Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communications Service

• US 20120284066A1
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• 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 8,631,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• 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 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

An apparatus includes memory and a processor. The processor is operable to receive identification information of a user from a portable computing device. The processor is also operable to access the memory to identify a previous trip record based on the identification information of the user and to identify a user preference based on the previous trip record. The processor is further operable to generate reservation information based on the user preference, where the reservation information is associated with a requested trip of the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

memory; and

a processor configured to;

receive identification information of a user from a portable computing device;

access the memory to identify a previous trip record based on the identification information of the user;

identify a user preference based on the previous trip record; and

generate reservation information based on the user preference, wherein the reservation information is associated with a requested trip of the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically transmit a request to a third party service provider to make a reservation based on the reservation information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a location identifier from an access point, wherein the location identifier indicates a geographic location of the access point, wherein the identification information is received via the access point, and wherein the third party service provider is identified based on the geographic location.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the location identifier is received from a database coupled to the access point.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a location identifier from the portable computing device, wherein the location identifier indicates a geographic location of the portable computing device, and wherein the third party service provider is identified based on the geographic location

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification information is received from the portable computing device when the portable computing device is within a coverage area of an access point.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the previous trip record is associated with a user profile and wherein the user profile is associated with the identification information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user preference includes a rental car preference, a travel preference, a hotel preference, a restaurant preference, or any combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reservation includes a rental car reservation, a travel reservation, a hotel reservation, a restaurant reservation, or any combination thereof.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting, from a portable computing device to an information provider, identification information of a user; and

automatically receiving confirmation of a reservation at the portable computing device from a third party service provider, wherein the reservation is associated with an upcoming trip of the user, and wherein the confirmation is based on the identification information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the confirmation is based on a request sent from the information provider to the third party service provider, wherein the request includes reservation information based on a user preference, and wherein the user preference is based on a previous trip of the user.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user preference is associated with a user profile and wherein the user profile is associated with the identification information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable communication device is configured to communicate with the information provider via an access point and to communicate with the third party service provider via the access point.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portable communication device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the access point.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a location identifier from the portable computing device to the information provider, the location identifier indicating a geographic location of the portable computing device, wherein the third party service provider is identified by the information provider based on the geographic location.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the third party service provider is identified by the information provider based on a geographic location of an access point.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the reservation includes a rental car reservation, a travel reservation, a hotel reservation, a restaurant reservation, or any combination thereof.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive identification information of a user from a portable computing device; and

a transmitter configured to automatically transmit a request to a third party service provider to make a reservation based on a user preference, wherein the user preference is based on data associated with a previous trip of the user and wherein the reservation is associated with an upcoming trip of the user.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the identification information is received from the portable computing device via an access point.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a location identifier from the access point, the location identifier indicating a geographic location of the access point and wherein the third party service provider is identified based on the geographic location.