Providing information about mobile communication devices

• US 9,125,008 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark, Best, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/183,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20120202446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.19, 340/539.1, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and system for providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest is disclosed. A first person associated with the mobile communication device located in the area of interest is identified, wherein the identifying occurs at a location and messaging center. A contact person associated with the first person is identified. Information is provided to the contact person that the mobile communication device associated with the first person is located in the area of interest.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about a mobile communication device with respect to an area of interest, said method comprising:

identifying a first person associated with said mobile communication device located in said area of interest, wherein said identifying occurs at a location and messaging center, wherein said area of interest is a geographical area around an event and is determined by an area of interest establisher associated with said messaging center located remote from said mobile communication device;

identifying a contact person associated with said first person, wherein said contact person is authorized to receive information about said first person; and

providing information to said contact person that said mobile communication device associated with said first person is located in said area of interest and directing said contact person to a location for more information regarding a status of said first person and said area of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying said first person further comprises:

receiving user information regarding said first person from a communication provider associated with said mobile communication device and using said user information for said identifying said contact person.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying said first person further comprising:

providing a request for user information to said mobile communication device within said area of interest, said request consisting of;

a user identity confirmation, a specific location, and a list of any other persons with a user; and

receiving a response from said mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact person is one of a plurality of persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with a communication provider for said mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact person is a plurality of persons.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact person is all persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with a communication provider for said mobile communication device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact person is all persons designated as a contact person in a designation received by a communication provider from said first person.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said contact person is selected by said first person.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said area of interest is an emergency area.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting and receiving a location of said mobile communication device within said area of interest.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a situational report regarding said area of interest to said contact person, said situational report consisting of event information selected from the group consisting of;

location, damage, structure issues, road conditions, and environmental conditions.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing said information to said contact person occurs on a website associated with said location and messaging center.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing said information to said contact person further comprises:

sending a message to said contact person.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said message sent to said contact person is a message selected from the group of messages consisting of:

an email, a text message, and automated voice message.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said information provided to said contact person comprises a last known position of said mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said area of interest comprises an area where an event occurred.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said area of interest is next to where an event occurred but does not include an area where said event occurred.

18. A computer-usable storage medium having instructions embodied therein that when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for providing information about a mobile communication device with respect to an area of interest, said method comprising:

identifying a first person associated with said mobile communication device located in said area of interest, wherein said area of interest is a geographical area around an event and is determined by an area of interest establisher associated with said messaging center located remote from said mobile communication device;

identifying a contact person associated with said first person, wherein said contact person is authorized to receive information about said first person; and

providing information to said contact person that said mobile communication device associated with said first person is located in said area of interest and directing said contact person to a location for more information regarding a status of said first person and said area of interest.

19. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said identifying said first person further comprises:

receiving user information regarding said first person from a communication provider associated with said mobile communication device and using said user information for said identifying said contact person.

20. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said identifying said first person further comprises:

providing a request for user information to said mobile communication device within said area of interest, said request consisting of;

a user identity confirmation, a specific location, and a list of any other persons with a user; and

receiving a response from said mobile communication device.

21. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said contact person is one of a plurality of persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with a communication provider for said mobile communication device.

22. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said contact person is a plurality of persons.

23. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said contact person is all persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with a communication provider for said mobile communication device.

24. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said contact person is all persons designated as a contact person in a designation received by a communication provider from said first person.

25. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said contact person is selected by said first person.

26. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said area of interest is an emergency area.

27. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising:

requesting and receiving a location of said mobile communication device within said area of interest.

28. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 further comprising:

providing a situational report regarding said area of interest to said contact person, said situational report consisting of event information selected from the group consisting of;

location, damage, structure issues, road conditions, and environmental conditions.

29. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said providing said information to said contact person occurs on a website associated with said location and messaging center.

30. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said providing said information to said contact person further comprises:

sending a message to said contact person.

31. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 30 wherein said message sent to said contact person is a message selected from the group of messages consisting of:

an email, a text message, and automated voice message.

32. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said information provided to said contact person comprises a last known position of said mobile communication device.

33. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said area of interest comprises an area where an event occurred.

34. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 18 wherein said area of interest is next to where an event occurred but does not include an area where said event occurred.

35. A location and information system comprising:

an area of interest establisher to establish an area of interest around an event, wherein said area of interest establisher is remote to a mobile communication device;

a communication module to request a location of said mobile communication device associated with a first person located within the area of interest from one or more communications providers that cover the area of interest and to update a database with said location;

a contact person identifier to identify a contact person associated with said first person, wherein said contact person is authorized to receive information about said first person; and

an information generator to generate information regarding said location of said mobile communication device associated with said first person located in said area of interest and to provide said information to said contact person and to direct said contact person to a location for more information regarding a status of said first person and said area of interest.

36. The location and information system of claim 35, further comprising:

a website to provide said information to said contact person.

37. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said information generator is further configured to send said information to said contact person in a message.

38. The location and information system of claim 37 wherein said message sent to said contact person is a message selected from the group of messages consisting of:

an email, a text message, and automated voice message.

39. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said contact person is one of a plurality of persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with said one or more communication providers for said mobile communication device.

40. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said contact person is a plurality of persons.

41. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said contact person is all persons listed in a friends and family plan associated with said one or more communication providers for said mobile communication device.

42. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said contact person is all persons designated as a contact person in a designation received by said one or more communication providers from said first person.

43. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said information generator is further configured to provide a situational report regarding said area of interest to said contact person, said situational report consisting of event information selected from the group consisting of:

location, damage, structure issues, road conditions, and environmental conditions.

44. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said information generator is further configured to provide a last known position of said mobile communication device.

45. The location and information system of claim 35 wherein said area of interest does not include an area where said event occurred.