Mobile system for proximity based task notification for mobile devices

• US 10,038,974 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Dishneau, Darin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fang, Keith
• Application Number:
  US14/658,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

This document describes proximity-based task notification. By notifying a user of an entity at which the user can perform a task when that entity is near to the user, the techniques enable the user to decide, at a time and location likely convenient to the user, whether or not to perform the task now at the entity or wait until a later occasion. If the user wishes to forgo performing the task, the techniques can notify the user again when the entity or some other entity is likely to be convenient to the user.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising;

receiving information associated with a task, the information comprising a deadline for completion of the task;

performing, based on the information, a search to determine entities at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on the information and the performed search, a location of a first entity at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on a location of a mobile device, that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within a proximity of the mobile device the proximity comprising a geographical or temporal distance from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within the first proximity of the mobile device, causing the mobile device to output a first notification, the first notification including the location of the first entity;

altering the proximity based on a passage of time and the task not being performed by increasing the geographical or temporal distance;

determining, based on a second location of the mobile device, that a second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity of the mobile device; and

responsive to determining that the second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity, causing the mobile device to output a second notification, the second notification including the location of the second entity.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise outputting a third notification of a distance between the location of the first entity and the location of the mobile device or between the location of the second entity and the location of the mobile device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

outputting a third notification of an estimated amount of time for travelling between the location of the first entity and the location of the mobile device or between the second entity and the location of the mobile device.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the task includes a priority of the task.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the deadline is set by default, by where entered into an electronic calendar, or specifically by a user.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the determining the first entity or the second entity at which the task can be performed further comprises determining one or more classes of entities or a set of specific entities at which the task can be performed.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises determining brands carried by, hours of operation of, or current pricing at the first entity or the second entity at which the task can be performed.

8. The computing device of claim 1, the instructions further comprising determining the first entity or the second entity from among one or more classes of entities at which the task can be performed.

9. The computing device of claim 1, the instructions further comprising determining a single entity from among a set of specific entities at which the task can be performed, and wherein the determining is based on a user'"'"'s history or preference.

10. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the task comprises obtaining an item that may be obtained from the first entity or the second entity and wherein the item comprises at least one of a product, a good, or a service.

11. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the task is not performed during the passage of time because a user out-right indicates no interest in performing the task at the first entity.

12. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the location of the second entity is at a greater geographical or temporal distance from the mobile device than the location of the first entity.

13. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second notification further includes the location of the first entity at which the task can be performed.

14. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining, based on the information associated with the task, the geographical or temporal distance, the search being performed over the geographical or temporal distance to determine proximity with the entities at which the task can be performed.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise:

altering, based on updated information associated with the task, a size of the geographical or temporal distance over which the search is performed.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the updated information includes an updated deadline for completion of the task or other information associated with another task that can be performed near the determined entities at which the task can be performed.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the other information is associated with at least two or more other tasks that can be performed near the determined entities at which the task can be performed.

18. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving information associated with a task, the information comprising a deadline for completion of the task;

performing, based on the information, a search to determine entities at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on the information and the performed search, a location of a first entity at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on a location of a mobile device, that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within a proximity of the mobile device the proximity comprising a geographical or temporal distance from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within the first proximity of the mobile device, causing the mobile device to output a first notification, the first notification including the location of the first entity;

altering the proximity based on a passage of time and the task not being performed by increasing the geographical or temporal distance;

determining, based on a second location of the mobile device, that a second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity of the mobile device; and

responsive to determining that the second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity, causing the mobile device to output a second notification, the second notification including the location of the second entity.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the mobile device is not located at another entity at which another task is scheduled to be performed.

20. A system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising;

receiving information associated with a task, the information comprising a deadline for completion of the task;

performing, based on the information, a search to determine entities at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on the information and the performed search, a location of a first entity at which the task can be performed;

determining, based on a location of a mobile device, that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within a proximity of the mobile device the proximity comprising a geographical or temporal distance from the mobile device;

responsive to determining that the first entity at which the task can be performed is within the first proximity of the mobile device, causing the mobile device to output a first notification, the first notification including the location of the first entity;

altering the proximity, based on a passage of time and the task not being performed by increasing the geographical or temporal distance;

determining, based on a second location of the mobile device, that a second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity of the mobile device; and

responsive to determining that the second entity at which the task can be performed is within the altered proximity, causing the mobile device to output a second notification, the second notification including the location of the second entity.