Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules

• US 9,125,169 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAHEED, KHALID W
• Application Number:
  US14/316,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25841 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; arrangements for identifying locations of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/51; location of the user terminal in data switching networks H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods and systems for performing actions based on location-based rules are provided. In particular, these methods and systems may store an entertainment profile of a user, wherein the entertainment profile identifies entertainment media characteristics of the user. It may then be determined that the user entered a predetermined range of a location. In response to this, a location-based rule that corresponds to the location and that defines an action to be taken may be automatically identified. Based on the location-based rule, the location, and the entertainment profile of the user, the action may be performed.

Claims

1. A method of defining a location based rule, the method comprising:

receiving, by processing circuitry, a location and a shape, wherein the shape received is one of a circle, a square or a shape drawn on a map, wherein, based on the shape received by the processing circuitry, the processing circuitry is configured to process one of a diagonal distance of the square and the diameter distance of the circle, wherein the diagonal and diameter distances are selected from the group consisting of miles, feet, city blocks, and any unit of measure;

defining a range of the location based on the location received and the shape received;

receiving an instruction corresponding to an action to be performed on at least one of a first user equipment device and a second user equipment device, wherein the action is to be performed responsive to detecting a user within the range of the location; and

storing a location-based rule that comprises the range of the location and the received instruction corresponding to the action to be performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the range is based on city borders.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the range comprises multiple sub-areas that need not be connected to other areas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the range comprises time parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is based on an address received from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is based on a present location of a mobile device currently being used to access a configuration interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shape includes a largest distance within the range.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the processing circuitry, a size; and

further defining the range based on the size received.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the size is a largest distance within the range.

10. A system for defining a location based rule, the system comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry configured to;

receive a location and a shape, wherein the shape received is one of a circle, a square or a shape drawn on a map, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured, based on the shape received, to process one of a diagonal distance of the square and the diameter distance of the circle, wherein the diagonal and diameter distances are selected from the group consisting of miles, feet, city blocks, and any unit of measure;

define a range of the location based on the location received and the shape received;

receive an instruction corresponding to an action to be performed on at least one of a first user equipment device and a second user equipment device, wherein the action is to be performed responsive to detecting a user within the range of the location; and

store, in the memory, a location-based rule that comprises the range of the location and the received instruction of the action to be performed.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the range is based on city borders.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the range comprises multiple sub-areas that need not be connected to other areas.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the range comprises time parameters.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the location is based on an address received from the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the location is based on a present location of a mobile device currently being used to access a configuration interface.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the shape includes a largest distance within the range.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the processing circuitry, a size; and

further defining the range based on the size received.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the size is a largest distance within the range.