Alerting based on location

• US 7,884,713 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2010
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aaron T. Emigh
• Inventors: Emigh, Aaron T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/688,910
• Time in Patent Office: 387 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/686.6, 340/309.16, 340/996, 340/573.4, 455/456.1, 455/457
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

In some embodiments, techniques for processing an alert may include receiving a specification of a first location, creating an alert, associating the first location with the alert, determining a first current location as a second location, wherein determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location, determining that the second location does not match the specification of the first location, determining a second current location as the third location, determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location, and presenting information relating to the alert.

Claims

1. A method for processing an alert, comprising:

receiving a specification of a first location;

creating an alert;

associating the specification of the first location with the alert;

determining a first current location as a second location, wherein determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location;

determining that the second location does not match the specification of the first location;

determining a second current location as the third location;

determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location; and

presenting information relating to the alert.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes a visual display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes an auditory signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes vibrating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes transmitting information relating to the alert.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a message, and wherein the information relating to the alert includes the message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a time specification and associating the time specification with the alert;

and further comprising determining a current time, and determining that the current time matches the time specification.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the time specification includes a starting time and an ending time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the time specification includes a day.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the time specification includes a time of day.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a first current time and associating the first current time with the alert;

and further comprising determining a second current time, and determining that a difference between the first current time and the second current time exceeds a threshold.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that a distance between the first location and the third location does not exceed a threshold.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that the third location is within a region, wherein the region is associated with the specification of the first location.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the specification of the first location is received from a user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map and enabling placement of a marker at a location thereon.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map with a boundary of a region thereon, and receiving modifications to the boundary.

19. A system for processing an alert, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a specification of a first location;

create an alert;

associate the specification of the first location with the alert;

determine a first current location as a second location, wherein

determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location;

determine that the second location does not match the specification of the first location;

determine a second current location as the third location;

determine that the third location matches the specification of the first location; and

present information relating to the alert; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory provides instructions to the processor.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the first current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein determining the second current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes a visual display.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes an auditory signal.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes vibrating.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes transmitting information relating to the alert.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a message, and wherein the information relating to the alert includes the message.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a time specification and associate the time specification with the alert;

and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a current time, and determine that the current time matches the time specification.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the time specification includes a starting time and an ending time.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the time specification includes a day.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the time specification includes a time of day.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a first current time and associate the first current time with the alert;

and wherein the processor is further configured to determine a second current time, and determine that a difference between the first current time and the second current time exceeds a threshold.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that a distance between the first location and the third location does not exceed a threshold.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that the third location is within a region, wherein the region is associated with the specification of the first location.

34. The system of claim 19, wherein the specification of the first location is received from a user.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map and enabling placement of a marker at a location thereon.

36. The system of claim 19, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map with a boundary of a region thereon, and receiving modifications to the boundary.

37. A computer program product for processing an alert, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a specification of a first location;

creating an alert;

associating the specification of the first location with the alert;

determining a first current location as a second location, wherein determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location;

determining that the second location does not match the specification of the first location;

determining a second current location as the third location;

determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location; and

presenting information relating to the alert.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein determining the first current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein determining the second current location includes receiving an input associated with a global positioning satellite receiver.

40. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes a visual display.

41. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes an auditory signal.

42. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes vibrating.

43. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein presenting the information relating to the alert includes transmitting information relating to the alert.

44. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for receiving a message, and wherein the information relating to the alert includes the message.

45. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for receiving a time specification and associating the time specification with the alert;

and wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for determining a current time, and determining that the current time matches the time specification.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the time specification includes a starting time and an ending time.

47. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the time specification includes a day.

48. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the time specification includes a time of day.

49. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for determining a first current time and associating the first current time with the alert;

and wherein the computer program product further comprises computer instructions for determining a second current time, and determining that a difference between the first current time and the second current time exceeds a threshold.

50. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that a distance between the first location and the third location does not exceed a threshold.

51. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location includes determining that the third location is within a region, wherein the region is associated with the specification of the first location.

52. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the specification of the first location is received from a user.

53. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map and enabling placement of a marker at a location thereon.

54. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein receiving the specification of the first location includes displaying a map with a boundary of a region thereon, and receiving modifications to the boundary.