Method and apparatus for geographic-based communications service

• US 6,697,018 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US09/755,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 342/386, 342/457, 342/465, 342/387
• US Class Current: 342/386
• 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 portable computing device carried by a mobile user, wherein the portable computing device is operable to communicate in a wireless fashion;

a network;

a plurality of wireless access points coupled to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first wireless access point in proximity to the portable computing device is operable to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion, wherein the first wireless access point is operable to transmit information to the portable computing device, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon a known location of the first wireless access point.

2. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1

wherein each of the plurality of wireless access points is configured to detect the portable computing device;

wherein, after detection of the portable computing device by the first wireless access point in proximity to the portable computing device, the first wireless access point is operable to transmit the information to the portable computing device.

3. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1

wherein the first wireless access point transmits the known location to a memory associated with the portable computing device, thereby advising the portable computing device of its location.

4. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are located in an airport.

5. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are located in a hotel.

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

one or more information providers coupled to the network;

wherein a first information provider is operable to receive the known location of the first wireless access point;

wherein the first information provider selects the information to provide to the portable computing device based on the known location of the first wireless access point,

wherein the first information provider is operable to provide the information through the network and to the first wireless access point for transmission to the portable computing device.

7. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 6, wherein the 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.

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

a plurality of information providers coupled to the network, wherein each of the information providers is operable to provide the information through the network and to the first wireless access point for transmission to the portable computing device.

9. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1, 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 the first wireless access point.

10. 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.

11. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1,

wherein the portable computing device includes a time clock, said time clock being updated to provide a time corresponding to actual time in a time zone in which said portable computing device is located, wherein a location of said portable computing device is determined in accordance with the known location of said first wireless access point.

12. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1,

wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

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

13. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1,

wherein said information comprises travel information.

14. The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1,

wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the first wireless access point.

15. An airport-based network system which provides geographic-based information, comprising:

a portable computing device carried by a mobile user;

a network comprised in the airport;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the airport and coupled to the network, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are arranged at known locations in the airport, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device, wherein a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said portable computing device is operable to transmit information to said portable computing device, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon a known location of said first wireless access point;

wherein the portable computing device and the first wireless access point communicate in a wireless fashion.

16. A hotel-based network system which provides geographic-based information, comprising:

a portable computing device carried by a mobile user;

a network comprised in the hotel;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the hotel and coupled to the network, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are arranged at known locations in the hotel, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to communicate with said portable computing device, wherein a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said portable computing device is operable to transmit information to said portable computing device, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon a known location of said first wireless access point;

wherein the portable computing device and the first access point communicate in a wireless fashion.