Geo-fencing based functions

• US 9,369,842 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grandios Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cronin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US14/748,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for geo-fencing using a mobile device. In certain instances, the geo-function setting sets boundaries relating to when alerts may be presented to a user of the electronic device, or when an alert may be transmitted to another electronic device. A geo-function setting may relate a perimeter around a location, or may relate to a perimeter bracketing a pre-defined route traversed by a person carrying the electronic device. When the electronic device crosses a perimeter, an alert may be presented or transmitted according to the operating system setting. In other instances, a geo-function may be initiated though a user interface of the electronic device, and may relate to the learning of a route traversed by a person carrying the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for performing geo-fencing, the method comprising:

receiving an indication over a user interface at a mobile device that turns on a route learning function at the mobile device;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal at the mobile device, wherein the GPS signal received at the time when the indication was received identifies a start location of a new route;

tracking one or more points along the new route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the new route, and wherein the path is identified as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the new route;

identifying a stop point when the user indicates the end of the new route over the user interface, wherein the new route is designated as a defined route after the new route has been learned;

receiving the global positioning system GPS signal at a mobile device; and

executing instructions out of a memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor identifies a current location of the mobile device from information contained in the GPS signal, wherein;

the identified current location of the mobile device is on the defined route,

the defined route includes the start point and the stop point,

the defined route is circumscribed by at least one geo-fence that corresponds to a path within the perimeter distance around the line connecting one or more points along the defined route, and performs at least one function after identifying that the mobile device has crossed the geo-fence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information in the memory at the mobile device, wherein:

the information stored includes the current location of the mobile device, and

the at least one function performed is associated with the latest current location of the mobile device and with one or more settings set at the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the current location of the mobile device is part of the defined route;

monitoring the latest current location of the mobile device as the mobile device is moved;

updating the information stored at the mobile device to include the latest current location of the mobile device,

comparing the current location of the mobile device with stored information regarding one or more geo-fences; and

identifying that the mobile device has crossed the geo-fence.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes transmitting the current location of the mobile device to a third party computing device, and further comprising:

receiving the global positioning system (GPS) signal as the mobile device is moved to from the current location to a latest current location;

transmitting the latest current location of the mobile device to the third party computing device, wherein the third party computing device;

monitors the latest current location of the mobile device as the mobile device is moved;

compares the latest current location of the mobile device with stored information regarding one or more geo-fences; and

identifies that the mobile device has crossed a geo-fence of the one or more geo-fences; and

receiving the identification from the third party computing device that the mobile device has crossed the geo-fence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one function performed by the mobile device includes sending an alert over the data communication interface from the mobile device to an external electronic computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the alert includes at least one of the GPS location where the mobile device crossed the one or more geo-fences that identifies the path and the current GPS location of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting information from the mobile device to the third party computing device that identifies the external electronic device.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein an alert is sent over a data communication interface at the third party computing device to an external electronic computing device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alert includes at least one of the GPS location where the mobile device crossed geo-fence that identifies the path and the current GPS location of the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitted information comprises a contact card identified by the user.

11. An apparatus for performing geo-fencing, the apparatus comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) that receives a global positioning system (GPS) signal; and

a user interface that receives an indication over that turns on a route learning function;

a processor executing instructions out of a memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor;

tracks one or more points along the new route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the new route, and the path is identified as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the new route;

identifies a stop point when the user indicates the end of the new route over the user interface, the new route is designated as a defined route after the new route has been learned;

identifies a current location of the apparatus from information contained in the GPS signal, the identified current location of the mobile device is on the defined route, the defined route includes the start point and the stop point, and the defined route is circumscribed by at least one geo-fence that corresponds to a path within a perimeter distance around a line connecting one or more points along the defined route; and

prepares to perform at least one function after identifying that the mobile device has crossed the geo-fence.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising memory that stores information including the current location of the mobile device, and the at least one function performed is associated with the latest current location of the mobile device and with one or more settings set at the mobile device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor executes instructions out of the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor:

identifies that the current location of the mobile device is part of the defined route;

monitors the latest current location of the mobile device as the mobile device is moved by observing changes in the GPS signal over time;

updates the information stored in the memory to include the latest current location of the mobile device;

compares the current location of the mobile device with stored information regarding one or more geo-fences; and

identifies that the mobile device has crossed a geo-fence of the one or more geo-fences.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one function includes transmitting the current location of the mobile device over the network interface to a third party computing device, and the processor executes instructions out of the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor:

receives the global positioning system (GPS) signal as the mobile device is moved to from the current location to a latest current location;

transmits the latest current location of the mobile device to the third party computing device, wherein the third party computing device;

monitors the latest current location of the mobile device as the mobile device is moved;

compares the latest current location of the mobile device with stored information regarding one or more geo-fences; and

identifies that the mobile device has crossed a geo-fence of the one or more geo-fences; and

receives a message over the network interface from the third party computing device indicating that the mobile device has crossed the geo-fence.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one function of the one or more functions performed by the processor executing instructions out of the memory includes preparing an alert for transmission over the network interface, and the alert is transmitted over the data communication interface to an external electronic computing device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alert includes at least one of the GPS location where the mobile device crossed the one or more geo-fences that identifies the path and the current GPS location of the mobile device.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodied thereon a program executable by a processor for performing geo-fencing method, the method comprising:

receiving an indication over a user interface at a mobile device that turns on a route learning function at the mobile device;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal at the mobile device, wherein the GPS signal received at the time when the indication was received identifies a start location of a new route;

tracking one or more points along the new route, wherein each point is associated with a direction of travel and a distance of travel from another point of one or more points along the new route, and wherein the path is identified as being within a perimeter distance around a line connecting the one or more points along the new route;

identifying a stop point when the user indicates the end of the new route over the user interface, wherein the new route is designated as a defined route after the new route has been learned;

receiving a global positioning system (GPS) signal at a mobile device;

identifying a current location of the mobile device from information contained in the GPS signal, wherein;

the identified current location of the mobile device is on the defined route,

the defined route includes the start point and the stop point, and

the defined route is circumscribed by one of the one or more geo-fences that corresponds to a path within a perimeter distance around a line connecting one or more points along the defined route; and

storing information in the memory at the mobile device, wherein the information stored includes;

the current location of the mobile device,

the at least one function of the one or more functions is performed, and

the at least one function performed is associated with the latest current location of the mobile device and with one or more settings set at the mobile device.