Coverage area-centric data transmission methods and systems

• US 9,319,839 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zappoint Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zappoint Corporation
• Inventors: Hou, Yi-An, Chien, Hsi-Tsun
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US14/788,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/440, 455/432.1, 455/456.2, 455/454, 455/418, 455/436, 455/186.1, 455/421, 370/235, 370/252, 370/328, 370/329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Coverage area-centric data transmission systems and methods are provided. First, the location of an electronic device is obtained, and a coverage area parameter is received. A data transmission coverage area is defined according to the location of the electronic device and the coverage area parameter. Then, specific data corresponding to the electronic device is transmitted to at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

Claims

1. A coverage area-centric data transmission method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

obtaining a location of the electronic device;

receiving a coverage area parameter;

defining a data transmission coverage area according to the location of the electronic device and the coverage area parameter;

obtaining the location of at least one candidate electronic device;

determining whether the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area according to the location of the at least one candidate electronic device; and

when the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area, transmitting specific data corresponding to the electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the location of the electronic device and the coverage area parameter to a server via a network, wherein the data transmission coverage area is defined according to the location of the electronic device and the coverage area parameter by the server, and the server transmits the specific data corresponding to the electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether a specific candidate electronic device is present within the data transmission coverage area in a predefined interval; and

when the specific candidate electronic device is present within the data transmission coverage area in the predefined interval, transmitting the specific data corresponding to the electronic device to the specific candidate electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection corresponding to a specific content item, wherein the specific data corresponding to the electronic device is transmitted to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area, in which the specific content item is selected by the at least one candidate electronic device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selecting the coverage area parameter from a plurality of candidate coverage area parameters, and selecting the specific content item from a plurality of candidate content items.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising recording the coverage area parameter or the specific content item, and performing a billing process according to the coverage area parameter or the specific content item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command corresponding to the specific data by the at least one candidate electronic device, and performing a specific process according to the command and the specific data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein when the specific process is performed, the specific data is deleted, the specific data is collected, related information of a user corresponding to the candidate electronic device is provided to the electronic device, or a communication session between the candidate electronic device and the electronic device is established.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection corresponding to the specific data from a plurality of candidate data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the coverage area parameter comprises a distance or a region.

11. A coverage area-centric data transmission method for use in an electronic device, comprising:

receiving a location of a specific electronic device from the specific electronic device;

receiving a coverage area parameter from the specific electronic device;

defining a data transmission coverage area according to the location of the specific electronic device and the coverage area parameter;

receiving the location of at least one candidate electronic device;

determining whether the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area according to the location of the at least one candidate electronic device; and

when the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area, transmitting specific data corresponding to the specific electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

12. A coverage area-centric data transmission system for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a positioning circuit outputting a location of the electronic device;

a reception circuit receiving a coverage area parameter, and the location of at least one candidate electronic device; and

a processing circuit defining a data transmission coverage area according to the location of the electronic device and the coverage area parameter, determining whether the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area according to the location of the at least one candidate electronic device, and when the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area, transmitting specific data corresponding to the electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

13. A coverage area-centric data transmission system for use in an electronic device, comprising:

a network connecting circuit receiving a location of at least one candidate electronic device, receiving the location of a specific electronic device, and receiving a coverage area parameter from the specific electronic device; and

a processing circuit defining a data transmission coverage area according to the location of the specific electronic device and the coverage area parameter, determining whether the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area according to the location of the at least one candidate electronic device, and when the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area, transmitting specific data corresponding to the specific electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising a computer program, which, when executed, causes a device to perform a coverage area-centric data transmission method, wherein the method comprises:

receiving a location of a specific electronic device from the specific electronic device;

receiving a coverage area parameter from the specific electronic device;

defining a data transmission coverage area according to the location of the specific electronic device and the coverage area parameter;

receiving the location of at least one candidate electronic device;

determining whether the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area according to the location of the at least one candidate electronic device; and

when the at least one candidate electronic device is within the data transmission coverage area, transmitting specific data corresponding to the specific electronic device to the at least one candidate electronic device within the data transmission coverage area.