Combining time and GPS locations to trigger message alerts

• US 7,940,172 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bell, David, Norton, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/328,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/995.1, 340/995.17, 340/988, 340/990, 340/994, 342/357.22, 342/357.39, 701/2, 701/300, 701/200, 701/201, 701/204, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for automatically alerting one or more recipients of the arrival of an individual to a known destination via a global positioning system (GPS) navigation device. To issue an accurate alert of arrival time and or distance, the device enables: (1) pre-selection of two or more locations from a plurality of mapped locations; (2) pre-selection of one or more devices to which an alert is to be sent when the GPS device passes through the pre-selected locations; and (3) pre-selection of a time during which the alert should be triggered. The device automatically sends an alert to one or more devices when the GPS device passes through the pre-selected locations during the pre-selected time period, wherein the alert informs the user of the one or more recipient devices that the individual (corresponding to the GPS device) has commenced a journey to the destination.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling pre-selection at a first device of one or more characteristics required to provide an alert of a movement towards a destination, wherein said enabling pre-selection includes;

receiving a first selection of two or more pre-selected locations from a plurality of mapped locations;

receiving a second selection of a sequential order in which the two or more pre-selected locations are to be passed during movement of a global positioning system (GPS) device, which sequential order indicates movement towards the destination;

receiving a third selection of one or more device identification (IDs) one or more second devices to which an alert is to be sent when the GPS device passes through the two or more pre-selected locations in the sequential order;

receiving a fourth selection of one or more time windows during which the alert should be triggered; and

receiving a fifth selection of one or more alert mechanisms, including a method for transmitting the alert from the first device to the one or more second devices during a specific time window and a preference order for selecting the method from among multiple methods, based on the specific time window in which the alert is transmitted;

configuring a tracking system that includes the GPS device, a time keeping system, and a message sending system, wherein configuration of the tracking system includes;

operating the time keeping system independently of the tracking system;

enabling the tracking system when the time keeping system indicates that a current time is within one of the one or more time windows;

disabling the tracking system when the time keeping system indicates that the current time is not within one of the one or more time windows;

enabling the message sending system when the GPS device receives a signal from one or more satellites that the GPS device has passed the two or more pre-selected locations, in the pre-established sequential order, during one of the one or more time windows corresponding to the two or more preselected locations; and

when the GPS device has not passed through the two or more pre-selected locations, in the pre-established order, during the pre-selected time window, or following a transmission of the alert, disabling the message sending system;

detecting, via the GPS device when the GPS device passes through two or more pre-selected locations in a pre-established sequential order during a pre-selected time window, wherein the locations are pre-selected in the pre-established sequential order to identify initiation of a movement towards the destination;

retrieving an identification of at least one second device to which the alert is to be sent when the GPS device passes through the pre-selected locations during the pre-selected time window;

dynamically selecting the alert mechanism and the method for transmitting the alert from the first device to the one or more second devices, based on the pre-selected time window and the preference order; and

automatically sending the alert to the one or more second devices when the GPS device passes through at least two pre-selected locations, in the pre-established order, during the pre-selected time window, wherein the alert informs a user of the one or more second devices that a next user corresponding to the GPS device has commenced a journey to the destination;

wherein said dynamically selecting and said automatically sending includes tailoring an alert type based on a selected second device to which the alert is being transmitted, wherein;

when a phone number is the device ID for the second device, automatically selecting and sending one or more of a voice message alert and text message alert during the pre-selected time window;

when an electronic mail (e-mail) address is the device ID of the second device, automatically selecting and sending one or more of an email notification and a text message alert to the e-mail address during the pre-selected time window.