Method and apparatus for location marking

• US 7,089,020 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Taylor, Bryan, Asthana, Atul
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/787,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/459, 455/404.2, 455/456.3, 709/205, 340/539.13, 340/539.17, 340/539.21, 340/995.18, 701201-213, 705/1, 705/25, 705/38, 705/39
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel apparatus and method for location marking. In an embodiment, an electronic device is operable to identify it'"'"'s location depending on the combination of base stations it receives signals from. Different geographic regions are defined and can be identified and renamed by the user based on the unique combination of base station ID'"'"'s receivable in each geographic location. The embodiment described herein allows user handsets to continuously track location as they move. Applications in the electronic device can then be configured to respond in different manners depending on the location of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a first base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a first geographic range;

a second base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a second geographic range;

a subscriber device operable to wirelessly receive a first identifier from said first base station set when said device is in said first geographic range and to receive a second identifier from said second base station set when said device is in said second geographic range; and

said device operable to store a location that is associated with each said identifier, said device further operable to maintain a first event associated with said first geographic range, such that when said device is in said second geographic range a second event is performed based on a relationship between said second geographic range and said first geographic range, and such that when said device is in said second geographic range a reminder is generated for said appointment at a time prior to said appointment, said time being substantially equal to an expected travel time from said second geographic range to said first geographic range.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said subscriber device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a smart telephone and a laptop computer connected to a wireless network.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first base station set and said second base station set comprises only one base station.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said system includes at least one additional base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across an additional geographic range respective thereto;

said subscriber device operable to wirelessly receive an additional identifier from said at least one additional base station set when said device is in said additional geographic range;

said device operable to store a user-defined location that is associated with each said additional identifier;

said device further operable when said device is in said additional geographic range, to perform said second event based on a relationship between said additional geographic range and said first geographic range.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said device is operable to store at least one additional location that is associated with each said identifier.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein said location is user-defined.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said device is further operable to perform said second event in advance of a timing of said first event.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said second event includes a warning of an upcoming appointment to a user.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said second event includes issuing a travel time estimate to a user.

10. A wireless subscriber device for use in a wireless system having a first base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a first geographic range and a second base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a second geographic range, said device comprising:

a microcomputer operable to wirelessly receive a first identifier from said first base station set when said device is in said first geographic range and to receive a second identifier from said second base station set when said device is in said second geographic range; and

said microcomputer operable to store a location that is associated with each said identifier, said microcomputer further operable to maintain a first event associated with said first geographic range, such that when said device is in said second geographic range, a second event is performed based on a relationship between said second geographic range and said first geographic range, and such that when said device is in said second geographic range a reminder is generated for said appointment at a time prior to said appointment, said time being substantially equal to an expected travel time from said second geographic range to said first geographic range.

11. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10, wherein said subscriber device is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a smart telephone and a laptop computer connected to a wireless network.

12. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said location is user-defined.

13. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said identifier is unique combination of base station IDs that are emitted by each base station in said base station set.

14. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said microcomputer is further operable to perform said second event in advance of a timing of said first event.

15. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said second event includes a warning of an upcoming appointment to a user.

16. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said second event includes issuing a travel time estimate to a user.

17. The wireless subscriber device of claim 10 wherein said microcomputer is further operable to store at least one additional location that is associated with each said identifier.

18. In a wireless subscriber device for use in a wireless system having a first base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a first geographic range and a second base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a second geographic range, a method for performing an action comprising the steps of:

receiving first identifier from said first base station set when said device is in said first geographic range;

receiving a second identifier from said second base station set when said device is in said second geographic range;

storing a location that is associated with each said identifier;

maintaining a first event associated with said first geographic range; and

performing a second event when said device is in said second geographic range based on a relationship between said second geographic range and said first geographic range, and such that when said device is in said second geographic range a reminder is generated for said appointment at a time prior to said appointment, said time being substantially equal to an expected travel time from said second geographic range to said first geographic range.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

receiving user input renaming a location associated with said identifier.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said second event is performed in advance of a timing of said event.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said second event includes issuing a warning of an upcoming appointment to a user.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said second event comprises issuing a travel time estimate to a user.

23. A wireless communication system comprising:

a first station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a first geographic range;

a second base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a second geographic range;

a subscriber device operable to wirelessly receive a first identifier from said first base station set when said device is in said first geographic range and to receive a second identifier from said second base station set when said device is in said second geographic range; and

said device operable to store a location that is associated with each said identifier, said device further operable to maintain an appointment associated with said first geographic range, such that when said device is in said second geographic range a reminder is generated for said appointment at a time prior to said appointment, said time being substantially equal to an expected travel time from said second geographic range to said first geographic range.

24. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for an electronic device, for use in a wireless system that has a first base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a first geographic range and a second base station set operable to wirelessly transmit across a second geographic range, the set of instructions characterized by the steps of:

receiving a first identifier from said first base station set when said device is in said first geographic range;

receiving a second identifier from said second base station set when said device is in said second geographic range;

storing a location that is associated with each said identifier,

maintaining a first event associated with said first geographic range; and

performing a second event when said device is in said second geographic range based on a relationship between said second geographic range and said first geographic range, and such that when said device is in said second geographic range a reminder is generated for said appointment at a time prior to said appointment, said time being substantially equal to an expected travel time from said second geographic range to said first geographic range.