System and method for providing location-based responses

• US 7,409,233 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Pritchard, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AL AUBAIDI, RASHA S
• Application Number:
  US09/881,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,609 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/557, 455/73, 455550- 1
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/045 Call privacy arrangements, e.g. timely inhibiting the ring signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A system and a method for location-based responses are provided. A mobile device receives location information from, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) to determine its present location. The location is checked against target range areas corresponding to target locations programmed in the mobile device. If the determined present location of the mobile device is within a particular target range area corresponding to a particular target location, the mobile device provides the particular target response that was programmed in the mobile device to correspond to the particular target range area and the particular target location.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based responses to a user utilizing a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

the user storing a plurality of target locations in a memory of the wireless communications device;

the user storing a plurality of target ranges in the memory, the wherein each target location corresponds to a single target range to define a surrounding target area that includes the respective target location;

the user storing a specific activity associated with each of the plurality of target locations in the memory before entering any of the plurality of target ranges;

the user storing of content related to the specific activity associated with each of plurality of target locations in the memory before entering any of the plurality of target ranges;

determining a present location utilizing a global positioning system (GPS) of the wireless communications device;

determining by iteratively processing the present location and the plurality of target areas that the present location is within the target area of two or more of the plurality of target locations utilizing a processor of the wireless communications device, wherein the maximum number of iterations is equal to the aggregate number of target locations having a target range; and

outputting the content related to the specific activity associated with each of the two or more target locations on a user interface of the wireless communications device when the present location is within the target area of each of the two or more target locations without communicating with the target location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is a display, and wherein the indication is a text display of the specific activity.

3. A personal reminder system, comprising:

a wireless communications device, comprising;

a memory for storing location information comprising;

a plurality of physical locations,

a specific task associated with each physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

a user input interface for updating the information of the plurality of physical locations;

a wireless communications circuit for receiving current location at a pre-determined interval of time;

a processor for determining by an iterative process based on the number of physical locations that the current location received at the pre-determined interval of time is within a predetermined range of two or more of the plurality of physical locations, wherein the maximum number of iterations is equal to the aggregate number of the plurality of physical locations; and

at least one output interface for outputting content related to each respective specific task when the current location of the wireless communications device is within the predetermined range of two or more of the plurality of physical locations without communicating with one of the physical locations wherein the specific task and the content related to the specific task is stored in the memory before the wireless communications device is within the predetermined range of one of the plurality of physical locations.

4. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein a proximity to one of the physical location is defined by a pre-determined area surrounding the physical location.

5. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein the location information further comprises at least one target range corresponding to at least one physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

and wherein the processor utilizes the at least one target range to determine if the current location is proximate to one of the physical locations.

6. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein the at least one output interface is a speaker of the wireless communications device and the indication is an audio conveyance the specific task.

7. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein the at least one output interface is a display of the wireless communications device and the indication is a visual conveying the specific task.

8. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein the wireless communications circuit comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for directly receiving the current location into the wireless communications device from a GPS.

9. The personal reminder system of claim 3, wherein the current location is received through the wireless communications circuit from a wireless communications network.

10. A wireless device for communicating with a wireless communications network, the wireless device comprising:

an antenna circuit for wireless communications with the wireless communications network and for receiving location information from a positioning system;

a memory for storing a plurality “

n”

of target locations, each target location of the n target locations having a range area centered on the each target location, and a target message for the each target location, the target message for each target location comprising a specific activity associated with the each target location, the target message being entered into the memory before the wireless device is proximate to the range area;

a user input device for inputting the each target location and for inputting the each target message before the wireless device is within the range area;

at least one output device; and

a controller connected to the antenna circuit and the memory, the controller for periodically requesting the location information from the positioning system, for determining by an iterative process based on the aggregate number of target locations whether the received location information is within a range area of two or more of the “

n”

target locations, and for outputting the target message on the at least one output device without communicating with any one of the plurality of target locations if the received location information indicates that the wireless device is within the range area of two or more of the “

n”

target locations, wherein the maximum number of iterations is “

n”

.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the target message is a display message, and wherein the at least one output device is a display for displaying the display message.

12. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and wherein the positioning system is a global positioning system (GPS).

13. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless communications network comprises the positioning system.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications network is a cellular communications network.

15. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the wireless device is a wireless handheld communications device, a laptop computer with a wireless modem, a pager or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

16. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the range area is described as a two-dimensional shape, and wherein the each target location is located inside the two-dimensional shape.

17. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the range area is described as a three-dimensional space, and wherein the each target location is located inside the three-dimensional space.

18. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the target range area is time sensitive.

19. The wireless device of claim 10, wherein the each target message is an audio message.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the at least one output device is a speaker for sounding the audio message.

21. A method for providing location-based information on a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of target locations in a memory of the wireless communications device;

storing two or more target ranges for a first target location in the memory;

calculating a first target area based on a first target location and a first target range;

storing the first target area in the memory;

associating the first target area with the first target location;

storing a first specific activity associated with the first target location in the memory, wherein the first specific activity is stored before entering the first target area;

storing content related to the first specific activity associated with the first target location in the memory, wherein the content related to the first specific activity is stored before entering the first target area;

calculating a second target area based on the first target location and a second target range;

storing the second target area in the memory;

associating the second target area with the first target location;

storing a second specific activity associated with the first target location in the memory, wherein the second specific activity is stored before entering the second target area;

storing content related to the second specific activity associated with the first target location in the memory, wherein the content related to the second specific activity is stored before entering the second target area;

determining a present location of the wireless communications device;

determining that the present location is within the first target area and the second target area utilizing a processor of the wireless communications device; and

providing the content related to the first specific activity and the second specific activity associated with the first target location of the wireless communications device when the present location is within the first target area and the second target area without communicating with the target location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity is a visual display on a user interface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity causes a physical vibration of the wireless communications device.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity causes an audible tone.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity is a visual display on a user interface and causes a physical vibration of the wireless communications device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity causes an audible tone and a physical vibration of the wireless communications device.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the content related to the specific activity is a visual display on a user interface and causes an audible tone.

28. A method for providing location-based information on a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving input to the wireless communications device indicating a new target location;

determining whether a current location for the wireless communications device is the new target location;

storing the current location as the new target location, if the current location is the new target location;

prompting a user to enter the new target location, if the current location is not the new target location;

receiving a geographic and a temporal range area associated with the new target location;

prompting a user to enter a target response associated with the target location;

storing the target response and the geographic and temporal range areas in a memory of the wireless communications device along with the target location;

identifying multiple “

n”

target locations and storing the target response, the geographic and temporal range areas in a memory of the wireless communications device for the “

n”

target locations;

determining a present location of the wireless communications device;

determining by an iterative process based on the aggregate number of target locations whether the present location is within the geographic range area of one of the “

n”

target locations, wherein the maximum number of iterations is “

n”

;

determining by an iterative process whether a present time is within the temporal range area of one of the “

n”

target locations; and

providing the target message if the present location is within the geographic range area and the present time is within the temporal range area of one of the “

n”

target locations without communicating with the target location.