Business methods for notification systems

• US 20030193413A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Melvino Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Melvino Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Jones, M. Kelly
• Application Number:
  US10/435,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193413A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Business methods for notification systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: offering to a user a notification service regarding status of travel of a movable thing relative to a location; charging a fee to the user in exchange for the notification service; in accordance with the notification service: (a) enabling the user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; (b) enabling the user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others; (c) monitoring travel data associated with the movable thing; and (d) providing a notification to the user using at least one of the communications methods based upon a particular proximity of the movable thing to the location and the one or more criteria.

Claims

1. A method of doing business, comprising:

offering to a user a notification service regarding status of travel of a movable thing relative to a location;

charging a fee to the user in exchange for the notification service;

in accordance with the notification service;

enabling the user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;

enabling the user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others;

monitoring travel data associated with the movable thing; and

providing a notification to the user using at least one of the communications methods based upon a particular proximity of the movable thing to the location and the one or more criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fee is added on to a fee for a travel or shipment service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of charging a fee for each notification.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a discount on the notification service based upon a purchase of a predetermined number of notifications.

5. A method of doing business, comprising:

offering a notification service regarding status of travel of a movable thing relative to a location;

charging a fee in exchange for the notification service;

in accordance with the notification service;

monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;

determining that a notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to the location;

comparing a current time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods;

selecting one or more of the communication methods based upon the comparing step; and

providing the notification using the one or more communications methods.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fee is added on to a fee for a travel or shipment service.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of charging a fee for each notification.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a discount on the notification service based upon a purchase of a predetermined number of notifications.