Method and apparatus for geographic-based communications service

• US 6,326,918 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/382,551
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/457, 342/463, 342/464, 340/686.1, 340/500
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• 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 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit;

a network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to detect said mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, one or more past transactions of the user of the mobile unit are identified, and said first access point is operable to transmit information to said mobile unit, wherein said information is dependent upon a known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

2. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

3. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the known location of said first access point indicates a location of said mobile unit.

4. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 3, wherein said first access point transmits said known location to a memory associated with said mobile unit, thereby advising said mobile unit of its location.

5. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions comprise demographic information of the user.

6. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

7. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

8. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network, wherein each of said information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first access point to said mobile unit based on the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

9. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more information providers coupled to said network, wherein a first information provider of said one or more information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first access point to said mobile unit, wherein said first information provider provides said information dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

10. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 9, wherein said first information provider is operable to receive the known location of said first access point and the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit;

wherein said first information provider selects said information to provide to the mobile unit based on the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

11. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 9, wherein the past transactions include one or more of:

demographic information of the user;

one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user;

information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices; and

/or past commercial activities of the user.

12. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 9, wherein said one or more information providers include one or more of car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants, airline reservation centers, banks, taxi services, and bus and train reservation offices.

13. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 9, further comprising a management information base for storing at least one of a topology of the network, a directory of elements coupled to the network, characteristics of individual ones of said elements, characteristics of connection links, and performance and trend statistics of the network;

wherein said management information base provides location data to said first access point.

14. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the network includes one or more of a local area network and a wide area network.

15. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein said mobile unit includes a time clock, said time clock being updated to provide a time corresponding to actual time in a time zone in which said mobile unit is located, wherein a location of said mobile unit is determined in accordance with the known location of said first access point.

16. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein said mobile unit and the first access point communicate in a wireless fashion.

17. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit comprises a portable computing device.

18. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit;

a network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said mobile unit is operable to receive the identification information associated with the mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, one or more past transactions of the user of the mobile unit are identified, and said first access point is operable to transmit information to said mobile unit, wherein said information is dependent upon a known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

19. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information;

a network;

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said mobile unit is operable to receive the identification information from the mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, a known location of said first access point and the identification information are transmitted to at least one information provider;

wherein the at least one information provider provides information through said network and through said first access point to said mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

20. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein the at least one information provider selects said information to provide to the mobile unit based on the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit;

wherein a content of said information is dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

21. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein the identification information comprises identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit.

22. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

23. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

24. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the network which stores location information comprising known locations of each of at least a subset of the plurality of access points.

25. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

26. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the first access point.

27. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein said information comprises promotions related to goods or services;

wherein said promotions are based upon the known location of said first access point.

28. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 27, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotions comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

29. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

wherein said advertising is based upon the known location of said first access point.

30. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 29, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

31. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 19, wherein the first access point and said mobile unit communicate in a wireless fashion.

32. A method of using known locations of network access points (APs) to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising:

(a) detecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of one of said APs;

(b) providing a known location of said one of said APs to an information provider after said detecting;

(c) providing identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit after said detecting;

(d) the information provider transmitting information to the mobile unit through said one of said APs, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon the known location of said one of said APs and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

the information provider selecting said information based upon the known location of said one of said APs and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein said selecting is performed prior to said transmitting.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

the information provider accessing past transaction information indicative of the past transactions of the user associated with said identification information, wherein the information provider selects said information at least partly based upon said past transaction information.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said providing the identification information comprises the mobile unit providing the identification information through said one of said APs to the information provider prior to said transmitting.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the past transactions comprise demographic information of the user.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicate probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

the mobile unit transmitting an inquiry requiring a response to said one of said APs;

wherein the information provider transmits said information in response to said inquiry.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

the mobile unit transmitting a message indicating presence of said mobile unit within an area monitored by said one of said APs;

the information provider determining if a service is required upon detection of said message; and

the information provider initiating provision of said service in response to the information provider determining that a service is required.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to said one of said APs.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotion information comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein said information comprises advertising information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising information comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

45. The method of claim 32,

wherein said transmitting comprises said one of said APs transmitting the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

46. A method of using geographic information to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising:

(a) detecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of one of said APs;

(b) providing a location of the mobile unit after said detecting;

(c) providing identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit after said detecting;

(d) the information provider transmitting information to the mobile unit through said one of said APs, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon the location of the mobile unit and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the location of the mobile unit comprises the location of said one of said APs.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

the information provider selecting said information based upon the location of the mobile unit and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein said selecting is performed prior to said transmitting.

49. A carrier medium for carrying signals in a geographic-based communications service system, wherein the carrier medium is operable to carry:

identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit;

a known geographic location of the mobile unit as indicated by a first access point in the geographic-based communications service system communicating with the mobile unit; and

information which is provided to the mobile unit, wherein the information is dependent upon the known geographic location of the mobile unit and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

50. The carrier medium of claim 49, wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein the promotion information comprises promotions of one or more providers of goods or services proximate to the known geographic location of the mobile unit.

51. The carrier medium of claim 49, wherein the information comprises travel itinerary information.

52. The carrier medium of claim 49, wherein the information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the known geographic location of the mobile unit.

53. The carrier medium of claim 49, wherein the carrier medium carries wireless signals.

54. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to a network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to detect a mobile unit, wherein each of the plurality of access points is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit, wherein, after detection of a mobile unit by a first access point of the plurality of access points in proximity to the mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the first access point transmits information to the mobile unit, wherein the information is dependent upon a known location of the first access point and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

55. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of access points are each programmable to detect a pre-determined mobile unit.

56. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 55, wherein, upon detection of the pre-determined mobile unit by the first access point of the plurality of access points, other ones of the plurality of access points discontinue detecting for the pre-determined mobile unit.

57. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein said first access point transmits said known location to a memory associated with said mobile unit, thereby advising said mobile unit of its location.

58. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

59. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

60. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein the first access point is configured to communicate with the mobile unit in a wireless manner.

61. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

62. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the first access point.

63. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein said information comprises promotions related to goods or services;

wherein said promotions are based upon the known location of said first access point.

64. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 63, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotions comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

65. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 54, wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

wherein said advertising is based upon the known location of said first access point.

66. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 65, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

67. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 64, further comprising:

at least one information provider operable to be coupled to the network, wherein the at least one information provider is operable to receive the known location of said first access point and the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit;

wherein the at least one information provider is operable to select said information based on the known location of said first access point and the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit;

wherein the at least one information provider is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first access point to said mobile unit.

68. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 67, wherein the at least one information provider comprise one of:

a car rental agency, hotel, restaurant, airline reservation center, bank, taxi service, and bus and train reservation office.

69. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to a network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with a mobile unit, wherein each of the plurality of access points is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of identification information from a mobile unit by a first access point of the plurality of access points in proximity to the mobile unit, the first access point transmits information to the mobile unit, wherein the information is dependent upon a known location of the first access point and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

70. An access point operable to be used in a geographic-based communications service system, wherein the access point is operable to be coupled to a network at a known location in a geographic region, wherein the access point is configured to detect a mobile unit, wherein the access point is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit, wherein, after detection of the mobile unit by the access point in proximity to the mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the access point is operable to transmit information to the mobile unit, wherein the information is dependent upon a known location of the access point and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

71. An access point operable to be used in a geographic-based communications service system, wherein the access point is operable to be coupled to a network at a known location in a geographic region, wherein the access point is configured to communicate with a mobile unit, wherein the access point is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of identification information from the mobile unit by the access point in proximity to the mobile unit, the access point transmits information to the mobile unit, wherein the information is dependent upon a known location of the access point and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

72. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a plurality of information providers operable to be coupled to a network, wherein at least one information provider is operable to receive identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider is also operable to receive a known location of the mobile unit;

wherein the at least one information provider provides information through the network to the mobile unit after receiving the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit and receiving the known location of the mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider selects said information dependent upon the known location of the mobile unit and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

73. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

74. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

75. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

76. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the mobile unit.

77. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein said information comprises promotions related to goods or services;

wherein said promotions are based upon the known location of the mobile unit.

78. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 77, wherein the mobile unit is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotions comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

79. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

wherein said advertising is based upon the known location of the mobile unit.

80. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 79, wherein the mobile unit is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

81. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein the plurality of information providers include one or more of car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants, airline reservation centers, banks, taxi services, and bus and train reservation offices.

82. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, wherein the at least one information provider receives a known location of a first access point which has detected a presence of the mobile unit within its geographic area, wherein the known location of the first access point indicates the known location of the mobile unit.

83. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, further comprising:

a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to detect the mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of the mobile unit by a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, a known location of said first access point and the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit are transmitted to at the least one information provider.

84. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 72, further comprising:

the mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit.

85. A geographic-based communications service system, comprising:

a plurality of information providers operable to be coupled to a network, wherein at least one information provider is operable to receive identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider is also operable to receive a known location of a first access point which has detected a presence of the mobile unit within its geographic area;

wherein the at least one information provider is operable to provide information through the network and through the first access point to the mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the known location of the first access point and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

86. A method of using known locations of a plurality of network access points (APs) to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising:

detecting a presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of one of said APs;

providing a known location of said one of said APs to an information provider after said detecting;

providing identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit to the information provider after said detecting;

receiving information from the information provider, wherein the information is dependent upon the known location of said one of said APs and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit; and

transmitting the information to the mobile unit through said one of said APs.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

programming the plurality of APs to detect the mobile unit.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising:

upon detection of the mobile unit by said one of said APs, other ones of the plurality of APs discontinuing detecting for the mobile unit.

89. The method of claim 86, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

91. The method of claim 86, wherein the information comprises travel itinerary information.

92. The method of claim 86, wherein the information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to said one of said APs.

93. The method of claim 86,

wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotion information comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

94. The method of claim 86,

wherein said information comprises advertising information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising information comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

95. A method of providing geographic-based communication services using known locations of network access points (APs) to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising:

receiving identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit after one of said APs detecting the mobile unit;

receiving a known location of said one of said APs after said one of said APs detecting the mobile unit;

selecting information dependent upon the known location of said one of said APs and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit; and

transmitting the information to the mobile unit through said one of said APs.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

98. The method of claim 95, wherein the information comprises travel itinerary information.

99. The method of claim 95, wherein the information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to said one of said APs.

100. The method of claim 95,

wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotion information comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

101. The method of claim 95,

wherein said information comprises advertising information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising information comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

102. A method of providing geographic-based communication services to mobile users, the method comprising:

receiving identification information indicating a user of a mobile unit;

receiving a known location of the mobile unit;

selecting information dependent upon the known location of the mobile unit and past transactions of the user of the mobile unit; and

transmitting the information to the mobile unit.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

104. The method of claim 102, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

105. The method of claim 102, wherein the information comprises travel itinerary information.

106. The method of claim 102, wherein the information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the known location of the mobile unit.

107. The method of claim 102,

wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein the mobile unit is located closely to a first provider of goods or services; and

wherein said promotion information comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

108. The method of claim 102,

wherein said information comprises advertising information;

wherein the mobile unit is located closely to a first provider of goods or services; and

wherein said advertising information comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.