Proximity triggered job scheduling system and method

• US 7,233,792 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ting-Mao Chang
• Original Assignee: Ting-Mao Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Ting-Mao
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean
• Application Number:
  US10/507,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/421, 455/422.1, 455/456.1, 455/466, 455/525, 455/515, 455/526, 455/404.1, 455/567, 455/404.2, 340/573, 340/689, 340/575, 340/524, 340/521, 710/15, 710/16, 710/10, 710/19, 710/47, 710/64, 342/257.01, 709/206, 709/217, 705/26, 707/4
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method combine mobile computing device (0100), wireless communication interface (0105), and an application program (0108) to provide the mobile computing device user to schedule and execute jobs based on the proximity to peer wireless communication nodes or access points. The scheduler schedules jobs and chooses a proximity relation of presences of one or more identifiers of physical layer or MAC sublayer or data link layer of wireless communication protocol. Execute the job in response to the evaluation result of the proximity relation.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a proximity triggered job with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:

coupling said job with at least one trigger condition that is at least determined by a relation between the presences of multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points;

receiving multiple frames or packets by a wireless communication interface from wireless media, wherein said multiple frames or packets complying with a wireless communication protocol;

determining the individual presences of said multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points by detecting their identifiers in said multiple frames or packets individually, wherein said identifiers pertain to said wireless communication protocol;

evaluating said trigger condition according to said individual presences; and

executing said job in responsive to the determination of said evaluation of said trigger condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual presence of each pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point is further based on the information relating to the elapse time since the last detection of its identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifiers are one or more identifiers selected from the following group consisting of

a Media Access Control address;

a BSSID or SSID of IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a BD_ADDR or LAP of Bluetooth protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said relation is a Boolean equation of presences of said multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points or a constraint on the number of said pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points that are present.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said number means the majority of said multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said job performs one or more tasks selected from the following group consisting of

replaying a pre-selected message;

transferring data from or to a pre-selected location in a computer network through any nearby peer wireless communication node or access point;

login into another computer system by given a login name and password;

instructing another computer system to perform certain task; and

invoking an application to process a file based on the file type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifiers pertain to physical link or media access control of said wireless communication protocol.

8. A mobile system for scheduling proximity triggered job, the system comprising:

at least one wireless communication interface for receiving multiple frames or packets complying with a wireless communication protocol;

storage for information relating to at least one trigger condition, wherein said trigger condition is at least determined by a relation between the presences of multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points and the condition is coupled to said job;

a detector for determining the individual presences of said multiple peer wireless communication nodes or access points by detecting their identifiers in said multiple frames or packets individually, wherein said identifiers pertain to said wireless communication protocol;

a matcher for evaluating said trigger condition according to said individual presences; and

a processor for executing said job in responsive to the determination of said matcher.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said individual presence of each pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point is further determined by the information relating to the elapse time since the last detection of its identifier.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said identifiers are one or more identifiers selected from the following group consisting of

a Media Access Control address;

a BSSID or SSID of IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a BD_ADDR or LAP of Bluetooth protocol.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said relation is a Boolean equation of presences of said multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points or a constraint on the number of said pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points that are present.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said number means the majority of said multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said job performs one or more tasks selected from the following group consisting of

replaying a pre-selected message;

transferring data from or to a pre-selected location in a computer network through any nearby peer wireless communication node or access point;

login into another computer system by given a login name and password;

instructing another computer system to perform certain task; and

invoking an application to process a file based on the file type.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said identifiers pertain to physical link or media access control of said wireless communication protocol.

15. A method for a mobile computing device to interact with a user, the method comprising:

selecting by user a trigger condition that is at least determined by the state of presence of a pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point;

coupling at least one job to said trigger condition;

receiving messages by a wireless communication interface from wireless media, wherein said messages complying with a wireless communication protocol;

detecting the identifier of said pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point in one or more identifier fields pertaining to said wireless communication protocol in said messages;

evaluating said trigger condition, including determining said state of presence of said peer wireless communication node or access point at least in part based on information relating to the elapse time since the last detection of said identifier; and

executing said job in responsive to the determination of said evaluation of said trigger condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said trigger condition is at least determined by lost of detection of said pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said identifiers are one or more identifiers selected from the following group consisting of

a Media Access Control address;

a BSSID or SSID of IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a BD_ADDR or LAP of Bluetooth protocol.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said job performs one or more tasks selected from the following group consisting of

replaying a pre-selected message;

transferring data from or to a pre-selected location in a computer network through any nearby peer wireless communication node or access point;

login into another computer system by given a login name and password;

instructing another computer system to perform certain task; and

invoking an application to process a file based on the file type.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said one or more identifier fields pertain to physical link or media access control of said wireless communication protocol.

20. A system for interacting with user, the system comprising:

at least one wireless communication interface for receiving messages complying with a wireless communication protocol;

an input device for assigning at least one trigger condition selected by user, wherein said trigger condition is at least determined by the state of presence of a pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point and the condition couples to at least one job;

a detector for detecting the identifier of said peer wireless communication node or a access point in one or more identifier fields pertaining to said wireless communication protocol in said messages;

a matcher for evaluating said trigger condition, including determining said state of presence of said peer wireless communication node or access point at least in part based on information relating to the elapse time since the last detection of said identifier; and

a processor for executing said job in responsive to the determination of said matcher.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said trigger condition is at least determined by lost of detection of said pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said identifiers are one or more identifiers selected from the following group consisting of

a Media Access Control address;

a BSSID or SSID of IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a BD_ADDR or LAP of Bluetooth protocol.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein said job performs one or more tasks selected from the following group consisting of

replaying a pre-selected message;

transferring data from or to a pre-selected location in a computer network through any nearby peer wireless communication node or access point;

login into another computer system by given a login name and password;

instructing another computer system to perform certain task; and

invoking an application to process a file based on the file type.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said one or more identifier fields pertain to physical link or media access control of said wireless communication protocol.

25. A method for scheduling a proximity triggered job with a wireless computing device, the method comprising:

coupling said job with at least one trigger condition that is at least determined by a relation between the presences of multiple pre-selected peer wireless communication nodes or access points that are in the vicinity of a location;

receiving messages by a wireless communication interface of said device from wireless media, wherein said messages complying with a wireless communication protocol;

determining the presence of each said pre-selected peer wireless communication node or access point by detecting its identifier in said messages, wherein said identifier pertain to said wireless communication protocol;

evaluating said trigger condition; and

executing said job in responsive to the determination of said evaluation of said trigger condition.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said identifier pertain to physical link or media access control in said wireless communication protocol.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said identifier is selected from one of the following group consisting of

a Media Access Control address;

a BSSID or SSID of IEEE 802.11 protocol; and

a BD_ADDR or LAP of Bluetooth protocol.