Notification systems and methods enabling a response to cause connection between a notified PCD and a delivery or pickup representative

• US 7,479,899 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Communication Technologies LLC (f/k/a Eclipse IP, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Legalview Assets, Ltd.
• Inventors: Horstemeyer, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tai T
• Application Number:
  US10/858,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 340/994, 340/992, 340/928, 340/502, 340/504, 340/506, 340/539.11, 701/201, 701/204, 705/8, 705/9, 705/10
• US Class Current: 340/994
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 : based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 : Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 : Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 : to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 : for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 : Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for automated notification systems. A representative method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: monitoring travel data in connection with a mobile thing that is destined to pickup or deliver an item at a stop location; causing initiation of a notification communication to a personal communications device based upon the travel data; and during the notification communication, enabling a party associated with the personal communications device to select whether or not to communicate with a party having access to particulars of the pickup or delivery of items or services. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer or other automated system that is programmed or designed to perform the foregoing steps.

Claims

1. A method for an automated notification system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring travel data in connection with a mobile thing that is destined to pickup or deliver an item at a stop location;

causing initiation of a notification communication to a personal communications device based upon the travel data; and

during the notification communication, enabling a first party associated with the personal communications device to select whether or not to communicate with a second party having access to particulars of the pickup or delivery.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, based upon a selection by the first party and causing a communicative coupling between the personal communications device of the first party and a communications device associated with the second party having access to particulars of the pickup or delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, based upon a selection by the first party, causing communicative coupling between the personal communications device of the first party and a second personal communications device associated with the mobile thing or person in the mobile thing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, during the notification communication, providing a message that includes a work order.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of enabling the first party to select another option that indicates to the notification system that the work order is proper.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the particulars include a reason why the mobile thing is to stop at the stop location.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of correcting information in a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adding additional task information to a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

9. The method of claim 1,further comprising the step of deleting task information in a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification communication is initiated when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity in relation to the stop location.

11. An automated notification system, comprising the steps of:

means for monitoring travel data in connection with a mobile thing that is destined to pickup or deliver an item at a stop location;

means for initiating a notification communication to a personal communications device based upon the travel data; and

means for enabling a party associated with the personal communications device during the notification communications to select whether or not to communicate with a second party having access to particulars of the pickup or delivery.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for causing communicative coupling between the personal communications device of the first party and a second communications device associated with the second party having access to particulars of the pickup or delivery.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for causing communicative coupling between the personal communications device of the first party and a second personal communications device associated with the mobile thing or the second party in the mobile thing.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising a means for providing a message that includes a work order.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a means for enabling the first party to select another option that indicates to the notification system that the work order is proper.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the notification communication is initiated by the initiating means when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity in relation to the stop location.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the particulars include a reason why the mobile thing is to stop at the stop location.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for correcting information in a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for adding additional task information to a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising a means for deleting task information in a work order based upon communication between the first and second parties.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is implemented with one or more computers.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is embodied on one or more computer media.