Location Dependent Content Provision

• US 20080287142A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blue Pulse Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Blue Pulse Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Keighran, Benjamin W.
• Application Number:
  US11/632,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287142A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method of providing location dependent content to an end station using a base station. The base station receives from an end station and via a communications network, a content request, and an identifier indicative of an identity of the end station. The base station then authenticates the user or the end station using the identifier. In response to a successful authentication, the base station determines the location of the end station and determines content using the location or the content request, which is then transferred to the end station.

Claims

1. A method of providing location dependent content to an end station, the method including in a base station:

(a) receiving from a communications network, a content request, and an identifier indicative of an identity of the end station;

(b) determining the location of the end station;

(c) determining content using;

(i) the location; and

, (ii) the content request; and

, (d) transferring the content to the end station using the identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) authenticating, using the identifier, at least one of;

(i) the user; and

, (ii) the end station; and

, (b) providing the content in response to a successful authentication.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) using the identifier to determine a user profile; and

, (b) determining the content using the user profile.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station, determining the location in accordance with location data provided by the communications network.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the communications network is a local communications network, and wherein the location data includes an indication of the position of the end station with respect to the communications network.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the communications network includes a number of local communications networks, and wherein the location data includes an identity of the respective communications network.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the base station includes a local processing system coupled to the local communications network and a central processing system, and wherein the method includes, in the local processing system:

(a) receiving the identifier from the local communications network;

(b) determining if the user profile is stored locally; and

, (c) in response to a successful determination authenticating the end station; and

, (d) in response to an unsuccessful determination;

(i) obtaining the user profile from the central processing system; and

, (ii) authenticating the end station.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein the base station includes a local processing system coupled to the local communications network and a central processing system, and wherein the method includes, in the local processing system:

(a) receiving the content request from the local communications network;

(b) determining the required content;

(c) determining if the content is stored locally; and

, (d) in response to a successful determination providing the content to the end station; and

, (e) in response to an unsuccessful determination;

(i) obtaining the content from the central processing system; and

, (ii) providing the content to the end station.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the method includes, in the local processing system, and if the content is stored locally:

(a) determining a time stamp associated with the content;

(b) comparing the time stamp to predetermined criteria; and

, (c) obtaining the content from the central processing system in response to an unsuccessful comparison.

10. A method according to claim 4, wherein the communications network includes a carrier communications network, and wherein the location data includes a cell identifier representing a cell within which the end station is located.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) generating menu data;

(b) transferring the menu data to the end station, the end station being responsive to the menu data to;

(i) display a menu to a user; and

, (ii) determine the content request in accordance with input commands from the user; and

, (iii) transfer the content request to the communications network;

and, (c) receiving the content request from the communications network.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) determining a credit value associated with the content;

(b) determining a user account from the user profile;

(c) determining if the user account includes sufficient credit to provide the content; and

, (d) in accordance with a successful determination;

(i) providing the content; and

, (ii) deducting the credit value from the user account.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method includes, in the base station, and in response to an unsuccessful determination:

(a) transferring charge data to the end station, the end station being responsive to the charge data to;

(i) display a charge option to a user;

(ii) determine the account is to be charged in accordance with input commands from the user;

(iii) generate a predetermined message; and

, (iv) transfer the message to a predetermined destination; and

, (b) adding credits to the user account in response to receipt of the message at the predetermined destination.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the message is at least one of:

(a) an SMS; and

, (b) a premium rate message.

15. A method according to claim 3, wherein the method includes, in the base station, generating the user profile during a registration procedure.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the communications network:

(a) monitoring for unconnected end stations; and

, (b) upon detection of an unconnected end station, establishing a connection with the unconnected end station connected to the communications network as a slave.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the communications network:

(a) allowing a connection to be established by an end station with the connected to the communications network as a master;

(b) terminating the connection; and

, (c) establishing a connection with the end station connected to the communications network as a slave.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method includes, in the end station:

(a) determining a current location;

(b) comparing the current location to a list of predetermined locations; and

, (c) in response to a successful comparison establishing a connection with the end station connected to the communications network as a master.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method includes, in the end station:

(a) determining the current location from a carrier network; and

, (b) establishing the connection with a local communications network.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) receiving from an end station, via a carrier communications network, a carrier identifier;

(b) determining a local identifier using the carrier identifier; and

, (c) transferring the local identifier to a local communications network, the local communications network being responsive to establish a connection with the end station.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes:

(a) attempting to establish a connection with the end station via a local communications network; and

, (b) in response to an unsuccessful attempt, attempting to establish a connection with the end station via carrier communications network.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) receiving, from the communications network, an identifier detected from an end station in a discoverable state;

(b) determining if the end station has been previously connected;

(c) in response to a successful comparison, determining if the communications network can connect to the end station; and

, (d) in response to an unsuccessful determination;

(i) establishing a connection with the end station; and

, (ii) performing a registration procedure.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) determining from the end station if a connection is to be established;

(b) in response to a successful determination, determining from the end station user details; and

, (c) generating a user profile.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the base station is coupled to a content store which stores content, the content being associated with an indication of a respective content category, and wherein the method includes, in the base station, selecting content using a content category indicated in at least one of:

(a) the content request; and

, (b) a user profile.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) receiving content from one or more content providers;

(b) determining categories for the content; and

, (c) storing the content in the content store with the indication of the category.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the method includes, in the base station, causing the end station to display a menu in accordance with the categories.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method includes, in the base station:

(a) receiving content and associated time indication;

(b) storing the content in the content store; and

, (c) making the content available to end stations in accordance with the time indication.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communications network includes a pico-cell.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the base station, generating AT commands representing at least one of:

(a) content;

(b) menu data; and

, (c) other data.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes at least one of converting and compressing the content before it is transferred to the end station.

31-85. -85. (canceled)