Method and apparatus for geographic-based communications service

• US 8,095,647 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, HIEU T
• Application Number:
  US11/924,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 709201-203, 709/224, 709/228, 709/229, 342/457, 342/463, 342/464
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices

Abstract

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a wireless access point coupled to a network and located at a geographic location, wherein when the wireless access point detects a portable computing device within its coverage area, the wireless access point is operable to communicate with the portable computing device wirelessly and receive identification information of a user operating the portable computing device from the portable computing device; and

an information provider, including a processor and a memory, coupled to the wireless access point over the network to receive the identification information and a location identifier identifying the geographic location from the wireless access point, wherein the information provider is operable to identify, based on the identification information, extrapolated service selection information of the user that is extrapolated from a user profile stored at the information provider including multiple past selections of first one or more features of a commercial service by the user, and is indicative of future selections of second one or more features of the commercial service by the user consistent with the multiple past selections of the first one or more features of the commercial service by the user;

wherein the information provider is operable to transmit the extrapolated service selection information to the portable computing device via the wireless access point, and wherein the information provider is operable to transmit a request for the commercial service with the second one or more features to a third party service provider on behalf of the user of the portable computing device, wherein the third party service provider is identified based on the location identifier identifying the geographic location of the wireless access point, and the access point is operable to receive from the third party service provider the commercial service with the second one or more features based on the extrapolated service selection information and to provide the commercial service with the second one or more features to the portable computing device automatically.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point receives the location identifier from a database coupled to the wireless access point and transmits the location identifier to the portable computing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point communicates with the portable computing device via a local area network.

4. A method comprising:

detecting a portable computing device in a coverage area of a wireless access point, wherein the wireless access point communicates with the portable computing device wirelessly in response to the detecting;

determining a location identifier identifying a geographic location of the wireless access point;

transmitting the location identifier identifying the geographic location of the wireless access point to an information provider coupled to the wireless access point over a network;

transmitting identification information of a user operating the portable computing device from the portable computing device to the information provider via wireless the access point;

identifying, by the information provider based on the identification information, extrapolated service selection information of the user that is extrapolated from a user profile stored at the information provider including multiple past selections of first one or more features of a commercial service by the user, and is indicative of future selections of second one or more features of the commercial service by the user consistent with the multiple past selections of the first one or more features of the commercial service by the user;

transmitting the extrapolated service selection information from the information provider to the portable computing device via the wireless access point;

transmitting a request for the commercial service with the second one or more features from the information provider to a third party service provider on behalf of the user of the portable computing device, wherein the third party service provider is identified based on the location identifier identifying the geographic location of the wireless access point, and

receiving, at the wireless access point, from the third party service provider the commercial service with the second one or more features based on the extrapolated service selection information and providing the commercial service with the second one or more features to the portable computing device automatically.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the wireless access point receives the location identifier identifying the geographic location from a database coupled to the wireless access point and transmits the location identifier to the portable computing device.

6. The method of claim 4,

wherein the wireless access point communicates with the portable computing device via a local area network.