Method for providing a location-based appointment service

• US 7,376,511 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Roessler, Horst, Gaudin, Eric, HOCHE, Michael Walter, Szabo, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/153,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/210
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• 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: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing a location based appointment service for arranging meeting co-ordinates between a plurality of subscribers using a wireless device; determining the location of the wireless device and navigation information to the meeting co-ordinates; and providing the navigation information by the wireless device, in order to guide a subscriber to adhere to the meeting co-ordinates, and aligning the navigation information with the navigation information of another subscriber of said plurality of subscribers in order to guide the subscriber and the another subscriber commonly on approximating routes. The invention further relates to a computer software product, a server, a telecommunication service, and a mobile telecommunication device therefor.

Claims

1. A method for providing a location based appointment service for deriving common meeting coordinates for a plurality of subscribers, the method comprising the steps of

arranging the meeting co-ordinates between the plurality of subscribers;

determining the location and navigation information of at least one of the plurality of subscribers to the meeting co-ordinates;

providing the navigation information by a wireless device, in order to guide the at least one of the plurality of subscribers to adhere to the meeting co-ordinates; and

aligning the navigation information with the navigation information of at least one other of the plurality of subscribers, wherein a posteriori navigation information is further iteratively aligned such that the plurality of subscribers are guided commonly on approximating routes and such that the meeting co-ordinates are re-arranged between the plurality of subscribers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises the further step of providing location information of at least one of the plurality of subscribers to at least one other subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the arranging meeting co-ordinates or the providing of the navigation information consider possible alternative means of transportation.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said method comprises the further step of exchanging and aligning navigation information with navigation information from a possible means of transportation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said meeting co-ordinates or a route comprise fuzzy floating parts that are aligned by dynamically updated navigation information just in time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a choice of a communication means for aligning the navigation information depends on the distance between the wireless devices.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the navigation information is decomposed hierarchically and spatially.

8. A computer readable medium having a computer program product for performing the method according claim 1.

9. A server that is configured to perform the method according to claim 1.

10. A telecommunication network device that is configured to perform the method according claim 1.

11. A mobile telecommunication device capable of providing a location based appointment service for deriving common meeting coordinates for a plurality of subscribers, the device comprising:

a module that arranges the meeting co-ordinates between the plurality of subscribers;

a module that determines the location and navigation information of at least one of the plurality of subscribers to the meeting co-ordinates;

a module that provides the navigation information by a wireless device, in order to guide the at least one of the plurality of subscribers to adhere to the meeting co-ordinates; and

a module that aligns the navigation information with the navigation information of at least one other of the plurality of subscribers, wherein a posteriori navigation information is further iteratively aligned such that the plurality of subscribers are guided commonly on approximating routes and such that the meeting co-ordinates are re-arranged between the plurality of subscribers.