Location sensitive messaging

• US 7,899,468 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lohtia, Sunit, Astroth, Joseph H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Negrón; Daniell L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Huy D
• Application Number:
  US11/437,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Methods including computer program products for receiving a request from a first device, the request incorporating a message. One or more users from a first set of one or more users are selected where each of the selected one or more users is associated with a second device that is in a proximity to a current location of the first device. The message and the current location of the first device are sent to each of the second devices associated with the selected one or more users.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a request comprising a text message;

specifying a proximity zone surrounding a current location of said first wireless device;

selecting one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone;

automatically to said text message appending current location information associated with said current location of said first wireless device; and

sending said text message comprising said current location information to said at least one second wireless device.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said request specifies said proximity zone.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said request identifies said first set of one or more user IDs.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic reference point based on said current location of said first wireless device; and

incorporating said geographic reference point into said current location of said first wireless device.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said text message further includes at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed streaming media.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a route from said second device to said first wireless device; and

providing said route to said second wireless device.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

said text message includes a code indicating at least one of said proximity zone and said first set of one or more user IDs.

9. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a request comprising a text message;

specifying a proximity zone of said first wireless device;

selecting one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone;

automatically appending to said text message current location information associated with said current location of said first wireless device; and

sending said text message comprising said current location information to said at least one second wireless device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

said request specifies said proximity zone.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

said request identifies said first set of one or more user IDs.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list, and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

determining a geographic reference point based on said current location of said first wireless device; and

incorporating said geographic reference point into said current location of said first wireless device.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

said text message further includes at least one of an image, a voice, sound, and streamed media.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

determining a route from said second wireless device to said first wireless device; and

providing said route to said second wireless device.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, where:

said text message includes a code indicating at least one of said proximity zone and said first set of one or more user IDs.

17. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a request comprising a text message and a specified proximity zone relative to location of said first wireless device;

obtaining a current location for said first wireless device;

selecting one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone of said current location of said first wireless device;

automatically appending to said text message current location information associated with said current location of said first wireless device; and

sending said text message comprising said current location information to said at least one second wireless device.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 17, wherein:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list, and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

19. A memory device to produce a set of program control signals operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a request comprising a text message and a specified proximity zone relative to location of said first wireless device;

obtaining a current location for said first wireless device;

selecting one or more users from a first set of one or more users where each of said selected one or more users is associated with at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone of said first wireless device;

automatically appending to said text message current location information associated with said current location of said first wireless device; and

sending said text message comprising said current location text associated with said first wireless device to said at least one the second wireless device.

20. The memory device of claim 19, where:

said first set of one or more users is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.

21. A method of sending location information to a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, from a first wireless device, a request comprising a text message and a specified proximity zone relative to location of said first wireless device;

obtaining a current location for said first wireless device;

automatically appending to said text message current location information associated with said current location of said first wireless device; and

sending said text message comprising said appended current location information to at least one second wireless device that is within the specified proximity zone of said current location of said first wireless device.

22. The method of sending location information to a wireless device according to claim 21, further comprising:

selecting one or more user IDs from a first set of one or more user IDs, said selected one or more user IDs being associated with said at least one second wireless device that is within said proximity zone of said current location of said first wireless device.

23. The method of sending location information to a wireless device according to claim 22, further comprising:

said first set of one or more user IDs is part of at least one of a buddy list, a chat list, and a Short Message Service (SMS) group.