Method and system for automatic update of a location profile

• US 7,864,935 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US12/254,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 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 comprising:

storing a user profile specifying a plurality of addresses and corresponding location information, the user profile further specifying a current address;

receiving location information of a user associated with the user profile;

automatically updating the current address based on the received location information, without input from the user;

communicating with a browser application over a data network to modify the user profile by overriding the automatically updating the current address based on the received location information to specify the current location via the browser application; and

reverting to automatically updating the current address based on the received location information after a specified period of time subsequent to specifying the current location via the browser application.

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

outputting the current address to a service control point (SCP) to complete a voice call with the user.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the voice call is established as part of a search service.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the user profile is stored in a service data point (SDP) that is configured to store call processing instructions.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the location information is received from a locator device within proximity of the user, the location information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile further includes a schedule corresponding to the location information.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a user profile specifying a plurality of addresses and corresponding location information, the user profile further specifying a current address;

a communication interface configured to receive location information of a user associated with the user profile;

a processor configured to automatically update the current address based on the received location information, without input from the user;

another communication interface configured to communicate with a browser application over a data network to modify the user profile by overriding the processor automatically updating the current address based on the received location information to specify the current location via the browser application; and

reverting to automatically updating the current address based on the received location information after a specified period of time subsequent to specifying the current location via the browser application.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the communication interface is further configured to output the current address to a service control point (SCP) to complete a voice call with the user.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the voice call is established as part of a search service.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the memory is further configured to store call processing instructions.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the location information is received from a locator device within proximity of the user, the location information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the user profile further includes a schedule corresponding to the location information.

13. A system comprising:

a database configured to store a user profile specifying a plurality of addresses and corresponding location information, the user profile further specifying a current address, wherein the current address is automatically updated based on received location information of a user associated with the user profile, without input from the user;

a service logic configured to access the user profile and to process a communication session based on the current address;

wherein the user profile is modified using a browser application over a data network by overriding the automatically updating the current address based on the received location information to specify the current location via the browser application; and

reverting to automatically updating the current address based on the received location information after a specified period of time subsequent to specifying the current location via the browser application.

14. A system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a switch coupled to the service logic and configured to establish the communication session with the user using the current address.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the communication session is a voice call that is established as part of a search service.

16. A system according to claim 13, wherein the location information is received from a locator device within proximity of the user, the location information being based on a Global Positioning System (GPS).

17. A system according to claim 13, wherein the user profile further includes a schedule corresponding to the location information.