SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATING TRAVEL RELATED FEATURES

• US 20110010218A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Shekhar
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for automating travel related features based on location information of a mobile device associated with a user. For example, in one embodiment, a computer executed method is disclosed for configuring an out of office auto-reply email message. The method comprises receiving an out of area message from a mobile device associated with a user; identifying a user associated with the mobile device; accessing an email account associated with the user; and configuring an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user.

Claims

1. A method performed by a data processing system for automating travel related features, the method comprising:

receiving location information associated with a mobile device, the location information transmitted by the mobile device to the data processing system;

identifying a user associated with the mobile device;

determining a home area associated with the user;

determining a current location of the user based on the received location information;

determining whether the current location is outside of the home area;

responsive to a determination that the current location is outside of the home area, accessing an email account associated with the user; and

configuring an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate not enabling the out of office auto-reply email message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate enabling the out of office auto-reply email message using a preset message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate enabling the out of office auto-reply email message using a non-preset message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area;

and wherein the method of claim 1 further comprises;

transmitting a message to the mobile device;

receiving a return message from the mobile device, the return message includes a user-specified out of office message; and

configuring the out of office auto-reply email message using the user-specified out of office message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determining whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office, the second office being an office that is located outside of the home area, and wherein the second office is associated with the same company as a first office, the first office being a primary office associated with the user and is located within the home area; and

responsive to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office;

reserving a work area within the second office for the user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring a location of the user;

determining whether the user is within a prespecified distance of the second office; and

performing the step of reserving the work area within the second office for the user only after the user is within the prespecified distance of the second office.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting a reservation request message to the mobile device;

receiving a response to the reservation request message from the mobile device, the response indicating whether to reserve the work area within the second office for the user; and

performing the step of reserving the work area within the second office for the user if the response indicates reserving the work area within the second office for the user.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising updating a security system to enable the user to access the second office.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising configuring a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

accessing a social networking website using an account associated with the user;

determining whether one or more acquaintances listed on the social networking website is located within a specified distance from the second office; and

transmitting, to the mobile device, a list of acquaintances that are located within the specified distance.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitted list of acquaintances includes contact information for each acquaintance.

12. A method performed by a data processing system for automating travel related features, the method comprising:

receiving an out of area message from a mobile device;

identifying a user associated with the mobile device;

accessing an email account associated with the user; and

configuring an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the mobile device;

receiving a return message from the mobile device, the return message includes a user-specified out of office message; and

configuring the out of office auto-reply email message using the user-specified out of office message.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

accessing an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determining whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office using the electronic calendar, and

responsive to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office;

reserving a work area within the second office for the user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.

16. An office management system comprising:

a data storage unit that stores user account information associated with a user,

a network interface that receives location information from a mobile device associated with the user;

a memory component that stores instructions; and

a processing component that executes the instructions to identify the user associated with the mobile device;

access an email account associated with the user; and

configure an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user.

17. The office management system of claim 16, wherein the user account information includes usernames, passwords, and a mobile identification number associated with the user.

18. The office management system of claim 16, wherein the processing component further executes instructions to:

access an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determine, using the electronic calendar, whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office, and responsive to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office;

reserving a work area within the second office for the user.

19. The office management system of claim 18, wherein the processing component further executes instructions to update a security system to enable the user to access the second office.

20. The office management system of claim 18, wherein the processing component further executes instructions to configure a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.