METHOD OF TRACKING AND COMMUNICATING INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON TO A PROVIDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES

• US 20140058895A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grid Smarter Cities Limited
• Original Assignee: Assist Incorporated
• Inventors: Herron, Neil, McFarlane, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 10,235,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.41
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted

Abstract

A method of tracking and communicating information about a person to a provider of goods or services is disclosed. A GPS enabled mobile phone is used to search for nearby sites of providers of a specific service. Once a service provider is selected, a route to that provider is advised and as the person travels towards the provider the separation between them is determined. As one or more geofences are broken during the journey warning messages are sent to the service provider indicating the pending arrival. The method is particularly useful where the service is to be provided to a disabled person as their accessibility needs can be identified in the message.

Claims

1. A method of tracking and communicating information about a person to a provider of goods or services, the method comprising:

using a portable communications device having location determiner to determine a location, relative to a location of the device, of at least one provider of goods and/or services from a database of providers;

selecting at least one said provider; and

sending at least one first message to said at least one provider indicating that a person operating said device intends to travel to said provider.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a separation between said device and said provider.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising including said separation in said first message.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one separation trigger when said separation decreases to a predetermined separation;

periodically monitoring said separation; and

sending at least one second message to said at least one provider when said separation reaches at least one said separation trigger.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second messages comprise information about the person sending the message.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second messages comprises information about a vehicle the person is travelling in.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said information comprises accessibility requirements.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said information includes at least one photograph.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein said separation comprises a distance.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein said separation comprises an estimated journey time for said person to arrive at said provider.

11. A method according to claim 4, wherein said trigger is a geofence.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said geofence is defined by a radius around said provider.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said geofence is defined by a radius around said device.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said geofence is an area defined by connected lines around said provider.

15. A method according to claim 4, further comprising determining first and second separation triggers at first and second predetermined separations and sending second at least one second message to said provider as each separation trigger is reached.

16. A method of tracking and communicating information about a person to a provider of goods or services, the method comprising:

receiving from a portable communications device having location determiner to determine a location, a request for a list of providers of goods and/or services relative to a location of the device;

sending said list to said device;

receiving from said portable device a selected at least one said provider; and

sending at least one first message to said at least one provider indicating that a person operating said device intends to travel to said provider.

17-75. -75. (canceled)