Stop location determination systems and methods based upon user-defined timing criteria

• US 20040254811A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US10/858,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated notification systems. One representative method, among others, comprises the following steps: receiving one or more timing criteria corresponding to a pickup or delivery; monitoring travel data pertaining to a mobile thing; determining a pickup/delivery location for the mobile thing based upon the travel status and the timing criteria; and contacting a communications device associated with a party and providing the pickup/delivery location to the communications device, so that pickup or delivery can be accomplished at the pickup/delivery location in accordance with the timing criteria. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer system that is programmed to perform the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for a notification system, comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more timing criteria corresponding to a pickup or delivery;

monitoring travel data pertaining to a mobile thing;

determining one or more pickup/delivery locations for the mobile thing based upon the travel status and the timing criteria; and

communicating with a communications device associated with a party and providing the one or more pickup/delivery locations to the communications device, so that pickup or delivery can be accomplished in accordance with the timing criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pickup/delivery locations is determined by analyzing one or more locations of the mobile thing in connection with map software.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more timing criteria is a time of day.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more timing criteria is a time period.

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

enabling the party to communicate with the notification system; and

enabling the party to define the one or more timing criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup/delivery location is a street address.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the one or more pickup/delivery locations for the mobile thing includes analyzing and basing the determination, at least in part, on location data associated with the party, the personal communications device, or both, in addition to basing the determination on the travel status of the mobile thing and the timing criteria.

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

monitoring travel status of a second mobile thing; and

during the communicating step, providing one or more second stop locations associated with the second mobile thing based upon the timing criteria and the travel status of the second mobile thing.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of, during the communicating step, providing an identification of the mobile thing and the second mobile thing and their respective correspondence to their stop locations.

10. A system, comprising:

means for receiving one or more timing criteria corresponding to a pickup or delivery;

means for monitoring travel data pertaining to a mobile thing;

means for determining one or more pickup/delivery locations for the mobile thing based upon the travel status and the timing criteria; and

means for communicating with a communications device associated with a party and providing the one or more pickup/delivery locations to the communications device, so that pickup or delivery can be accomplished in accordance with the timing criteria.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the pickup/delivery locations is determined by analyzing one or more locations of the mobile thing in connection with map software.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more timing criteria is a time of day.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more timing criteria is a time period.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for enabling the party to communicate with the notification system; and

means for enabling the party to define the one or more timing criteria.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the pickup/delivery location is a street address.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the means for determining the one or more pickup/delivery locations for the mobile thing includes a means for analyzing and basing the determination, at least in part, on location data associated with the party, the personal communications device, or both, in addition to basing the determination on the travel status of the mobile thing and the timing criteria.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a means for communicating a description of the mobile thing.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for monitoring travel status of a second mobile thing; and

means for providing one or more second stop locations associated with the second mobile thing based upon the timing criteria and the travel status of the second mobile thing.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising a means for providing an identification of the mobile thing and the second mobile thing and their respective correspondence to their stop locations.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for receiving one or more selection indicators from the personal communications device that indicate a selection of one of the mobile things, one of the stop locations, or both.