Location-based alarm system with forewarning capability
First Claim
1. A method, performed by a wireless communications device, of providing an alert, the method comprising:
- receiving input specifying a target location, a time range and a forewarning time;
determining a current location of the device;
comparing the current location of the device with the target location; and
if a current time matches the time range, triggering an alarm in the device based on the forewarning time specified using the device and based on a rate of convergence between the current location and the target location, the rate of convergence being computed by the device from at least one speed measurement,wherein the time value is a time delay, the method further comprising, after expiration of the time delay, determining that the current location still matches the target location prior to triggering the alarm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications device includes a location-dependent alarm which a user can set to be triggered at a target location. A GPS receiver embedded in the wireless device provides position data representative of the current location. When the current location matches the target location, the alarm is triggered. This enables the user to set the alarm to wake him upon arrival at a particular location, e.g. a specific station on a commuter train. In another example, the wireless device can wake the user at one time of morning if the user is sleeping in one location and at a second time if the user is sleeping in a second location.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method, performed by a wireless communications device, of providing an alert, the method comprising:
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receiving input specifying a target location, a time range and a forewarning time; determining a current location of the device; comparing the current location of the device with the target location; and if a current time matches the time range, triggering an alarm in the device based on the forewarning time specified using the device and based on a rate of convergence between the current location and the target location, the rate of convergence being computed by the device from at least one speed measurement, wherein the time value is a time delay, the method further comprising, after expiration of the time delay, determining that the current location still matches the target location prior to triggering the alarm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A wireless communications device having a location-dependent alarm, the wireless device comprising:
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an input device for enabling setting of the alarm by specifying a time range and a target location for triggering the alarm and by specifying a forewarning time; a position data module for generating position data representative of a current location of the device; and a processor for comparing the position data with the target location to compute a rate of convergence for comparing the time range and a current time and for triggering the alarm in the device when the device approaches the target location, wherein the alarm comprises an alarm application for causing the alarm to be triggered if the current time matches the time range and based on the forewarning time specified using the device and based on the rate of convergence between the current and target locations to thereby predict a convergence time and thus to determine when to trigger the alarm in order to provide the forewarning time, wherein the rate of convergence is computed from at least one speed measurement, wherein the time value is a time delay and the processor is for, after expiration of the time delay, determining that the current location still matches the target location prior to triggering the alarm. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification