Location based messaging method and system

• US 20040198396A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Owest Communications International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Owest Communications International, Inc.
• Inventors: Fransioli, Frank E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method for providing location based messaging to a mobile user with a wireless portable receiving device includes sending a message to the portable device including content based on the location and the direction of travel of the portable device. In the method, the location and direction of travel of the portable device are determined, and a message is established. The message includes content based on the location and travel direction of the device.

Claims

1. A method for providing location based messaging to a mobile user with a wireless portable receiving device, the portable device defining a location of the portable device and defining a direction of travel of the portable device, the method comprising:

determining the location of the portable device;

determining the direction of travel of the portable device;

establishing a message including content based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device; and

sending the message to the portable device so that the user receives the location and direction of travel based content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is sent from a transmitter to the portable device and wherein sending the message further comprises:

establishing a voice channel between the transmitter and the portable device; and

sending the message to the portable device as a voice message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message is sent from a transmitter to the portable device and wherein sending the message further comprises:

establishing a data channel between the transmitter and the portable device; and

sending the message to the portable device as a data message.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a reply from the portable device, the reply including a request for specific content;

establishing an additional message including specific content based on the request for specific content in the reply; and

sending the additional message to the portable device so that the user receives the specific content requested in the reply.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the request for specific content includes a request for directions, and wherein the additional message includes directions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of the portable device further comprises:

determining a plurality of boundaries to define a plurality of regions; and

determining the location of the portable device based on the plurality of boundaries such that the portable device location indicates at least one of the plurality of regions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the content includes an advertisement based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the content includes a public service announcement based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the content includes a local event schedule based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the content includes a traffic report based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the traffic report includes alternative route information.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the content includes a weather report based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the message further comprises:

automatically sending the message.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the message further comprises:

receiving a connection request from the portable device; and

sending the message after the connection request has been received.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a content category, wherein the message includes content based on the location of the portable device, the direction of travel of the portable device, and the content category.

16. A system for providing location based messaging to a mobile user with a wireless portable receiving device, the portable device defining a location of the portable device and defining a direction of travel of the portable device, the system including a plurality of transmitters at different locations spaced apart from each other and defining a wireless network for the portable device, and a server including information classified based on location, wherein the server is configured to:

determine the location of the portable device;

determine the direction of travel of the portable device;

establish a message including content based on the location of the portable device and further based on the direction of travel of the portable device;

determine at least one transmitter in the wireless network that is sufficiently close to the portable device to communicate therewith; and

send the message from the at least one transmitter to the portable device so that the user receives the location and direction of travel based content.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the server is configured to send the message by:

establishing a voice channel between the at least one transmitter and the portable device; and

sending the message to the portable device as a voice message.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the server is configured to send the message by:

establishing a data channel between the at least one transmitter and the portable device; and

sending the message to the portable device as a data message.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the server is further configured to:

receive a reply from the portable device, the reply including a request for specific content;

establish an additional message including specific content based on the request for specific content in the reply; and

send the additional message to the portable device so that the user receives the specific content requested in the reply.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the server is configured to determine the location of the portable device by:

determining a plurality of boundaries to define a plurality of regions; and

determining the location of the portable device based on the plurality of boundaries such that the portable device location indicates at least one of the plurality of regions.