Response systems and methods for notification systems for modifying future notifications

• US 7,482,952 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Legalview Assets, Ltd.
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US11/511,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/928, 340/539.11, 340/539.15, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Response systems and methods are disclosed for communications in connection with a computer-based notification system and a personal communications device (e.g., telephone, pager, computer, PDA, etc.) associated with a party. One such representative response method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: initiating a notification communication to a personal communications device associated with a party; receiving a response communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device; and modifying a manner in which future notification communications are implemented, based upon the response. A representative response system, among others, has mechanisms for implementing the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for a computer-based notification system, comprising the steps of:

scheduling an arrival or departure time for a mobile thing (MT) in relation to a stop location;

scheduling a notification communication to a personal communications device (PCD);

monitoring travel data pertaining to the MT;

determining that the MT will be delayed in arriving or departing from the stop location;

initiating a communication session with the PCD; and

during the communication session, indicating that the MT will be delayed and enabling cancellation of the scheduled notification communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a report regarding travel status of the MT during the communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing planned travel information of the MT along a path to updated vehicle status information in order to determine whether the MT will be delayed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving preference information from the PCD or another PCD in order to schedule the arrival or departure time for the MT in relation to the stop location, to schedule the notification communication to the PCD, or both.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a response communication from the PCD indicating a desire to cancel, change, or confirm the scheduled notification communication.

6. A method for a computer-based notification system, comprising the steps of:

scheduling a notification communication to a personal communications device (PCD) relating to an arrival or departure of a mobile thing (MT) in relation to a stop location;

monitoring travel data pertaining to the MT;

determining a change in schedule associated with the MT in relation to the stop location;

initiating a communication session with the PCD;

during the communication session, indicating a change in schedule associated with the MT in relation to the stop location; and

during the communication session, enabling receipt of a response from the PCD to indicate at least one of the following;

cancellation, confirmation, or a change, with respect to the scheduled notification communication.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of providing a report regarding travel status of the MT during the communication session.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of comparing planned travel information of the MT along a path to updated vehicle status information in order to determine whether the MT will be delayed.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of receiving preference information from the PCD or another PCD in order to schedule the arrival or departure time for the MT in relation to the stop location, to schedule the notification communication to the PCD, or both.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of receiving a response communication from the PCD indicating a desire to cancel, change, or confirm the scheduled notification communication.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of initiating the notification communication is performed when a MT is a predetermined proximity with respect to the stop location in terms of time or distance.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the response is generated by a physical action taken by the party associated with the PCD.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the response is generated by physically detecting the presence of the party associated with the PCD.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of modifying the manner in which one or more future notification communications are to be sent, based upon the response, by modifying data associated with the one or more future notification communications.

15. A computer-based notification system, comprising:

means for scheduling a notification communication to a personal communications device (PCD) relating to an arrival or departure of an MT at a the stop location;

means for monitoring travel data pertaining to the MT;

means for determining a change in schedule associated with the MT in relation to the stop location;

means for initiating a communication session with the PCD; and

means for, during the communication session, indicating a change in schedule associated with the MT in relation to the stop location and enabling receipt of a response from the PCD to indicate at least one of the following;

cancellation, confirmation, or a change, with respect to the scheduled notification communication.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for monitoring for a physical action taken by the party associated with the PCD.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising the step of modifying the manner in which one or more future notification communications are to be initiated, based upon the response, by modifying data associated with the one or more future notification communications.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for receiving a personal code from the PCD and a means for identifying a party based upon the personal code.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for receiving an indication from the PCD that an additional service or additional equipment is needed at the stop location.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for causing communicative coupling between the PCD and a PCD associated with a party having access to the particulars of a pickup or delivery by the MT at the stop location.