System and method for using location information to execute an action

• US 8,260,239 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N., Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Jr., Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US12/132,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/234.1, 455/432.2, 455/435.3, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 455/234.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, for affecting a remote machine of a user of a wireless communication service based on location information of a wireless communication device of the user, comprising:

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device of the user, the location information relating to a location of the wireless communication device that is remote from the remote machine of the user;

determining, using the location information, that a location rule, pre-established by the user, has been satisfied; and

transmitting a signal to change operation of the remote machine of the user of the wireless communication service responsive to determining that the location rule has been satisfied.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine of the user of the wireless communication service comprises transmitting the signal to equipment in an office of the user of the wireless communication service.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine of the user of the wireless communication service comprises transmitting the signal to equipment in a home of the user of the wireless communication service.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device comprises obtaining the location information of a handheld computer of the user of the wireless communication service.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device comprises obtaining the location information of a cellular telephone of the user of the wireless communication service.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine of the user of the wireless communication service responsive to determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes transmitting the signal, according to a preference pre-established, by the user, by way of at least one channel selected from a group of channels consisting of:

the wireless communication device of the user; and

a global computer network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the method is for affecting the remote machine of the user based on location information including point coordinates of the wireless communication device;

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device includes obtaining the point coordinates of the wireless communication device; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied is performed using the location information including the point coordinates of the wireless communication device of the user of the wireless communication service.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein:

the method is for affecting the remote machine of the user based on location information including latitude-longitude point coordinates of the wireless communication device;

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device includes obtaining the latitude-longitude point coordinates of the wireless communication device of the user of the wireless communication service; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied is performed using the location information including the latitude-longitude point coordinates of the wireless communication device of the user of the wireless communication service.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine of the user of the wireless communication service includes transmitting the signal to a computer network controlling the remote machine.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the signal to the computer network includes transmitting the signal to a local area network.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device of the user includes obtaining, at the wireless communication device, the location information of the wireless communication device of the user;

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes determining, at the wireless communication device, that the location rule has been satisfied; and

transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine includes transmitting, at the wireless communication device, the signal to change operation of the remote machine.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device of the user includes obtaining, at a feature server remote to the wireless communication device, the location information of the wireless communication device of the user;

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes determining, at the feature server, that the location rule has been satisfied; and

transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine includes transmitting, at the feature server, the signal to change operation to the remote machine.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein:

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device of the user includes obtaining, at a feature server remote to the wireless communication device and to the office of the user, the location information of the wireless communication device of the user;

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes determining, at the feature server, that the location rule has been satisfied; and

transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine includes transmitting, at the feature server, the signal to change operation to the remote machine.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein:

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device of the user includes obtaining, at a feature server remote to the wireless communication device and to the home of the user, the location information of the wireless communication device of the user;

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes determining, at the feature server, that the location rule has been satisfied; and

transmitting the signal to change operation of the remote machine includes transmitting, at the feature server, the signal to change operation of the remote machine.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the signal to the computer network includes transmitting the signal to a global computer network.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein:

the method is for affecting the remote machine based on location information of the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being incorporated as part of an item of the user;

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device includes obtaining location information of the wireless communication device incorporated as part of the user item; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes determining that the location rule has been satisfied using the location information of the wireless communication device incorporated as part of the user item.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the method is for affecting the remote machine of the user based on location information including an altitude of the wireless communication device;

obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device includes obtaining the altitude of the wireless communication device; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied is performed using the location information including the altitude of the wireless communication device of the user of the wireless communication service.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the location rule relates to an estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at a destination; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes considering the estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the destination.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein:

the location rule relates to the estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the destination being selected from a group of destinations consisting of;

an office of the user; and

a home of the user; and

determining that the location rule has been satisfied includes considering the estimated time of arrival of the wireless communication device at the destination selected from the group.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the location information of the wireless communication device includes obtaining, at a predetermined time, the location information.