System and method for anonymous location based services

• US 20060022048A1
• Filed: 08/18/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/15 Information service where the information is dependent on the location of the subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Provided is a fully automated web service with location based services generally involved in transmission of situational location dependent information to automatically located mobile receiving data processing systems. The web service communicates with a receiving data processing system in a manner by delivering information to the device when appropriate without the device requesting it at the time of delivery. There are varieties of configurations made by different user types of the web service for configuring information to be delivered, and for receiving the information. The web service maximizes anonymity of users, provides granular privacy control with a default of complete privacy, and supports user configurable privileges and features for desired web service behavior and interoperability. The web service is fully automated to eliminate human resources required to operate services. Integrated with the web service are enhanced location based services providing map solutions, alerts, sharing of novel services between users, and complete user control for managing heterogeneous device interoperability through the web service.

Claims

1. A web service comprising the steps of:

a first user registering an account with said web service;

a second user registering an account with said web service;

providing location based services to said first user and said second user;

said first user granting a location based services privilege to said second user through a user interface of said web service;

automatically determining a situational location of said first user with automatic location detection means; and

said second user performing a location based service action on said first user in accordance with said location based services privilege.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a View Nearby Status privilege, said View Nearby Status privilege enabling said second user to determine whether said first user is located nearby said second user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a View Whereabouts privilege, said View Whereabouts privilege enabling said second user to determine the whereabouts of said first user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a View Reports privilege, said View Reports privilege enabling said second user to view reports of the whereabouts of said first user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a View Historical Route privilege, said View Historical Route privilege enabling said second user to view the historical travels of said first user.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Set PingSpots privilege, said Set PingSpots privilege enabling automated delivery of content to said first user which has been configured with said situational location by said second user for delivery at the future travels of said first user to said situational location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Set Pingimeter Arrival Alert privilege, said Set Pingimeter Arrival Alert privilege enabling delivery of an automated alert to said second user when said first user arrives to said situational location configured by said second user.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Set Pingimeter Departure Alert privilege, said Set Pingimeter Departure Alert privilege enabling delivery of an automated alert to said second user when said first user departs said situational location configured by said second user.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Set Nearby Arrival Alert privilege, said Set Nearby Arrival Alert privilege enabling delivery of an automated alert to said second user when said first user arrives to being nearby said second user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Set Nearby Departure Alert privilege, said Set Nearby Departure Alert privilege enabling delivery of an automated alert to said second user when said first user departs from being nearby said second user.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Send Broadcast Messages privilege, said Send Broadcast Messages privilege enabling said second user to send a broadcast message to said first user wherein said broadcast message includes a plurality of recipient users.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Share Delivery Experiences privilege, said Share Delivery Experiences privilege enabling said second user to automatically receive copies of content deliveries made to said first user, said content deliveries delivered by said situational location.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is a Intercept Delivery Experiences privilege, said Intercept Delivery Experiences privilege enabling said second user to automatically receive intercepted content deliveries destined to said first user, said content deliveries delivered by said situational location.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said location based services privilege is an Affinity Delegate privilege, said Affinity Delegate privilege enabling said second user to act on behalf of said first user when using said location based services.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic location detection means includes determining the Global Positioning System coordinate whereabouts of said first user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic location detection means includes triangulating the whereabouts of said first user.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said automatic location detection means includes sensing the whereabouts of said first user through being in range of a sensor at a known location.

18. A web service comprising the steps of:

a plurality of users automatically registering membership accounts to said web service wherein there are a plurality of eligible receiving mobile devices associated to said membership accounts;

configuration of a plurality of deliverable content records configured by said plurality of users to said web service;

automatically determining a situational location of said devices with automatic location detection means; and

sending content of said deliverable content records to said devices.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said content of said deliverable content records includes an alert to the whereabouts of a device determined by said automatic location detection means.

20. The method of claim 18 further including the step of configuration by said plurality of users for defining location based services privileges between said plurality of users.