METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH USERS OF WIRELESS DEVICES WHEN APPROACHING A PREDETERMINED DESTINATION

• US 20080169937A1
• Filed: 01/16/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lowry, Sadie
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Using cell phones or other wireless devices to notify users of those devices of impending arrival at a selected customer location. The current location of the wireless device is determined and compared with the known location of the destination. When the wireless device is within a predetermined distance or at a predetermined estimated arrival time from the selected destination, an alert is sent to the wireless device and, if authorized, an alert also is sent to the destination. In response to the impending arrival, the destination may provide information for the user concerning offerings at that destination.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a user of a wireless communication device, comprising:

determining a present location of the wireless communication device;

comparing the present location with a known location of at least one entity selected by the user of the wireless communication device to produce a proximity alert when the wireless communication device is within a predetermined distance of the known location of the selected entity; and

sending the proximity alert to at least one of the wireless communication device and the selected entity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the proximity alert initially to the wireless communication device; and

sending the proximity alert to the selected entity only in response to an authorization received from the wireless communication device,

thereby giving the user an option not to send the proximity alert to the selected entity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the speed at which the wireless communication device is moving in relation to the known location;

determining an estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the known location, based on the speed and location of the wireless communication device; and

sending the proximity alert to the wireless communication device at a time determined as a function of the estimated time of arrival,

so that the user of the wireless communication device receives the proximity alert at the estimated time of arrival to the known location.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sending the proximity alert to the wireless communication device; and

then

sending the proximity alert to the selected entity only in response to an authorization received from the wireless device,

thereby giving the user an option to notify the selected entity at the estimated time to travel to the known location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximity alert is sent to the wireless communication device based on an estimated time it would take for the user to arrive at the known location at a current speed of the wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining an amount of time needed for the selected entity to prepare for a visit by the user; and

sending the proximity alert to the user when the estimated travel time, equal to or less than the time for preparation so that the selected entity is alerted in time sufficient for the preparation time.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

in response to the proximity alert, sending to the wireless communication device a message concerning an offer from the selected entity for consideration by the user;

receiving from the wireless communication device a response to the offer from the selected entity; and

forwarding the response to the selected entity when the estimated time to arrive at the known location bears a predetermined relation to a known amount of time for the selected entity to prepare for the arrival of the user.

8. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing the method of communicating with a user of a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

determining a present location of the wireless communication device;

comparing the present location with a known location of at least one entity selected by the user of the wireless communication device to produce a proximity alert when the wireless communication device is within a predetermined distance of the known location of the selected entity; and

sending the proximity alert to at least one of the wireless communication device and the selected entity.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

sending the proximity alert initially to the wireless communication device; and

sending the proximity alert to the selected entity only in response to an authorization received from the wireless communication device,

thereby giving the user an option not to send the proximity alert to the selected entity.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

determining the speed at which the wireless communication device is moving in relation to the known location;

determining an estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the known location, based on the present location and speed of the wireless communication device; and

sending the proximity alert to the selected entity at a time determined as a function of the estimated time of arrival at the known location,

so that the proximity alert notifies the selected entity of the estimated arrival time of the user.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

sending the proximity alert to the wireless communication device; and

then

sending the proximity alert to the selected entity only in response to an authorization received from the wireless device,

thereby giving the user an option to notify the selected entity at the estimated time to travel to the known location.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the proximity alert is sent to the wireless communication device based on an estimated time it would take for the user to arrive at the known location at a current speed of the wireless communication device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

determining an amount of time needed for the selected entity to prepare for a visit by the user; and

sending the proximity alert to the user when the estimated travel time is equal to or less than the time for preparation,

so that the user is alerted to provide estimated travel time at least sufficient for the preparation time needed by the selected entity.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, the method further comprising:

in response to the proximity alert, sending to the wireless communication device a message concerning an offer from the selected entity for consideration by the user;

receiving from the wireless communication device a response to the offer from the selected entity; and

forwarding the response to the selected entity when the estimated time of arrival at the known location bears a predetermined relation to a known amount of time for the selected entity to prepare for the arrival of the user.

15. A system for communicating with a user of a wireless communication device, the system comprising:

means to determine a present location of the wireless communication device; and

a computing device programmed to;

compare the present location with a known location of at least one entity selected by the user of the wireless communication device to produce a proximity alert when the present invention is within a predetermined distance of the known location of the selected entity; and

send the proximity alert to at least one of the wireless communication device and the selected entity.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further programmed to:

determine the speed at which the wireless communication device is moving in relation to the known location;

determine an estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the known location, based on the present location and speed of the wireless communication device; and

send the proximity alert to the selected entity at a time determined as a function of the estimated time of arrival at the known location,

so that the proximity alert notifies the selected entity of the estimated arrival time of the user at least sufficient for the preparation time needed by the selected entity.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further programmed to send the proximity alert to the wireless communication device based on an estimated time it would take for the user to arrive at the known location at a current speed of the wireless communication device.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further programmed to:

determine an amount of time needed for the selected entity to prepare for a visit by the user; and

send the proximity alert to the user when the estimated travel time is equal to or less than the time for preparation, so that the user is alerted to provide estimated travel time at least sufficient for the preparation time needed by the selected entity.