Proximity-based reminders

• US 9,847,014 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Dotan-Cohen, Dikla, Perry, Lilach, Levin, Liron
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US15/588,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20170243468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 34053911, 4554563, 455419, 455 412, 4554141, 455205, 455 411, 4554221, 4554561, 705 2, 705 2672, 705 732, 705 718, 709204, 709217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A proximity-based reminder system includes one or more proximity detectors for determining whether a distance between two or more paired electronic devices satisfies various criteria. Data transmissions across a wide area network (WAN) are used to determine whether a distance between paired devices satisfies a first proximity condition. Transmissions across a local area network (LAN) are used to determine whether the distance between the paired devices satisfies a second proximity condition. When the first and second proximity conditions are satisfied, the proximity-based reminder system issues a reminder alert notification to one or more of the paired devices.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a receiver to receive a notification indicating that a first distance between a first electronic device and a second electronic device satisfies a first proximity condition, satisfaction of the first proximity condition determined using a first proximity detection mode;

a proximity detector to determine whether a second distance satisfies a second proximity condition using a second proximity detection mode responsive to the received notification and satisfaction of the first proximity condition, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

an alert notifier to be executed by one or more processors that issues a proximity-based reminder alert on the first electronic device responsive to satisfaction of the second proximity condition by the second distance.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of GPS coordinates of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the first distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of cellular network data of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the first distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on information exchanged over a local area network (LAN) to determine whether the second distance satisfies the second proximity condition.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on peer-to-peer communications between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

6. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a pairing server to be executed by the one or more processors and configured to receive confirmation that a first electronic device and a second electronic device are paired for a purpose of enabling proximity-based reminder alerts;

a location tracker to be executed by the one or more processors and configured to determine when a distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device satisfies a first proximity condition using a first proximity detection mode; and

a proximity detector to be executed by the one or more processor and configured to transmit a communication to the first electronic device when the first proximity condition is satisfied, the communication initiating proximity detection using a second proximity detection mode.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the location tracker and the proximity detector are embodied in a cloud-based server.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the location tracker and the proximity detector are embodied in firmware of at least one of the first electronic device or the second electronic device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication is a notification that instructs the first electronic device to attempt a bidirectional communication using the second proximity detection mode.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of GPS coordinates of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of cellular network data of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on information exchanged over a local area network (LAN).

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on peer-to-peer communications between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

14. A method for issuing a reminder alert based on a distance between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a notification when a first distance between the first electronic device and the second electronic device satisfies a first proximity condition, satisfaction of the first proximity condition determined using a first proximity detection mode;

determining whether a second distance satisfies a second proximity condition using a second proximity detection mode responsive to satisfaction of the first proximity condition by the first distance and receipt of the notification, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

issuing the reminder alert via at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device responsive to satisfaction of the second proximity condition by the second distance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of GPS coordinates of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the first distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first proximity detection mode is based on an analysis of cellular network data of at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device to determine whether the first distance satisfies the first proximity condition.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on information exchanged over a local area network (LAN) to determine whether the second distance satisfies the second proximity condition.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the second proximity detection mode is based on peer-to-peer communications between the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the second distance satisfies the second proximity condition further comprises:

attempting a bidirectional communication between the first electronic device and the second electronic device via a LAN responsive to receipt of the notification.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the second proximity condition is satisfied when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are both connected to a same Wi-Fi network.