Method and system for automatic update of a location profile

• US 7,466,811 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, Bruce David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quynh H
• Application Number:
  US10/176,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.02, 379/201.06, 455/417, 455/433
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target

Abstract

An approach for establishing a communication session according to a subscriber profile that is automatically updated is disclosed. A locator device, which is associated with a subscriber and includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) transponder, outputs geographic information that is transmitted to a communications network for establishing the communication session. The geographic information corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified in the subscriber profile to set a current address. The addresses are associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session. The one address is designated as the current address if the geographic information corresponds to the one address, otherwise the current address is set to a default address, wherein the communication session is established based on the current address.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a communication session with a subscriber according to a subscriber profile, the method comprising:

receiving geographic information of the subscriber;

determining that the geographic information corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified in the subscriber profile, wherein the plurality of addresses is associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session;

determining that the geographic information corresponds to a change from a pre-set current subscriber profile address; and

automatically updating the subscriber profile in response to the determination that the geographic information corresponds to one of the plurality of addresses and to the determination that the geographic information corresponds to a change from the pre-set current subscriber profile address, wherein the communication session is established according to the updated subscriber profile.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the geographic information is periodically output from a locator device attached to the subscriber, the geographic information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established according to a Find-Me/Follow-Me service.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating with a client via a web-interface for manipulating the subscriber profile.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber profile is updated in real-time.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber profile is stored within a service data point (SDP) of an advanced intelligent network (AIN) configured to provide a signaling network for establishment of the communication session.

5. A system for automatically locating a subscriber to establish a communication session, the system comprising:

an interface configured to receive geographic information of the subscriber, the geographic information being automatically output by a locator device proximate to the subscriber; and

a processor configured to determine whether the geographic information corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified in a profile of the subscriber and whether the geographic information corresponds to a pre-set current address in the profile, the plurality of addresses being associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session, the processor further configured to update the current address in the profile if the geographic information corresponds to an address in the profile other than the pre-set current address, the communication session being established based on the current address.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the geographic information is periodically output from the locator device, the geographic information based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established according to a Find-Me/Follow-Me service.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein the device associated with one of the addresses in the profile includes at least one of a cellular phone, pager, and a voice mail box.

9. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a web-interface configured to communicate with a client to manipulate the subscriber profile.

10. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for establishing a communication session according to a subscriber profile, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving geographic information of the subscriber;

determining whether the geographic information corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified by a subscriber in the subscriber profile, wherein the plurality of addresses is associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session;

determining whether the geographic information corresponds to a change from a pre-set current subscriber profile address; and

automatically updating the subscriber profile if the geographic information corresponds to one of the plurality of addresses and further corresponds to a change from the pre-set current subscriber profile address, wherein the communication session is established according to the updated subscriber profile.

11. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 10, wherein the geographic information is periodically output from a locator device proximate the subscriber, the geographic information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

12. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 10, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established according to a Find-Me/Follow-Me service.

13. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 10, wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of:

communicating with a client via a web-interface for manipulating the subscriber profile.

14. A system for establishing a communication session according to a subscriber profile, the system comprising:

means for receiving geographic information of the subscriber; and

means for determining whether geographic information of a subscriber corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified by a subscriber in the subscriber profile, the plurality of addresses being associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session;

means for determining whether the geographic information corresponds to a change from a pre-set current subscriber profile address; and

means for automatically updating the subscriber profile if the geographic information corresponds to one of the plurality of addresses and further corresponds to a change from the pre-set current subscriber profile address, wherein the communication session is established according to the updated subscriber profile.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the geographic information is periodically output from a locator device proximate the subscriber, the geographic information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established according to a Find-Me/Follow-Me service.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein the device associated with one of the plurality of addresses includes at least one of a cellular phone, pager, and a voice mail box.

18. A system according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for communicating with a client via a web-interface for manipulating the subscriber profile.

19. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for providing automatic update of a subscriber profile, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

receiving a signal indicating positional information of an intended party of a communication session;

determining whether a location site has changed in response to the received positional information, the location site corresponding to an address of a device adapted to participate in the communication session; and

automatically transmitting a message to update the subscriber profile associated with the intended party in response to the determining step, the message indicating a changed location site, wherein the subscriber profile includes information specified by a subscriber to establish the communication session.

20. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 19, wherein the positional information is received from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

21. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 19, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established according to a Find-Me/Follow-Me service.

22. A computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium according to claim 19, wherein the subscriber profile includes a default address corresponding to a device that includes at least one of a cellular phone, pager, and a voice mail box.

25. A system for providing a search type service, the system comprising:

a subscriber profile database resident within an advanced intelligent network, the subscriber profile database including information specifying,

a list of a plurality of subscriber defined sites corresponding respectively to a plurality of communication devices, wherein each of the subscriber defined sites is associated with a range of geographic coordinates, the list comprising a set current location indicating one of a plurality of subscriber defined sites, wherein the current location is set by comparing a previously set location with current geographic coordinates of a subscriber; and

an interface configured to permit access of the subscriber profile database by a web-based application for modifying the list, wherein the web-based application is configured to override setting of the current location.