Communication and control system using location aware devices for producing notification messages operating under rule-based control

• US 8,938,256 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Logan, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US13/301,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 4554561-457, 455/466, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 340/988, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 342/450, 342/457, 342/357.2, 342/358
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0236 Threshold setting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A cellular telephone handset stores audio files previously recorded by the user as well as voice mail messages from other users and selectively transmitted selected ones of these files to the remote listener, or to the voice mail system of a remote user. Voice mail messages are composed, stored, transmitted, forwarded and reviewed using a voice mail system without ringing the remote party'"'"'s telephone, much as email is composed, stored, transmitted and reviewed using an email server.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a position detector employing a Global Positioning System for producing position data to detect a current position of the cellular telephone and monitor positions of each of one or more electronic user devices within a range of the cellular telephone based on detection and position reporting of the one or more electronic user devices by the cellular telephone;

a database for accepting and storing one or more rules, each of said rules containing a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one position condition of the cellular telephone relative to the one or more user devices and the action part specifying a Short Message Service (SMS) notification message to be generated and destination to transmit the notification message when said condition part is satisfied, wherein the notification message is transmitted to one of the devices during ongoing conversation which is occurring when the condition is satisfied, or may be transmitted to a called party after a connection is established to that party by dialing a telephone number specified in the action part of the satisfied rule;

a message generator for issuing said notification message when activated,

a processor for activating said message generator to generate said notification message when said position data from said position detector satisfies the condition part of one of said rules; and

a web server for accepting rule definitions from one or more remote users which specifies all or part of one or more of said rules.

2. Apparatus for generating a notification message as set forth in claim 1 further including a web server for accepting rule definitions from one or more remote users which specifies all or part of one or more of said rules.

3. Apparatus for generating a notification message as set forth in claim 1 wherein said position detector employs the Mobile Positioning System to determine said current position of said cellular telephone.

4. Apparatus for generating a notification message as set forth in claim 1 wherein said position detector employs short range radio signaling to determine when said cellular telephone is near said position detector.

5. A computer generated method comprising:

producing position data at a Mobile Positioning System that indicates a current position of a cellular telephone;

a processor monitoring positions of each of one or more electronic user devices within range of the cellular telephone based on detection and position reporting of the one or more electronic user devices by the cellular telephone;

accepting from a web server rule definitions from one or more remote users which specifies all or part of one or more of rules;

storing the one or more rules including a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one position condition of the cellular telephone relative to the one or more devices and the action part specifying a Short Message Service (SMS) notification message to be generated and destination to transmit the notification message when said condition part is satisfied, wherein the notification message is transmitted to one of the devices during ongoing conversation which is occurring when the condition is satisfied, or may be transmitted to a called party after a connection is established to that party by dialing a telephone number specified in the action part of the satisfied rule;

issuing said notification message when activated; and

activating said message generator to generate said notification message when said position data from said position detector satisfies the condition part of one of said rules.

6. The method set forth in claim 5 further comprising accepting rule definitions from one or more remote users that specify all or part of one or more of said rules.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions that in response to being executed result in operations comprising:

producing position data at a Mobile Positioning System that indicates a current position of a cellular telephone;

monitoring positions of each of one or more electronic user devices within range of the cellular telephone based on detection and position reporting of the one or more electronic user devices by the cellular telephone;

accepting from a web server rule definitions from one or more remote users which specifies all or part of one or more of rules;

storing the one or more rules including a condition part and an action part, said condition part defining at least one position condition of the cellular telephone relative to the one or more devices and the action part specifying a Short Message Service (SMS) notification message to be generated and destination to transmit the notification message when said condition part is satisfied, wherein the notification message is transmitted to one of the devices during ongoing conversation which is occurring when the condition is satisfied, or may be transmitted to a called party after a connection is established to that party by dialing a telephone number specified in the action part of the satisfied rule;

issuing said notification message when activated; and

activating said message generator to generate said notification message when said position data from said position detector satisfies the condition part of one of said rules.

8. The computer readable medium set forth in claim 7 having instructions that in response to being executed result in further operations comprising accepting rule definitions from one or more remote users that specify all or part of one or more of said rules.