Data structure disposed in a computer readable memory that provides information corresponding to a location

• US 8,321,497 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Brignone, Cyril, Pradhan, Salil, Steiner, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOUDHURY, AZIZUL Q
• Application Number:
  US10/698,708
• Time in Patent Office: 3,316 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A data structure disposed in a computer readable memory provides information corresponding to a location. The data structure includes a first data field for identifying the location and a second data field associated with the first data field containing information corresponding to the location.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a data structure disposed therein for providing information corresponding to a geographic location, said data structure comprising:

a first data field for identifying said geographic location and positional data related to a physical location of said geographic location; and

a second data field associated with said first data field for containing said information, said second field is comprising a uniform resource locator, wherein a user can access said information;

wherein said first data field and said second data field are linked such that said data structure comprising said positional data and said uniform resource locator related to said physical location functions as a virtual beacon and is downloadable to a client device near said physical location such that said uniform resource locator is accessible by said user without browsing, wherein a physical location of said client device is not required to be transmitted;

said virtual beacon selectively provides a portion of said information to said client device on a network, wherein said portion is based on a context relating to a user of said client device; and

said context and said information is dynamically updated based on a condition relating to a temporal pertinence of said information.

2. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein said context is subject to filtering and wherein the filtering functions to deter locating said user.

3. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 1 wherein the receivability of said data structure to said client device is activated or deactivated in response to said condition.

4. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 3 wherein said condition comprises a quality selected from the group consisting of time and a locational aspect of said client device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 4 wherein said locational aspect comprises a state selected from the group consisting of directional orientation, tilt orientation, motion through a specified area of coverage, and accessibility of said location to a position of said client device.

6. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 5 wherein said condition comprises a sequence of events occurring and wherein said specified area of coverage changes dynamically in response to said sequence of events.

7. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 2 wherein said context comprises an attribute of said user, said attribute selected from the group consisting of identity, profile, history, a preference, a credential, capability, an interest, and a privacy selection.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 2 wherein said client device comprises a portable computing device and wherein said context is stored on said portable computing device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 2 wherein said first data field comprises a latitude and a longitude.

10. A network based system for selectively providing a data structure to a client device, said data structure having a first data field for identifying a geographic location and positional data related to a physical location of said geographic location and a second data field associated with said first data field containing information corresponding to said location, said second field is comprising a uniform resource locator, said network further comprising:

a filter disposed upon said client device and coupled to said network for accessing context stored at said client device and on the basis of said context determining that said data structure is pertinent to a user of said client device and wherein said filter functions to deter locating said user, wherein said context and said information is dynamically updated based on a condition relating to a temporal pertinence of said information, and wherein a physical location of said client device is not required to be transmitted;

a server coupled to said network for selectively furnishing a portion said data structure to said client device on the basis of said context and said determining, wherein said first data field and said second data field are linked such that said data structure comprising said positional data and said uniform resource locator related to said physical location is downloaded to said client device when said client device is near said physical location such that said uniform resource locator is accessible without browsing; and

a database coupled to said server for storing a plurality of said data structures and providing said data structure to said server.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the receivability of said data structure to said client device is activated or deactivated in response to said condition.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said condition comprises a quality selected from the group consisting of time and a locational aspect of said client device.

13. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein said locational aspect comprises a state selected from the group consisting of directional orientation, tilt orientation, motion through a specified area of coverage, and accessibility of said location to a position of said client device.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said condition comprises a sequence of events occurring and wherein said specified area of coverage changes dynamically in response to said sequence of events.

15. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said context comprises an attribute of said user, said attribute selected from the group consisting of identity, profile, history, a preference, a credential, capability, an interest, and a privacy selection.

16. A network based method for selectively providing a data structure, said data structure having a first data field for identifying a geographic location and positional data related to a physical location of said geographic location and a second data field associated with said first data field containing information corresponding to said location, said second field is comprising a uniform resource locator, to a client device, said method comprising:

in response to a request from said client device, seeking context that characterizes a user of said client device;

in response to said seeking, filtering said context at said client device to deter locating said user;

upon said filtering, determining from said context that said data structure is pertinent to said user;

in response to said determining, sending a portion of said data structure to said client device, wherein said portion is based on said context, wherein said first data field and said second data field are linked such that said data structure comprising said positional data and said uniform resource locator related to said physical location is sent to said client device when said client device is near said physical location such that said uniform resource locator is accessible without browsing; and

dynamically updating said context and said portion of said data structure based on a condition relating to a temporal pertinence of said information and said portion of said data structure, wherein a physical location of said client device is not required to be transmitted.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein the receivability of said data structure to said client device is activated or deactivated in response to said condition.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein said condition comprises a quality selected from the group consisting of time and a locational aspect of said client device.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein said locational aspect comprises a state selected from the group consisting of directional orientation, tilt orientation, motion through a specified area of coverage, and accessibility of said location to a position of said client device.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein said condition comprises a sequence of events occurring and wherein said specified area of coverage changes dynamically in response to said sequence of events.

21. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said context comprises an attribute of said user, said attribute selected from the group consisting of identity, profile, history, a preference, a credential, capability, an interest, and a privacy selection.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a data structure disposed therein for providing information corresponding to a geographic location, said data structure comprising:

a first data field for identifying said geographic location with respect to a point in three dimensional reference system related to a physical location of said geographic location, wherein said three dimensional reference system is based selectively on an absolute reference and a relative reference; and

a second data field associated with said first data field for containing said information, said second field is comprising a uniform resource locator, wherein a user can access said information;

wherein said first data field and said second data field are linked such that said data structure comprising said geographic location and said uniform resource locator related to said physical location functions as a virtual beacon and is downloadable to a client device near said physical location such that said uniform resource locator is accessible by said user without browsing and said virtual beacon selectively provides a portion of said information to said client device on said network, wherein said portion is based on a context relating to a user of said client device; and

said context and said information is dynamically updated based on a condition relating to a temporal pertinence of said information, wherein a physical location of said client device is not required to be transmitted and is filtered at said client device to deter locating said user.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said first data field comprises a latitude, a longitude.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said first data field comprises a plurality of fields wherein said fields identify said geographic location, wherein said absolute reference comprises a plurality of coordinate systems, and wherein each field of said plurality of fields is defined in a separate coordinate system of said plurality of coordinate systems.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said first data field comprises a plurality of fields wherein said fields identify said geographic location, wherein said relative reference comprises a plurality of coordinate systems, and wherein each field of said plurality of fields is defined in a separate coordinate system of said plurality of coordinate systems.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 22 wherein said first data field comprises a plurality of fields wherein said fields identify said geographic location, wherein each field of said plurality of fields is defined in a separate coordinate system, and wherein a first field of said plurality of fields is defined based on said absolute reference and a second field of said plurality of fields is defined based on said relative reference.