System, method, and computer program product for providing location based services and mobile e-commerce

• US 8,611,919 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2002
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wounder GmbH (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Barnes, Melvin L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lastra, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/154,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,226 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14, 455/556
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1053 Employment or hiring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 : Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 : User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing location based functions and mobile e-commerce comprising a central processing unit including a processor, a storage device, and programming stored in the storage device, a display device, an audio input device, an audio output device, a communications module, a commerce module, an image module, and a location module. The programming controls the operation of the present invention to provide functions based on location data, to facilitate commercial exchanges by wirelessly exchanging payment and product information with venders, to identify services such as venders meeting selection criteria, to wirelessly exchange select information with other users and systems, to restrict and/or monitor the use of the device based on authorized user parameters, selecting one of a plurality networks through which to communicate, detecting a trigger for performing an action based on a change in location and sensed data, storing a voice annotation with a computer data file, determining service providers and associated communication parameters, contemporaneously maintaining a wireless voice and data link, providing a system for selecting and delivering mobile advertisements, and many other functions and services that are described herein.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device operable by a user, comprising:

a housing configured to be handheld;

a central processing unit in said housing and including a processor and memory;

said memory storing a plurality of applications including;

a web browser;

an email client; and

one or more media players configured to play audio content and video content;

a display coupled to said central processing unit;

a communication module disposed in said housing and configurable by the user to provide a contemporaneous voice and data communication link configured to permit the user to simultaneously engage in a mobile telephone voice communication via a mobile telephone network with a first person using a first device and to receive content for presentation on said display from a second device;

wherein said communication module is configured to receive content in data packets and to select an application for processing the content based on information in at least some of the data packets containing the content; and

wherein said communication module is configured to provide the received content to the selected application.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

an image input module coupled to said central processing unit and configured to capture image data including still images and motion video content;

wherein said central processing unit is configurable by the user to store captured image data in memory; and

wherein said central processing unit is configurable by the user to cause said communication module to wirelessly transmit image data, including either of still images or video motion content, received by said image input module to a remote device.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a location module coupled to said central processing unit and configured to determine location information of the device;

wherein said central processing unit is configurable to;

store location criteria in said memory;

determine the location of the device; and

cause said communication module to wirelessly transmit a notification to the remote device if the location of the device substantially corresponds to the location criteria.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said communication module is configured to receive digital television programming content transmitted via a communication path that includes the mobile telephone network and that does not include the Internet.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said central processing unit is configurable by the user to store the received digital television programming content in memory for subsequent presentation to the user upon request by the user.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said central processing unit is configurable by the user to:

store audio content received via said communication module in said memory; and

cause one of said one or more media players to play said stored audio content.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said central processing unit is configurable by the user to retrieve stored audio content from memory, and to output the retrieved audio content to a local device for presentation to the user.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the data communication link comprises an always on instant connection.

9. The device according to claim 4, wherein the digital television programming content comprises video-on-demand content requested by the user.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a commerce module configured to select a payment account for paying for a product and to retrieve information of said selected payment account; and

wherein said central processing unit is programmed to cause said communication module to transmit said retrieved information of said selected payment account through a wireless local area network to a remote computer system for payment for the product.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is configured to select a wireless network for communications based on information stored in said memory, when a plurality of wireless networks are available for communications.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said communication module is configured to receive digital radio signals and said central processing unit is configurable by the user to store received digital radio signals in said memory.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises video content and the selected application comprises one of the one or more media players.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein said communication module is further configurable by the user to:

wirelessly transmit received content to a remote device for storage; and

wirelessly retrieve said stored content from the remote device in response to a user input.

15. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a voice recognition module housed in said housing and operable to control at least some functionality of the web browser.

16. A mobile telephone device, comprising:

a housing configured to be handheld;

a processor housed in said housing;

a memory communicatively coupled to said processor and storing a program code executable by said processor;

a display communicatively coupled to said processor;

an image input module coupled to said processor and configured to capture image data including still images and motion video content;

a media player disposed in said housing; and

a communication module including a mobile telephone network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a mobile telephone network;

wherein said communication module is configured to wirelessly receive digital television programming content not originating from a web server;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to;

establish a wireless voice communication link with a first device via said mobile telephone network transceiver to provide voice communications between a user and a person using the first device;

establish a wireless data link via the mobile telephone network with a second device to receive content that comprises video content; and

store received video content in memory for subsequent display by said display;

wherein said wireless voice communication link and said wireless data link exist concurrently to simultaneously provide voice and data communications;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store in said memory digital television programming content received via said communication module;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said display to display stored digital television programming content;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store image data captured by said image input module in said memory;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said communication module to wirelessly transmit, via the mobile telephone network, image data received by said image input module to a remote device;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store audio content received via said communication module in said memory and wherein said audio content comprises content other than telephone voice communication content; and

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said media player to play stored audio content.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising a location module communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to determine information of the location of the device.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to wirelessly transmit data of the location of the mobile telephone device.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein said communication module is configurable by the user to output video content to a local device for presentation to the user;

and

wherein said communication module is configurable by the user to retrieve stored audio content from memory and output the retrieved audio content to a local device for presentation to the user.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the content further comprises email content for presentation in an email client.

21. The device according to claim 16, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to transmit data through the Internet via the concurrently existing wireless data link.

22. The device according to claim 16, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to transmit video content through the Internet via the wireless data link that exists concurrently with the wireless voice communication link.

23. The device according to claim 16, wherein said communication module is configured to receive digital radio signals and said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store received digital radio signals in said memory.

24. The device according to claim 16, wherein said communication module further includes a wireless area network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a wireless area network;

and

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to;

determine that the wireless area network and the mobile telephone network are concurrently available to provide wireless communications for the device;

select one of said wireless area network transceiver and said mobile telephone network transceiver for a communication based on one or more rules stored in said memory; and

cause said communication module to establish a wireless communication link via said selected one network transceiver.

25. A mobile telephone device, comprising:

a housing configured to be handheld;

a processor housed in said housing;

a memory communicatively coupled to said processor and storing a program code executable by said processor;

a display communicatively coupled to said processor;

said memory storing a plurality of applications including;

a web browser; and

one or more media players configured to play audio content and video content;

an image input module coupled to said processor and configured to capture image data including still images and motion video content; and

a communication module including a mobile telephone network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a mobile telephone network;

wherein said communication module is configured to wirelessly receive digital television programming content via the mobile telephone network;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to;

provide first communications via the mobile telephone network with a first device to provide voice communications between a user of the device and a person using the first device; and

provide second communications via the mobile telephone network with a second device to receive content for presentation on said display;

wherein said first communications and said second communications are provided concurrently to simultaneously provide voice and data communications;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store received digital television programming content in memory;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said display to display stored digital television programming content;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store image data, including motion video data, captured by said image input module in said memory;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said communication module to wirelessly transmit image data received by said image module to a remote device;

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store audio content received via said communication module in said memory; and

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause one of said one or more media players to audibly produce stored audio content to the user via an audio output device.

26. The device according to claim 25, further comprising a location module communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to determine information of the location of the device.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to wirelessly transmit data of the location of the mobile telephone device.

28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the content received via the second communications comprises content from a web server.

29. The device according to claim 25, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to retrieve stored audio content from memory, and output the retrieved audio content to a local device for presentation to the user.

30. The device according to claim 25, wherein said communication module further includes a wireless area network transceiver communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to wirelessly communicate via a wireless area network;

and

wherein said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to;

determine that the wireless area network and the mobile telephone network are concurrently available to provide wireless communications for the device;

select one of said wireless area network transceiver and said mobile telephone network transceiver for a communication based on one or more rules stored in said memory; and

cause said communication module to establish a wireless communication link via said selected one network transceiver.

31. The device according to claim 25, wherein said communication module is configured to receive a wireless digital television broadcast signal via a communication path that does not include the mobile telephone network.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to store received digital television broadcast in memory for subsequent presentation to the user upon request by the user.

33. The device according to claim 25, wherein the content received via the second communications comprises video content.

34. The device according to claim 25, wherein said communication module is configured to receive digital radio signals and said program code comprises a code segment executable to cause said processor to store received digital radio signals in said memory.