Methods and systems for position co-ordination

• US 20060079245A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jules M Limited
• Original Assignee: Meetme Incorporated (ParshipMeet Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Moed, Roy Uziel
• Application Number:
  US11/232,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

A position coordination system for coordinating a position of a number of users includes at least one user terminal, at least one mobile communications device, and a network connecting the at least one user terminal and the at least one mobile communications device. The at least one user terminal is configured upon receiving identification information from a first user to determine a second user who is registered with the system to meet the first user and to notify a mobile communications device associated with the second user via the network thereby notifying the second user of the first user'"'"'s position and facilitating meeting of the two users.

Claims

1. A position co-ordination system for co-ordinating a position of a number of users, the system comprising:

at least one user terminal;

at least one mobile communications device; and

a network connecting the at least one user terminal and the at least one mobile communications device;

wherein the at least one user terminal is configured, upon receiving identification information from a first user, to determine a second user who is registered with the system to meet the first user, and to notify a mobile communications device associated with the second user via the network, thereby notifying the second user of the first user'"'"'s position and facilitating meeting of the two users.

2. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes means for storing information associated with one or more second users registered to meet first users, and the second user is identified by the user terminal performing a comparison of the identification information provided by the first user with that associated with the registered second users.

3. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 2, wherein identification of the second user occurs if the comparison yields an exact match, or if the comparison yields a near match that is selected by the first user.

4. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one user terminal includes a bank of mobile communications devices, the mobile communications devices within the bank being releasable upon identification, at the user terminal, of a second user.

5. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, the system further comprising a bank of mobile communications devices in communication with the at least one user terminal, the mobile communications devices within the bank being releasable upon identification at the bank of a second user.

6. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bank of mobile communications devices includes a user interface, the user interface enabling the identification of a user requiring a mobile communication device.

7. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile communications devices are rechargeable, and the bank includes a charger operative to recharge the mobile communications devices.

8. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bank of mobile communications devices includes means to sense the release of a mobile communications device, and to sense its replacement.

9. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for sensing are selected from a bar code reader, a chip reader and/or a data port reader.

10. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile communications devices are released from the bank based upon a degree of charge.

11. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upon notification, the mobile communication device is operative to emit vibrations, light, sound and/or to display information.

12. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile communications device includes a display, the display being operative to display data that is transmitted to the mobile communications device via the network.

13. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile communications device includes means for acknowledging, via the network, receipt of the notification.

14. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device includes an alarm mechanism that emits a warning when the device exceeds a predetermined distance from the user terminal.

15. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device includes an alarm mechanism that emits a warning when a charge level of the device'"'"'s battery falls below a predetermined level.

16. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device includes one or more of an MP3 player, an MP4 movie player and a linkage to a radio broadcast.

17. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device has applied to it a unique identification.

18. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein notification is via a closed loop transmission system.

19. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 18, wherein notification is achieved via an RS232 transmitter in the at least one user terminal.

20. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 18, wherein notification is achieved via an RS232 transmitter connected to the at least one user terminal.

21. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 19, wherein notification utilises Wireless Fidelity (WIFI), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), Very High Frequency (VHF) or Bluetooth methods.

22. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user terminal includes a user interface enabling user input.

23. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the user interface is a touch-screen interface.

24. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one user terminal includes a card reading device.

25. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user terminal is in communication with a control module via a secure private network.

26. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one user terminal includes means for generating an operation log and/or information relating to the correct generation of the user terminal, and the control module includes means for monitoring the operation log and/or information.

27. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the user terminal includes means for forwarding, to the control module, periodically the operation log and/or information.

28. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the control module includes means for updating the system.

29. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the means for updating the system is operative to update a configuration of the system and/or a configuration of the at least one user terminal.

30. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one user terminal is configured to poll the control module means for updating periodically.

48. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mobile communications devices are rechargeable, and the bank includes a charger operative to recharge the mobile communications devices.

51. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mobile communications devices are released from the bank based upon a degree of charge.

52. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 20, wherein notification utilises Wireless Fidelity (WIFI), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), Very High Frequency (VHF) or Bluetooth methods.

31. A method of co-ordinating the position of a number of users of a position co-ordinating system, comprising the steps of:

receiving identification, in the system, of at least one second user;

issuing a mobile communications device to the second user;

receiving identification, in a user terminal of the system, of at least one first user of the system;

determining, in the user terminal, a second user who is registered with the system to meet the first user; and

notifying the mobile communications device issued to the determined second user, via a network, that the first user has identified themself to the user terminal, thereby notifying the second user of the first user'"'"'s position and facilitating meeting of the two users.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the identification of the second user is received in the user terminal.

33. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the identification of the second user is received in a bank of mobile communications devices that is communicatively coupled with the user terminal.

34. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the identification of the first user includes a user name and, optionally, a security code.

35. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the identification of the second user includes an indication of user type, a user name of a first user and, optionally, a security code.

36. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein payment authorisation is requested from the second user and is received prior to the issuance of the mobile communications device.

37. A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the determination of the second user comprises performing a comparison of the first user'"'"'s user name with the user names associated with all registered second users, and the mobile communications device of the second user is notified upon locating a match.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein if a match is not determined the step of providing the first user with a list of possible matches is performed and, upon selection from the list, notifying the mobile communications device associated with the second user associated with the selection.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, wherein if an appropriate match does not exist, providing instructions to the first user.

40. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein, the mobile communications device has a unique identity that is visibly applied to it, and wherein the first user is provided with the unique identity once the signal has been acknowledged, thereby allowing their recognition of the bearer of the mobile communications device.

41. A method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of monitoring the operation of the system and/or monitoring the system for malfunctions.

42. A method as claimed in claim 41, including the step of providing to a control module from the user terminal, an operation log and/or information relating to the current operation of the user terminal, and monitoring, in the control module, the log and/or the information.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the step of providing is carried out periodically.

44. A method as claimed in claim 31, including the step of updating a system configuration and/or a configuration of the user terminal.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the configuration of the user terminal is updated periodically upon initiation of an update procedure by the user terminal.

46. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein, once the first and second users have met, the mobile communications device is reattached to the bank.

47. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein, once the first and second users have met, the mobile communications device is reattached to the bank, payment is processed and a receipt is printed.

49. A position co-ordination system as claimed in 5, wherein the bank of mobile communications devices includes means to sense the release of a mobile communications device, and to sense its replacement.

50. A position co-ordination system as claimed in claim 49, wherein the means for sensing are selected from a bar code reader, a chip reader and/or a data port reader.