Response systems and methods for notification systems for modifying future notifications

• US 7,528,742 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• 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:
  US11/926,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/995.13, 340/928, 340/539.11, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506, 701/117, 701/200, 701/201
• 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 communications in connection with a computer-based notification system, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

initiating a first notification communication to a personal communications device associated with a party when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a location of a pickup or delivery;

receiving a response communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device, the response communication being generated by a physical detection of the presence of the party associated with the personal communications device;

refraining from sending notification communications to the party'"'"'s personal communications device after receiving the response communication;

initiating a second notification communication to the party'"'"'s personal communications device, one or more other personal communications devices, or both, after detection of occurrence of one or more events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprises at least expiration of a predefined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprises arrival, presence, or departure of a mobile thing with respect to a location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprises scanning a machine readable code on an object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more events comprises actuation of a manually or automatically actuated switch that is associated with a mobile thing.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of refraining from sending notification communications to one or more additional personal communications devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the physical detection is enabled by a physical action taken by the party associated with the personal communications device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the physical action is a keyboard entry or voice command by the user.

10. A method for communications in connection with a computer-based notification system, comprising:

monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

initiating a notification communication to a personal communications device associated with a party when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a location of a pickup or delivery;

receiving a response communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device, the response communication being generated by a physical detection of the presence of the party associated with the personal communications device; and

modifying a manner in which future notification communications are implemented, based upon the response.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of modifying comprises refraining from sending notification communications to the party'"'"'s personal communications device after receiving the response communication, until detection of one or more events.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more events comprises at least one or more of the following:

receipt of a second communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device;

expiration of a predefined time period;

or arrival or departure of a mobile thing at or from a location, respectively.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of refraining from sending notification communications to one or more additional personal communications devices.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of initiating the notification communication is performed when a mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a location.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the steps are performed with a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical detection is enabled by a physical action taken by the party associated with the personal communications device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the physical detection is enabled by a physical action taken by the party associated with the personal communications device.

18. A computer-based notification system, comprising:

means for monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing;

means for initiating a notification communication to a personal communications device associated with a party when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a location of a pickup or delivery;

means receiving a response communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device, the response communication being generated by a physical detection of the presence of the party associated with the personal communications device; and

means for modifying a manner in which future notification communications are implemented, based upon the response.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the modifying means comprises means for refraining from sending notification communications to the party'"'"'s personal communications device after receiving the response communication, until detection of one or more events.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more events comprises at least one or more of the following:

(a) receipt of a second communication from the party'"'"'s personal communications device;

(b) expiration of a predefined time period;

or (c) arrival or departure of a mobile thing at or from a location, respectively.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for refraining from sending notification communications to one or more additional personal communications devices.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the initiating means initiates the notification communication when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity with respect to a location.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the means elements are implemented in a single computer system, a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled, or a computer system having a distributed architecture.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the physical detection is enabled by a physical action taken by the party associated with the personal communications device.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the physical detection is enabled by a physical action taken by the party associated with the personal communications device.