Methods and apparatus for gathering and delivering contextual messages in a mobile communication system
First Claim
1. In a mobile communications network, said network including a contextual message server and a mobile communications device (MCD) communicating with said contextual message server via at least a wireless link, a method of operating the mobile communications network comprising:
- detecting a location and an affiliation of said mobile communication device;
identifying contextual messages in said contextual message server having location and affiliation parameters that match said detected location and affiliation, thereby generating a set of identified contextual messages; and
transmitting said set of identified contextual messages from said contextual message server to said mobile communication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for delivering personalized (e.g., contextual) messages to a user that meets certain geographic, affiliation/metadata, timing, and/or or other criteria. These messages are geographically and logically persistent, and can be left by members of the user'"'"'s social or “buddy” network, individuals, institutions, the user'"'"'s service provider(s), or even advertisers or others seeking a commercial opportunity. These messages can be rendered in the form of voice, video, audio (e.g., MP3), text and graphics delivered to mobile phones, PDA'"'"'s or other devices with network connectivity. Exemplary embodiments of the invention incorporate existing geo-localization technologies such as GPS embedded in these mobile platforms, or triangulation via signals from the cellular/PCS networks, IP addressing, presence in ad hoc networks, cell ID, E911/E112, Time of Arrival (TOA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), Observed Time Difference (OTD) and Angle of Arrival (AOA).
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. In a mobile communications network, said network including a contextual message server and a mobile communications device (MCD) communicating with said contextual message server via at least a wireless link, a method of operating the mobile communications network comprising:
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detecting a location and an affiliation of said mobile communication device; identifying contextual messages in said contextual message server having location and affiliation parameters that match said detected location and affiliation, thereby generating a set of identified contextual messages; and transmitting said set of identified contextual messages from said contextual message server to said mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a contextual message server in a network that includes a wireless link to a mobile communication device, said method comprising:
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storing a contextual message, and an associated message location and affiliation for said contextual message; receiving mobile communication device location and mobile communication device affiliation information; evaluating said message location and affiliation with said mobile communication device location and mobile communication device affiliation; and transmitting said contextual message to said mobile communication device via said wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for operating a mobile communications device (MCD), comprising:
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determining a location associated with the mobile communications device; transmitting the location via a wireless interface to a message server; and receiving a message from said server based at least in part on said location and an affiliation of said mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A communications network for delivering contextual messages, comprising:
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contextual message server apparatus adapted to; store contextual messages and location and affiliation information associated therewith; receive mobile communication device (MCD) location information; match contextual messages to said MCD location information; and transmit matched contextual messages; and at least one MCD adapted to; interface with said contextual message server via a wireless link; determine said MCD location information; transmit said MCD location information to said contextual message server apparatus; and receive said matched contextual messages from said server apparatus.
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35. A mobile communications device (MCD) adapted for at least receiving contextual messages, said mobile communication device comprising:
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wireless interface apparatus adapted to communicate data with at least one other device; a memory for storing software instructions; a microprocessor in data communication with said memory and adapted to execute said software instructions, and control said wireless interface apparatus; wherein said software instructions; cause location information to generated, and cause said device to receive messages having at least location information that matches that of said generated location information. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A contextual message server for storing contextual messages, said contextual message server comprising:
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memory configured to store software instructions; a microprocessor in communication with said memory and configured to execute said software instructions, wherein said software instructions cause said microprocessor to; maintain a database of contextual messages and associated locations and affiliations; receive mobile communication device location information; determine an affiliation for at least one mobile communication device for which said location information has been received; identify at least one message from said database based at least in part on said affiliation and said location information; and transmit at least a portion of said at least one matching message to said at least one mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification