Scheduling tasks dynamically depending on the location of a mobile user

• US 7,499,715 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mebed, Amr, Carro, Fernando Incertis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart; James D
• Application Number:
  US11/225,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/344, 455/345, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/456.2, 701/202, 701/204, 701/207, 701/211, 701/213, 708/111
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

Methods for automatically scheduling and rescheduling tasks based on predictable, observable, or measurable events, and on conditions occurring in the vicinity of the user'"'"'s location. A plurality of tasks are defined by the user. Events or conditions depending on the user'"'"'s location and affecting the opportunity or the feasibility of the tasks are associated with these tasks. Task schedules are assigned, merged, or permuted to dynamically provide the user with a feasible and convenient agenda.

Claims

1. A method for automatically scheduling tasks to be executed by a mobile user when conditions related to the mobile user'"'"'s location are met, said method comprising:

defining at least one mobile task;

associating at least one task condition with each mobile task, each task condition comprising at least one task parameter related to a location of the mobile user;

determining a current location of the mobile user;

for each task condition, determining the task parameters related to the current location, and determining, according to the task parameters, whether associated task conditions are met;

for each mobile task, when all associated task conditions are met, computing a local time at which the mobile task is to be executed; and

scheduling the mobile task;

detecting a change in the location of the mobile user; and

, responsive to detecting a change in the location of the mobile user;

determining the current location of the mobile user; and

, for each task condition;

determining task parameters related to the current location;

determining whether or not the task condition is met, according to the task parameters; and

updating the schedule of each task by;

computing a local time at which the mobile task must be executed;

scheduling the mobile task when all associated task conditions are met; and

canceling the schedule of the mobile task when at least one associated task condition is not met.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein defining at least one mobile task comprises defining task priorities for mobile tasks, and scheduling the mobile tasks according to their priorities in case of a scheduling conflict.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current location of the mobile user comprises determining the current location of the mobile user from information transmitted via a wireless network to a wireless mobile device in possession of the mobile user.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein determining the current location of the mobile user from information transmitted via a wireless network further comprises identifying a cell of the wireless network corresponding to the location of the wireless mobile device in possession of the mobile user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current location of the mobile user comprises determining the current location of the mobile user based on information received from a Global Positioning System.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current location of the mobile user comprises determining a location name, longitude and latitude of the current location, and a time zone corresponding to the current location.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein tasks are scheduled on an electronic agenda or calendar.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein defining at least one mobile task comprises:

defining, for each mobile task;

means for identifying the task, at least one task condition to be met to schedule the task, a task priority, and a task duration during which the task can be performed when all associated conditions are met; and

defining, for each task condition associated with a mobile task, a condition duration during which the task condition is valid.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the task parameters related to the user'"'"'s location for each condition comprises retrieving information related to at least one of the task parameters from an information provider.