System and method for operating a communication service

• US 8,249,620 B1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mangiardi, Dominick, Bonn, Mark J., Kirby, James D., Asghari, Abdolreza, Cheng, ShouJei
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US12/254,993
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4142, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A system and method are described. A communication interface receives a request that identifies a service and a first communication device. A location system determines a location of the first communication device and a location of a second communication device. A processing system processes the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device to determine if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device. In response to determining that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, the processing system transfers a notification indicating that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a request that identifies a service, a first communication device, and a second communication device, wherein the request is transmitted from a third communication device;

determining a location of the first communication device and a location of the second communication device;

processing the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device with a vicinity parameter received in the request to determine if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, wherein the request further indicates a tolerance for the vicinity parameter that provides a margin of error for determining if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device; and

in response to determining that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, transferring a notification for delivery to the third communication device indicating that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting a duration for determining the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising sending a notification indicating expiration of the duration.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a notification indicating a distance between the first communication device and the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a notification indicating all active processing of vicinity determination requests initiated by the third communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes a start date to commence actively processing the request.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request comprises a daily time frame for actively processing the request.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring a message for delivery to the third communication device that suggests an alternative vicinity parameter.

9. A communication system comprising:

a user interface configured to receive a request that identifies a service, a first communication device, and a second communication device, wherein the request is transmitted from a third communication device;

a location system configured to determine a location of the first communication device and a location of the second communication device; and

a processing system configured to process the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device with a vicinity parameter received in the request to determine if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, wherein the request further indicates a tolerance for the vicinity parameter that provides a margin of error for determining if the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device;

wherein the user interface is further configured to, in response to determining that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device, transfer a notification for delivery to the third communication device indicating that the first communication device is in the vicinity of the second communication device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a duration for determining the location of the first communication device and the location of the second communication device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the user interface is further configured to send a notification indicating expiration of the duration.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the user interface is further configured to send a notification indicating a distance between the first communication device and the second communication device.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the user interface is further configured to send a notification indicating all active processing of vicinity determination requests initiated by the third communication device.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the request includes a start date to commence actively processing the request.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the request comprises a daily time frame for actively processing the request.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing system is configured to transfer a message for delivery to the third communication device that suggests an alternative vicinity parameter.