Methods and systems for position based tasks for wireless devices

• US 20040176107A1
• Filed: 02/07/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Chadha, Lovleen
• Application Number:
  US10/360,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176107A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a wireless device with advanced location-based task/reminder functionality. The system provides the wireless network infrastructure equipment with a server for exchanging data information with a remote wireless device, and a position detector coupled with the server. The server generates an event trigger signal sent to the wireless device when a predefined condition based on the position of the remote wireless device is met. The wireless network service provider can operate the advanced location-based task/reminder service for existing wireless devices, with minimal modification of the users'"'"' wireless devices.

Claims

1. A system for causing a wireless device to provide a location-based task functionality, said system comprising:

a server for remotely exchanging data information with said wireless device;

a position detector logically coupled with said server, said position detector determining a position of a remote wireless device;

wherein said server generates an event trigger signal and sends said event trigger signal to said wireless device if a predefined condition based on said position is met, wherein a user of said wireless device configures said predefined condition on said server.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said position detector generates said position from information comprising spatial coordinates, ZIP code, telephone area code, mailing address, EOTD information, base station identifier, and/or cell site/sector identifier.

3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position matching a predefined location.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position being within a predefined area.

5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position transitioning from a first area to a second area.

6. The system as in claim 1, wherein said predefined condition is met only when said predefined condition exists for at least a predefined time period.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position mismatching a predefined area.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein said predefined condition is met only when said predefined condition exists for at least a predefined time period.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein said event trigger signal generates a reminder alert within said wireless device.

10. The system as in claim 1, wherein said event trigger signal causes a start of an application within said wireless device.

11. The system as in claim 1, wherein said event trigger signal activates a predefined operating mode of said wireless device.

12. The system as in claim 10, wherein said application includes an action of dialing a number, starting a web browser, downloading a file from the web, uploading a file from the web, and/or controlling a function of the wireless device.

13. The system as in claim 11, wherein said predefined operating mode selects a predefined profile of said wireless device.

14. The system as in claim 1 wherein said remote wireless device comprises said wireless device.

15. The system as in claim 1 wherein said remote wireless device is not said wireless device.

16. The system as in claim 1 wherein said server runs a Task Management Engine and a Task Management Application.

17. The system as in claim 1 wherein said server comprises a web server running a Task Management Application accessible by said user via said wireless device, wherein said Task Management Application transmits said event trigger signal to said wireless device.

18. The system as in claim 1 wherein said server runs a Task Management Application accessible by said user via another user device, such as a personal computer, laptop computer, handheld computer, or personal digital assistant;

and wherein said Task Management Application transmits said event trigger signal to said wireless device.

19. The system as in claim 1 wherein said server runs a Task Management Application and said wireless device runs a Client Application, said Task Management Application communicating with said Client Application to transmit said event trigger signal.

20. The system as in claim 1 wherein said server and said position detector are maintained by a wireless service provider for a subscriber fee paid by said user, wherein said subscriber fee comprises a per-task fee or a flat periodic fee.

21. A method of operating a service using wireless network infrastructure equipment to provide a wireless device with a location-based task functionality, said method including the steps of:

determining a position of a remote wireless device, wherein said determining step is performed using said wireless network infrastructure equipment including a Position/Location Detector;

providing a server within said wireless network infrastructure equipment, said server including a Task Management Engine for administering the generation and transmission of an event trigger signal to said wireless device if a predefined condition based on said position is met; and

receiving configuration input to define said predefined condition on said server.

22. The method as in claim 21, further comprising the step of billing said user a fee for said service, wherein said fee is charged per event trigger signal being transmitted or said fee is a flat fee for a certain level of or unlimited use of said service a billing period.

23. The method as in claim 21, wherein said configuration input further defines content and/or nature of said event trigger signal.

24. The method as in claim 21, wherein said remote wireless device comprises said wireless device.

25. The method as in claim 24, wherein said remote wireless device is not said wireless device, and said remote wireless device is linked to said user of said wireless device via mutual assent.

26. The method as in claim 21, wherein the step of obtaining said position is repeated in time intervals.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein depending on said position said time intervals are varied.

28. The method as in claim 26, wherein a direction of movement of said remote wireless device is determined from successively gathered information on said position at different times.

29. The method as in claim 21, wherein said position information is generated from information comprising spatial coordinates, ZIP code, telephone area code, mailing address, EOTD information, base station identifier, and/or cell site/sector identifier.

30. The method as in claim 21, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position matching a predefined location or predefined area.

31. The method as in claim 21, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position transitioning from a first area to a second area.

32. The method as in claim 21, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position matching a predefined location or predefined area for a predefined time period.

33. The method as in claim 21, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position mismatching a predefined area.

34. The method as in claim 21, wherein said predefined condition comprises said position mismatching a predefined area for a predefined time period.

35. The method as in claim 21, wherein said event trigger signal generates a reminder alert within said wireless device.

36. The method as in claim 21, wherein said event trigger signal causes a start of an application within said wireless device.

37. The method as in claim 21, wherein said event trigger signal activates a predefined operating mode of said wireless device.

38. The method as in claim 36, wherein said application includes an action of dialing a number, starting a web browser, downloading a file from the web, uploading a file from the web, and/or controlling a function of said wireless device.

39. The method as in claim 37, wherein said predefined operating mode selects a predefined profile of said wireless device.