Secure notification messaging systems and methods using authentication indicia

• US 7,319,414 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Legalview Assets, Ltd.
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US10/858,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/995.13, 340/928, 340/539.11, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506, 701/117, 701/200, 701/201, 701/147
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for notification or messaging systems that give confidence to the notification-receiving party that a notification concerning the travel status of a mobile thing is from a proper authorized source. One representative method, among others, comprises the following steps: monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; communicating a notification involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party; and providing authentication information to the personal communications device that indicates to the party that the notification is from an authorized source. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer system that is programmed to perform each of the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for a computer-based notification system, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

communicating a notification communication involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party;

providing authentication information with the notification communication, the authentication information comprising at least a link to the Internet; and

enabling the party to select the link to communicate over the Internet to verify the authenticity of the notification communication and/or of the authentication information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling the party to contact the system and define the authentication information prior to the communicating step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating the notification is performed when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a stop location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing another link to the Internet and enabling the party to select the link to view an image or video captured on or of the mobile thing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication information further comprises at least one of the following:

a symbol, a text or numeric code, a sound, music, a distinctive ring, or an image of a signature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication information is defined by the computer-based notification system and is made known to the party prior to the communicating step.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an image from the personal communications device;

comparing the image with a stored image; and

communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a code from the personal communications device;

comparing the code with a stored code; and

communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating an image or a video of the mobile thing, a person or thing in the mobile thing, or something outside of the mobile thing to the personal communications device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a link to the Internet that enables the party to provide a response indicating at least one of the following:

that the party wishes to cancel the delivery or pickup task or that the party wishes to reschedule the delivery or pickup task.

12. A method for a computer-based notification system, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

communicating a notification communication involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party;

providing authentication information with the notification communication, the authentication information comprising at least a link to the Internet; and

enabling the party to select the link to communicate over the Internet to view an image or video captured on or of the mobile thing for verification and/or security purposes.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling the party to select another link to verify whether or not the notification communication is from an authorized source.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling the party to contact the system and define the authentication information prior to the communicating step.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of communicating the notification is performed when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a stop location.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the steps are performed with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the authentication information further comprises at least one of the following:

a symbol, a text or numeric code, a sound, music, a distinctive ring, or an image of a signature.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the authentication information is defined by the computer-based notification system and is made known to the party prior to the communicating step.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an image from the personal communications device;

comparing the image with a stored image; and

communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a code from the personal communications device;

comparing the code with a stored code; and

communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of communicating an image or a video of the mobile thing, a person or thing in the mobile thing, or something outside of the mobile thing from the server to the personal communications device.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a link to enable the party to provide a response indicating at least one of the following:

that the party wishes to cancel the delivery or pickup task or that the party wishes to reschedule the delivery or pickup task.

23. A computer-based notification system, comprising:

means for monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

means for communicating a notification communication involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party;

means for providing authentication information with the notification communication, the authentication information comprising at least a link to the Internet; and

means for enabling the party to select the link to communicate over the Internet to verify the authenticity of the notification communication and/or of the authentication information.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for enabling the party to contact the system and defining the authentication information prior to the communicating step.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the means for communicating the notification is performed when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a stop location.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the monitoring means, the communicating means, and the enabling means are performed with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

27. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for providing another link that enables the party to view an image or video captured on or of the mobile thing.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the authentication information further comprises at least one of the following:

a symbol, a text or numeric code, a sound, music, a distinctive ring, or an image of a signature.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the authentication information is defined by the computer-based notification system and is made known to the party.

30. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving an image from the personal communications device;

means for comparing the image with a stored image; and

means for communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

31. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

means for receiving a code from the personal communications device;

means for comparing the code with a stored code; and

means for communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

32. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for communicating an image or a video of the mobile thing, a person or thing in the mobile thing, or something outside of the mobile thing to the personal communications device.

33. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for providing a link to enable the party to provide a response indicating at least one of the following:

that the party wishes to cancel the delivery or pickup task or that the party wishes to reschedule the delivery or pickup task.

34. A computer-based notification system, comprising:

means for monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

means for communicating a notification communication involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party;

means for providing authentication information with the notification communication, the authentication information comprising at least a link to the Internet; and

means for enabling the party to select the link to communicate over the Internet to view an image or video captured on or of the mobile thing for verification and/or security purposes.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for enabling the party to select another link to verify whether or not the notification communication is from an authorized source.

36. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for enabling the party to contact the system and define the authentication information.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the means for communicating the notification is performed when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a stop location.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the monitoring means, the communicating means, and the enabling means are implemented with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the authentication information further comprises at least one of the following:

a symbol, a text or numeric code, a sound, music, a distinctive ring, or an image of a signature.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the authentication information is defined by the computer-based notification system and is made known to the party.

41. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

means for receiving an image from the personal communications device;

means for comparing the image with a stored image; and

means for communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

42. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

means for receiving a code from the personal communications device;

means for comparing the code with a stored code; and

means for communicating a message back to the personal communications device, indicating a match or a mismatch.

43. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for communicating an image or a video of the mobile thing, a person or thing in the mobile thing, or something outside of the mobile thing from the server to the personal communications device.

44. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for providing a link to enable the party to provide a response indicating at least one of the following:

that the party wishes to cancel the delivery or pickup task or that the party wishes to reschedule the delivery or pickup task.