Methods, systems, and computer program products for message filtering based on previous path trajectories and probable destination

• US 8,792,907 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitre Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitre Corporation
• Inventors: Marshall, James W., Ernst, Darrell E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai, Olumide T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/471,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/61, 4554561-4566, 455/423.1, 455/3.02, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for filtering generally-broadcast messages received by a movable unit based on current spatial position, stored trajectory history, and probable future trajectories. A current spatial position of the movable unit is received and stored to form a stored trajectory history. A generally-broadcast message relating to a target geographical region is also received and stored. Potential trajectories of the movable unit are then computed over a pre-determined time based on at least one of the current spatial position, a current travel direction of the movable unit, and the stored trajectory history of the movable unit. The generally-broadcast message is then disseminated in response to at least one potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region during the pre-determined time period. The generally-broadcast message may also be disseminated on the basis of specified user preferences.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a message at a movable unit in a wireless mobile network, comprising:

determining, using a processor, a potential trajectory of the movable unit over a pre-determined time period, the determining including;

adding a current spatial position of the movable unit to a trajectory history of the movable unit,

identifying, from the trajectory history, paths that cross into a target geographical region,

tracing the identified paths away from the target geographical region for the pre-determined time period to establish a set of candidate path segments,

determining a radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit,

identifying a path segment, among the set of candidate path segments, that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit,

computing a travel direction for the movable unit based on the trajectory history, and

selecting the identified path segment that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position as the potential trajectory;

receiving at the movable unit, a generally broadcast message relating to the target geographical region;

storing the generally broadcast-message at the movable unit; and

outputting the generally broadcast-message in response to the potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region and falling within the radial distance of the current spatial position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the identified path segment from among the set of candidate path segments as the potential trajectory is based on at least one of:

(i) the current spatial position of the movable unit matching the candidate path segments, and

(ii) the computed travel direction of the movable unit pointing towards the target geographical region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the identified candidate path segment as the potential trajectory is based on the current spatial position of the movable unit falling within a pre-determined distance of the identified path segment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the identified path segment as the potential trajectory is based on the current spatial position of the movable unit falling within a pre-determined distance of spatial positions along the identified paths within the trajectory history.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a tag associated with the received generally broadcast message, and

wherein outputting the generally broadcast message comprises outputting the generally broadcast message based on the determined tag associated with the generally broadcast message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving tag selection criteria at the movable unit,

wherein outputting the generally broadcast message based on the determined tag comprises outputting generally broadcast messages having a determined tag that matches the received tag selection criteria.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining a tag associated with the received generally broadcast message comprises determining that the generally broadcast message has a tag associated with weather.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein determining a tag associated with the received generally broadcast message comprises determining that the generally broadcast message has a tag associated with an advertisement.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the generally broadcast message comprises at least one of:

(i) presenting the generally broadcast message to a user, (ii) activating an aural alarm, (iii) activating a tactile alarm, (iv) activating a visual alarm, and (v) activating an additional device.

10. A system for receiving a message at a movable unit in a wireless mobile network, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a potential trajectory of the movable unit over a pre-determined time period;

add a current spatial position of the movable unit to a trajectory history of the movable unit, identify, from the trajectory history, paths that cross into a target geographical region;

trace the identified paths away from the target geographical region for the pre-determined time period to establish a set of candidate path segments;

determine a radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit, identify a path segment, among the set of candidate path segments, that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit;

compute a travel direction for the movable unit based on the trajectory history, and select the identified path segment that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position as the potential trajectory;

receive at the movable unit, a generally broadcast message relating to the target geographical region;

store the generally broadcast message at the movable unit;

output the generally broadcast message in response to the potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region and falling within the radial distance of the current spatial position.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the identified path segment as the potential trajectory is based on at least one of:

(i) the current spatial position of the movable unit matching the set of candidate path segments, and

(ii) the computed travel direction of the movable unit pointing towards the target geographical region.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the identified path segment as the potential trajectory based on the current spatial position of the movable unit falling within a pre-determined distance of the selected candidate path segment.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select the identified path segment as the potential trajectory based on the current spatial position of the movable unit falling within a pre-determined distance of spatial positions along the identified paths within the trajectory history.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine a tag associated with the received generally broadcast message, and

output the generally broadcast message based on the determined tag associated with the generally broadcast message.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive tag selection criteria at the movable unit, and

output generally broadcast messages having a determined tag that matches the received tag selection criteria.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the tag associated with the received generally broadcast message is associated with weather.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the tag associated with the received generally broadcast message associated with an advertisement.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to output the generally broadcast message is configured to output the generally broadcast message by at least one of:

(i) presenting the generally broadcast message to a user, (ii) activating an aural alarm, (iii) activating a tactile alarm, (iv) activating a visual alarm, and (v) activating an additional device.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for receiving a message at a movable unit in a wireless mobile network, the operations comprising:

determining, using a processor, a potential trajectory of the movable unit over a pre-determined time period, the determining including;

adding a current spatial position of the movable unit to a trajectory history of the movable unit,

identifying, from the trajectory history, paths that cross into a target geographical region,

tracing the identified paths away from the target geographical region for the pre-determined time period to establish a set of candidate path segments,

determining a radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit,

identifying a path segment, among the set of candidate path segments, that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position of the movable unit,

computing a travel direction for the movable unit based on the trajectory history, and

selecting the identified path segment that falls within the radial distance of the current spatial position as the potential trajectory;

receiving at the movable unit, a generally broadcast message relating to a target geographical region;

storing the generally broadcast message at the movable unit;

outputting the generally broadcast message in response to the potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region and falling within the radial distance of the current spatial position.

20. A method of receiving a message at a movable unit in a wireless mobile network, comprising:

determining, using a processor, a potential trajectory of the movable unit over a pre-determined time period, the determining including;

tracing identified paths away from a target geographical region for the pre-determined time period to establish a set of candidate path segments,

identifying a path segment, among a set of candidate path segments, that falls within a radial distance of a current spatial position of the movable unit, and

selecting the identified path as the potential trajectory;

receiving at the movable unit, a generally broadcast message relating to a target geographical region;

storing the generally broadcast message at the movable unit;

receiving tag selection criteria at the movable unit; and

outputting the generally broadcast message in response to the potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region and the generally broadcast-message being associated with a tag that matches the received tag selection criteria.

21. A system for receiving a message at a movable unit in a wireless mobile network, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

determine a potential trajectory of the movable unit over a pre-determined time period;

trace identified paths away from a target geographical region for the pre-determined time period to establish a set of candidate path segments;

identify a path segment, among a set of candidate path segments, that falls within a radial distance of a current spatial position of the movable unit;

selecting the identified path as the potential trajectory;

receive at the movable unit, a generally broadcast message relating to a target geographical region;

store the generally broadcast message at the movable unit;

receive tag selection criteria at the movable unit; and

output the generally broadcast message in response to the potential trajectory crossing into the target geographical region and the generally broadcast-message being associated with a tag that matches the received tag selection criteria.