System and method for determining a location relevant to a communication device and/or its associated user

• US 20030050075A1
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ladd, David, Rangarajan, Jayanthi, Balasuriya, Senaka, Tuckey, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 6,757,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device is provided. The method involves determining general location information of the location relevant to the user and determining a list of location parameters from the general location information. Specific location of the communication device is also determined. The location relevant to the user is then determined by comparing the list of location parameters with the specific location information. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device, comprising:

determining general location information of the location relevant to the user;

determining a list of location parameters from the general location information;

determining specific location information of the communication device; and

determining the location relevant to the user by comparing the list of location parameters with the specific location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location relevant to the user is the location of the user of the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location relevant to the user is the location of the communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location relevant to the user by comparing the list of location parameters with specific location information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location of at least one entity in relation to the location relevant to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a service request.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the service request includes the general location information.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the service request includes the specific location information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a service request; and

responding to the service request prior to determining the general location information of the location relevant to the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location parameters comprises a database.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the database is selected from the group consisting of:

a list of location parameters, a grammar of location parameters, a map, and a memory location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the general location information occurs through communication with the communication device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the general location information occurs through communication with a communication network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the general location information occurs through communication with the user.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining general location information through an automatic position determination technology.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the automatic positioning technology is selected from the group consisting of:

cell identification information, sector identification information, timing advance information, triangulation information, receive level information, neighbor cell identification information, neighbor sector identification information, global positioning system information, assisted global positioning system information, differential global positioning system information, enhanced observed time difference information, forward link triangulation information, advanced forward link triangulation information, time difference of arrival information, angle of arrival information, and idle period downlink observed time difference of arrival information.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the general location information is selected from the group consisting of:

a country identifier, an island identifier, a county identifier, a state identifier, a province identifier, a city identifier, a zip code and an area code.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of location parameters comprises a dynamically generated list of location parameters, the location parameters at a given position in relation to the general location information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

ordering the list of location parameters based upon the given position in relation to the general location information.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a selection list corresponding to the list of location parameters;

receiving a selection;

matching the selection with the selection list to determine a matched selection;

verifying the matched selection; and

transmitting the matched selection.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the selection list is selected from the group consisting of:

a grammar, a static grammar, and a grammar created dynamically from the list of location parameters.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

requesting a category of specific location information; and

receiving the category of specific location information.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

receiving a second selection list corresponding to a list of categories of specific location information;

receiving a second selection;

matching the second selection with the second selection list to determine a second matched selection;

verifying the second matched selection; and

transmitting the second matched selection.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second selection list is selected from the group consisting of:

a grammar, a static grammar, and a grammar created dynamically from the list of location parameters.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

refining the list of location parameters based upon the second matched selection.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining specific location information through an automatic position determination technology.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the automatic positioning technology is selected from the group consisting of:

cell identification information, sector identification information, timing advance information, triangulation information, receive level information, neighbor cell identification information, neighbor sector identification information, global positioning system information, assisted global positioning system information, differential global positioning system information, enhanced observed time difference information, forward link triangulation information, advanced forward link triangulation information, time difference of arrival information, angle of arrival information, and idle period downlink observed time difference of arrival information.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific location information is selected from the group consisting of:

an intersection, a highway/exit, a highway/mile marker, a street name combined with a street number, a landmark, a point of interest and a place of business.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the specific location information occurs through communication with the communication device.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the specific location information occurs through communication with a communication network.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the specific location information occurs through communication with the user.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting the list of location parameters from a database of location parameters based on the general location information;

comparing the specific location information with the list of location parameters; and

selecting at least one location parameter from the list of location parameters as the location relevant to the user.

33. A system for determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device, comprising:

computer readable program code to receive a service request;

computer readable program code to communicate with a database of location parameters;

computer readable program code to determine general location information of the location relevant to the user;

computer readable program code to receive specific location information from the communication device; and

computer readable program code to compare the general location information and the specific location information with the database of location parameters.

34. A program for determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device, comprising:

computer readable program code to receive a service request;

computer readable program code to communicate with a database of location parameters;

computer readable program code to determine general location information of the location relevant to the user;

computer readable program code to receive specific location information from the communication device; and

computer readable program code to compare the general location information and the specific location information with the database of location parameters.