Method for transmitting an assignment through wireless transmission

• US 7,359,717 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhakta, Dharmesh N., Pierre-Louis, Marc-Arthur, Sethuraman, Radhakrishnan
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US10/955,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/457, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 340/540, 340/3.1, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A method and system whereby a customer automatically receives an assignment on his wireless device without the need to visit a reservation desk. When the customer initially makes a reservation with a vendor, a computer records the wireless device'"'"'s identification. When the customer arrives at or near the vendor'"'"'s location, the system creates an out-of-range condition for the wireless device by shielding a portion of a location that the customer will be passing through. In response, the wireless device re-scans the control channels in an attempt to establish better communications with a wireless communication tower. A transceiver positioned in the transition zone transmits a channel that is detected and locked-on by the wireless device. The wireless device transmits it identification to the transceiver, which in turn forwards it to the computer. The computer sends assignment information to the wireless device.

Claims

1. In a cellular telecommunications network, a method for transmitting an assignment to a wireless device, comprising:

(a) receiving a first identification of a first wireless device and a reservation associated with the first wireless device;

(b) creating an out of range condition on a second wireless device;

(c) in response to creating the out of range condition, receiving a second identification of the second wireless device from the second wireless device;

(d) comparing the first identification to the second identification and in response to a match, verifying the reservation; and

(e) in response to verifying the reservation, transmitting an assignment to the first wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises storing the reservation and first identification on a computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (d) further comprises:

comparing, by the computer, the first identification to the second identification and in response to a match, retrieving the reservation associated with the first wireless device; and

comparing an arrival date in the reservation with a current date and in response to a match, verifying the reservation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (e) comprises:

in response to verifying the reservation, assigning, by the computer, an object to the first wireless device in accordance with the reservation, thereby making the assignment; and

calling, by the computer, the first wireless device and leaving a text message of the assignment of the object or an audio message of the assignment of the object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second identifications are telephone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (b) comprises:

positioning a transition zone at a location, wherein the transition zone is a zone where the out of range condition is created; and

in response to the second wireless device entering the transition zone, causing the second wireless device to rescan for a channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (c) comprises:

transmitting, by a transceiver, a channel in the transition zone;

receiving, by the transceiver, the second identification of the second wireless device on the channel; and

transmitting, by the transceiver, the second identification to a computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transition zone is shielded.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the transition zone comprises a signal jammer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting lock information to the first wireless device to enable the first wireless device to function as a key.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lock information is a code to a cipher lock.