System and method for determining a nearest network resource using GPS coordinates

• US 7,643,835 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Software, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Seiler, Christopher Jean, Ellis, Ty, Nosack, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addy; Anthony S
• Application Number:
  US11/108,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/66.1, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455418-420, 4554561-457, 455/517, 455/550.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/566, 370/238, 707/3, 707/10, 707/202, 707/204
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method are provided for determining a nearest network resource using GPS coordinates. A GPS enabled device may obtain its location by requesting its GPS location. A list of network resources storing the desired data may be obtained by the GPS enabled device and the distance between each of the network resources and the GPS enabled device may be calculated. The system then connects to the resource having the shortest distance without requiring a user to know and decide which network resource is closest to their location.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a global positioning system (GPS) enabled computer device comprising a location discovery module, a distance calculation module, and a connections module to locate a nearest network resource for accessing stored data on a network, the network resource comprising a storage device, the method comprising:

in response to receiving, by the computer device, a user request to access the stored data on the network,

i) transmitting, by the location discovery module on the computer device, a request to one or more GPS satellites to obtain coordinates indicating a location of the computer device;

ii) obtaining, at the computer device, a list of one or more network resources via which the requested stored data can be accessed, the one or more network resources configured to send the requested stored data to the computer device;

iii) calculating, by the distance calculation module on the computer device, for each of the one or more network resources obtained from the list, a distance between the location of the computer device and location of the one or more network resources;

iv) determining, by the connections module on the computer device, a response time for each network resource in a subset of network resources having a shortest calculated distance to the computer device;

v) connecting, by the connections module on the computer device, one of the network resources having the shortest calculated distance and a shortest determined response time to the computer device; and

vi) processing the user request by providing, at the computer device, access to the requested stored data that is sent to the computer device by the connected network resource having the shortest calculated distance and the shortest determined response time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the list one or more network resources at the computer device, wherein obtaining the list of one or more network resources comprises retrieving, from the computer device, the stored list of network resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the list of one or more network resources comprises querying a network resource server, wherein the network resource server maintains a list of network resources.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the list of one or more network resources includes:

i) a name for each of the one or more network resources;

ii) one or more of a set of GPS coordinates for each of the one or more network resources;

iii) a street address associated with the location of each of the one or more network resources;

iv) a zip code associated with a location of each of the one or more network resources;

or v) an area code associated with a location of each of the one or more network resources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating a distance between the location of computer device and the location of the one or more network resources further comprises:

calculating a difference between GPS coordinates for the one or more network resources, the GPS coordinates obtained from the list of one or more network resources, and the GPS coordinates for the computer device; and

assigning a distance metric based on the calculated difference wherein a smaller difference indicates a closer network resource.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more network resources comprises network accessible devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more network resources comprises a server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more network resources comprises a wireless telephone.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more network resources comprises a portable handheld electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a response time includes performing a ping operation for each network resource in the subset.

11. A system for enabling a global positioning system (GPS) enabled device to determine a nearest network resource for accessing stored data on a network, the network resource comprising a storage device, the system comprising:

a GPS enabled device configured to receive a user request to access the stored data on the network;

one or more available network resources via which the requested stored data can be accessed, the one or more available network resources configured to send the requested stored data to the GPS enabled device; and

the GPS enabled device comprising;

a location discovery module configured to determine a location of the GPS enabled device;

a distance calculation module configured to calculate, for each available network resource in a list of the one or more available network resources via which the requested stored data can be accessed, a distance between the location of the GPS enabled device and location of the one or more available network resources; and

a connections module configured to;

determine a response time for each available network resource in a subset of available network resources having the shortest calculated distance to the GPS enabled device, and

connect one of the network resources having the shortest calculated distance and the shortest determined response time to the GPS enabled device,

wherein the user request is processed by providing, at the GPS enabled device, access to the requested stored data that is sent to the GPS enabled device by the connected network resource having the shortest calculated distance and the shortest determined response time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said location discovery module includes a mechanism that retrieves GPS coordinates indicating the location of the GPS enabled device.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a mechanism configured to translate said GPS coordinates into one or more of a physical address associated with a location of each available network resource, a zip code associated with a location of each available network resource, and an area code associated with a location of each available network resource.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said distance calculation module includes a querying mechanism that determines the one or more available network resources.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the connection module is further configured to determine a response time for each available network resource in a subset of available network resources having the shortest calculated distance to the GPS enabled device by performing a ping operation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the location discovery module is further adapted to retrieve, from the GPS enabled device, the list of said one or more available network resources stored at the GPS enabled device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said GPS enabled device is a mobile computer device.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said GPS enabled device is located in a fixed location.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more available network resources-comprises network accessible devices.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more available network resources comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

21. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more available network resources comprises a wireless telephone.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more available network resources comprises a server.

23. A computer device operable with a communication network to determine a nearest network resource for accessing stored data on a network, the computer device configured to receive a user request to access the stored data on the network, the network resource comprising a storage device, the computer device comprising:

a global-positioning system (GPS) module configured to communicate and interface with a GPS satellite system to determine a location of the computer device;

a distance calculation module configured to determine, for each available network resource in a list of one or more available network resources via which the requested stored data can be accessed, a distance between the location of the computer device and location of the one or more available network resources, the one or more available network resources configured to send the requested stored data to the computer device; and

a connections module configured to;

determine a response time for each available network resource in a subset of available network resources having the shortest calculated distance to the computer device, and

connect one of the network resources having the shortest calculated distance and the shortest determined response time to the computer device,

wherein the user request is processed by providing, at the computer device, access to the requested stored data that is sent to the computer device by the connected network resource having the shortest calculated distance and the shortest determined response time.

24. The computer device of claim 23, wherein said GPS module comprises:

a locating mechanism configured to retrieve GPS coordinates indicating the location of the computer device; and

a translating mechanism configured to translate said GPS coordinates into one or more of a physical address associated with a location of each available network resource, a zip code associated with a location of each available network resource, and an area code associated with a location of each available network resource.