Obtaining a geo-fence without a network download

• US 9,363,635 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Finlow-Bates, Keir, Veikko Taneli Viskari, Joonas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US13/672,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/411, 340/539.13, 235/385
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing and obtaining a geo-fence without a network download are disclosed. An embodiment generates geo-fence parameters and encodes the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media, wherein the geo-fence parameters are transferred to a location-enabled mobile device when the location-enabled mobile device scans the portable storage media. An embodiment scans, by a location-enabled mobile device, a portable storage media, wherein the portable storage media stores geo-fence parameters, and wherein scanning the portable storage media transfers the geo-fence parameters to the location-enabled mobile device. An embodiment includes a non-transitory portable storage media comprising geo-fence parameters, including a perimeter of a geo-fence and one or more alert conditions associated with the perimeter of the geo-fence, wherein scanning the portable storage media transfers the geo-fence parameters to a location-enabled mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

generating geo-fence parameters, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

encoding the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media comprising a matrix barcode,

wherein the geo-fence parameters are capable of being transferred to a location-enabled mobile device without the network download, and

wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix barcode is presented on a passive device that consumes no power.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise a perimeter of the geo-fence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more alert conditions comprise one or more of:

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence;

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence;

remaining within the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

leaving the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period;

or

exiting the parameter of the geo-fence during a specified time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues the alert to a user of the location-enabled mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues the alert to a party monitoring the geo-fence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage media is placed adjacent to an area bounded by the geo-fence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is one of a cell phone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a user of the location-enabled mobile device obtains the location-enabled mobile device from a vendor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is provided to a user by personnel associated with the geo-fence.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more alert conditions comprise one or more of:

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence;

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence;

remaining within the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

leaving the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period;

or

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the issuing comprises issuing the alert to a user of the location-enabled mobile device.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the issuing comprises issuing the alert to a party monitoring the geo-fence.

11. A method for obtaining a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

reading, by a location-enabled mobile device, a matrix barcode; and

obtaining, by the location-enabled mobile device, geo-fence parameters based on the matrix barcode without the network download, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions, and

issuing, by the location-enabled mobile device, an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a passive device that consumes no power.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise a perimeter of the geo-fence.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the matrix barcode is placed adjacent to an area bounded by the geo-fence.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is one of a cell phone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a user of the location-enabled mobile device obtains the location-enabled mobile device from a vendor.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is provided to a user by personnel associated with the geo-fence.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is a mobile device capable of obtaining its geographic position.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a geographic position of the location-enabled mobile device using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

attempting to augment the geographic position based on an accuracy of the geographic position being less than a threshold.

24. An apparatus for providing a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

generating geo-fence parameters, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

encoding the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media comprising a matrix barcode,

wherein the geo-fence parameters are capable of being transferred to a location-enabled mobile device without the network download, and

wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the matrix barcode is presented on a passive device that consumes no power.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise a perimeter of the geo-fence.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the one or more alert conditions comprise one or more of:

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence;

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence;

remaining within the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

leaving the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period;

or

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues the alert to a user of the location-enabled mobile device.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues the alert to a party monitoring the geo-fence.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the portable storage media is placed adjacent to an area bounded by the geo-fence.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is one of a cell phone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a user of the location-enabled mobile device obtains the location-enabled mobile device from a vendor.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is provided to a user by personnel associated with the geo-fence.

34. An apparatus for obtaining a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

at least one processor of a location-enabled mobile device; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus location-enabled mobile device to perform operations comprising;

reading, a matrix barcode; and

obtaining geo-fence parameters based on the matrix barcode without the network download, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions, and

issuing, by the location-enabled mobile device, an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the matrix barcode is displayed on a passive device that consumes no power.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise a perimeter of the geo-fence.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the one or more alert conditions comprise one or more of:

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence;

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence;

remaining within the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

leaving the perimeter of the geo-fence for more than a specified time;

entering the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period;

or

exiting the perimeter of the geo-fence during a specified time period.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the issuing comprises issuing the alert to a user of the location-enabled mobile device.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the issuing comprises issuing the alert to a party monitoring the geo-fence.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the matrix barcode is placed adjacent to an area bounded by the geo-fence.

41. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is one of a cell phone, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant.

42. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a user of the location-enabled mobile device obtains the location-enabled mobile device from a vendor.

43. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is provided to a user by personnel associated with the geo-fence.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the location-enabled mobile device is a mobile device capable of obtaining its geographic position.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a geographic position of the location-enabled mobile device based on a global positioning system (GPS) receiver of the location-enabled mobile device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the operations further comprise:

attempting to augment the geographic position based on an accuracy of the geographic position being less than a threshold.

47. An apparatus for providing a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

logic configured to generate geo-fence parameters, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

logic configured to encode the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media comprising a matrix barcode,

wherein the geo-fence parameters are capable of being transferred to a location-enabled mobile device without the network download, and

wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

48. An apparatus for obtaining a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

logic configured to read, by a location-enabled mobile device, a matrix barcode;

logic configured to obtain, by the location-enabled mobile device, geo-fence parameters based on the matrix barcode without the network download, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

logic configured to issue, by the location-enabled mobile device, an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

49. An apparatus for providing a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

means for generating geo-fence parameters, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions;

means for encoding the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media comprising a matrix barcode,

wherein the geo-fence parameters are capable of being transferred to a location-enabled mobile device without the network download, and

wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

50. An apparatus for obtaining a geo-fence without a network download,

comprising:

means for reading, by a location-enabled mobile device, a matrix barcode; and

means for obtaining, by the location-enabled mobile device, geo-fence parameters based on the matrix barcode without the network download, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

means for issuing, by the location-enabled mobile device, an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

51. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

at least one instruction to generate geo-fence parameters, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

at least one instruction to encode the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media comprising a matrix barcode,

wherein the geo-fence parameters are capable of being transferred to a location-enabled mobile device without the network download, and

wherein the location-enabled mobile device issues an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.

52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for obtaining a geo-fence without a network download, comprising:

at least one instruction to cause a location-enabled mobile device to read barcode;

at least one instruction to cause the location-enabled mobile device to obtain geo-fence parameters based on the matrix barcode without the network download, wherein the geo-fence parameters comprise one or more alert conditions; and

at least one instruction to cause the location-enabled mobile device to issue an alert based on the one or more alert conditions being satisfied.