Determining Geographic Zone

• US 20090061905A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.600
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability

Abstract

Included are embodiments for determining data for at least one geographic zone. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining at least one geographic zone for monitoring and receiving data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone. Some embodiments include providing an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the determined geographic zone.

Claims

1. A method for determining data for at least one geographic zone, comprising:

determining at least one geographic zone for monitoring;

receiving data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone; and

providing an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the at least one geographic zone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an option to initiate a communications session with the at least one contact.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user option to create the at least one geographic zone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a stationary geographic zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a moving geographic zone, the moving geographic zone configured to move with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an occupancy of the at least one geographic zone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided via an Instant Messaging protocol.

8. A system for determining data for at least one geographic zone, comprising:

a first determining component configured to determine at least one geographic zone for monitoring;

a receiving component configured to receive data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone; and

a first providing component configured to provide an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the at least one geographic zone.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second providing component configured to provide an option to initiate a communications session with the at least one contact.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third providing component configured to provide a user option to create the at least one geographic zone.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a stationary geographic zone.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a moving geographic zone, the moving geographic zone configured to move with the user.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second determining component configured to determine an occupancy of the geographic zone.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the indication is provided via an Instant Messaging protocol.

15. A computer readable storage medium for determining data for at least one geographic zone, comprising:

first determining logic configured to determine at least one geographic zone for monitoring;

receiving logic configured to receive data related to at least one contact of a user entering the at least one geographic zone; and

first providing logic configured to provide an indication, to the user, that the at least one contact of the user is currently located in the at least one geographic zone.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising a second providing component configured to provide an option to initiate a communications session with the at least one contact.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising third providing logic configured to provide a user option to create the at least one geographic zone.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a stationary geographic zone.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one geographic zone includes a moving geographic zone, the moving geographic zone configured to move with the user.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising second determining logic configured to determine an occupancy of the geographic zone.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the indication is provided via an Instant Messaging protocol.