PROXIMITY-BASED TASK NOTIFICATION

• US 20120289254A1
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dishneau, Darin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

This document describes proximity-based task notification. By notifying a user of an entity at which the user can perform a task when that entity is near to the user, the techniques enable the user to decide, at a time and location likely convenient to the user, whether or not to perform the task now at the entity or wait until a later occasion. If the user wishes to forgo performing the task, the techniques can notify the user again when the entity or some other entity is likely to be convenient to the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving information associated with a task specified by a user;

determining, based on the information and a location of a mobile device associated with the user, that an entity at which the task can be performed is within a proximity threshold of the mobile device, the proximity threshold based on;

an estimated amount of time to drive or walk from the location of the mobile device to a location of the entity;

a priority indicated in the information for the task, and a deadline for completion of the task; and

responsive to determining that the entity at which the task can be performed is within a proximity threshold of the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify the user;

of the location of the entity;

of a distance between the location and the mobile device;

that the entity is proximate the mobile device;

or

that the task can be performed.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the information includes a selection of, or text entered by, the user.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 2, wherein the selection or the text indicates an item for purchase.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving the information, determining that the entity is within a proximity threshold of the mobile device, and causing the mobile device to notify are performed by the mobile device associated with the user.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein receiving the information, determining that the entity is within a proximity threshold of the mobile device, and causing the mobile device to notify are performed by a device remote from the mobile device associated with the user, and where causing the mobile device to notify the user includes transmitting a command to the mobile device over a mobile communications network.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining includes determining one or more classes of entities at which an item associated with the task can be purchased, the entity being included within at least one of the one or more classes.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the information indicates a class of entities associated with the task and determining determines specific entities included within the class of entities that are within the proximity threshold of the mobile device.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1 further comprising determining the proximity threshold.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein determining the proximity threshold is based on the estimated amount of time to drive or walk from the location of the mobile device to the location of the entity.

10. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein determining the proximity threshold is based on the the deadline for completion of the task.

11. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 10, wherein determining the proximity threshold includes increasing a size of the proximity threshold responsive to a decrease in an amount of time until the deadline for completion of the task is encountered.

12. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein determining that the entity is within a proximity threshold of the mobile device is based on hours of operation of the entity or causing the mobile device to notify the user is based on the hours of operation of the entity.

13. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein causing the mobile device to notify the user causes the mobile device to notify the user of the location of the entity and the association of the task to the entity.

14. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein causing the mobile device to notify the user causes the mobile device to notify the user of the estimated travel time or another estimated travel time, the other estimated travel time for the user to go to and return from the entity.

21. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the proximity threshold is further based on one or more additional tasks that can also be performed at the entity or at an additional entity near to the entity.

22. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 21, further comprising determining the proximity threshold and wherein determining the proximity threshold is based on the one or more additional tasks that can also be performed at the entity or at the additional entity near to the entity.

23. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 22, wherein determining the proximity threshold includes increasing the proximity threshold based on a number of additional tasks that can also be performed at the entity or at the additional entity near to the entity.

24. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 23, wherein increasing the proximity threshold based on the one or more additional tasks is effective to group the task with the one or more additional tasks as a set of multiple tasks.

25. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 24, further comprising notifying the user of the multiple tasks that are capable of being performed at the entity or at the additional entity near the entity.

15-20. -20. (canceled)