System and method for using location information to execute an action

• US 7,941,130 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N, Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Jr., Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US11/528,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20070042789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/419, 455/450, 455/456.2, 455/417, 379/200, 379/211.02, 379/210.03, 379/211.05, 701/117, 701/300, 701/29, 701/211, 340/438, 340/574, 340/825.49, 340/932.2, 342/357.09, 342/357, 342/113, 707/10, 235/375
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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 is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communications channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.

Claims

1. A system for use with a wireless device characterized by a location for executing an action specified in subscriber rules based on location information comprising:

a location subsystem in communication with the wireless device configured to generate location information associated with the wireless device; and

a feature server in communication with the location subsystem and the wireless device, the feature server configured to perform the action according to the subscriber rules if the location information satisfies the subscriber rules, wherein the action includes implementing personalized features associated with the wireless device at a particular location dependent upon user preference at the particular location and wherein the action comprises at least one of;

(i) activating a voice mailbox greeting corresponding to the particular location;

(ii) displaying a menu of call management options;

(iii) calling a telephone number and playing a voice recording;

(iv) estimating a time of arrival to a destination;

(v) notifying the subscriber of an actionable change of location;

(vi) sending an e-mail; and

(vii) operating a machine remote to the wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a handheld computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the location subsystem and the feature server are provisioned at the wireless device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the location subsystem is a GPS receiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the location subsystem and the feature server are not provisioned at the wireless devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the location subsystem and feature server are GPS-compatible components.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory accessible by the feature server, wherein the memory comprises the subscriber rules.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises position coordinates.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the position coordinates comprise a longitude and a latitude.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the position coordinates further comprise an altitude.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the position coordinates comprise an X component and a Y component of a coordinate system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the action is executed via a global computer network.

13. A method for executing an action based on location information, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a feature server, subscriber rules associated with a wireless device, wherein the wireless device is characterized by a location;

(b) receiving, at the feature server, the location information associated with the wireless device;

(c) reviewing, at the feature server, the location information and the subscriber rules; and

(d) executing the action, at the feature server, if the location information satisfies the subscriber rules, wherein the action includes implementing personalized features associated with the wireless device at a particular location dependent upon user preference at the particular location and wherein the action comprises at least one of;

(i) activating a voice mailbox greeting corresponding to the particular location;

(ii) displaying a menu of call management options;

(iii) calling a telephone number and playing a voice recording;

(iv) estimating a time of arrival to a destination;

(v) notifying the subscriber of an actionable change of location;

(vi) sending an e-mail; and

(vii) operating a machine remote to the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of querying the subscriber to determine whether the action should be executed.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the subscriber rules relate the location with the action.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the action is executed via a global computer network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of monitoring habits of the subscriber for using the wireless device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of defining the subscriber rules using the habits.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the action is a default action.