Geographic based communications service

• US 6,259,405 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, James, Stewart, Brett B.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/433,817
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/457, 342/463, 342/464, 701/207, 701/208
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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

Abstract

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. A mobile user (MU) may use a portable computing device (PCD) to connect to the network and access information or services from the network. The PCD may be configured to transmit a signal indicating a presence of the PCD as well as identification information indicating the mobile user. Upon detection of the wireless signal by a first access point in proximity to the PCD, and upon receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the PCD, the first access point may transmit the identification information, as well as the known geographic location of the first access point, to one or more providers on the network. The known geographic location of the first access point indicates the approximate location of the PCD of the mobile user. A first information provider may receive this information and provide content information or services to the mobile user. For example, the first information provider may select content information dependent upon the known geographic location of the first access point and demographic information or past activities of the mobile user of the PCD. The first information provider may then provide the selected content information through the network and through the first access point to the PCD of the mobile user.

Claims

1. A geographic-based network system, comprising:

a portable computing device, wherein said portable computing device is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device;

a network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said portable computing device is operable to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion, wherein the first access point is operable to receive the identification information associated with the portable computing device, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, demographic information of the user of the portable computing device is identified, and said first access point is operable to transmit information of said portable computing device, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon a known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

2. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein said first access point transmits said known location to a memory associated with said portable computing device, thereby advising said portable computing device of its location.

3. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information comprises one or more of memberships and associations of the user.

4. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

5. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes past transactions of the user.

6. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network, wherein each of said information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first access point to said portable computing device based on the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

7. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more information providers coupled to said network, wherein a first information provider of said one or more information providers is operable to provide said information through said network and through said first access point to said portable computing device, wherein said first information provider provides said information dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

8. The geographic-based network system of claim 7, wherein said first information provider is operable to receive the known location of said first access point and the identification information indicating the user of the portable computing device;

wherein said first information provider selects said information to provide to the portable computing device based on the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

9. The geographic-based network system of claim 7, wherein said one or more information providers include one or more of car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants, airline reservation centers, banks, taxi services, and bus and train reservation offices.

10. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access points are located in an airport.

11. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access points are located in a hotel.

12. The geographic-based network system of claim 1, wherein the network includes one or more of a local area network and a wide area network.

13. The geographic-based network system of claim 1,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 the known location of said first access point.

14. A geographic-based network system, comprising:

a portable computing device, wherein said portable computing device is configured to transmit identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device;

a network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of said plurality of access points is configured to detect said portable computing device, wherein each of said plurality of access points is also configured to receive the identification information indicating the user of the portable computing device, wherein, after detection of said portable computing device by a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said portable computing device, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the portable computing device, demographic information of the user of the portable computing device is identified, and said first access point is operable to transmit information to said portable computing device, wherein said information is dependent upon a known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

15. A geographic-based network system, comprising:

a portable computing device, wherein said portable computing device is configured to transmit identification information;

a network;

a plurality of information providers coupled to said network;

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to said portable computing device is operable to receive the identification information from the portable computing device, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, a known location of said first access point and the identification information are transmitted to at least one information provider;

wherein the at least one information provider provides information through said network and through said first access point to said portable computing device, wherein the at least one information provider provides said information dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of a user of the portable computing device.

16. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein the at least one information provider selects said information to provide to the portable computing device based on the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device;

wherein a content of said information is dependent upon the known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

17. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein the demographic information include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

18. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein the demographic information include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicates probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

19. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the network which stores location information comprising known locations of each of at least a subset of the plurality of access points.

20. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

21. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the first access point.

22. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein said information comprises promotions related to goods or services;

wherein said promotions are based upon the known location of said first access point.

23. The geographic-based network system of claim 22, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotions comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

24. The geographic-based network system of claim 15, wherein said information comprises advertising related to goods or services;

wherein said advertising is based upon the known location of said first access point.

25. The geographic-based network system of claim 24, wherein said first access point is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

26. The geographic-based network system of claim 25, wherein the first access point and said portable computing device communicate in a wireless fashion.

27. A method of using known locations of network access points (APs) to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of the APs, the method comprising:

(a) detecting the presence of a portable computing device in the vicinity of one of said APs;

(b) providing a known location of said one of said APs to an information provider after said detecting;

(c) providing identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device after said detecting;

(d) the information provider transmitting information to the portable computing device through said one of said APs, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon the known location of said one of said APs and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device, wherein said one of said APs communicates with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the information provider selecting said information based upon the known location of said one of said APs and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device, wherein said selecting is performed prior to said transmitting.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the information provider accessing the demographic information of the user associated with said identification information, wherein the information provider selects said information at least partly based upon said demographic information.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said providing the identification information comprises the portable computing device providing the identification information through said one of said APs to the information provider prior to said transmitting.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the demographic information include one or more of requirements, preferences, and habits of the user.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the demographic information include information extrapolated from the user'"'"'s past practices which indicate probable future actions consistent with the past practices.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting an inquiry requiring a response to said one of said APs;

wherein the information provider transmits said information in response to said inquiry.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

the portable computing device transmitting a message indicating presence of said portable computing device within an area monitored by said one of said APs;

the information provider determining if a service is required upon detection of said message; and

the information provider initiating provision of said service in response to the information provider determining that a service is required.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said information comprises travel itinerary information.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to said one of said APs.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said promotion information comprise promotions of said first provider of goods or services.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein said information comprises advertising information;

wherein said one of said APs is located closely to a first provider of goods or services;

wherein said advertising information comprises advertising of said first provider of goods or services.

39. A method of using geographic information to service mobile users who are in a vicinity of a plurality of APs, the method comprising:

(a) detecting the presence of a portable computing device in the vicinity of one of said APs;

(b) providing a location of the portable computing device after said detecting;

(c) providing identification information indicating a user of the portable computing device after said detecting;

(d) a information provider transmitting information to the portable computing device through said one of said APs, wherein a content of the information is dependent upon the location of the portable computing device and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the location of the portable computing device comprises the location of said one of said APs.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

the information provider selecting said information based upon the location of the portable computing device and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device, wherein said selecting is performed prior to said transmitting.

42. A carrier medium for carrying signals in a geographic-based network system, wherein the carrier medium is operable to carry:

identification information indicating a user of a portable computing device;

a known geographic location of the portable computing device as indicated by a first access point in the geographic-based network system communicating with the portable computing device; and

information which is provided to the portable computing device, wherein the information is dependent upon the known geographic location of the portable computing device and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

43. The carrier medium of claim 42, wherein said information comprises promotion information;

wherein the promotion information comprises promotions of one or more providers of goods or services proximate to the known geographic location of the portable computing device.

44. The carrier medium of claim 42, wherein the information comprises travel itinerary information.

45. The carrier medium of claim 42, wherein the information comprises a nearest location of a service provider relative to the known geographic location of the portable computing device.

46. The carrier medium of claim 42, wherein the carrier medium carries wireless signals.

47. A geographic-based network system, comprising:

a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to a network and arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to detect a portable computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access points is also configured to receive identification information indicating a user of a portable computing device, wherein, after detection of a portable computing device by a first access point of the plurality of access points in proximity to the portable computing device, and after receipt of the identification information indicating the user of the portable computing device, the first access point transmits information to the portable computing device, wherein the information is dependent upon a known location of the first access point and demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

48. A geographic-based network system, comprising:

a plurality of access points coupled to said network and operable to be arranged at known locations in a geographic region, wherein a first access point of said plurality of access points in proximity to a portable computing device is operable to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless fashion, wherein the first access point is operable to receive identification information associated with the portable computing device, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, demographic information of the user of the portable computing device is identified, and said first access point is operable to transmit information to said portable computing device, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon a known location of said first access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.

49. A geographic-based system, comprising:

an access point coupled to a network and operable to be arranged at a known location in a geographic region, wherein the access point is operable to communicate with a portable computing device in a wireless fashion when the access point is in proximity to the portable computing device, wherein the access point is operable to receive identification information associated with the portable computing device, wherein, after receipt of the identification information, demographic information of the user of the portable computing device is identified, and the access point is operable to transmit information to the portable computing device, wherein a content of said information is dependent upon a known location of the access point and the demographic information of the user of the portable computing device.