Threshold-based service notification system and method

• US 20040128067A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Dwight R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,035,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle

Abstract

A notification server (100) is coupled to a database (102). The database (102) includes information relating to a user service and a threshold for notifying the user of the availability of the service. The threshold is based upon a then current location of the user and an availability of the service relative to the then current location of the user. The notification server (100) is operable to generate an alert based upon the user service, the then current location of the user and the threshold and to communicate the alert to the user via a communication interface (104).

Claims

1. A method of providing a notification to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining information relating to a user need for a service;

obtaining information relating to a location of the user;

obtaining information relating to an availability of a service response to the user need for a service within a range of the location of the user; and

alerting the user of the availability of the service responsive to a threshold for such alert, the threshold being based upon the user need for a service, the location of the user and the availability of the service relative to the location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining information relating to a user need for a service comprises receiving from the user service information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining information relating to a user need for a service comprises querying a user device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user device comprises either a vehicle or an appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is established by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of dynamically determining the threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of dynamically determining the threshold comprises determining a zone of interest with respect to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of predicting the user need for a service to provide a predicted need for the service, and wherein the step of alerting the user of the availability of service comprises alerting the user of the availability of the service based upon the predicted need for the service.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of predicting an associated service to the user service, and alerting the user as to the availability of the associated service.

10. A threshold-based service notification system comprising:

a notification server coupled to a database, the database including information relating to a user service and a threshold for notifying the user of the availability of the service, the threshold being based upon a then current location of the user and an availability of the service relative to the then current location of the user; and

the notification server being operable to generate an alert based upon the user service, the then current location of the user and the threshold and to communicate the alert to the user via a communication medium.

11. The threshold-based service notification system of claim 10, wherein the user service is related to either a vehicle or an appliance.

12. The threshold-based service notification system of claim 10, comprising a communication interface, the communication interface linking the notification server with at least one communication medium.

13. The threshold-based service notification system of claim 10, wherein the notification server is operable to predict a future need for the user service and to generate the alert based upon the predicted need for the user service.

14. The threshold-based service notification system of claim 10, wherein the notification service is operable to determine an associated service to the user service and to generate the alert based upon the predicted need for the user service.

15. The threshold-based service notification system of claim 10, wherein the notification server is disposed within a handheld device.

16. A system for providing a notification to a user, the system comprising:

means for obtaining information relating to a user need for a service;

means for obtaining information relating to a location of the user;

means for obtaining information relating to an availability of a service response to the user need for a service within a range of the location of the user; and

means for alerting the user of the availability of the service responsive to a threshold for such alert, the threshold being based upon the user need for a service, the location of the user and the availability of the service relative to the location of the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining information relating to a user need for a service comprises means for receiving from the user service information.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for obtaining information relating to a user need for a service comprises querying a user device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the threshold is established by the user.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for dynamically determining the threshold.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the means for dynamically determining the threshold is operable for determining a zone of interest with respect to the user, wherein the threshold is based at least in part on the zone of interest.