System and Method for Remote Control of Appliances Utilizing Mobile Location-Based Applications

• US 20140370881A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moton, Robert T. Jr., Enzmann, Mark J., Zellner, Samuel N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,584,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method are provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an appliance, a message from a feature server via a network, the message instructing the appliance to perform an operation; and

performing, by the appliance, the operation in accordance with the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is sent by the feature server to the appliance when a wireless communication device is in a geographical location that matches a location specified in a rule.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises a home appliance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises office equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises turning on the appliance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises turning off the appliance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a local area network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprise a global computer network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature server is built-in to a wireless communication device.

10. An appliance that performs operations comprising:

receiving a message from a feature server via a network, the message instructing the appliance to perform an operation, and

performing the operation in accordance with the message.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the message is sent by the feature server to the appliance when a wireless communication device is in a geographical location that matches a location specified in a rule.

12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance comprises a home appliance.

13. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the appliance comprises office equipment.

14. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the operation comprises turning on the appliance.

15. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the operation comprises turning off the appliance.

16. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the network comprises a local area network.

17. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the network comprise a global computer network.

18. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the feature server is built-in to a wireless communication device.

19. A tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by an appliance, cause the appliance to perform operations comprising:

receiving a message from a feature server via a network, the message instructing the appliance to perform an operation; and

performing the operation in accordance with the message.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the operation comprises turning on the appliance or turning off the appliance.