Location-specific messaging system

• US 6,879,835 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith H., Willner, Barry E., Yu, Philip Shi-lung, Greene, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US10/008,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20030104820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/422.1, 455/445, 4554563-457, 455/466, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/517, 455/556.2, 455/406, 701/200, 701/207, 409/203, 409/205
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A method of transferring data includes reception of a message from a first mobile device operated by a user, storage of the message according to a location of the first mobile device, reception of an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location, and transmission of the message to the second mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring data, comprising:

receiving a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

storing the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

receiving a payment from the user of the first mobile device in exchange for storing the message;

receiving an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location; and

transmitting the message to the second mobile device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is received using a first communication protocol and is transmitted using a second communication protocol.

3. A method according to claim 1, where the message is received in a first format and is transmitted in a second format.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step comprises:

storing the message in association with location information representing the location of the first mobile device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the location information represents a location of a physical entity.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the physical entity is at least one of a vending machine, an exhibit, a retail store, a display, a restaurant, an advertisement, and an entertainment venue.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining the location of at least one of the first mobile device and/or a location of the second mobile device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the location of the first mobile device and/or the location of the second mobile device are determined in the form of at least one of:

geographic coordinates, a street address, Global Positioning System coordinates;

Bluetooth proximity data;

I.E.E.E. 802.11 proximity data;

transmission tower location data; and

scanned barcode data.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for information from the second mobile device.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for a message stored by a user.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for a first message stored by a user.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for a last message stored by a user.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for all messages stored by a user.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for all messages stored by all users.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for all messages that satisfy a given condition.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the request comprises a request for all messages stored by users who satisfy the given condition.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises at least one of:

text;

image;

video;

voice;

audio;

data;

characteristics of a user of the first mobile device;

data associated with a user of the first mobile device;

time;

date; and

biometric values associated with the user.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is received via a communication form comprising at least one of:

Bluetooth;

cellular;

I.E.E.E. 802.11;

HomeRF;

copper wire;

infrared, and fiber optics.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is stored proximate to the location of the first mobile device.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises a question.

21. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response to the message from the second mobile device.

22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

transmitting the response to a third party.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a payment from the third party in exchange for the response.

26. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a rating of the message from the second mobile device.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting the rating to a third mobile device.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted to the second mobile device comprises an aggregation of received messages.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message transmitted further comprises at least one of the advertisement, a product specification, a product offer, and a time of day.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the at least one of an advertisement, a product specification, and a product offer are provided by a third party.

32. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message relates to at least one of:

entertainment;

music;

a movie;

information;

education;

a product and an advertisement.

33. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message is stored and transmitted by at least one of:

a kiosk;

a picture frame;

an automated teller machine;

a building;

a server;

a pedestal;

a telephone; and

a telephone booth.

34. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a first message to the first mobile device before receiving the message from the first mobile device.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the first message is a question, and wherein the message is a response to the question.

36. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a benefit to a user of the first mobile device in exchange for the message.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the benefit is at least one of:

money;

goods;

services;

coupons; and

entitlements.

38. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the first mobile device; and

transmitting a request for the message to the first mobile device.

39. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the second mobile device; and

transmitting an offer of a message to the second mobile device.

24. A method comprising:

receiving a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

storing the message according to a location of the mobile device;

receiving an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location;

determining whether to transmit the message to the second mobile device based on at least one of;

a policy of a user of the first mobile device;

a policy of a venue including the location;

a group affiliation;

a policy of a user of the second mobile device;

a characteristic of a user of the second mobile device;

an age of the message;

a language of the message;

or a payment made on behalf of the user of the second mobile device; and

transmitting the message to the second mobile device.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the determining step is performed by a third party.

31. A method comprising:

receiving a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

storing the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

receiving an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location;

transmitting the message to the second mobile device; and

receiving a payment from the second user of the mobile device in exchange for transmitting the message to the second mobile device.

40. A medium storing processor-executable process steps to transfer data, the process steps comprising:

a step to receive a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

a step to store the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

a step to receive an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location;

a step to transmit the message to the second mobile device, and

a step to receive a payment from the second user of the second mobile device in exchange for transmission of the message to the second mobile device.

41. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

store the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

receive an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location;

transmit the message to the second mobile device; and

receiving a payment from the second user of the second mobile device in exchange for transmission of the message to the second mobile device.

42. A medium storing processor-executable process steps to transfer data, the process steps comprising;

a step to receiving a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

a step to store the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

a step to receive a payment from the user of the first mobile device in exchange for storage of the message;

a step to receive an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location; and

a step to transmit the message to the second mobile device.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

receive a message from a first mobile device operated by a user;

store the message according to a location of the first mobile device;

receiving a payment from the user of the first mobile device in exchange for storage of the massage;

receiving an indication that a second mobile device operated by a second user is located proximate to the location; and

transmit the message to the second mobile device.