System and method for implementing proximity or location driven activities

• US 6,446,004 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quartz Auto Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cao, Kevin Trung, Ford, Daniel Alexander, Kraft, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/796,864
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/213, 701/300, 342/357, 342/457, 340/995, 340/996
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A system and associated method that allow particular requests to be executed at some point in the future without specifying the exact time or necessarily a precise location. The execution time of the request is linked to the arrival of a person or object at, or near a geographic destination location. When a person, an object, or a group of persons or objects, arrives at the destination location, or comes close to it, the request to interact will be executed. The proximity threshold can be adjustable or programmable.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a proximity driven activity, comprising:

specifying an activity to be executed at an indeterminate destination location;

storing an executable software code corresponding to the activity;

determining a current location of a mobile computing device;

determining whether the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from the current location of the mobile computing device;

executing the executable software code at a time when the destination location is within the proximity range of the mobile computing device; and

transmitting an address of the destination location to the mobile computing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including transmitting the current location of the mobile computing device to an event proximity server.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein transmitting the current location includes transmitting over a network.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein transmitting over the network includes transmitting over the Internet.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including downloading a software code from the server to the mobile computing device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including executing the software code on the mobile computing device.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of executing includes executing the executable software code on the server.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of executing includes executing an anti-hysteresis software code to prevent duplication of the activity.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein executing the anti-hysteresis software code includes setting an expanded proximity margin.

10. The method according to claim 9, further including determining current locations of a plurality of related mobile computing devices;

and

wherein the step of determining whether the destination location is within a predefined proximity range includes determining if the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from at least some of the mobile computing devices.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining a current location of a mobile computing device includes using a GPS coordinate frame.

12. A system for implementing a proximity driven activity, comprising:

a calendar module for specifying an activity to be executed at an indeterminate destination location;

a server for storing an executable software code corresponding to the activity and for determining a current location of a mobile computing device; and

the server determining whether the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from the current location of the mobile computing device, and, when the server determines that the destination location is within the proximity range of the mobile computing device, the server executes the executable software code, and transmits an address of the destination location to the mobile computing device.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the server calculates the current location of the mobile computing device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the mobile computing device and the server communicate over a network.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the mobile computing device and the server communicate over the Internet.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the server downloads a software code to the mobile computing device.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the mobile computing device executes the software code.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the server executes an anti-hysteresis software code to prevent duplication of the activity.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the server executes the anti-hysteresis software code by setting an expanded proximity margin.

20. The system according to claim, 19, wherein the server determines current locations of a plurality of related mobile computing devices, and determines if the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from at least some of the mobile computing devices.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of mobile computing devices includes any one or more of:

a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the proximity range is any one, or more of:

a distance between a destination location and group members;

a distance between a destination location and a majority of the group members;

or

a distance between a destination location and a dynamic geometric center (GC) formed by interpolating the positions of all or the majority of the group members.

23. A computer program product for implementing a proximity driven activity, comprising:

a calendar module for specifying an activity to be executed at an indeterminate destination location;

a server for storing an executable software code corresponding to the activity and for determining a current location of a mobile computing device; and

the server determining whether the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from the current location of the mobile computing device, and, when the server determines that the destination location is within the proximity range of the mobile computing device, the server executes the executable software code, and transmits an address of the destination location to the mobile computing device.

24. The computer program product according to claim 23, wherein the server calculates the current location of the mobile computing device.

25. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the mobile computing device and the server communicate over a network.

26. The computer program product according to claim 25, wherein the mobile computing device and the server communicate over the Internet.

27. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the server downloads a software code to the mobile computing device.

28. The computer program product according to claim 27, wherein the mobile computing device executes the software code.

29. The computer program product according to claim 24, wherein the server executes an anti-hysteresis software code to prevent duplication of the activity.

30. The computer program product according to claim 29, wherein the server executes the anti-hysteresis software code by setting an expanded proximity margin.

31. The computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the server determines current locations of a plurality of related mobile computing devices, and determines if the destination location is within a predefined proximity range from at least some of the mobile computing devices.

32. The computer program product according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of mobile computing devices includes any one or more of:

a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, or a cellular telephone.

33. The computer program product according to claim 23, wherein the proximity range is any one or more of:

a distance between a destination location and group members;

a distance between a destination location and a majority of the group members;

or

a distance between a destination location and dynamic geometric center (GC) formed by interpolating the positions of all or the majority of the group members.