Location specific icons

• US 8,630,662 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Herz, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Prez-Gutirrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHWARTZ, JOSHUA L
• Application Number:
  US13/601,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20130115916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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

Systems, methods, and computer program products communicate location information associated with a device, such as a mobile device, to a server. Content identified by the server is received at the device, from the server and/or from a content service. The content can include an application associated with the location information. The content received at the device is displayed on the device only while the device is at or near a particular location identified by the location information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server, location information associated with a mobile device, the location identifying a location of the mobile device;

identifying, by the server, content that comprises an application based on the location information, the application being associated with an icon, the icon being operable to, upon receiving an input, cause the application to be activated; and

providing the content to the mobile device such that the icon is displayed only when location identified by the location information is at or near a particular location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a telephony device having a surface configured to receive a touch input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a base station configured to grant or deny network access of another mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the content to the mobile device comprises providing the content as beacon data broadcast through a wireless access point.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising causing, by the server, the mobile device to remove the icon when the mobile device moves away from the particular location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when the particular location is a library, the content includes a catalog of the library;

or

when the particular location is a restaurant, the content includes a menu provided by the restaurant, and the icon displays an estimated wait time at the restaurant.

7. A non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by a server, location information associated with a mobile device, the location identifying a location of the mobile device;

identifying, by the server, content that comprises an application based on the location information, the application being associated with an icon, the icon being operable to, upon receiving an input, cause the application to be activated; and

providing the content to the mobile device such that the icon is displayed only when location identified by the location information is at or near a particular location.

8. The non-transitory storage device of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is a telephony device having a surface configured to receive a touch input.

9. The non-transitory storage device of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is a base station configured to grant or deny network access of another mobile device.

10. The non-transitory storage device of claim 7, wherein providing the content to the mobile device comprises providing the content as beacon data broadcast through a wireless access point.

11. The non-transitory storage device of claim 7, the operations comprising causing, by the server, the mobile device to remove the icon when the mobile device moves away from the particular location.

12. The non-transitory storage device of claim 7, wherein:

when the particular location is a library, the content includes a catalog of the library;

or

when the particular location is a restaurant, the content includes a menu provided by the restaurant, and the icon displays an estimated wait time at the restaurant.

13. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by a server, location information associated with a mobile device, the location identifying a location of the mobile device;

identifying, by the server, content that comprises an application based on the location information, the application being associated with an icon, the icon being operable to, upon receiving an input, cause the application to be activated; and

providing the content to the mobile device such that the icon is displayed only when location identified by the location information is at or near a particular location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is a telephony device having a surface configured to receive a touch input.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the mobile device is a base station configured to grant or deny network access of another mobile device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein providing the content to the mobile device comprises providing the content as beacon data broadcast through a wireless access point.

17. The system of claim 13, the operations comprising causing, by the server, the mobile device to remove the icon when the mobile device moves away from the particular location.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein:

when the particular location is a library, the content includes a catalog of the library;

or

when the particular location is a restaurant, the content includes a menu provided by the restaurant, and the icon displays an estimated wait time at the restaurant.