Pager and paging system for travelers

• US 5,966,068 A
• Filed: 03/18/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fine, David, Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/820,655
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.01, 340/311.1, 340/309.15, 340/825.44, 340/313, 340/825.55, 340/905, 340/286.08, 340/286.09, 340/992, 340/993
• US Class Current: 340/286.01
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A novel pager and paging system assist a traveler, particularly a business traveler, with itinerary reminders and information regarding local services that is coordinated to the place and time of the items on the traveler'"'"'s schedule. The paging system includes a database of the traveler'"'"'s itinerary information and a database of information regarding locally available services. Items from the itinerary database are matched with similarly located or related services and transmitted to the traveler'"'"'s pager in a timely manner to remind the traveler of his or her schedule and commitments.

Claims

1. A paging system comprising:

a central processor;

an itinerary database containing itinerary information for at least one person; and

at least one transmitter for transmitting data to a pager;

wherein said processor accesses said itinerary database and transmits data to a pager based on said itinerary information;

wherein said data comprises information regarding an item of said itinerary information, and said transmission is timed so as to serve as a reminder of said item.

2. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a local information database containing information about services available within a service area of said paging system;

wherein said processor matches said itinerary information with information from said local information database and transmits said matched information to said pager.

3. A paging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processor matches information from said itinerary information database and said local information database on the basis of location of said services.

4. A paging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processor matches information from said itinerary information database and said local information database on the basis of a timing of said item of itinerary information.

5. A paging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said processor matches information from said itinerary information database and said local information database on the basis of preferences of said person which are recorded in said itinerary database.

6. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pager having:

a controller;

a display driven by said controller;

a memory unit connected to said controller;

an input device connected to said controller; and

an antenna for receiving transmissions from said at least one transmitter;

wherein said transmissions from said at least one transmitter are stored in said memory unit and may be retrieved and displayed on said display in response to input from said input device.

13. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said itinerary information includes at least one of airport information, flight information, rental car information, hotel information, a reservation confirmation number, engagement or meeting information, client contact information, food preferences, or entertainment preferences.

17. A paging system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said services comprise at least one of banking services, faxing services, typing services, computer services, internet access services, teleconferencing services, cleaning services, tailoring services, entertainment services, or restaurant services.

7. A method of using a paging system comprising the steps of:

providing a central processor;

compiling an itinerary database containing itinerary information for at least one person;

accessing said itinerary database with said processor; and

transmitting data based on said itinerary information to a pager with at least one transmitter;

wherein said step of transmitting is timed so as to serve as a reminder of an item of said itinerary information.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

compiling a local information database containing information about services available within a service area of said paging system; and

matching said itinerary information with information from said local information database using said processor;

wherein said step of transmitting comprises transmitting said matched information to said pager.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of matching information from said itinerary information database and said local information database comprises the step of matching said information on the basis of location of said services.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of matching information from said itinerary information database and said local information database comprises the step of matching said information on the basis of local information database on the basis of a timing of said item of itinerary information.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of matching information from said itinerary information database and said local information database comprises the step of matching said information on the basis of preferences of said person which are recorded in said itinerary database.

12. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

providing a pager;

receiving said transmissions with an antenna of said pager;

storing said transmissions in a memory unit of said pager;

inputting data to an input device of said pager; and

displaying said transmission stored in said memory unit in response to said step of inputting data.

14. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said itinerary information includes at least one of airport information, flight information, rental car information, hotel information, a reservation confirmation number, engagement or meeting information, client contact information, food preferences, or entertainment preferences.

18. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said services comprise at least one of banking services, faxing services, typing services, computer services, internet access services, teleconferencing services, cleaning services, tailoring services, entertainment services, or restaurant services.

15. A paging system comprising:

a central processor;

a business and recreational travel itinerary database containing travel itinerary information for at least one person; and

at least one transmitter for transmitting data to a pager;

wherein said processor accesses said travel itinerary database and transmits data to a pager based on said travel itinerary information;

wherein said data comprises information regarding an item of said travel itinerary information, and said transmission is timed so as to serve as a reminder of said item.

16. A method of using a paging system comprising the steps of:

providing a central processor;

compiling a business and recreational travel itinerary database containing travel itinerary information for at least one person;

accessing said travel itinerary database with said processor; and

transmitting data based on said travel itinerary information to a pager with at least one transmitter;

wherein said step of transmitting is timed so as to serve as a reminder of an item of said travel itinerary information.