Location-based notifications

• US 20060273930A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Godden, Kurt S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/02 Anti-collision systems

Abstract

A method for location-based notifications, the method including receiving a request for a notification from an input device. A current location of the input device is determined in response to the receiving. A reminder location is set responsive to the current location of the input device determined in response to the receiving. On a periodic basis, a new current location of the input device is determined and compared to the reminder location. A notification is provided if the new current location is within a proximity threshold of the reminder location.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based notifications, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a notification from an input device;

determining a current location of the input device in response to the receiving;

setting a reminder location for the notification responsive to the current location of the input device determined in response to the receiving;

determining a new current location of the input device on a periodic basis;

comparing the new current location to the reminder location; and

providing the notification if the new current location is within a proximity threshold of the reminder location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request is received via a microphone at the input device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification includes text data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification includes voice data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the notification includes header information in a text data format and voice content in a voice data format.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a manner of the providing the notification varies based on the header information and the voice content of the notification.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing notification includes a haptic alert.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing notification includes one or more of an audio alert and a visual alert.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity threshold is user modifiable.

10. A system for providing location-based notifications, the system comprising:

an input device;

a location detection device;

an output device; and

a processor in communication with the input device, the output device and the location detection device for facilitating;

receiving a request for a notification from the input device;

determining a current location of the input device using the location detection device, the determining in response to the receiving;

setting a reminder location for the notification responsive to the current location of the input device determined in response to the receiving;

determining a new current location of the input device using the location detection device on a periodic basis;

comparing the new current location to the reminder location; and

providing the notification via the output device if the new current location is within a proximity threshold of the reminder location.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the input device includes a microphone and speech recognition software.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the location detection device comprises a GPS device.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device includes a speaker.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the output device transmits a command to activate a haptic alert.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the system is located within a mobile user device.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the system is integrated into a vehicle and shares one or more of the input device, the location detection device, the output device and the processor with other functions provided by the vehicle.

17. A computer program product for providing location-based notifications, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method, the method including;

receiving a request for a notification from an input device;

determining a current location of the input device in response to the receiving;

setting a reminder location for the notification responsive to the current location of the input device determined in response to the receiving;

determining a new current location of the input device on a periodic basis;

comparing the new current location to the reminder location; and

providing the notification if the new current location is within a proximity threshold of the reminder location.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the notification includes voice data.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the notification includes header information in a text data format and voice content in a voice data format.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein a manner of the providing the notification varies based on the header information and the voice content of the notification.