System and method for automating travel related features

• US 8,655,693 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Shekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): EPSTEIN, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US12/499,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/6, 709/206, 709/224, 340/5.28, 340/5.82
• US Class Current: 705/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for automating travel related features based on location information of a mobile device associated with a user. For example, in one embodiment, a computer executed method is disclosed for configuring an out of office auto-reply email message. The method comprises receiving an out of area message from a mobile device associated with a user; identifying a user associated with the mobile device; accessing an email account associated with the user; and configuring an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user.

Claims

1. A method performed by a data processing system for automating travel related features, the method comprising:

receiving location information associated with a mobile device, the location information transmitted by the mobile device to the data processing system;

identifying, with the data processing system, a user associated with the mobile device;

determining, with the data processing system, a home area associated with the user, the home area being defined by a metropolitan area in which the user resides;

determining, with the data processing system, a current location of the user based on the received location information;

determining, with the data processing system, whether the current location is outside of the home area;

responsive to a determination that the current location is outside of the home area, accessing, with the data processing system, an email account associated with the user;

configuring, with the data processing system, an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user;

accessing, with the data processing system, an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determining, with the data processing system, whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office, the second office being an office that is located outside of the home area, and wherein the second office is associated with the same company as a first office, the first office being a primary office associated with the user and is located within the home area;

monitoring, with the data processing system, a location of the user;

determining, with the data processing system, whether the user is within a prespecified distance outside the second office; and

reserving, with the data processing system, a work area within the second office for the user, in response to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office and a determination that the user is within the prespecified distance outside the second office.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate not enabling the out of office auto-reply email message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate enabling the out of office auto-reply email message using a preset message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configurations indicate enabling the out of office auto-reply email message using a non-preset message in response to the determination that the current location is outside of the home area;

and

wherein the method of claim 1 further comprises;

transmitting a message to the mobile device;

receiving a return message from the mobile device, the return message includes a user-specified out of office message; and

configuring the out of office auto-reply email message using the user-specified out of office message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a reservation request message to the mobile device;

receiving a response to the reservation request message from the mobile device, the response indicating whether to reserve the work area within the second office for the user; and

performing the step of reserving the work area within the second office for the user if the response indicates reserving the work area within the second office for the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a security system to enable the user to access the second office.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a social networking website using an account associated with the user;

determining whether one or more acquaintances listed on the social networking website is located within a specified distance from the second office; and

transmitting, to the mobile device, a list of acquaintances that are located within the specified distance.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitted list of acquaintances includes contact information for each acquaintance.

10. A method performed by a data processing system for automating travel related features, the method comprising:

receiving, with the data processing system, an out of area message from a mobile device, based on a determination that the mobile device is outside a home area associated with the mobile device, the home area being defined by a metropolitan area in which a user of the mobile device resides;

identifying, with the data processing system, the user of the mobile device;

accessing, with the data processing system, an email account associated with the user;

configuring, with the data processing system, an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user;

accessing, with the data processing system, an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determining, with the data processing system, whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office using the electronic calendar;

monitoring, with the data processing system, a location of the user;

determining, with the data processing system, whether the user is within a prespecified distance outside the second office; and

reserving, with the data processing system, a work area within the second office for the user, in response to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office and a determination that the user is within the prespecified distance outside the second office.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the mobile device;

receiving a return message from the mobile device, the return message includes a user-specified out of office message; and

configuring the out of office auto-reply email message using the user-specified out of office message.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.

13. An office management system comprising:

a data storage unit that stores user account information associated with a user of a mobile device;

a network interface that receives location information from a mobile device associated with the user of the mobile device;

a memory component that stores instructions; and

a processing component that executes the instructions to;

receive an out of area message from the mobile device, based on a determination that the mobile device is outside a home area associated with the mobile device, the home area being defined by a metropolitan area in which the user of the mobile device resides;

identify the user of the mobile device;

access an email account associated with the user;

configure an out of office auto-reply email message based on configurations prespecified by the user;

access an electronic calendar associated with the user;

determine, using the electronic calendar, whether the user is scheduled to travel to a second office;

monitor a location of the user;

determine whether the user is within a prespecified distance outside the second office; and

reserve a work area within the second office for the user, in response to a determination that the user is scheduled to travel to the second office and a determination that the user is within the prespecified distance outside the second office.

14. The office management system of claim 13, wherein the user account information includes usernames, passwords, and a mobile identification number associated with the user.

15. The office management system of claim 13, wherein the processing component further executes instructions to update a security system to enable the user to access the second office.

16. The office management system of claim 13, wherein the processing component further executes instructions to configure a telephone located within the work area of the second office with a telephone profile account associated with the user.