Implementing Location Based Actions

• US 20140354453A1
• Filed: 02/27/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pinpark IP Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pinpark IP Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fourie, Charl
• Granted Patent: US 9,514,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/147 where the parking area is within an open public zone, e.g. city centre

Abstract

A system (8) for implementing at least one action based on a location of a mobile communication device (10). The system (8) comprises a controller (16), storage (18) storing electronic program instructions for controlling the controller (16), and input means (24). The controller (16) is operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to receive input via the input means (24), the input comprising an indication of a location of the mobile communication device (10), process the indication to determine whether the location of the mobile communication device (10) corresponds to a location of a predefined area, and implement the at least one action based on the determination.

Claims

1. The system for implementing at least one action based on a location of a mobile communication device, the system comprising:

a controller;

storage storing electronic program instructions for controlling the controller; and

input means;

wherein the controller is operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to;

receive input via the input means, the input comprising an indication of a location of a mobile communication device;

process the indication to determine whether the location of the mobile communication device corresponds to a location of a predefined area; and

implement the at least one action based on the determination.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predefined area is specified on a virtual map.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the virtual map comprises a set of geographical and/or geological survey coordinates specifying the predefined area in two dimensions or three dimensions.

4. The system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the set of coordinates comprise a set of ground coordinates (x and y dimensions) and a set of spatial (height) coordinates (z dimension), together defining a space.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location comprises a parking facility, the predefined area comprises a parking bay of a plurality of parking bays of the parking facility, and the at least one action is selectable from the group comprising parking navigating, registering, booking/reserving , and ticket purchasing and renewing.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the input means comprises at least one sensor, which may be part of a sensor system or a set of sensors.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the sensor system comprises a primary position sensor operable to generate a signal providing a primary indication of the location of the mobile device.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the primary position sensor comprises radio-location (such as Locata®

) based/enabled, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and/or a Real Time Kinetic (RTK), Wifi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), radio, and inertial sensor systems driven technology.

9. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sensor system comprises a secondary position sensor operable to increase the accuracy of the primary indication of the location of the mobile device provided by the primary position sensor signal.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the secondary position sensor preferably comprises one or a combination of Locata®

, a Real Time Kinetic (RTK), Wifi, Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), radio, and inertial sensor systems.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location of the mobile communication device is determined accurately.

12. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the location of the mobile communication device is determined exactly or practically near exactly with at least a location fixing with a discrepancy of less than or equal to 300 mm.

13. The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a user interface.

14. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic program instructions comprise software, and the mobile communication device comprises a smartphone, personal/notebook/tablet computer, portable media device, or portable navigation device, having the software installed thereon.

15. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein operations performed by the system occur automatically, without requiring human intervention.

16. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the input comprises an indication of an extent of historical activity associated with the predefined area and the controller is further operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to assign a value to the predefined area on the basis of the indication of extent of historical activity.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the assigned value comprises a price set automatically by use of a demand/supply algorithm or calculation.

19. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored instructions that, when executed by a computing means, causes the computing means to perform the method in accordance with claim 17.

20. A computing means programmed to carry out the method in accordance with claim 17.

21. A data signal including at least one instruction being capable of being received and interpreted by a computing system, wherein the instruction implements the method in accordance with claim 17.

18. A method for implementing at least one action based on a location of a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

storing electronic program instructions for controlling a controller; and

controlling the controller via the electronic program instructions, to;

receive an input via an input means, the input comprising an indication of a location of a mobile communication device;

process the indication to determine whether the location of the mobile communication device corresponds to a location of a predefined area; and

implement the at least one action based on the determination.