METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR IMPLEMENTING A VIRTUAL POSTING SERVICE

• US 20130034024A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A virtual posting service includes detecting, via a communications device over a wireless network, a presence of another communications device within a defined geographic community that is accessible by the wireless network. The service also includes determining a mode status of the other communications device. If the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be passive discover mode, the service includes automatically transmitting content stored in the communications device to the other communications device. If the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be active discover mode, the service includes transmitting a portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device responsive to an inquiry from the other communications device. The inquiry includes search criteria. If the mode status is broadcast mode, the service includes receiving a communication over the wireless network from the other communications device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, via a communications device over a wireless network, a presence of another communications device within a defined geographic community that is accessible by the wireless network;

determining a mode status of the other communications device, the mode status defined by an option on the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be passive discover mode, automatically transmitting content stored in the communications device to the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be active discover mode, transmitting a portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device responsive to an inquiry from the other communications device, the inquiry including search criteria; and

if the mode status is broadcast mode, receiving a communication over the wireless network from the other communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking, via the communications device, an amount of time the content is stored, wherein;

the automatically transmitting the content to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold;

the transmitting the portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold; and

if the amount of time reaches the pre-established threshold, deleting the content from the communications device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tracking the amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content, the timestamp indicative of a time in which the content is stored in the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is relevant to events occurring within the geographic community.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is relevant to entities within the geographic community.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is time sensitive.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria is used to search of the content stored in the communications device via a searchable index of content.

8. A system, comprising:

a communications device including a computer processor; and

a virtual post application executing on the computer processor, the virtual post application performing a method, the method including;

detecting, over a wireless network, a presence of another communications device within a defined geographic community;

determining a mode status of the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be passive discover mode, automatically transmitting content stored in the communications device to the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be active discover mode, transmitting a portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device responsive to an inquiry from the other communications device, the inquiry including search criteria; and

if the mode status is broadcast mode, receiving a communication over the wireless network from the other communications device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the virtual post application further performs:

tracking, via the communications device, an amount of time the content is stored, wherein;

the automatically transmitting the content to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold;

the transmitting the portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold; and

if the amount of time reaches the pre-established threshold, deleting the content from the communications device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the tracking the amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content, the timestamp indicative of a time in which the content is stored in the communications device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the content is relevant to events occurring within the geographic community.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the content is relevant to entities within the geographic community.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the content is time sensitive.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the search criteria is used to search of the content stored in the communications device via a searchable index of content.

15. A computer program product including a tangible computer storage medium embedded with instructions, which when executed by a computer processor cause the computer processor to perform a method, the method including:

detecting a presence of another communications device within a defined geographic community;

determining a mode status of the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be passive discover mode, automatically transmitting content stored in the communications device to the other communications device;

if the mode status of the other communications device is determined to be active discover mode, transmitting a portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device responsive to an inquiry from the other communications device, the inquiry including search criteria; and

if the mode status is broadcast mode, receiving a communication over the wireless network from the other communications device.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

tracking, via the communications device, an amount of time the content is stored, wherein;

the automatically transmitting the content to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold;

the transmitting the portion of the content stored in the communications device to the other communications device is performed when the amount of time has not reached a pre-established threshold; and

if the amount of time reaches the pre-established threshold, deleting the content from the communications device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the tracking the amount of time includes associating a timestamp with the content, the timestamp indicative of a time in which the content is stored in the communications device.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the content is relevant to events and entities within the geographic community.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the content is time sensitive.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the search criteria is used to search of the content stored in the communications device via a searchable index of content.