Method, system, and program for providing user location information for a personal information management system from transmitting devices

• US 6,873,851 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US09/848,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20020164995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 707/101, 707/100, 707/3, 707/6, 707/10, 705/8, 705/9
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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

Provided is a method, system, and program for providing user location information for a personal information management program. A plurality of records for a user of a wireless device each include at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate. Records for transmitting devices each include at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate in the records. The location description from at least one of the transmitting device records is added to at least one record associated with the user of the wireless unit.

Claims

1. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device;

determining one transmitting device record including one position coordinate that is within a proximity to one position coordinate in one user record; and

adding the location description from the determined transmitting device record to at least one user record having one position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting devices comprise wireless devices associated with other users and fixed location transmitters associated with a location providing information on the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within the proximity to the wireless device of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting device records further provide a time associated with the position coordinate indicating a time the transmitting device was located at the position coordinate.

5. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location at the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user, and wherein the added location description is from one transmitting device record for one transmitting device identified in the list.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining one record for one of the transmitting devices identified in the list including one position coordinate within a proximity to one position coordinate of one user record, wherein the location description from the determined transmitting device record is added to the user record having the position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

7. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user;

receiving, with the user wireless device, wireless transmissions from proximate transmitting devices, wherein each wireless transmission identifies one transmitting device; and

adding to the list each transmitting device identified in each wireless transmission.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting devices identified in the list are in the proximity of the position coordinate in the user record including the list.

9. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device;

searching a database of transmitting device records to determine one transmitting device record including one position coordinate within a proximity to the position coordinate in one user record; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record having one position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

10. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein at least one transmitting device record indicates a location boundary defining multiple position coordinates, wherein the location description in the transmitting device record provides information on the location boundary; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.

11. A method for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein the location description added from the transmitting device record to the record associated with the user includes a multimedia file providing information in a multimedia format on the location; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.

12. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for determining one transmitting device record including one position coordinate that is within a proximity to one position coordinate in one user record;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

means for adding the location description from the determined transmitting device record to at least one user record having the position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmitting devices comprise wireless devices associated with other users and fixed location transmitters associated with a location providing information on the location.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within the proximity to the wireless device of the user.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for providing a time in the transmitting device records associated with the position coordinate indicating a time the transmitting device was located at the position coordinate.

16. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

means for adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device record to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user, and wherein the added location description is from one transmitting device record for one transmitting device identified in the list.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for determining one record for one of the transmitting devices identified in the list including one position coordinate within the proximity to one position coordinate of one user record, wherein the location description from the determined transmitting device record is added to the user record having the position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

18. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

means for adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user;

means for receiving, implemented within the user wireless device, wireless transmissions from proximate transmitting devices, wherein each wireless transmission identifies one transmitting device; and

means for adding to the list each transmitting device identified in each wireless transmission.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transmitting devices identified in the list are in the proximity of the position coordinate in the user record including the list.

20. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing plurality of user record for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device;

means for searching a database of transmitting device records to determine one transmitting device record including one position coordinate within a proximity to the position coordinate in one user record; and

means for adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record having one position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

21. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein at least one transmitting device record indicates a location boundary defining multiple position coordinates, wherein the location description in the transmitting device record provides information on the location boundary; and

means for adding the location description from at least of the of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.

22. A system for providing user location information for a personal information management program, comprising:

means for providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

means for providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate end an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein the location description added from the transmitting device record to the record associated with the user includes a multimedia file providing information in a multimedia format on the location; and

means for adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.

23. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for a personal information management program by:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting device, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device;

determining one transmitting device record including one position coordinate that is within a proximity to one position coordinate in one user record; and

adding the location description from determined transmitting device record to at least one user record having one position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the transmitting devices comprise wireless devices associated with other users and fixed location transmitters associated with a location providing information on the location.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the transmitting device records further provide a time associated with the position coordinate indicating a time the transmitting device was located at the position coordinate.

27. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for personal information management program by:

providing plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating alocation of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices, within a proximity to the wireless device of the user, and wherein the added location description is from one transmitting device record for one transmitting device identified in the list.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 27, further comprising:

determining one record for one of the transmitting devices identified in the list including one position coordinate within a proximity to one position coordinate of one user record, wherein the location description from the determined transmitting device record is added to the user record having the position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

29. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for a personal information management program by:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device, wherein the user records further include a list identifying one or more transmitting devices within a proximity to the wireless device of the user;

receiving, with the user wireless device, wireless transmissions from proximate transmitting devices, wherein each wireless transmission identifies one transmitting device; and

adding to the list each transmitting device identified in each wireless transmission.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, wherein the transmitting devices identified in the list are in the proximity of the position coordinate in the user record including the list.

31. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for a personal information management program by:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting device, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device;

searching a database of transmitting device records to determine one transmitting device record including one position coordinate within a proximity to the position coordinate in one user record; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device having the one position coordinate within the proximity to the position coordinate of the determined transmitting device record.

32. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for a personal information management program by:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein at least one transmitting device record indicates a location boundary defining multiple position coordinates, wherein the location description in the transmitting device record provides information on the location boundary; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.

33. An article of manufacture comprising code for providing user location information for a personal information management program by:

providing a plurality of user records for a user of a wireless device, wherein each user record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated time indicating a location of the wireless device at the time and the position coordinate;

providing records for transmitting devices, wherein each transmitting device record includes at least one position coordinate and an associated location description providing information on the position coordinate of the transmitting device, wherein the location description added from the transmitting device record to the record associated with the user includes a multimedia file providing information in a multimedia format on the location; and

adding the location description from at least one of the transmitting device records to at least one user record associated with the user of the wireless device.