Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communictions Service

• US 20120078723A1
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the content information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an access point arranged at locations in a geographic region, wherein the access point in proximity to a portable computing device is configured to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion, wherein the access point is configured to receive from the portable computing device identification information associated with the portable computing device and transmit a location of the access point and identification information over a network; and

a communication network coupled to the access point to receive the location and identification information from the access point, wherein the communication network is configured to identify demographic information of the user of the portable computing device based on the identification information and transmit content information to the access point, wherein a content of the content information is dependent upon a location of the portable computing device and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device and comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the location and associated with the demographic information, and wherein the access point is configured to transmit the content information to the portable computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the access point transmits the location to a memory associated with the portable computing device, thereby advising the portable computing device of its location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information comprises one or more of memberships and associations of the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes past transactions of the user.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to the network, wherein each of the information providers is configured to provide the content information through the network and through the first access point to the portable computing device based on the location of the portable computing device and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network includes one or more of a local area network and a wide area network.

8. A method comprising:

(a) detecting a presence of a portable computing device within an area monitored by an access point, wherein the access point communicates with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion;

(b) transmitting a location of the portable computing device to an information provider after the detecting;

(c) transmitting identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device to the content information provider after the detecting; and

(d) determining if a service is required upon detection of the presence, and initiating a provision of the service in response to determining that a service is required, wherein the service includes transmitting content information received from the content information provider to the portable computing device through the access point, wherein a content of the content information is dependent upon the transmitted location of the portable computing device and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device identified by the identification information and comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the transmitted location and associated with the demographic information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting the content information based in part upon the location of the access point.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the demographic information include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the demographic information includes information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicate probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting an inquiry requiring a response to the information provider;

wherein the information provider transmits the content information in response to the inquiry.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the content information comprises advertising information;

wherein the access point is located in proximity to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein the advertising information comprise advertising of the first provider of goods or services.

14. A persistent storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed on a processing system, cause the processing system to perform a process comprising:

(a) detecting a presence of a portable computing device within an area monitored by an access point, wherein the access point communicates with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion;

(b) transmitting a location of the portable computing device to an information provider after the detecting;

(c) transmitting identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device to the content information provider after the detecting; and

(d) determining if a service is required upon detection of the presence, and initiating a provision of the service in response to determining that a service is required, wherein the service includes transmitting content information received from the content information provider to the portable computing device through the access point, wherein a content of the content information is dependent upon the transmitted location of the portable computing device and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device identified by the identification information and comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the transmitted location and associated with the demographic information.

15. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, the process further comprising:

selecting the content information based in part upon the location of the access point.

16. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, wherein the demographic information comprises one or more of memberships and associations of the user.

17. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, wherein the demographic information include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

18. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, wherein the demographic information includes information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicate probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

19. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting an inquiry requiring a response to the information provider;

wherein the information provider transmits the content information in response to the inquiry.

20. The persistent storage medium of claim 14, wherein the content information comprises advertising information;

wherein the access point is located in proximity to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein the advertising information comprise advertising of the first provider of goods or services.