User-definable communications methods and systems

• US 20030195697A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shipping & Transit, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arrivalstar SA
• Inventors: Jones, M. Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 6,741,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; enabling a user to define one or more criteria when each communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others; monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria. A notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A notification method, comprising:

enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;

enabling a user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others;

monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and

providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion of the criteria is a time period when the communications method should be utilized.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one communications method is used concurrently.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using different types of communications devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using the same or the same type of communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to the location;

comparing a current time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods; and

selecting the communication methods based upon the comparing step.

7. A notification system, comprising:

means for enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;

means for enabling a user to define one or more criteria when a communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others;

means for monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and

means for providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one criterion of the criteria is a time period when the communications method should be utilized.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein more than one communications device is notified concurrently.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using different types of communications devices.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein at least two of the communications devices use the same or same type of communications device.