Location-based action triggering system and method

• US 8,576,067 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Malkin, Peter K., Martino, Jacquelyn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/605,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20120329481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 701/468, 701/516, 701/522, 701/526, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A target receiver may receive a location-related specification and a time period-related specification, the time period-related specification specifying time period in which to check for the location-related specification. A location monitor may determine current location-related information. A time period monitor may determine current time-related information. An analyzer may determine whether a pair of the location-related specification and the time-period related specification is satisfied by the current-location information and the current time-related information. The analyzer may further provide notification as to whether the pair of the location-related specification and the time-period related specification is satisfied by the current-location information and the current time-related information.

Claims

1. An action generating device, comprising:

a target receiver operable to receive a location-related specification and a time period-related specification, the time period-related specification specifying time period in which to check for the location-related specification;

a location monitor operable to determine current location-related information;

a time period monitor operable to determine current time-related information; and

an analyzer operable to determine whether a pair of the location-related specification and the time-period related specification is satisfied by the current-location information and the current time-related information, the analyzer further operable to provide notification as to whether the pair of the location-related specification and the time-period related specification is satisfied by the current-location information and the current time-related information,

wherein the location-related specification comprises a target location and an identifier of a second user different from a first user associated with the action generating device,

wherein the notification is provided to the first user further based on the second user being at the target location.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the location monitor returns current location of the second user.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the time-period related specification includes one or more of:

an instant in time, an estimated time, a duration of time, a time period before an instant in time, a time period after an event, a time period before an event, a time period that is triggered by a proximity to one or more user locations, a time period triggered by a proximity to one or more target locations, a proximity of location of one user to another of one or more user, or combinations thereof.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the current location-related information include one or more of:

a first user location, a remote user location, or combinations thereof.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the current location-related information is provided by one or more of:

a global positioning system, an internet service, a location from a transporter, or combinations thereof.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the location-related specification comprises one or more of:

a user location associated with the second user, a mobile user location associated with the second user, a stationary location, a movable object, or combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the target receiver further obtains direction information and the direction information.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mapping function.

9. The device of claim 8, further including providing a map that includes a path between two or more users, or one or more users and one or more locations specified in the location-related specification, or combinations thereof.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification further includes a travel time calculator that provides information associated with time to destination.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the time to destination includes one or more of:

a time for one or more of users to arrive at one or more of locations specified in the location-related specification, a time for one or more users to arrive at another user'"'"'s location, a time for two or more users to arrive along one or more paths, or combinations thereof.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein if the time to destination exceeds a time limit, a second event is triggered.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second event includes one or more of:

rescheduling a meeting, re-making an appointment, or combinations thereof.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the location monitor includes a global positioning device, a device operable to receive location information, or combinations thereof.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the location-related specification includes one or more parameters that can be used to calculate location information.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the target receiver further receives alert-specification specifying one or more alerts to generate in response to determining that a pair of location-related specification and time-period related specification is satisfied by the current-location information and the current time-related information.

17. A computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method for generating an action, the method comprising:

receiving a location-related specification and a time period-related specification, the time period-related specification specifying time period in which to check for the location-related specification;

determining current location-related information;

determining current time-related information;

determining whether a pair of the location-related specification and the time period-related specification is satisfied by the current location-related information and the current time-related information; and

generating a notification in response to determining that the pair of the location-related specification and the time period-related specification is satisfied by the current location-related information and the current time-related information,

wherein the location-related specification comprises a target location and an identifier of a second user different from a first user receiving the notification,

wherein the notification is provided to the first user further based on the second user being at the target location.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, further including providing a mapping function.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein if the time to destination exceeds a time limit, a second event is triggered.