System and method for using location information to execute an action

• US 7,383,052 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Jr., Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US11/298,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/411, 455/414, 455/517, 713/151, 701/207, 701/201, 340/994
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of affecting a machine based on location information of a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal associated with the location information of the wireless device;

determining an estimated time of arrival from a current location of the wireless device to a predetermined location using the location information of the wireless device;

satisfying a location rule using the location information and estimated time of arrival; and

changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule, wherein changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule comprises implementing at least one personalized feature associated with the machine when the wireless device is at a particular location department upon a previous user habit while using the wireless device at the particular location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a handheld computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is generated at predetermined times.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising informing one or more individuals at the predetermined location of the estimated time of arrival.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more individuals are informed using a wireline telephone.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining location rules according to subscriber preferences.

8. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method of affecting a machine based on location information of a wireless device, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a signal associated with the location information of the wireless device;

determining an estimated time of arrival from a current location of the wireless device to a predetermined location using the location information of the wireless device;

satisfying a location rule using the location information and estimated time of arrival; and

changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule, wherein changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule comprises implementing at least one personalized feature associated with the machine when the wireless device is at a particular location dependent upon a previous user habit while using the wireless device at the particular location.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the wireless device comprises a handheld computer.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular telephone.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the location information is generated at predetermined times.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising informing one or more individuals at the predetermined location of the estimated time of arrival.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the one or more individuals are informed using a wireline telephone.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 further comprising defining location rules according to subscriber preferences.

15. A system affecting a machine based on location information of a wireless device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a signal associated with the location information of the wireless device;

means for determining an estimated time of arrival from a current location of the wireless device to a predetermined location using the location information of the wireless device;

means for satisfying a location rule using the location information and estimated time of arrival; and

means for changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule, wherein changing the machine'"'"'s operation responsive to satisfying the location rule comprises implementing at least one personalized feature associated with the machine when the wireless device is at a particular location dependent upon a previous user habit while using the wireless device at the particular location.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for informing one or more individuals at the predetermined location of the estimated time of arrival.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for defining location rules according to subscriber preferences.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless device comprises a handheld computer.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless device comprises a cellular telephone.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the location information is generated at predetermined times.