MOBILE THING DETERMINATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS BASED UPON USER-DEVICE LOCATION

• US 20080046326A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Legalview Assets, Ltd.
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,538,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated notification systems. One representative method, among others, comprises the following steps: during a communication session with a personal communications device, determining a location of the personal communications device, and identifying a mobile thing to travel to the determined location or another location for a pickup or delivery, based upon the determined location. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer or other automated system that is programmed to perform the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for implementation in connection with a computer-based notification system, comprising the steps of:

during a communication session with a personal communications device, determining a location of the personal communications device; and

identifying a mobile thing to travel to the determined location or another location for a pickup or delivery, based upon the determined location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating an identification of the determined location of the personal communications device or the another location to a communications device associated with the mobile thing.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of communicating an identification of the mobile thing to the personal communications device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of enabling the party to accept or deny the pickup or the delivery using the identified mobile thing during the communication session or during a subsequent communication session.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile thing is identified with a vehicle number.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the mobile thing is identified with a description of the vehicle type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is initiated to the personal communications device, based upon one or more criteria defined by a user associated with the personal communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is initiated from the personal communications device or is initiated from the system, and further comprising the step of initiating a subsequent notification communication session to the personal communications device from the system when the determined mobile thing is at a particular location, is within a particular geographical region, or is within a particular proximity of the location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second communication session occurs between the system and a different personal communications device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing information concerning a capacity of items situated on the mobile thing.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving information at the system regarding an item that is placed on the mobile thing at the location or dropped off at the location, or both.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of reading a machine readable code on the item and producing the information therefrom.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting the mobile thing from a plurality of mobile things, based upon user notification preferences in addition to the determined location of the personal communications device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving from the personal communications device an identification or characteristic of a thing to be picked up at the location.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating the thing identification or characteristic to a communications device associated with the mobile thing.

16. A method for implementation in connection with a computer-based notification system, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first communication session between the system and a personal communications device;

during the first communication session, determining a location of the personal communications device;

selecting a mobile thing from among a plurality to travel to the location for a pickup or delivery at the location; and

establishing a second communication session between the system and the personal communications device when one or more user preferences criteria relating to travel status of the selected mobile thing have been satisfied.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving from the personal communications device an identification or characteristic of a thing to be picked up at the location.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of communicating the thing identification or characteristic to a communications device associated with the mobile thing.

19. A notification system, comprising:

means for initiating a notification communication session with a personal communications device, based upon impending arrival or departure of one or more mobile things in relation to a location;

means for providing a plurality of arrival or departure times in relation to the location and enabling selection of one of the times during the notification communication session; and

means for causing a mobile thing to arrive at or depart from the location at substantially the selected time.

20. A notification system, comprising:

means for monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing in relation to a location or region;

means for monitoring travel data associated with a personal communications device in relation to the location or region;

means for causing a notification communication to be initiated to the personal communications device when the device is at or is within a predetermined proximity of the location or region; and

mean for causing a different notification communication to be initiated to the personal communications device when the mobile thing is at or within a predefined proximity of the location or region.

21. A method of doing business, comprising:

(a) offering an advertisement service and a notification service;

(b) in connection with the notification service;

(1) monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

(2) determining that a notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to a location; and

(3) providing a notification communication when the mobile thing is near the location;

(c) in connection with the advertisement service;

(1) charging a fee for or monetarily benefiting from providing an advertisement during a notification; and

(2) providing an advertisement as part of or accompanying the notification communication.