Concepts for providing notifications for events of interest

• US 9,876,693 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Liangche A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aguiar, Johnny
• Application Number:
  US14/335,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709223, 709224, 709227, 709228, 455 411, 455 412, 4554561, 4554563, 455457, 370254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• 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: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• 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 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, the location of computing entities can be monitored to determine whether they are within a configurable distance from each other. In another embodiment, direct communications with each other can be monitored. The locations or communications can be used to initiate specific actions/steps.

Claims

1. A method for providing notifications for events of interest, the method comprising:

responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, storing, via a server entity, a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest;

receiving, via the server entity, a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity;

responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other;

storing, via the server entity, the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other,

determining, via the server entity, whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and

responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, providing, via the server entity, a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other;

receiving, via the server entity, a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and

responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other;

storing, via the server entity, a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and

providing, via the server entity, a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other.

2. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, store a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest;

receive a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity;

responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other;

store the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other,

determine whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and

responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, provide a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other;

receive a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and

responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other;

store a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and

provide a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other.

3. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to, responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, store a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest;

an executable portion configured to receive a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity;

an executable portion configured to, responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other;

store the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other,

determine whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and

responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, provide a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other;

an executable portion configured to receive a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and

an executable portion configured to, responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other;

store a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and

provide a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other.