Method and system for flexible product and service bundling

• US 20080119200A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: McConnell, James T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,020,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods for user-initiated location-based services through messaging. Using a messaging client running on a communication device, a user transmits location information via a text and/or instant message to a recipient. The location information may be obtained from a GPS program or other location determining program accessible or installed on the user'"'"'s communication device. A network identifier such as a URL is created based on the location information and is appended into the message. When the recipient selects the network identifier, electronic content such as a graphic map including the sender'"'"'s location is displayed on the recipient'"'"'s communication device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a user-initiated text message over a network from a first node that is destined for a second node, the message containing location information corresponding to the first node;

generating a network identifier associated with the location information; and

delivering the text message including the network identifier to the second node,

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising generating electronic content based on the location information and outputting the electronic content to the second node when the network identifier is selected by an operator at the second node.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information comprises a geographical coordinates associated with the first node.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the geographical coordinates are supplied by a GPS receiver in communication with the first node.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location information comprises timing information.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising determining a location of the first node based on the timing information.

7. The method according to claim 2, where generating a network identifier associated with the location information comprises generating a uniform resource locator (URL).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein generating electronic content based on the location information comprises generating browser supported content based on information specified in the uniform resource locator.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein generating browser supported content comprises generating content selected from the group comprising maps, location-based advertising, landmarks, and combinations thereof.

10. A messaging system comprising:

a message input interface adapted to receive an electronic message from a first user, the electronic message including location information corresponding to the first user;

a network identifier generating module communicatively coupled to the message input module and adapted to generate a network identifier based at least in part on the location information; and

a communication module communicatively coupled to the network identifier generating module and adapted to forward the electronic message to a second user specified by the first user, the electronic message including the network identifier.

11. The messaging system according to claim 10, further comprising a content generating module adapted to generate electronic content based on information specified in the network identifier in response to the second user selecting the network identifier.

12. The messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the content generating module comprises computer readable code stored in an electronic storage medium adapted to cause a processor to generate electronic content based on one or more input fields specified in the network identifier.

13. The messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the network identifier comprises a URL.

14. The messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the content generating module is adapted to generate a navigation map including a geographic location specified by the location information.

15. The messaging system according to claim 11, wherein the content generating module is adapted to generate content for the first user based on an instruction from the second user and to provide that content to a communication device of the first user.

16. A method comprising:

determining a location of a first network node;

generating a network identifier based on the location; and

sending an electronic message to a second network node, the electronic message including the network identifier.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining a location of a first network node comprises determining geographic coordinates of the first network node.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising presenting electronic content based on information in the network identifier in response to a request sent to the service provider.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein generating a network identifier comprises generating a URL.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein presenting electronic content comprises generating a graphic map of including the location of the first network node and outputting the graphic map to the second network node.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining a location of a first network node comprises receiving location information from a GPS device in communication with the first network node.