Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communications Service

• US 20080042899A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brett Stewart
• Original Assignee: Brett Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/450
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of access points suitable for communication with a portable computing device configured to transmit in a wireless transmission a signal including a unit ID identifying said portable computing device, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to independently detect said signal and transmit information to said portable computing device; and

a centralized network configured to access a plurality of information providers coupled to said centralized network based on said unit ID, wherein said information is provided by one or more of the plurality of information providers and is dependent upon said unit ID.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a known location of said access point defines a location of said portable computing device.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said portable computing device includes a time clock, said time clock being updated to provide a time corresponding to actual time in a time zone in which said portable computing device is located, wherein a location of said portable computing device is determined in accordance with a location of said one of said access points.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to extract data from past transactions for each of the mobile users and extrapolating needs of said users.

5. A method comprising:

detecting a portable computing device configured to transmit in a wireless transmission a signal including a unit ID identifying said portable computing device,

selecting information dependent on said unit ID; and

transmitting the information to said portable computing device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a known location of an access point in communication with said portable computing device defines a location of said portable computing device.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising updating a time clock within said portable computing device, said time clock being configured to provide a time corresponding to actual time in a time zone in which said portable computing device is located, wherein a location of said portable computing device is determined in accordance with a location of said access point.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of an access point;

(b) receiving a unit ID identifying said mobile unit to said access point; and

(c) transmitting information to the mobile unit through said access point, wherein the information is selected for transmission based upon past transactions associated with the unit ID.

9. A system comprising:

a plurality of access points suitable for communication with a portable computing device configured to transmit in a wireless transmission a signal including a unit ID identifying said portable computing device, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to independently detect said signal and transmit information to said portable computing device; and

a centralized network configured to access a plurality of information providers coupled to said centralized network based on said unit ID, wherein said information is provided by one or more of the plurality of information providers and is dependent upon said unit ID, and wherein said centralized network is configured to store information indicative of past transactions associated with said user ID and to convey current information to said portable computing device over said centralized network based upon said stored information.