Distributed network system which transmits information to users based on past transactions of the users

• US 7,058,594 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• 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): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/755,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20020046090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 340/7.21, 340/7.23, 340/7.24, 340/7.25, 340/7.27
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• 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 distributed communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network;

a plurality of distributed wireless access points coupled to said network, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to generate a wireless signal to cause a mobile unit in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, one or more past transactions of the user of the mobile unit are identified, and said first wireless access point transmits information to said mobile unit that is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

2. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

3. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

4. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the past transactions include past commercial activities of the user.

5. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are located in an airport.

6. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are located in a hotel.

7. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network, wherein each of said information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit based on the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

8. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more information providers connected to said network, wherein a first information provider of said one or more information providers is operable to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first information provider is operable to identify the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit and provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein said information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

9. The distributed communications service system of claim 8, wherein said 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.

10. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein said information is further dependent on a current known location of the mobile unit.

11. The distributed communications service system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are arranged at known locations in a geographic region;

wherein said information is further dependent on a known location of said first wireless access point.

12. A distributed communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network;

at least one information provider coupled to the network;

a plurality of wireless access points coupled to said network and distributed in a region, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to generate a wireless signal to cause a mobile unit in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit is transmitted to the at least one information provider;

wherein the at least one information provider identifies past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, where the at least one information provider provides information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

13. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

14. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

15. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein the past transactions include past commercial activities of the user.

16. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access points are located in an airport.

17. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access points are located in a hotel.

18. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

19. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein said information comprises promotions related to goods or services;

wherein said promotions are based upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

20. The distributed communications service system of claim 12, wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

wherein said advertising is based upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

21. A method of using wireless network access points (APs) to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) a wireless access point scanning its coverage area to cause a portable computing device in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response, wherein said scanning comprises detecting the presence of a portable computing device in the vicinity of one of said APs, wherein the portable computing device is carried by a user, wherein said scanning and said detecting are performed in a wireless manner;

(b) providing identification information indicating the user of the portable computing device to said one of said APs in response to said detecting, wherein said providing is performed in a wireless manner;

(c) an information provider accessing past transaction information indicative of the past transactions of the user associated with said identification information;

(d) the information provider transmitting information to the portable computing device through said one of said APs, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the portable computing device, wherein said one of said APs provides the information to the portable computing device in a wireless fashion.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicate probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the past transactions include past commercial activities of the user.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of APs are located in an airport.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of APs are located in a hotel.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting an inquiry requiring a response to said one of said APs;

wherein the information provider transmits said information in response to said inquiry.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting a message indicating presence of said mobile unit within an area monitored by said one of said APs;

the information provider determining if a service is required upon detection of said message; and

the information provider initiating provision of said service in response to the information provider determining that a service is required.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein said information comprises promotion information.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein said information comprises advertising information.

32. A method of providing advertising to users of mobile units, the method comprising:

a wireless access point scanning its coverage area to cause a portable computing device in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response;

the wireless access point detecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of wireless access point, wherein the mobile unit is carried by a user;

determining past transactions of a user of the mobile unit;

the wireless access point transmitting advertising information to the mobile unit in response to said detecting, wherein the advertising information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein at least a portion of said transmitting is performed by the wireless access point in a wireless fashion.

33. A method of providing advertising to users of mobile units, the method comprising:

a wireless access point scanning its coverage area to cause a mobile unit in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response;

detecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of wireless access point, wherein the mobile unit is carried by a user;

providing past transactions of a user of the mobile unit to a provider in response to said detecting;

the provider transmitting advertising information to the mobile unit, wherein the advertising information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein at least a portion of said transmitting is performed by the wireless access point in a wireless fashion.

34. A distributed communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit is carried by a user;

a network;

one or more service providers coupled to the network; and

a plurality of wireless access points coupled to said network and distributed in a region, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to scan its coverage area to cause a portable computing device within the coverage area to generate a response, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point in proximity to said mobile unit, information is transmitted to a first service provider, said information including identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit;

wherein said first service provider is operable to perform a service in response to said information, wherein said service is performed based on the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

35. The distributed communications service system of claim 34, wherein the first service provider is a rental car agency, wherein, in response to said information, said rental car agency is operable to begin processing a rental car transaction to have a rental car ready for arrival of the user of the mobile unit.

36. The distributed communications service system of claim 34, wherein the service provider is a hotel, wherein, in response to said information, said hotel is operable to begin processing a room reservation to have a room ready for the user of the mobile unit.

37. A distributed communications service system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless access points operable to be coupled to a network and distributed in a region, wherein each of the plurality of wireless access points is configured to scan its coverage area to cause a mobile unit within its coverage area to generate a response in a wireless fashion, wherein each of the plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point of the plurality of access points in proximity to the mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the first wireless access point transmits information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion, wherein the information is dependent upon past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

38. An airport terminal based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user in the airport terminal, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network located in the airport terminal;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the airport terminal and coupled to said network, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to communicate with said mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after one or more past transactions of the user of the mobile unit are identified, said first wireless access point transmits information to said mobile unit that is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

39. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

40. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

41. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the past transactions include past commercial activities of the user.

42. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network, wherein each of said information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit based on the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

43. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, further comprising:

one or more information providers connected to said network, wherein a first information provider of said one or more information providers is operable to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first information provider is operable to identify the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit and provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein said information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

44. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 43, wherein said 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.

45. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 43, 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.

46. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein said information is further dependent on a current known location of the mobile unit.

47. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are arranged at known locations in a geographic region;

wherein said information is further dependent on a known location of said first wireless access point.

48. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the past transactions comprise past rental car transactions of the user.

49. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the wireless access point operates to scan its coverage area to cause a mobile unit in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response.

50. The airport terminal based communications service system of claim 38, wherein the wireless access point operates to scan its coverage area to cause a mobile unit in proximity to the wireless access point to generate a response.

51. An airport terminal based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network;

at least one information provider coupled to the network;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the airport terminal and coupled to said network, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are distributed in the airport terminal, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to communicate with said mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit is transmitted to the at least one information provider;

wherein the at least one information provider identifies past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, where the at least one information provider provides information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

52. A hotel based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user in the hotel, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network located in the hotel;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the hotel and coupled to said network, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to communicate with said mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after one or more past transactions of the user of the mobile unit are identified, said first wireless access point transmits information to said mobile unit that is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.

53. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein the past transactions include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

54. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein the past transactions include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

55. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein the past transactions include past commercial activities of the user.

56. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network, wherein each of said information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit based on the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

57. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, further comprising:

one or more information providers connected to said network, wherein a first information provider of said one or more information providers is operable to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first information provider is operable to identify the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit and provide said information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein said information is dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit.

58. The hotel based communications service system of claim 57, wherein said 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.

59. The hotel based communications service system of claim 57, 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.

60. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein said information is further dependent on a current known location of the mobile unit.

61. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are arranged at known locations in a geographic region;

wherein said information is further dependent on a known location of said first wireless access point.

62. The hotel based communications service system of claim 52, wherein the past transactions comprise past rental car transactions of the user.

63. A hotel based communications service system, comprising:

a mobile unit carried by a user, wherein said mobile unit is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the mobile unit, wherein the mobile unit transmits the identification information in a wireless fashion;

a network;

at least one information provider coupled to the network;

a plurality of wireless access points located in the hotel and coupled to said network, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are distributed in the hotel, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is configured to communicate with said mobile unit, wherein each of said plurality of wireless access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, wherein, after detection of said mobile unit by a first wireless access point of said plurality of wireless access points in proximity to said mobile unit, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit, the identification information indicating the user of the mobile unit is transmitted to the at least one information provider;

wherein the at least one information provider identifies past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, where the at least one information provider provides information through said network and through said first wireless access point to said mobile unit, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the past transactions of the user of the mobile unit, wherein the first wireless access point transmits the information to the mobile unit in a wireless fashion.