Rules based methods and apparatus for generating notification messages based on the proximity of electronic devices to one another
First Claim
1. The method for performing one or more specified functions in response to the changing relative positions of a plurality of objects, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
- combining each of said objects with an electronic device that can be detected at short range to permit the position and the unique identity of said device to be determined from a distance, programming a first computer to accept one or more rules from a user, each of said rules containing a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one relative position condition to be satisfied by specified ones of said objects and each action part defining at least one specified action to be performed when said condition part is satisfied, receiving position and identification data providing relative position and identification information for said specified ones of said objects, processing said position and identification data in accordance with said rules using said first computer, and performing the functions defined in the action part of each of said rules whose condition part is satisfied by said position and identification data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for performing specified actions when the relative position of specified objects satisfies conditions specified by a user and expressed in one or more rules. Each of the rules contains a condition part and an action part. The condition part of each rules specifies one or-more conditions that are satisfied when specified objects move into or-out of a predetermined range of one another. Each rule further contains an action part which specifies a function to be performed when the condition part of the rule is satisfied. The relative positions of objects are determined by an electronic interrogation device which can determine the identity of other electronic devices that are within range of the interrogation device. The electronic interrogation devices and the identification devices may be implemented using Bluetooth compliant devices, RFID tags and tag readers, or GPS devices.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. The method for performing one or more specified functions in response to the changing relative positions of a plurality of objects, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:
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combining each of said objects with an electronic device that can be detected at short range to permit the position and the unique identity of said device to be determined from a distance, programming a first computer to accept one or more rules from a user, each of said rules containing a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one relative position condition to be satisfied by specified ones of said objects and each action part defining at least one specified action to be performed when said condition part is satisfied, receiving position and identification data providing relative position and identification information for said specified ones of said objects, processing said position and identification data in accordance with said rules using said first computer, and performing the functions defined in the action part of each of said rules whose condition part is satisfied by said position and identification data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for performing one or more specified functions in response to the changing relative positions of a plurality of objects, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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an electronic device that can be identified at short range attached to or forming a part of each of said plurality of objects, said electronic device including means for storing and transmitting a unique assigned identification value upon request, first input means for accepting one or more rules from a user, each of said rules containing a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one relative position condition to be satisfied by specified ones of said objects and each action part defining at least one specified action to be performed when said condition part is satisfied, detection means for generating position and identification data providing relative position information and the unique assigned identification value for specific identified ones of said electronic devices, a processor for processing said position and identification data in accordance with said rules, and performing the functions defined in the action part of each of said rules whose condition part is satisfied by said position and identification data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification