Group notification system and method for implementing and indicating the proximity of individuals or groups to other individuals or groups

• US 6,529,136 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Reiner, Ford, Daniel Alexander, Cao, Kevin Trung
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US09/797,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/993, 340/3.52, 340/825.49, 340/7.48, 340/7.49, 340/7.46, 701/213, 342/357.8, 342/357.9, 342/450, 455/456, 455/457, 455/518, 455/519
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A group notification system and associated method that allow particular activities to be executed based on the group dynamics, such as the dynamics of organizing meetings. The system facilitates the availability of knowledge concerning the proximity and direction of movement of individuals, objects, or groups, and whether this information satisfies preset criteria or rules. One such criterion is that the proximity distance of the group members be less than a predetermined threshold range. The threshold range can be adjustable or programmable.

Claims

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

identifying the group and members of the group;

specifying an activity to be implemented by the group;

calculating a proximity center of the group;

determining a proximity range of the group that corresponds to the activity;

identifying an executable code corresponding to the activity;

determining a current location of at least one member of the group relative to the proximity center;

determining whether the current location is within the proximity range; and

executing the executable code if the current location is within the proximity range.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting the current location to a group location alert server.

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

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

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising downloading a software code from the group location alert server to a user module.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising executing the software code on the user module.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein executing comprises executing the executable code on the group location alert server.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current location comprises using a GPS coordinate frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between two or more group members.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein defining the proximity range of the group comprises defining the distance between two groups.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between a majority of group members.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between the majority of the group members and the proximity center of the group.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the group proximity center is a geometric center formed by interpolating the positions of the majority of the group members.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the geometric center is formed by interpolating the positions of the predetermined number of group members.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between the proximity center of the group and a proximity center of another group.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between all members of the group.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between all members of the group and the proximity center.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined number of group members is a majority of the group members.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined number of group members includes all the group members.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising defining the proximity range of the group as a distance between the group and a group member.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the proximity center is dynamic.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the proximity center changes with movement of the group members.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising determining a direction of movement of a group member.

24. The method according to claim 23, further determining a trajectory of movement of the group member.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein executing the executable code is based on the trajectory and direction of movement of the group member.

26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising determining if a predetermined number of group members is outside the proximity range.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein if the predetermined number of group members is outside the proximity range, providing a notification to group members that are within the proximity range.

28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising determining a direction of movement of group members that are outside the proximity range.

29. The method according to claim 28, further determining a trajectory of movement of the group members that are outside the proximity range.

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

a group location alert server for identifying the group and members of the group;

for specifying the activity to be implemented by the group;

for determining a proximity center and a proximity range of the group that correspond to the activity;

for identifying an executable code corresponding to the activity; and

for determining a current location of at least one member of the group relative to the proximity center; and

the event proximity server determining whether the current location is within the proximity range, and executing the executable code if the location is within the proximity range.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the proximity center is dynamic.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the group members and the group location alert server communicate over a network.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the group location alert server downloads a software code to a user module of a group member.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the user module executes the software code when a proximity condition is satisfied.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the user module includes any one or more of:

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

36. The system according to claim 30, wherein the proximity range is any one or more of:

a distance between two or more group members;

a distance between a majority, or all the group members;

a distance between the majority or all the group members, and the proximity center; and

a distance between one group and another group or user.

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

a group location alert server for identifying the group and members of the group;

for specifying the activity to be implemented by the group;

for determining a proximity center and a proximity range of the group that correspond to the activity;

for identifying an executable code corresponding to the activity; and

for determining a current location of at least one member of the group relative to the proximity center; and

the event proximity server determining whether the current location is within the proximity range, and executing the executable code if the location is within the proximity range.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the proximity center is dynamic.

39. The system according to claim 37, wherein the group members and the group location alert server communicate over a network.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the network includes the Internet.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein the group location alert server downloads a software code to a user module of a group member.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the user module executes the software code when a proximity condition is satisfied.

43. The system according to claim 41, wherein the user module includes any one or more of:

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

44. The system according to claim 37, wherein the proximity range is any one or more of:

a distance between two or more group members;

a distance between a majority, or all the group members;

a distance between the majority or all the group members, and the proximity center; and

a distance between one group and another group or user.