System and method for accessing location-based business services via electronic mail

• US 8,868,108 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rehkopf, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US12/719,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 705/14.4, 705/14.54, 705/14.55, 705/14.57, 705/14.58, 705/14.64, 705/26.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Server access is provided to a wireless apparatus via a wireless network. A message is received containing a service request. The service and sever capable of servicing the service request is determined. The service is requested from the server and a reply is received. The reply is formatted for communication over the wireless network and sent. Location dependent information may also be requested with a wireless apparatus including a global positioning device and a two-way wireless communication device. Such an apparatus can “know” its global location and therefore can request information dependent on that location. The apparatus receives signals from a global positioning system and calculates a location. The calculated location is included in the service request sent over the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method, for sending information to a wireless communication apparatus via a wireless network, comprising:

receiving, at an integration server, a location of the wireless communication apparatus as part of an electronic mail sent from the wireless communication apparatus;

decoding a service request, requested by the wireless communication apparatus, based on a plurality of numbers in the electronic mail, wherein each number is mapped to an entry in a first service table that indicates a second service table to be used;

determining, at the integration server, a business providing a service specified by the service request that is located closest to the location of the wireless communication apparatus;

determining, at the integration server, business information regarding the business;

formatting, at the integration server, the business information for communication over the wireless network as formatted business information; and

sending, at the integration server, the formatted business information as a reply electronic mail to the wireless communication apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving, at the integration server, the location of the wireless communication apparatus comprises receiving, at the integration server, the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon a criterion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving, at the integration server, the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion comprises receiving, at the integration server, the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion, the criterion being when a determined location of the wireless communication apparatus changes by a predefined amount.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the business information comprises at least one of a phone number of the business, an address of the business, and a direction from the location of the wireless communication apparatus to the business.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the integration server, the business information comprises receiving the business information from one of:

an application server that is in communication with the integration server; and

a middleware component that is in communication with the integration server.

6. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of an integration server, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:

receiving a location of the wireless communication apparatus as part of an electronic mail sent from the wireless communication apparatus;

decoding a service request requested by the wireless communication apparatus, based on a plurality of numbers in the electronic mail, wherein each number is mapped to an entry in a first service table that indicates a second service table to be used;

determining a business providing a service specified by the service request that is located closest to the location of the wireless communication apparatus;

determining business information regarding the business;

formatting the business information for communication over the wireless network as formatted business information; and

sending the formatted business information as a reply electronic mail to the wireless communication apparatus.

7. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the operation of receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus comprises receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon a criterion.

8. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operation of receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion comprises receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion, the criterion being when a determined location of the wireless communication apparatus changes by a predefined amount.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the business information comprises at least one of a phone number of the business, an address of the business, and a direction from the location of the wireless communication apparatus to the business.

10. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory being in communication with the processor and comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for sending information to a wireless communication apparatus via a wireless network, comprising;

receiving a location of the wireless communication apparatus as part of an electronic mail sent from the wireless communication apparatus;

decoding a service, requested by the wireless communication apparatus, based on a plurality of numbers in the electronic mail, wherein each number is mapped to an entry in a first service table that indicates a second service table to be used;

determining a business providing a service specified by the service request that is located closest to the location of the wireless communication apparatus;

determining business information regarding the business;

formatting the business information for communication over the wireless network as formatted business information; and

sending the formatted business information as a reply electronic mail to the wireless communication apparatus.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operation of receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus further comprises receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon a criterion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operation of receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion further comprises receiving the location of the wireless communication apparatus based upon the criterion, the criterion being when a determined location of the wireless communication apparatus changes by a predefined amount.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the business information comprises at least one of a phone number of the business, an address of the business, and a direction from the location of the wireless communication apparatus to the business.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the operation of determining the business information further comprises receiving the business information from one of:

an application server that is in communication with the system; and

a middleware component that is in communication with the system.