User-definable communications methods and systems

• US 20030193414A1
• 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:
  US10/436,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20030193414A1
• 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

Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; attempting a first communication using a first communications method in order to provide a notification based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing and a location; and when the first communications method is unsuccessful, attempting a second communication using a second communications method, which is different than the first communications method, in order to provide the notification. One such notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps. Another such method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; determining that a notification should be made, based upon travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to a location; comparing a current time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods; and selecting one or more of the communication methods based upon the comparing step. Another such notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A notification method, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

attempting a first communications method in order to provide a notification based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing and a location; and

when the first communications method attempt is unsuccessful, attempting a second communications method, which is different than the first communications method, in order to provide the notification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a party to define at least two communications methods, including at least the first and second communications methods, for receiving notifications relating to travel of the mobile thing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

enabling a party to define a time period for use of each of the communications methods.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second communications methods involve use of different types of communications devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second communications methods involve use of the same or the same type of communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

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

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

selecting the first and second communication methods based upon the comparing step.

7. A notification system, comprising:

means for monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

means for attempting a first communications method in order to provide a notification based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing and a location; and

means, when the first communications method attempt is unsuccessful, for attempting a second communications method, which is different than the first communications method, in order to provide the notification.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for enabling a party to define at least two communications methods, including at least the first and second communications methods, for receiving notifications relating to travel of the mobile thing.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for enabling a party to define a time period for use of each of the communications methods.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second communications methods involve using different types of communications devices.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second communications methods involve using the same or the same type of communications device.

12. A notification method, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

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

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

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications methods involve use of different types of communications devices.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications methods involve use of the same or the same type of communications device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of permitting a user to predefine the preset time periods and the communication methods, prior to the selecting step.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps are implemented by a computer system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the computer system is a distributed architecture comprising a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the computer system is a single computer.