System and Method for Using Location Information to Execute an Action

• US 20080261624A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enzmann, Mark J., Zellner, Samuel N., Moton, Robert T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,260,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of affecting a machine based on location information of a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal associated with the location information of the wireless device;

satisfying a location rule using the location information; and

changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a piece of office equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a home appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a handheld computer.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular telephone.