Systems and methods for providing location-based services to users

• US 20040203883A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.), Papst-Motoren GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Jollis, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/298,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203883A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Methods for providing location-based services to users are provided. A representative method comprises acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations associated with a user and using the information acquired to approximate a future location of the user. Systems, computer-readable media and other methods also are provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based services to a user comprising:

acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations associated with a user; and

using the information acquired to approximate a future location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations comprises acquiring information corresponding to at least one of:

antennas with which a mobile communication device associated with the user communicated and an antenna with which the mobile communication device currently communicates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations comprises acquiring information corresponding to the antennas with which the mobile communication device has communicated an information signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations comprises acquiring information corresponding to cell base stations with which a cell phone associated with the user has communicated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein using the information comprises analyzing the information corresponding to antenna locations to determine an approximate direction of travel of the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein using the information comprises analyzing the information corresponding to antenna locations to determine an approximate speed of travel of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing information to the user based upon the approximated future location of the user.

8. A method for providing location-based services to a user comprising:

providing information to a user based upon an approximated future location of the user, the approximated future location being determined by analyzing information corresponding to antenna locations associated with the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing information to a user comprises providing the information to the user via a mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein providing information to a user comprises:

determining a first geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a first time in the future; and

providing first information to the user that corresponds to the first geographic area determined.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing information to a user further comprises:

determining a second geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a second time in the future; and

providing second information to the user that corresponds to the second geographic area determined.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

acquiring information corresponding to antenna locations associated with the user; and

using the information acquired to determine the approximated future location of the user.

13. A system for providing location-based services to a user comprising:

a locating system operative to acquire information corresponding to antenna locations associated with a user and use the information acquired to approximate a future location of the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the locating system is operative to acquire information corresponding to at least one of:

antennas with which a mobile communication device associated with the user communicated and an antenna with which the mobile communication device currently communicates.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the locating system is operative to determine an approximate direction of travel of the user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the locating system is operative to determine an approximate speed of travel of the user.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a mobile communication device;

and

wherein the locating system is resident in the mobile communication device.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a location-based service system operative to provide information to the user based upon the approximated future location of the user.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a location-based service system operative to provide information to the user based upon a current location of the user.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing information to the user based upon the approximated future location of the user.

21. A system for providing location-based services to a user comprising:

a location-based service system operative to provide information to a user based upon an approximated future location of the user, the approximated future location being determined by analyzing information corresponding to antenna locations associated with the user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the location-based service system is operative to receive information corresponding to a first geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a first time in the future and to provide first information to the user that corresponds to the first geographic area.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the location-based service system is operative to determine a first geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a first time in the future;

and provide first information to the user that corresponds to the first geographic area determined.

24. A computer-readable medium having a computer program for providing location-based services to a user, said computer-readable medium comprising:

logic configured to acquire information corresponding to antenna locations associated with a user; and

logic configured to use the information acquired to approximate a future location of the user.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to acquire information comprises logic configured to acquire information corresponding to at least one of:

antennas with which a mobile communication device associated with the user communicated and an antenna with which the mobile communication device currently communicates.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to use the information comprises logic configured to analyze the information corresponding to antenna locations to determine an approximate direction of travel of the user.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the logic configured to use the information comprises logic configured to analyze the information corresponding to antenna locations to determine an approximate speed of travel of the user.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising:

logic configured to provide information to the user based upon the approximated future location of the user.

29. A computer-readable medium having a computer program for providing location-based services to a user, said computer-readable medium comprising:

logic configured to provide information to a user based upon an approximated future location of the user, the approximated future location being determined by analyzing information corresponding to antenna locations associated with the user.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the logic configured to provide information is operative to receive information corresponding to a first geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a first time in the future and to provide first information to the user that corresponds to the first geographic area.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the logic configured to provide information is operative to determine a first geographic area within which the user is expected to be located at a first time in the future;

and provide first information to the user that corresponds to the first geographic area determined.