INTERACTIVE ADVISORY SYSTEM

• US 20110230204A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Locator IP LP
• Original Assignee: Locator IP LP
• Inventors: Root, Michael R., ROOT, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,611,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/00 Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2203/00 Application of thermometers in cryogenics
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A method for locating at least one individual located remotely from a broadcast network. An analysis unit compares user profiles, dynamic locations stored in the communicator location database, and/or fixed locations entered into the analysis unit. A data set of at least one matching individualized locatee user profile is generated and the individualized locatee user profile is transmitted to the locator via the locator'"'"'s communicator device.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A computer-implemented method for tracking at least one individual located remotely from an analysis unit, comprising the steps of:

analyzing at the analysis unit real-time geo-referencing or real-time time-tracking data associated with a locatee communicator device received from the locatee communicator device; and

transmitting to a locator communicator device at least some of the geo-referencing or time-tracking data, or transmitting to the locator communicator device an alert when, the actual travel path of the locatee communicator device deviates from an expected travel path, or is located outside a specified spatial range, or does not arrive at a location by a specified time of arrival, or arrives at a location by a specified time of arrival, or enters or is present at a specified geo-referenced area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the geo-referencing and time-tracking data or other received information from the locatee communicator device include a unique identification code identifying the locatee communicator device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the geo-referencing and time-tracking data include an intended destination for the locatee communicator device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the geo-referencing and time-tracking data include an estimated time of arrival for the locatee communicator device to arrive at the intended destination.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the locatee communicator device is selected from the group consisting of a computer, cellular telephone and a personal data assistant.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein

the geo-referencing and time-tracking data including a departure location, an intended destination and an expected travel path between the departure location, and the intended destination.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the specified spatial range is a distance.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of receiving information categorizing said at least one geo-referenced area as an area where the locatee communicator device is either permitted to be located or is not permitted to be located.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the specified geo-referenced area is a public entertainment or retail establishment.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of comparing the received geo-referencing and time-tracking data to one or more of an expected location, expected route, specified spatial range, expected time of arrival, and specified geo-referenced area.

21. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing in a user-profile associated with a locator, information about the locator and the locator'"'"'s communicator device.

22. The method of claim 10, wherein the alert is a text message displayable on the locator communicator device.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein the steps of analyzing and transmitting are performed at the analysis unit.

24. The method of claim 10, wherein the specified spatial range, specified time of arrival, or specified geo-referenced area are received from the locator communicator device.

13. (canceled)

20-1. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing in a user-profile associated with a locatee, information about the locatee and the locatee'"'"'s communicator device.

21-2. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting to the locator communicator device at last some information about a locatee or the locatee communicator device stored in a user-profile associated with the locatee.

25. A computerized system for tracking at least one individual located remotely from a broadcast network comprising:

an analysis unit for analyzing real-time geo-referencing or real-time time-tracking data associated with a remote locatee communicator device, and for transmitting to a remote locator communicator device at least some of the geo-referencing or time-tracking data, or transmitting an alert to the locator communicator device when either the actual travel path of the locatee communicator device deviates from an expected travel path, is located outside a specified spatial range, or does not arrive at a location by a specified time of arrival, or arrives at a location by a specified time of arrival, or enters or is present at a specified geo-referenced area.

26. The computerized system of claim 25, further comprising one or more of a location database, user profile database, and spatial location database.

27. The computerized system of claim 25, further comprising a broadcast network, the broadcast network comprising:

the analysis unit, wherein the analysis unit comprises software;

the locator communicator device; and

the locatee communicator device.

28. The computerized system of claim 27, wherein the locator communicator device is one of a computer, cellular telephone and a personal data assistant.