Integrating mobile devices into a fixed communication infrastructure

• US 8,874,108 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amadeus S.A.S. (Amadeus Global Travel Distribution S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Amadeus S.A.S. (Amadeus Global Travel Distribution S.A.)
• Inventors: Orton, David, Dersy, Julien, Sheth, Milan, Domurado, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US13/721,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/06 De-registration or detaching
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for use with a wireless communication network. A fixed communication network includes a device server and a fixed information technology (IT) device coupled with the device server. A mobile communication device is coupled by the wireless communication network with the device server and with the IT device. The device server is configured to store identification information for the IT device. The mobile communication device is configured to determine a current location of the mobile communication device, to request the identification information for the IT device from the device server over the wireless communication network, to receive the identification information for the IT device over the wireless communication network from the device server, and to transmit a service request, based upon the identification information, over the wireless communication network to the IT device.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a mobile communication device with a fixed communication network including a device server and a plurality of information technology (IT) devices each having identification information registered at the device server, the method comprising:

determining a current location of the mobile communication device;

sending, from the mobile communication device over a wireless communication link with the fixed communication network, the current location of the mobile communication device and a request for the identification information for the IT devices from the device server;

receiving the identification information for one or more of the IT devices at the mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the device server; and

based upon the identification information, transmitting a service request from the mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication infrastructure to one of the IT devices for which the identification information is received.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device is a first mobile communication device, and further comprising:

registering the identification information of the first mobile communication device and the current location of the first mobile communication device at a location server of the fixed communication network; and

in response to a change in the current location of the first mobile communication device, updating the current location of the first mobile communication device at the location server.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

communicating a first request for a current location of a second mobile communication device registered with the fixed communication network from the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the location server; and

in response to the first request, receiving, at the first mobile communication device, the current location of the second mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the location server.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein location information for each of the IT devices is registered at the location server, and further comprising:

transmitting the current location of the first mobile communication device and a current orientation of the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the location server; and

receiving, at the first mobile communication device, the location information regarding at least one of the IT devices over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the location server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first mobile communication device comprises a camera, and further comprising:

displaying an image taken by the camera on the first mobile communication device; and

overlaying a virtual representation of the location information for at least one of the IT devices on the image.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the fixed communication network further comprises a content management server, content information regarding at least one of the IT devices is registered at the location server, and further comprising:

communicating a second request for the content information regarding the at least one of the IT devices from the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the content management server; and

in response to the second request, receiving, at the first mobile communication device, the content information over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the content management server.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first mobile communication device comprises a camera, and further comprising:

displaying an image taken by the camera on the first mobile communication device; and

overlaying a virtual representation of the location information and the content information for the at least one of the IT devices on the image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identification information of each of the IT devices includes a location of the IT device, and further comprising:

receiving the location of each of the IT devices from the device server over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network at the mobile communication device; and

communicating the current location of the mobile communication device, a current orientation of the mobile communication device, and the location of each of the IT devices from the mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the wireless communication link to a location server of the fixed communication network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at the first mobile communication device, map information regarding the mobile communication device and each of the IT devices from the location server over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network; and

based upon the map information, displaying a map representation on the mobile communication device indicating the current location of the mobile communication device and the location of one or more of the IT devices.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein further comprising:

selecting one of the IT devices from the map representation.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing the IT device receiving the transmitted service request to service the service request.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the identification information of the mobile communication device and the current location of the mobile communication device at a location server of the fixed communication network;

transmitting a navigation request from the mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the location server for navigation information from the current location to a destination;

computing the navigation information at the location server;

communicating the navigation information from the location server over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the mobile communication device; and

displaying a map representation on the mobile communication device indicating the current location, the destination, and the navigation information.

13. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium; and

computer executable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and configured upon execution to perform the method of claim 1.

14. An apparatus for use with a fixed communication network including a device server and plurality of information technology (IT) devices each having identification information registered at the device server, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile communication device coupled by a wireless communication link with the fixed communication network, the mobile communication device including at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

determine a current location of the mobile communication device;

send the current location of the mobile communication device and a request for the identification information for the IT devices over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the device server;

receive the identification information for one or more of the IT devices over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the device server; and

transmit a service request, based upon the identification information, over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication infrastructure to one of the IT devices for which the identification information is received.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile communication device is a first communication device, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

register the identification information of the first mobile communication device and the current location of the first mobile communication device at a location server of the fixed communication network; and

in response to a change in the current location of the first mobile communication device, update the current location of the first mobile communication device at the location server.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

communicate a first request for a current location of a second mobile communication device registered with the fixed communication network from the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the location server; and

in response to the first request, receive, at the first mobile communication device, the current location of the second mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the location server.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

register the identification information of the first mobile communication device and the current location of the first mobile communication device at the location server;

transmit the current location of the first mobile communication device and a current orientation of the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the location server; and

receive, at the first mobile communication device, location information regarding at least one of the IT devices over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the location server.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first mobile communication device comprises a camera, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

display an image taken by the camera on the first mobile communication device; and

overlay a virtual representation of the location information for at least one of the IT devices on the image.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the fixed communication network further comprises a content management server, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

communicate a second request for content information regarding the IT device from the first mobile communication device over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to the content management server; and

in response to the second request, receive, at the first communication device, the content information over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network from the content management server.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first mobile communication device comprises a camera, and the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

display an image taken by the camera on the first mobile communication device; and

overlay a virtual representation of the location information for at least one of the IT devices and the content information on the image.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the IT device comprises a work station, a printer, a scanner, an information display, a copier, or a fax machine.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile communication device comprises a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a notebook, or a tablet computer.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the IT device comprises a printer, and the service request is a print request.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the fixed communication network comprises a departure control system implemented at an airport.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

receive, at the first mobile communication device, a location of each of the IT devices from the device server over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network; and

communicate the current location of the mobile communication device, a current orientation of the mobile communication device, and the location of each of the IT devices over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network to a location server of the fixed communication network.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further cause the apparatus to:

receive, at the first mobile communication device, map information regarding the mobile communication device and each of the IT devices from the location server over the wireless communication link with the fixed communication network; and

based upon the map information, display a map representation on the mobile communication device indicating the current location of the mobile communication device and the location of one or more of the IT devices.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the mobile communication device is configured for selecting the IT device from the map representation.