System and method of accessing and recording messages at coordinate way points

• US 8,027,692 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US12/034,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.3, 455/412.1, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

The present invention is essentially a method and system for leaving and retrieving messages at specific coordinate way points within a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) provider network. Users carry or transport interface devices for communicating over the network and are able to record and view messages at specific coordinate locations while traveling in the network. The location of the device is calculated by the device or by the network while the device is powered on and in within the physical boundaries of the network, or through a combination of both. Messages can be made available to network subscribers when their interface devices come within an area centered about a physical coordinate location. Personalized messages can also be left by subscribers at any coordinate point within the boundaries of the network. The invention can also be used to facilitate access of information about an asset when a technician comes within a physical proximity threshold relative to said asset.

Claims

1. A messaging system comprising:

a server configured to communicate with

a plurality of devices;

the server including a determination module configured to determine when the devices are in range of a coordinate location associated with a message, the message including a receiver designation and an area of granularity around the coordinate location that the message may be made available to the devices, and can receive the message, based on the receiver designation and a profile and a location of the device, wherein, when the location of the device is outside said area of granularity, the message is not receivable to the device and, when the location of the device is within said area of granularity, the message is receivable to the device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the server includes a memory configured to store the message.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said devices include personal computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants or user-supported computers.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the server is configured to communicate with the devices over a wireless network and the locations of the said devices within said network are determined by a positioning algorithm based on a method selected from the group consisting of triangulation of multiple signals, signal strengths of multiple signals, time difference of arrival of different signals, angle of arrival differences of different signals, GPS signals, and combinations thereof.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said network is divided into a two-dimensional grid of grid points, said server associating physical locations of the devices with one of said grid points.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said network is divided into a three-dimensional grid of grid points, said server associating physical locations the devices with one of said grid points.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server communicates with the devices over a wireless network using a protocol selected from the group consisting of CDMA, TDMA, FDMA and wide-band CDMA.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes a time period during which the message is available.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the server controls transmission of the message to the determined devices.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is from one of the devices.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the message is from other than the devices.

8. A messaging method for use in a wireless network associated with coordinate way points and a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

determining, by a computer system, when the devices are in range of a coordinate way point associated with a message, the message including a receiver designation and an area of granularity around the coordinate way point that the message may be made available to the devices, and can receive the message, based on the receiver designation and a profile and a location of the device,

wherein, when the location of the device is outside said area of granularity, the message is not receivable to the device and, when the location of the device is within said area of granularity, the message is receivable to the device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the message includes a time period during which the message is available.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

storing the message in a memory.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting the message to the determined devices.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the message is from one of the devices.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the message is from other than the devices.

18. A messaging method comprising:

receiving a message, wherein the message has a receiver designation and a level of granularity around a coordinate way point that the message may be made available to a plurality of devices associable with a wireless network;

determining, by a computer system, a device that can receive the message based on a profile and a location of the device, the receiver designation and the level of granularity of the message, wherein, when the location of the device is outside the level of granularity, the message is not receivable to the device and, when the location of the device is within the level of granularity, the message is receivable to the device; and

controlling transmission of the message to the determined device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the determining the device is based on a time period during which the message is available.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a profile of the device includes a name and interest of a user of the device.