Method and system for monitoring a mobile device over a video network

• US 8,634,813 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Paschetto, James E., Phuah, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/694,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20080242319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/457, 4554141-4144, 455418-4221, 4554321-4323, 4554561-4566, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/565, 455/566, 455/4.2, 370/335, 370/336, 370/342, 370/343, 370/345, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370/331, 370352-356, 370/10.2, 725/25, 725/31
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

An approach is provided for monitoring location of a user of a mobile device. A notification triggering event based on location of a mobile device is detected. Notification information is generated in response to the detection of the notification triggering event. The notification information to a video processor (e.g., set-top box) that is configured to transmit the notification information to a display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a notification triggering event based on geographic location of a mobile device and either a time-of-day schedule or a location schedule, the geographic location is a textual address and/or a graphical depiction on a map;

generating notification information in response to the detection of the notification triggering event, the notification information is generated based on a user-defined policy or a configuration of a user profile; and

transmitting the notification information to a video processor configured to provide one or more video channels,

wherein the user-defined policy and the user profile are configurable at the video processor and are configurable to allow the time-of-day schedule and the location schedule to be used concurrently and to specify which schedule has a priority if a conflict occurs, and

wherein an application resident on the video processor receives input from a user to enable or to disable receipt of the notification information, and the notification information is concurrently presented with a video feed.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video processor is a set-top box.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

storing an identifier of the set-top box among a plurality of set-top box identifiers, wherein the mobile device is mapped to the stored identifier.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notification information is based on a notification schedule resident on the mobile device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notification information includes a map.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

establishing a data communication session with an application resident on the set-top box, wherein the application formats the notification information for presentation of the notification information.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the video processor is programmable to customize a notification schedule in accordance with the user-defined policy or the user profile for monitoring and generating the notification information, and programmable to issue a request for the notification information.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to detect a notification triggering event based on geographic location of a mobile device and either a time-of-day schedule or a location schedule, the geographic location is a textual address and/or a graphical depiction on a map, wherein the processor is further configured to generate notification information in response to the detection of the notification triggering event, the notification information is generated based on a user-defined policy or a configuration of a user profile; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the notification information to a video processor configured to provide one or more video channels,

wherein the user-defined policy and the user profile are configurable at the video processor and are configurable to allow the time-of-day schedule and the location schedule to be used concurrently and to specify which schedule has a priority if a conflict occurs, and

wherein an application resident on the video processor receives input from a user to enable or to disable receipt of the notification information, and the notification information being concurrently presented with a video feed.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the video processor is a set-top box.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a database coupled to the processor and configured to store an identifier of the set-top box among a plurality of set-top box identifiers, wherein the mobile device is mapped to the stored identifier.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification information is based on a notification schedule resident on the mobile device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the notification information includes a map.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the communication interface is further configured to establish a data communication session with an application resident on the set-top box, wherein the application formats the notification information for presentation of the notification information.

14. A method comprising:

receiving, at a set-top box, notification information indicating that a mobile device has satisfied a notification condition based on geographic location of the mobile device, the notification condition includes a time-of-day schedule or a location schedule;

transmitting the notification information to a display, the notification information being concurrently presented with a video feed, and

executing an application within the set-top box, wherein the application receives input from a user to enable or to disable receipt of the notification information,

wherein the geographic location is a textual address and/or a graphical depiction on a map, the notification information is generated based on a user-defined policy or a configuration of a user profile, and wherein the user-defined policy and the user profile are configurable at the set-top box and are configurable to allow the time-of-day schedule and the location schedule to be used concurrently and to specify which schedule has a priority if a conflict occurs.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the notification information is based on a notification schedule resident on the mobile device.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the notification information includes a map.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

executing an application within the set-top box, wherein the application formats the notification information for presentation of the notification information at the display.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a first communication interface configured to receive notification information indicating that a mobile device has satisfied a notification condition based on geographic location of the mobile device, the notification condition includes a time-of-day schedule or a location schedule;

a processor configured to execute, within a set-top box, an application for formatting the notification information; and

a second communication interface configured to transmit the formatted notification information to a display, the notification information being concurrently presented with a video feed.

wherein the geographic location is a textual address and/or a graphical depiction on a map, the notification information is generated based on a user-defined policy or a configuration of a user profile, and wherein the application receives input from a user to enable or to disable receipt of the notification information, and

wherein the user-defined policy and the user profile are configurable at the processor and are configurable to allow the time-of-day schedule and the location schedule to be used concurrently and to specify which schedule has a priority if a conflict occurs.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the notification information is based on a notification schedule resident on the mobile device.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the notification information includes a map.