Device and method for generating an alert signal

• US 8,010,129 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Börjesson, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres; Marcos L
• Application Number:
  US10/534,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20060121912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,853 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/418, 4554561-457, 701200-215, 342/450, 342/357.01, 34235706-35708, 340988-996
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An alert signal is generated based on the geographical position of a device and/or based on time or date. The alert signal is generated when the device is within a certain distance from a predefined location. An actual position of the device, the location of a place of interest, and a request for an alert signal associated with the location of the place of interest are stored. The actual position of the device is compared with the location of the place of interest. The alert signal is generated when the distance between the actual position of the device and the location of a place of interest is less than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A device for generating an alert signal comprising:

positioning means for updating and storing an actual position of the device, comprising;

location storage means for storing the location of a place of interest;

means for storing a request for an alert signal associated with the location of a place of interest;

first trigger means for comparing the actual position of the device with the location of the place of interest and triggering generation of said alert signal when the distance between the actual position of the device and the location of the place of interest is less than a predetermined value (r);

calendar means for storing calendar entries;

clock means for keeping track of the actual time; and

second trigger means for comparing the actual time with a calendar entry and triggering generation of said alert signal when the actual time matches the calendar entry, but only when the distance between the actual position of the device and the location of the place of interest is less than the predetermined value (r).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value (r) is variable, and may be set individually for each request for an alert signal.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the location storage means comprises a personal map program.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the location storage means comprises a browser for finding locations on a telecommunications network.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the browser is a WAP browser for finding locations on the Internet.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means further is configured to update the actual position of the device every time the device changes base station.

7. A device according claim 1, wherein the positioning means further is configured to update the actual position of the device at regular time intervals and/or every time the device has moved a distance.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means further is configured to update the actual position of the device in dependence of the speed of the device.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the calendar entry matches the actual time once only.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the calendar entry matches the actual time repeatedly for a specified time unit.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means comprises a GPS receiver.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a portable telephone, a pager, a communicator, a smart phone, a positioning device or an electronic organiser.

13. A method for generating an alert signal in a device comprising:

storing an actual position of the device;

storing the location of a place of interest;

storing a request for an alert signal associated with the location of a place of interest;

comparing the actual position of the device with the location of the place of interest and triggering generation of said alert signal when the distance between the actual position of the device and the location of the place of interest is less than a predetermined value (r);

storing calendar entries;

keeping track of the actual time; and

comparing the actual time with a calendar entry and triggering generation of said alert signal when the actual time matches the calendar entry, but only when the distance between the actual position of the device and the location of the place of interest is less than the predetermined value (r).

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the predetermined value (r) is variable, and is set individually for each request for an alert signal.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein storing the location of the place of interest comprises storing the location of the place of interest by means of a personal map program.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein storing the location of the place of interest comprises storing the location of the place of interest by means of a browser for finding locations on a telecommunications network.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the browser is a WAP browser for finding locations on the Internet.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

updating the actual position of the device every time the device changes base station.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

updating the actual position of the device at regular time intervals and/or every time the device has moved a distance.

20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

updating the actual position of the device based on a speed of the device.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the calendar entry matches the actual time once only.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein the calendar entry matches the actual time repeatedly for a specified time unit.

23. A method according to claim 13, wherein storing the actual position of the device comprises receiving GPS signals.

24. A method according to claim 13, wherein storing the actual position of the device comprises receiving position information from a mobile telecommunication network.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the mobile telecommunication network uses EOTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) or OTDOA (Observed Time Difference On Arrival).

26. A method according to claim 13, wherein the device is a portable telephone, a pager, a communicator, a smart phone, a positioning device or an electronic organiser.