comprise a geographic area; and

attractions at a theme park, wherein said zones comprise at least one of events, rides, restaurants, and buildings of said theme park.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

(c) sorting said data records based on a sorting index; and

(d) sorting said data records based on another sorting index.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said sorting index and said other sorting index include at least one of:

cost;

time;

duration;

distance;

alphabetical order; and

wait time.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said zone comprises at least one of:

an externally definable zone, definable by at least one of a user signal and a network signal;

a user identifiable zone; and

a non-user identifiable zone.

9. A communication device comprising:

a processor operative to access a plurality of records and position information,

wherein the processor is operative to sort said plurality of records based on a first detected position.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein said processor is further operative to resort said records based on a second detected position.

11. The communication device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a detector operative to detect a change in position of a user device.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein said detector comprises at least one of:

a positioning device;

a global positioning system;

a receiver operative to receive position information; and

three or more receivers operative to detect by triangulating said position.

13. The communication device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a transmitter operative to transmit said change in position of said user device.

14. The communication device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a storage device operative to store and retrieve said records and position information.

15. The communication device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a zone detector operative to receive zone information.

16. The communication device according to claim 15, wherein said zone detector is responsive to said zone information wherein said zone information is externally definable.

17. The communication device according to claim 16, wherein said externally definable zone information is responsive to at least one of:

a user signal; and

a network signal.

18. The communication device according to claim 15, further comprising a user interface wherein said zone detector is operative to detect zone responsive to at least one of:

a user input signal;

a network signal;

a position detector;

a user identifiable zone; and

a non-user identifiable zone.

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for resorting said data records upon a change in said position of the user.

19. A system for sorting data records comprising:

means for determining a position of a user within a zone; and

means for sorting data records according to proximity to said position of the user.

21. A system operative to sort data records comprising:

a position detector operative to determine a position of a user within a zone;

a proximity sorter operative to sort data records according to proximity to said position of the user.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a proximity resorter operative to resort said data records upon a change in said position of the user.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

program code means for enabling the computer to resort said data records upon a change in said position of the user.

23. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, the computer program product including program logic comprising:

program code means for enabling a computer to determine a position of a user within a zone; and

program code means for enabling the computer to sort data records according to proximity to said position of the user.