Contextually-based local selective communications device

• US 20090080371A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inria Institut National de Recherche EN Informatique et EN Automatique
• Original Assignee: Inria Institut National de Recherche EN Informatique et EN Automatique
• Inventors: Becus, Mathieu, Banatre, Michel, Couderc, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/918,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20090080371A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A local communications device comprises a station (9, 25) for communicating with mobile terminals (11) and a controller (3) for transmitting a message of the mobile terminal (11). The inventive device comprises a beacon (19, 21) interacting with a portable passive object (17) for obtaining at least one code word. The controller (3) interacts with the beacon (19, 21) for storing the code word thus obtained and for subsequently actuating a decision mechanism relating to a spontaneous message transmission. A decision for transmitting a message depends, at least partially, on the code word.

Claims

1. Local communication device of the type comprising:

a station (9;

25) having a mode of communication with mobile terminals (11),

a controller (3) capable of sending a message intended for one or more mobile terminals (11), characterised in that

the device further comprises a beacon (19;

21;

21A;

21B) capable of interacting with at least one passive portable object (17), in order to acquire at least one code word from such a portable object (17),

the controller (3) is arranged to as to;

interact with the beacon (19;

21;

21A;

21B) in order to store the code word acquired, at least temporarily,

then, following such an interaction, to implement a decision mechanism relating to the spontaneous sending of a message, wherein the decision to send a message, its contents and/or the destination address depend at least partly on the code word stored.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the code word comprises a representation of a call address for a mobile terminal (11).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the controller is arranged so that the decision to send a message, and/or its contents, depend at least partly on attributes than can be determined from the call address.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the beacon (19;

21A;

21B) is implanted as a monitor of access to a space zone covered by at least one station (9;

25) according to a short-range communication mode, so that after interaction between a portable object (17) and the beacon (19;

21A;

21B) on passing the access monitor, communications between the station or stations (9;

25) and the mobile terminal (11) are permitted substantially over the entire space zone in question.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of beacons (19;

21) implanted physically in proximity to zones of interest (7), so that after interaction between a portable object (17) and a beacon (19;

21) of this kind, communications between the station or one of the stations (9;

25) and the mobile terminal (11) are permitted as a function of a comparison between personal attributes designated by a portable object (17) and attributes of the zone of interest associated with the beacon (19;

21).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that

the station (9;

25) is capable of sending the messages by short-range communication and by sending messages through a telecommunications link, and 15

the controller (3) is arranged to send the message by short-range communication or through the telecommunications link each time, as a function of at least one of the codes of said code word.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the station (9;

25) comprises a global-type communications mode.

8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the station (9;

25) comprises a short-range wireless communications mode.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the portable object (17) comprises at least one radiofrequency tag (17).

10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the beacon comprises a board (PZO) provided with at least two antennas arranged so as to 30 determine the position of a portable object on the board by measuring the intensity of signals received by the respective antennas.

11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the beacon comprises a board equipped with a plurality of antennas, arranged in a grid pattern, for example, so that the position of a portable object (17) facing the board can be detected by means for identifying the antenna that is closest to the object.

12. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the decision to send a message and/or its contents further depend at least partly on the position of the portable object on the board.

13. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that the decision to send a message and/or its contents further depend at least partly on a movement caused to the portable object in front of the board.

14. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the code word comprises an identifier of a communication address for the mobile terminal (11) and an identifier of at least one contextual service to be supplied.

15. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the code word comprises an identifier of a contextual service to be supplied and at least 20 one parameter specific to said service.

16. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the message comprises a program that can be run directly by the mobile terminal (11).

17. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the code word contains an address for a database entry.

18. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the decision to send a message and/or its contents depend at least partly on code words stored from a plurality of portable objects (17).

19. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the decision to send a message and/or its contents depend at least partly on a plurality of code words.