Systems and methods for providing information to users

• US 6,658,348 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Culp, Jerlyn R, Brown, Brian J., Albritton-McDonald, James C., Hildebrandt, Terry H., Lehmeier, Michelle R, Rudd, Michael L, Gennetten, K Douglas, Webb, Steven L
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/974,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/211, 701/213, 701/201, 701/208, 701/212, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/995, 342/357.13, 342/357.06
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Systems for providing information to a user are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes an identification device. The identification device incorporates a locator and a transmitter. The locator is configured to facilitate determining a location of the identification device so that information corresponding to a user of the identification device and information associated with the location of the identification device can be transmitted via the transmitter to a services system. In response to the information provided by the identification device, the services system can provide information to the user via the first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of the identification device. Image-capturing devices also are provided.

Claims

1. An identification service system for providing information to a user, said identification service system comprising:

a first identification device having a locator and a transmitter, said locator being configured to facilitate determining a location of said first identification device, said first identification device being further configured to store identification information, said identification information corresponding to a first user, said transmitter being configured to transmit information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user to a services system such that the services system provides information to the first user via said first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device; and

a services system configured to communicate with said first identification device, said services system being further configured to receive information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user such that, in response thereto, said services system provides information to the first user based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device;

wherein said services system stores information corresponding to the first user, and wherein said services system includes an access system, said access system being configured to receive a request for access associated with the first user, said access system being configured to compare the information corresponding to the first user to predetermined access requirements corresponding to the request for access such that, if the first user possesses the predetermined access requirements, the access system authorizes access to the first user.

2. An identification service system for providing information to a user, said identification service system comprising:

a first identification device having a locator and a transmitter, said locator being configured to facilitate determining a location of said first identification device, said first identification device being further configured to store identification information, said identification information corresponding to a first user, said transmitter being configured to transmit information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user to a services system such that the services system provides information to the first user via said first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device; and

a services system configured to communicate with said first identification device, said services system being further configured to receive information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user such that, in response thereto, said services system provides information to the first user based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device;

wherein said services system stores image data corresponding to the first user, and wherein said services system includes an identification comparison system, said identification comparison system being configured to receive image data corresponding to the first user, compare said image data to said image data stored by said services system, and determine whether said image data corresponds to said image data stored by said services system.

3. An identification service system for providing information to a user, said identification service system comprising:

a first identification device having a locator and a transmitter, said locator being configured to facilitate determining a location of said first identification device, said first identification device being further configured to store identification information, said identification information corresponding to a first user, said transmitter being configured to transmit information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user to a services system such that the services system provides information to the first user via said first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device; and

a services system configured to communicate with said first identification device, said services system being further configured to receive information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user such that, in response thereto, said services system provides information to the first user based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device;

wherein said services system includes a wait-time system, said wait-time system being configured to receive information corresponding to a wait-time of a first attraction and provide the information corresponding to the wait-time of the first attraction to the first user via said first identification device.

4. An identification service system for providing information to a user, said identification service system comprising:

a first identification device having a locator and a transmitter, said locator being configured to facilitate determining a location of said first identification device, said first identification device being further configured to store identification information, said identification information corresponding to a first user, said transmitter being configured to transmit information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user to a services system such that the services system provides information to the first user via said first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device; and

a services system configured to communicate with said first identification device, said services system being further configured to receive information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user such that, in response thereto, said services system provides information to the first user based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device;

wherein said services system includes a suggestion system, said suggestion system being configured to receive information corresponding to a wait-time of a first attraction and a wait-time of a second attraction, the wait-time of the first attraction being longer than the wait-time of the second attraction, receive a request for a suggestion from the first user, and in response to said request, provide information via said first identification device to the first user, the information directing the first user to the second attraction.

5. An identification service system for providing information to a user, said identification service system comprising:

a first identification device having a locator and a transmitter, said locator being configured to facilitate determining a location of said first identification device, said first identification device being further configured to store identification information, said identification information corresponding to a first user, said transmitter being configured to transmit information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user to a services system such that the services system provides information to the first user via said first identification device based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device; and

a services system configured to communicate with said first identification device, said services system being further configured to receive information associated with the location of said first identification device and identification information corresponding to the first user such that, in response thereto, said services system provides information to the first user based, at least in part, on the location of said first identification device;

wherein said services system stores information regarding a second user associated with the first user, the second user having a second identification device, and wherein said services system includes a meeting system, said meeting system being configured to receive a request for a proposed meeting location from the first user and, in response thereto, determine locations of the first user and the second user, determine access of the first user and the second user, and provide the first user and the second user with information corresponding to the proposed meeting location via the first identification device and second identification device, respectively, the proposed meeting location being based, at least in part, on access of the first user and the second user.

6. The identification service system of claim 5, wherein said meeting system is configured to receive a proposed meeting time from the first user and, in response thereto, determine the proposed meeting location based, at least in part, on wait-times associated with attractions being undertaken by the first user and the second user and travel times associated with the first user and the second user reaching the proposed meeting location.