Geo-fence based alerts
First Claim
1. A method for providing geo-fence based alerts in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
- maintaining, at the first wireless subscriber device, a geo-fence database containing (i) geo-fence definitions and (ii) an updateable geo-fence to alert mapping that, for each geo-fence definition, designates an assigned alert for playback and is updateable via an over-the-air message received via a transceiver of the first wireless subscriber device;
determining, by a first wireless subscriber device, a current location of the first wireless subscriber device;
detecting, by the first wireless subscriber device, a geo-fence trigger comprising determining, as a function of the determined current location and the geo-fence database, that the first wireless subscriber device has either (i) crossed a geo-fence boundary into a first geo-fence defined in the geo-fence database or (ii) is within the first geo-fence and has not yet begun playing back an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and
responsive to detecting the geo-fence trigger;
identifying, by the first wireless subscriber device and as a function of the geo-fence to alert mapping, an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and
beginning playback, by the first wireless subscriber device, of the alert associated with the first geo-fence.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Geo-fence based alerts are provided in a wireless communications network. A first subscriber device (SD) in the wireless communications network determines its current location. The first SD detects a geo-fence trigger by determining, as a function of the determined current location and a stored geo-fence database, that it has either (i) crossed a geo-fence boundary into a first active geo-fence in the stored geo-fence database or (ii) is within the first active geo-fence and has not yet begun playing back an alert associated with the first active geo-fence. Responsively, the first SD identifies an alert associated with the first active geo-fence and begins playback of the alert associated with the first active geo-fence.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for providing geo-fence based alerts in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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maintaining, at the first wireless subscriber device, a geo-fence database containing (i) geo-fence definitions and (ii) an updateable geo-fence to alert mapping that, for each geo-fence definition, designates an assigned alert for playback and is updateable via an over-the-air message received via a transceiver of the first wireless subscriber device; determining, by a first wireless subscriber device, a current location of the first wireless subscriber device; detecting, by the first wireless subscriber device, a geo-fence trigger comprising determining, as a function of the determined current location and the geo-fence database, that the first wireless subscriber device has either (i) crossed a geo-fence boundary into a first geo-fence defined in the geo-fence database or (ii) is within the first geo-fence and has not yet begun playing back an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and responsive to detecting the geo-fence trigger; identifying, by the first wireless subscriber device and as a function of the geo-fence to alert mapping, an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and beginning playback, by the first wireless subscriber device, of the alert associated with the first geo-fence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A subscriber device operating in a wireless communications network and capable of entering a power-saving mode, the subscriber device comprising:
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a memory; one of a display and a speaker; a transceiver; and a processor configured to; maintain, in the memory, a geo-fence database containing (i) geo-fence definitions and (ii) an updateable geo-fence to alert mapping that, for each geo-fence definition, designates an assigned alert for playback and is updateable via an over-the-air message received via the transceiver; determine a current location of the first wireless subscriber device; detect a geo-fence trigger comprising determining, as a function of the determined current location and the geo-fence database, that the first wireless subscriber device has either (i) crossed a geo-fence boundary into a first geo-fence defined in the geo-fence database or (ii) is within the first geo-fence and has not yet begun playing back an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and responsive to detecting the geo-fence trigger; identify, as a function of the geo-fence to alert mapping, an alert associated with the first geo-fence; and begin playback, via the one of the display and the speaker, of the alert associated with the first geo-fence.
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16. A geo-fence method at a geo-fence server for providing geo-fence based alerts in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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maintaining, by a geo-fence server, a database of geo-fences within a radio coverage cell of each of one or more base stations associated with each radio coverage cell, the database including a geo-fence to alert mapping that identifies, for each geo-fence in the database, a corresponding alert for playback by a wireless subscriber device when the wireless subscriber device enters the geo-fence; periodically or intermittently causing to be broadcasted, by the geo-fence server and for at least each geo-fence in the database, the geo-fence to alert mapping identifying a corresponding alert for play back by a wireless subscriber device when the wireless subscriber device enters the geo-fence; and responsive to one of (i) detecting an addition to the geo-fence database of a new geo-fence and new geo-fence to alert mapping that maps the new geo-fence to a particular alert, and (ii) a modification to an existing geo-fence to alert mapping associated with an existing geo-fence;
causing the one of the new geo-fence to alert mapping and the modified existing geo-fence to alert mapping to be broadcast in one or more radio coverage cells in which the new geo-fence or existing geo-fence is located. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification