System and method for utilizing attendee location information with an event planner

• US 9,307,037 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Jeffrey, Rooks, Kelsyn, Stafford, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLIVER, GERALD L
• Application Number:
  US12/424,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20100267399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,547 Days
• Field of Search: 705/6, 705/14.49, 705 5- 742, 709/206, 709/224, 709204-229, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/404.2, 455/404, 455/2, 455/414.2, 455/440, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/459, 707/724, 707/803, 707/918, 707/944, 707/951, 707/E17.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• 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 for providing enhanced event planning capabilities including receiving information regarding an invitee. The invitee information may be stored for later use. The presence of the invitee at an event may be detected. In response to the detected presence, information may be communicated to a communications device associated with the invitee regarding the event, using the stored invitee information.

Claims

1. A method for providing advanced event planning capabilities, said method comprising:

receiving information regarding an invitee, said information being input by the invitee using a web interface prior to an event;

storing invitee information;

detecting a presence of the invitee prior to the invitee checking in at the event, wherein the presence of the invitee is detected while the invitee is in an event location zone surrounding an event location;

detecting a position of the invitee within the event location zone;

communicating information to a communications device associated with the invitee regarding the event, in response to the detected presence and position, which communicated information is communicated to the invitee while the invitee is in the event location zone surrounding the event location and communicated before the invitee checks in at the event;

locating a reservation for the detected invitee;

allowing the detected invitee to check in at the event, in response to locating a reservation for the invitee;

managing a list of attendees for the event;

in response to detecting the presence of the invitee, identifying the invitee as having arrived and including the invitee in a first field of the list of attendees who have arrived;

in response to permitting an uninvited guest to check in to the event without a reservation, including the uninvited guest in a second field of the list of attendees who have arrived; and

performing an event coordinator action in response to the listing of one or more uninvited guests on the list of attendees.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of the invitees at an event includes detecting whether the invitee is within a predetermined distance of an event location.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating information to a communications device includes communicating a map to the invitee.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving information regarding an invitee includes receiving contact information regarding an invitee.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving information regarding an invitee includes receiving personal preference information regarding an invitee.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating information to a communications device includes communicating an access code for entry to an event.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including determining information to communicate to an invitee, in response to detecting a presence of the invitee at an event.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of the invitee includes detecting the presence using GPS coordinates from a communications device.

9. An event management device, the event management device comprising:

a memory component operable to store computer executable instructions;

an input/output unit operable to communicate data associated with invitees;

a processing unit operable to execute the computer executable instructions, said processing unit configured to;

receive information regarding an invitee said information being input by the invitee using a web interface prior to an event;

store invitee information;

detect a presence of the invitee prior to the invitee checking in at the event, wherein the presence of the invitee is detected while the invitee is in an event location zone surrounding an event location;

detect a position of the invitee within the event location zone;

communicate information to a communications device associated with the invitee regarding the event, in response to the detected presence and position, which communicated information is communicated to the invitee while the invitee is in the event location zone surrounding the event location and communicated before the invitee checks in at the event;

locate a reservation for the detected invitee;

allow the detected invitee to check in at the event, in response to locating a reservation for the invitee

manage a list of attendees for the event;

in response to detecting the presence of the invitee, identify the invitee as having arrived and include the invitee in a first field of the list of attendees who have arrived;

in response to permitting an uninvited guest to check in to the event without a reservation, include the uninvited guest in a second field of the list of attendees who have arrived; and

perform an event coordinator action in response to the listing of one or more uninvited guests on the list of attendees.

10. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit, in detecting a presence of the invitees at an event, detects whether the invitee is within a predetermined distance of an event location.

11. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein said processing unit, in communicating information to a communications device, communicates a map to the invitee.

12. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein in receiving information regarding an invitee, the processing unit is configured to receive contact information regarding an invitee.

13. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein, in receiving information regarding an invitee, the processing unit is configured to receive personal preference information regarding an invitee.

14. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein, in communicating information to a communications device, the processing unit is configured to communicate an access code for entry to an event.

15. The event management device according to claim 9, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine information to communicate to an invitee, in response to detecting a presence of the invitee at an event.

16. An femto cell, the femto cell comprising:

a memory component operable to store computer executable instructions;

a transceiver operable to communicate data;

a processing unit operable to execute the computer executable instructions, said processing unit configured to;

receive information regarding an invitee said information being input by the invitee using a web interface prior to an event;

store invitee information;

detect a presence of the invitee prior to the invitee checking in at an event, wherein the presence of the invitee is detected while the invitee is in an event location zone surrounding an event location;

detect a position of the invitee within the event location zone;

communicate information to a communications device associated with the invitee regarding the event, in response to the detected presence and position which communicated information is communicated to the invitee while the invitee is in the event location zone surrounding the event location and communicated before the invitee checks in at the event;

locate a reservation for the detected invitee; and

allow the detected invitee to check in at the event, in response to locating a reservation for the invitee

manage a list of attendees for the event;

in response to detecting the presence of the invitee, identify the invitee as having arrived and include the invitee in a first field of the list of attendees who have arrived;

in response to permitting an uninvited guest to check in to the event without a reservation, include the uninvited guest in a second field of the list of attendees who have arrived; and

perform an event coordinator action in response to the listing of one or more uninvited guests on the list of attendees.