Method and apparatus for managing a task list using location based filtering

• US 7,016,855 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayes, David Jeffery, Mock, Von Alan, Eaton, Eric Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vig, Naresh
• Application Number:
  US10/161,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/26
• US Class Current: 705/26.62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• 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

A method for managing a task list utilizes location-based filtering to generate a reminder to a user of a communication device to perform an outstanding task. The communication device is provided with information on an outstanding task associated with a particular site and at least one proximity parameter for triggering a reminder for performing the outstanding task at a particular site (420). The communication device obtains geographic location information for the particular site and obtains information on its current location (430, 440). The device determines whether it is located within an area in which the outstanding task can be completed, which area is defined by a boundary established based at least in part on the geographic location of the particular site, and on the proximity parameter specified (450). A reminder is generated for the outstanding task when the communication device enters within this area, and also preferably generated if the communication device leaves the site or area without receiving a notification of task completion (470, 480, 490, 495).

Claims

1. A method for a communication device to generate a reminder for a user of a communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining via an input device of the communication device, information on an item of interest to the user, an outstanding task associated with the item of interest and an urgency factor associated with the outstanding task;

(b) selecting, by the communication device, at least one site based on an association with the item of interest, and on geographic location information corresponding to each site;

(c) accepting as input to the communication device at least one proximity parameter with respect to the at least one site for triggering a reminder for the outstanding task;

(d) occasionally determining current location of the communication device; and

(e) determining whether the communication device is within an area in which the outstanding task can be completed, which area is defined by a boundary established based at least in part on the geographic location of the at least one site and on the at least one proximity parameter corresponding to the at least one site, and automatically adjusting the boundary based on an urgency factor associated with the outstanding task;

(f) generating a reminder for the outstanding task when the communication device is within the boundary defined area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one proximity parameter comprises a specification of acceptable task completion time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one proximity parameter comprises a specification of maximum travel distance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the step of adjusting the frequency of obtaining current location information based on a rate of travel associated with the communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the step of determining travel distance to the at least one site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the step of determining travel time to the at least one site.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically adjusting the boundary comprises the step of expanding the boundary in response to an approaching deadline associated with the outstanding task.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises the step of automatically adjusting the boundary based on number of outstanding tasks associated with the at least one site.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

obtaining from the user an exclusion set that identifies excluded sites; and

selecting the at least one site based in part on the exclusion set.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

obtaining from the user an inclusion set that identifies acceptable sites; and

limiting selection of the at least one site to sites contained in the inclusion set.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, automatically obtaining a notification of completion for a particular outstanding task;

and automatically recording completion of the particular outstanding task upon obtaining the notification of completion.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, generating to the user, a reminder for the at least one outstanding task when the communication device is removed from the at least one site without receiving a notification of completion for the at least one outstanding task.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, generating to the user, a reminder for the at least one outstanding task when the communication device is removed from within the boundary established by the at least one proximity parameter without receiving a notification of completion for the at least one outstanding task.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, generating a reminder for the at least one outstanding task when the communication device has a direction of travel that changes from toward the at least one site to a direction of travel away from the at least one site without receiving a notification of completion for the at least one outstanding task.

15. A communication device, comprising:

an input device;

a transceiver;

a location module;

an output device;

a memory having operating instructions for;

causing the input device to receive information on an item of interest and on an outstanding task associated with the item of interest, and for obtaining criteria for triggering a reminder for the outstanding task;

causing the location module to determine current location of the communication device;

causing the transceiver to query a network for information on at least one site that is associated with the item of interest, and for geographic location information corresponding to the at least one site;

selecting at least one particular site from the at least one site;

determining whether the communication device is within an area in which an outstanding task can be completed, which area is defined by a boundary established based at least in part on the geographic location of the at least one site, and on the at least one proximity parameter corresponding to the at least one particular site;

operating the output device to present a reminder for the outstanding task when the communication device is within the boundary defined area;

a controller operable to control the memory, input device, location module, transceiver, and output device according to the operating instructions.