Geo-fencing based functions

• US 9,078,098 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US14/622,801
• Time in Patent Office: 144 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for geo-fencing using a mobile device. In certain instances, the geo-function setting sets boundaries relating to when alerts may be presented to a user of the electronic device, or when an alert may be transmitted to another electronic device. A geo-function setting may relate a perimeter around a location, or may relate to a perimeter bracketing a pre-defined route traversed by a person carrying the electronic device. When the electronic device crosses a perimeter, an alert may be presented or transmitted according to the operating system setting. In other instances, a geo-function may be initiated though a user interface of the electronic device, and may relate to the learning of a route traversed by a person carrying the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for performing geo-fencing on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving information from a user of the mobile device, the received information associating one or more functions with one or more identified geographic locations;

downloading information from one or more third party databases regarding a plurality of geographic locations, wherein the downloaded information is stored in memory of the mobile device; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

monitors a current location of the mobile device, wherein a presence of a beacon is detected by the mobile device at the current location,

updates the stored information to include a geographic location of the detected beacon,

determines that the current location of the mobile device is part of a defined route, wherein the stored information is updated to include one or more geographic locations associated with the route,

defines one or more geo-fences, each geo-fence defined as a specified range around an associated one of the geographic locations included in the updated information,

compares the current location of the mobile device with the defined geo-fences, wherein the comparison indicates that the mobile device has crossed one of the defined geo-fences, and wherein the crossed geo-fence is associated with one of the geographic locations identified by the user, and

performs at least one of the functions associated with the identified geographic location in accordance with the received information from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes a start point and a stop point to the route, and wherein the route is circumscribed by one of the one or more geo-fences that identifies a path, wherein the path is within a perimeter distance around a line connecting one or more points along the route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the route was learned by a method comprising:

identifying a start location when the user indicates the start of the route;

tracking one or more points along the route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the route, wherein the geo-fence identifies the path as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the route; and

identifying an end location when the user indicates the end of the route.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing reverse directions based on the learned route, wherein the reverse directions follow the learned route in reverse.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified range is a physical distance defined by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more functions include an alert that is initiated when the current location of the mobile device is within the specified range of the one or more identified geographic locations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified range is a temporal distance defined by the user, wherein the one or more functions are performed when the mobile device is estimated to be within the temporal distance of the identified one or more geographic locations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the perimeter distance around the beacon is determined by receiving a signal from the beacon.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing reverse directions based on the learned route, wherein the reverse directions follows the learned route in reverse.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information comprises an identification of a remote user device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information comprises a contact card identified by the user.

12. An apparatus for performing geo-fencing on a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface that receives information from a user, the received information associating one or more functions with one or more identified geographic locations;

an antenna that receives wireless signals, wherein the antenna is used when downloading information from one or more third party databases regarding a plurality of geographic locations; and

a processor that executes instructions stored in memory, wherein the information downloaded is also stored in the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

monitors a current location of the mobile device, wherein a presence of a beacon is detected by the mobile device at the current location,

updates the stored information to include a geographic location of the detected beacon,

determines that the current location of the mobile device is part of a defined route, wherein the stored information is updated to include one or more geographic locations associated with the route,

defines one or more geo-fences, each geo-fence defined as a specified range around an associated one of the geographic locations included in the updated information,

compares the current location of the mobile device with the defined geo-fences, wherein the comparison indicates that the mobile device has crossed one of the defined geo-fences, and wherein the crossed geo-fence is associated with one of the geographic locations identified by the user, and

performs at least one of the functions associated with the identified geographic location in accordance with the received information from the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the received information includes a start point and a stop point of the route, and wherein the route is circumscribed by one of the one or more geo-fences that identifies a path, wherein the path is within a perimeter distance around a line connecting one or more points along the route.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor learns the route by:

identifying a start location when the user indicates the start of the route;

tracking one or more points along the route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the route, wherein the geo-fence identifies the path as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the route; and

identifying an end location when the user indicates the end of the route.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the specified range is a physical distance defined by the user.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the specified range is a temporal distance defined by the user, wherein the one or more functions are performed when the mobile device is estimated to be within the temporal distance of the identified on or more geographic locations.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a process to perform a method for performing geo-fencing in a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving information from a user of the mobile device, the received information associating one or more functions with one or more identified geographic locations;

downloading information from one or more third party databases regarding a plurality of geographic locations, wherein the downloaded information is stored in memory of the mobile device; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

monitors a current location of the mobile device, wherein a presence of a beacon is detected by the mobile device at the current location,

updates the stored information to include a geographic location of the detected beacon,

determines that the current location of the mobile device is part of a defined route, wherein the stored information is updated to include one or more geographic locations associated with the route,

defines one or more geo-fences, each geo-fence defined as a specified range around an associated one of the geographic locations included in the updated information,

compares the current location of the mobile device with the defined geo-fences, wherein the comparison indicates that the mobile device has crossed one of the defined geo-fences, and wherein the crossed geo-fence is associated with one of the geographic locations identified by the user, and

performs at least one of the functions associated with the identified geographic location in accordance with the received information from the user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the program being further executable to learn the route by:

identifying a start location when the user indicates the start of the route;

tracking one or more points along the route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the route, wherein the geo-fence identifies the path as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the route; and

identifying an end location when the user indicates the end of the route.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, the program being further executable to provide reverse directions based on the learned route, wherein the reverse directions follow the learned route in reverse.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the specified range is a physical distance defined by the user.