Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a virtual posting service

• US 20060209744A1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• 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: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing virtual posting services. Methods include receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by an access node, storing the content in a storage device that is in communication with the access node, and tracking an amount of time the content item is stored. If the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, the methods include transmitting the content to another communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other communications device within the geographic proximity.

Claims

1. A method for implementing virtual post services, comprising:

receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by an access node;

storing the content in a storage device that is in communication with the access node;

tracking an amount of time the content item is stored; and

if the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, transmitting the content to another communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other communications device within the geographic proximity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold, deleting the content from the storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication devices is a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is relevant to the geographic proximity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is time sensitive.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking an amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content;

and wherein further, the deleting the content if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold includes comparing the timestamp with a current time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising linking the access node to another access node, the method further comprising:

receiving an inquiry from the other communications device;

searching the storage device for content relating to the inquiry;

if the content relating to the inquiry is found, transmitting the content relating to the inquiry to the other communications device; and

if the content relating to the inquiry is not found, performing at least one of;

relaying the inquiry to the other access node, the other access node searching an other storage device for the content relating to the inquiry; and

storing the inquiry in the storage device and transmitting the inquiry to communications devices detected in the geographic proximity.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the searching of the storage device for the content relating to the inquiry includes searching the storage device in response to a selection made via a searchable index of content.

9. A system for implementing virtual post services, comprising:

a virtual post application executing on a processor, the virtual post application performing;

receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by the access node;

storing the content in a storage device;

tracking an amount of time the content item is stored; and

if the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, transmitting the content to an other wireless communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other wireless communications device within the geographic proximity.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold, the virtual post application deletes the content from the storage device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the communications devices is a wireless device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the content is relevant to the geographic proximity.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the content is time sensitive.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the tracking an amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content;

and wherein further, the deleting the content if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold includes comparing the timestamp with a current time.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an other access node linked to the access node, the virtual post application further performing:

receiving an inquiry from the other communications device;

searching the storage device for content relating to the inquiry;

if the content relating to the inquiry is found, transmitting the content relating to the inquiry to the other communications device via the wireless access node; and

if the content relating to the inquiry is not found, performing at least one of;

relaying the inquiry to the other access node, the other access node searching an other storage device for the content relating to the inquiry; and

storing the inquiry in the storage device and transmitting the inquiry via the access node to wireless communications devices detected in the geographic proximity.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a searchable index of the content, wherein the searching the storage device for the content relating to the inquiry includes searching the storage device in response to a selection made via the searchable index.

17. A computer program product for implementing virtual post services, the computer program product including instructions for performing a method, the method including:

receiving content from a communications device located in a geographic proximity that is serviced by an access node;

storing the content in a storage device that is in communication with the access node;

tracking an amount of time the content item is stored; and

if the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, transmitting the content to an other communications device in response to detecting the presence of the other communications device within the geographic proximity.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold, the method includes deleting the content from the storage device.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein at least one of the communications devices is a wireless device.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the content is relevant to the geographic proximity.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the content is time sensitive.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the tracking an amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content;

and wherein further, the deleting the content if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold includes comparing the timestamp with a current time.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising instructions for linking the access node to another access node, the method further comprising:

receiving an inquiry from the other communications device;

searching the storage device for content relating to the inquiry;

if the content relating to the inquiry is found, transmitting the content relating to the inquiry to the other communications device; and

if the content relating to the inquiry is not found, performing at least one of;

relaying the inquiry to the other access node, the other access node searching an other storage device for the content relating to the inquiry; and

storing the inquiry in the storage device and transmitting the inquiry to communications devices detected in the geographic proximity.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising a searchable index of the content, wherein the searching the storage device for the content relating to the inquiry includes searching the storage device for content in response to a selection made via the searchable index.

25. A communications device for implementing virtual post services, comprising:

a broadcast component operable for transmitting a signal to an access node indicating the communications device is in broadcast mode, the access node providing geographic proximity-specific content to communications devices located within a geographic proximity serviced by the access node;

an input component operable for inputting content; and

a transmitter component operable for transmitting the content to the access node;

wherein

when the communications device is in broadcast mode, the content is inputted into the input component and transmitted to the access node via the transmitter component.

26. The communications device of claim 25, further comprising:

a discover component operable for transmitting a signal to the access node indicating the communications device is in discover mode;

a receiver component for receiving content provided by an other communications device to the access node and transmittable by the access node to the communications device; and

a display component for perceiving the content received from the access node.

27. The communications device of claim 25, wherein the content is transmitted via a wireless network.

28. A method for implementing virtual post services, comprising:

receiving content from a first communications device located in geographic proximity of a second communications device, the content received in response to the first communications device detecting the presence of the second communications device in the geographic proximity;

storing the content in the second communications device;

tracking an amount of time the content item is stored;

if the amount of time does not reach a pre-established threshold, transmitting the content to third communications device in response to the second communications device detecting the presence of the third communications device within the geographic proximity; and

.

if the amount of time meets or exceeds the pre-established threshold, deleting the content from the second communications device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the communication devices is a wireless device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the content is relevant to the geographic proximity and the content is time sensitive.