System and Method for Using Location Information to Execute an Action

• US 20120264452A1
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,020,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• 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 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/265 for initial activation of new user

Abstract

Provided are methods for executing an action in response to a request for a service using location information in conjunction with service-specific parameters. A user may request a provider of a specified service (e.g., taxi, plumber, pharmacist, etc.). In evaluating the request, providers may be evaluated based on the location information in addition to service-specific parameters. An action in response may include merely displaying selected service provider(s) in response to the request, or acting on behalf of the user by communicating with a selected service provider.

Claims

1. A method, for selecting a service from a plurality of services, comprising:

determining, by a system having at least one processor, a location of a wireless communication device associated with a subscriber, according to a location-determination rule based at least on an interval or a time at which to determine the location of the wireless communication device associated with the subscriber; and

selecting, by the system, the service from the plurality of services according to a location-based subscriber rule based at least on a user preference for selecting the service based at least in part on location of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber rule is predefined by the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the service is a first service; and

the method further comprises;

detecting, by the system, a change in location of the wireless communication device to a second location; and

selecting, by the system, a second service according to the location-based subscriber rule using the second location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the system, a change in location of the wireless communication device; and

transmitting, by the system, a notification, of the change in location, for receipt by the subscriber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the method is further for selecting the service in order to activate the service;

the selecting yields a selected service; and

the method further comprises activating, by the system, the selected service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein activating, by the system, the service comprises activating, by the system, the service for use at the wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein activating, by the system, the service comprises activating, by the system, the service for use at an external device external to the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the location-based subscriber rule is a first location-based subscriber rule;

the method further comprises;

establishing, by the system, a subscriber habit based at least in part upon the location of the wireless communication device; and

determining, by the system, a second location-based subscriber rule using the subscriber habit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, a request for the service;

determining, by the system, in response to the request, a list of service providers based upon at least the location of the wireless communication device, yielding a determined list of service providers; and

transmitting, by the system, the determined list of service providers for receipt by the subscriber.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

predicting, by the system, a future location of the wireless communication device; and

updating, by the system, the list of service providers based at least in part upon the future location of the wireless communication device.

11. A system, for selecting a service from a plurality of services, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a tangible memory storage unit in operative communication with the at least one processor and having instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

determining a location of a wireless communication device associated with the subscriber, according to a location-determination rule based at least on an interval or a time at which to determine the location of the wireless communication device associated with the subscriber; and

selecting the service from the plurality of services according to a location-based subscriber rule based at least on a user preference for selecting the service based at least in part on location of the wireless communication device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the service relates to a function of (a) the wireless communication device or (b) an external device external to the wireless communication device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the service is a first service; and

the operations further comprise;

detecting a change in location of the wireless communication device to a second location; and

selecting a second service according to the location-based subscriber rule using the second location.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the location-based subscriber rule is a first location-based subscriber rule; and

the operations further comprise;

establishing a subscriber habit based at least in part upon the location of the wireless communication device; and

determining a second location-based subscriber rule using the subscriber habit.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request for the service;

determining, in response to the request, a list of service providers based upon at least the location of the wireless communication device;

predicting a future location of the wireless communication device;

updating the list of service providers based at least in part upon the future location of the wireless communication device, yielding an updated list; and

transmitting the updated list for receipt by the subscriber.

16. A tangible computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

determining a location of a wireless communication device associated with the subscriber, according to a location-determination rule based at least on an interval or a time at which to determine the location of the wireless communication device associated with the subscriber; and

selecting a service, from a plurality of services, according to a location-based subscriber rule based at least on a user preference for selecting the service based at least in part on location of the wireless communication device.

17. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the service relates to a function of (a) the wireless communication device or (b) an external device external to the wireless communication device.

18. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the service is a first service; and

the operations further comprise;

detecting a change in location of the wireless communication device to a second location; and

selecting a second service according to the location-based subscriber rule using the second location.

19. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein:

the location-based subscriber rule is a first location-based subscriber rule; and

the operations further comprise;

establishing a subscriber habit based at least in part upon the location of the wireless communication device; and

determining a second location-based subscriber rule using the subscriber habit.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a request for the service;

providing a list of service providers based upon at least the location of the wireless communication device;

predicting a future location of the wireless communication device;

updating the list of service providers based at least in part upon the future location of the wireless communication device, yielding an updated list of service providers; and

transmitting the updated list of service providers for receipt by the subscriber.