Method and apparatus for delivering services

• US 8,050,688 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jacob, Kurian
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/749,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.4, 455/435.3, 455/435.2, 455/422.1, 455/457, 455/456.6, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A user requests a service using a communication device (102) capable of providing information about the location of the user. The request is communicated by the communication device (102) along with information about the location of the user to a service provider agent (108) capable of dispatching a service provider (112) responsive to the service request. The service provider agent (108) may deliver to the user information relating to the manner in which the service will be rendered and information to facilitate payment for the service. This information may be provided by way of a token delivered to the user'"'"'s communication device (102). Once the service is rendered, and the user is proximate the service provider (112), the service provider (112) and the communication device (102) exchange data to complete the service transaction, which may include information necessary to render the service and to affect payment for the service.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service to a user of the service comprising the steps of:

establishing a first communication connection, the first communication connection being between a user communication device and a service provider agent;

requesting a service from the service provider agent via the first communication connection;

providing location information identifying a location of the user to the service provider agent;

dispatching a service provider to the location of the user communication device based upon the requested service and the location information;

establishing a second communication connection, the second communication connection being a direct peer-to-peer communication connection between the user communication device and a communication device of the service provider; and

completing a service transaction via the second communication connection upon rendering of the service at the location of the user by the service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication connection comprises a wireless communication connection selected from the group of wireless communication connections comprising:

a cellular radiotelephone communication connection, a paging communication connection and a wireless data communication connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing location information comprises determining location information at the user communication device and communicating the location information to the service provider agent via the first communication link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication connection is established relative to the proximity of user communication device and the communication device of the service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication connection comprises a communication connection selected from the group of communication connections comprising a Bluetooth communication connection and an 802.11-type communication connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dispatching a service provider comprising obtaining service preference data for the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of completing a service transaction comprises communicating an information token.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information token comprises service instructions.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information token comprises payment data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of requesting a service is affected in a single user action.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the single user action comprises selection of a bookmark for establishing the first communication connection and requesting the service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of dispatching a service provider to the user comprises informing the user to transit to a location of the service provider.

13. A user communication device comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory including a control program for controlling operation of the processor;

a transceiver coupled to the processor, the transceiver being operable to establish a first communication connection with a service provider agent and a second communication connection with a service provider device; and

a user interface coupled to the processor;

wherein, the processor is operable responsive to an input at the user interface to cause the transceiver to communicate via the first communication connection a service request to the service provider agent, the service request including location information relating to the user communication device, and to communicate service transaction data directly with the service provider device, which is dispatched to a location of the user communication device responsive to the service request and the location information, via the second communication connection, which is a direct peer-to-peer communication connection between the user communication device and the service provider device, upon rendering of the requested service.

14. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the location information comprises user communication device determined location data.

15. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the service request comprise user service preference data.

16. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the service request comprise user preference look-up data.

17. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the first communication connection comprises a communication connection selected from the group of communication connections comprising a cellular radiotelephone communication connection, a paging communication connection and a wireless data communication connection.

18. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the second communication connection is proximity limited.

19. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the second communication connection comprises a communication connection selected from the group of communication connections comprising a Bluetooth communication connection and an 802.11-type communication connection.

20. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the service transaction data comprises an information token.

21. The user communication device of claim 20, wherein the information token comprises data selected from the group of data comprising:

service instruction data and service payment data.

22. The user communication device of claim 13, comprising a location detector coupled to the processor to provide the location information.

23. The user communication device of claim 13, wherein the processor is operable to affect the service request responsive to a single user action.