U.S. patent number 6,618,593 [Application Number 09/658,671] was granted by the patent office on 2003-09-09 for location dependent user matching system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to RovingRadar, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles Drutman, Darlene Drutman, Andrew Egendorf, Norton Greenfeld, Eugene Pettinelli.
United States Patent |
6,618,593 |
Drutman , et al. |
September 9, 2003 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ( PTAB Trial Certificate
) ** |
Location dependent user matching system
Abstract
A system and method for matching first and second mobile
communications devices are provided. Preference or profile
information associated with the first and second mobile
communications devices is transmitted to a central server for
matching the first and second devices. Location information and
transmission statuses of the first and second mobile communications
device are also transmitted to the central server. Data related to
the location of either device is transmitted to the other device
depending upon the matched statuses of the mobile communications
devices and the location and transmission status information
associated with the mobile communications devices.
Inventors: |
Drutman; Charles (Lynnfield,
MA), Drutman; Darlene (Lynnfield, MA), Egendorf;
Andrew (Lincoln, MA), Greenfeld; Norton (Wayland,
MA), Pettinelli; Eugene (Sudbury, MA) |
Assignee: |
RovingRadar, Inc. (Wayland,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
24642173 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/658,671 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/456.3;
342/357.31; 455/266; 455/414.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
67/18 (20130101); H04W 4/021 (20130101); H04W
4/023 (20130101); G08B 21/028 (20130101); G08B
21/0222 (20130101); H04W 4/029 (20180201); H04M
3/42 (20130101); G08B 21/0294 (20130101); H04W
4/02 (20130101); G08B 21/0283 (20130101); G08B
2001/085 (20130101); H04M 2207/18 (20130101); H04M
2242/30 (20130101); H04W 8/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04Q
7/22 (20060101); G08B 21/02 (20060101); G08B
21/00 (20060101); H04M 3/42 (20060101); H04M
003/42 () |
Field of
Search: |
;455/456,414,415,457,566,418 ;342/357.11 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
International Search Report for PCT/US01/28121..
|
Primary Examiner: Urban; Edward F.
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Sheila
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schaefer, Esq.; Ira J. Clifford
Chance US LLP
Claims
We claim:
1. A system for matching users of mobile communications devices
comprising: a first mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the first mobile communications
device and a user receiving status; a second mobile communications
device for transmitting information defining a location of the
second mobile communications device and a user receiving status;
and a central unit having a processor coupled to a memory, the
central unit capable of communicating with the first mobile
communications device over a first wireless communications link and
with the second mobile communications device over a second wireless
communications link, the memory storing a first user profile
including information associated with a user of the first mobile
communications device and a second user profile including
information associated with a user of the second mobile
communications device, wherein the central unit receives the user
receiving statuses and the information defining the locations of
the first and the second mobile communications devices and wherein
the processor receives the first and the second user profiles to
match information of the users and, if there is a match and
depending upon the user receiving statuses, effects the
transmission to the first mobile communications device of locating
information for the second mobile communications device and effects
the transmission to the second mobile communications device of
locating information for the first mobile communications device,
the locating information for each of the devices being based upon
the information defining the locations of the first and the second
mobile communications devices.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first user profile
and the second user profile each includes a location, area, or
volume and the match of information of the users includes a match
of the location, area, or volume contained in the first user
profile with the location of the second mobile communications
device and a match of the location, area, or volume contained in
the second user profile with the location of the first mobile
communications device.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user receiving
status of at least one of the first mobile communications device
and the second mobile communications device is provided by a
power-on state of that mobile communications device.
4. A system for matching users of mobile communications devices
comprising: a first mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the first mobile communications
device and a user receiving status; a second mobile communications
device for transmitting information defining a location of the
second mobile communications device; and a central unit having a
processor coupled to a memory, the central unit capable of
communicating with the first mobile communications device over a
first wireless communications link and with the second mobile
communications device over a second wireless communications link,
the memory storing a first user profile including information
associated with a user of the first mobile communications device
and a second user profile including information associated with a
user of the second mobile communications device, wherein the
central unit receives the user receiving status from the first
mobile communications device and the information defining the
locations of the first and the second mobile communications devices
and wherein the processor receives the first and the second user
profiles to match information of the users and, if there is a match
and depending upon the user receiving status, effects the
transmission to the first mobile communications device of locating
information based upon the information defining the locations of
the first and the second mobile communications devices.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first user profile
includes a location, area, or volume and the match of information
of the users includes a match of the location, area, or volume with
the location of the second mobile communications device.
6. The system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the user receiving
status is provided by a power-on state of the first mobile
communications device.
7. A system for matching users of mobile communications devices
comprising: a first mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the first mobile communications
device; a second mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the second mobile communications
device and a user sending status; and a central unit having a
processor coupled to a memory, the central unit capable of
communicating with the first mobile communications device over a
first wireless communications link and with the second mobile
communications device over a second wireless communications link,
the memory storing a first user profile including information
associated with a user of the first mobile communications device
and a second user profile including information associated with a
user of the second mobile communications device, wherein the
central unit receives the user sending status from the second
mobile communications device and the information defining the
locations of the first and the second mobile communications devices
and wherein the processor receives the first and the second user
profiles to match information of the users and, if there is a match
and depending upon the user sending status, effects the
transmission to the first mobile communications device of locating
information based upon the information defining the locations of
the first and the second mobile communications devices.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first user profile
includes a location, area, or volume and the match of information
of the users includes a match of the location, area, or volume with
the location of the second mobile communications device.
9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the user sending
status is provided by a power-on state of the second mobile
communications device.
10. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein at
least one of the first and the second mobile communications devices
includes an input device for inputting the profile information.
11. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
user profile information includes characteristics of the user and
preferences of the user, and the match of information of the users
includes matching preferences of the first user with
characteristics of the second user and preferences of the second
user with characteristics of the first user.
12. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least one
characteristic of at least one user and at least one preference of
at least one user are selected from the group consisting of a
business relationship, a social relationship, a family
relationship, physical characteristics, food, clothing, an
activity, sports, entertainment, music, and video.
13. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein at
least one of the first mobile communications device and the second
mobile communications device comprises a cellular phone, a pager, a
personal data assistant, a global positioning system receiver, a
transponder, a radio, a walkie-talkie, or a wireless Internet
access device.
14. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
information defining the location of at least one of the first
mobile communications device and the second mobile communications
device includes an address, an intersection, a landmark, a marker,
co-ordinates, or a telephone number.
15. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
locating information includes a map, vectors, directions, and an
address.
16. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
locating information includes audio information, video information,
textual information, or graphical information.
17. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
locating information is updated to track a movement of at least one
of the first and the second mobile communications devices.
18. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
central unit transmits additional information to at least one of
the first and second mobile communications devices with the
locating information.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the additional
information is obtained over the Internet.
20. The system according to any of claims 1, 4 or 7, wherein the
user profile of at least one of the first mobile communications
device and the second mobile communications device includes
information identifying the user of the other mobile communications
device.
21. The system according to claim 4 or 7, wherein the locating
information is locating information for the second mobile
communications device.
22. The system according to claim 4 or 7, wherein the locating
information is locating information for a location other than the
location of either the first mobile communications device or the
second mobile communications device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to telecommunications. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and
method for identifying mobile telecommunications users and
transmitting location-based data to them based upon preferences or
matching requirements specified by the users.
BACKGROUND
Mobile telecommunications users often desire information related to
their geographic location. In numerous applications, such as
convenience shopping and determining an optimal automobile travel
route, data related to the geographic location of the user is
provided to the user. For example, the Vindigo system is an
Internet-based "find-it" service in which a user of a Palm personal
data assistant ("PDA") having wireless connectivity to the Internet
can request the location of the nearest restaurant or movie
theater. The database of subscribing service locations, stored on a
computer server connected to the Internet or World Wide Web, is
queried when the request is received. Matching information,
including location information, regarding the requested service
based on the location of the PDA is transmitted to the Palm PDA
device over the wireless network connection. This system has a
drawback, however, in that the user must specify the location of
the requesting PDA because its location is not automatically
"tracked" by a position determining system like the Global
Positioning System (GPS).
As another example, the OnStar automobile navigation system uses
cellular phone technology and automatic GPS tracking to send
information to the automobile or to services organizations that
support the automobile. In particular, driving directions may be
provided to a stranded motorist based on his GPS-determined
location and a desired destination. Also, remote services, such as
contacting the nearest emergency services in the event of an airbag
deployment or remotely unlocking the automobile in the event the
keys are locked within the car, are also provided based on the
GPS-determined location of the automobile. This system is limited,
however, in that two such automobiles equipped with the OnStar
system can not request information related to the position of each
other.
Other systems and methods for delivering local information to
mobile travelers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,014,090, permit a data profile or specific set of preferred
facilities to be specified by a mobile communications device user.
The mobile communications devices disclosed in this patent contain
a GPS transmitter. As the user's telecommunications device moves
from location to location, a central resource server provides data
to the mobile user through the mobile communications device
corresponding to the user's selected preferences, for example a
list of desired hotels, restaurants, or gas stations. Like the
OnStar system, no provision is made for the simultaneous tracking
and notification of a plurality of mobile users based on the
positions of the other users.
Thus, it is desirable for a telecommunications system to notify a
first mobile communications user of a second mobile communications
user, including providing information related to the location of
the second mobile communications device. Such user notification may
be based on a physical proximity to one another and/or notification
preferences specified by the users. Further, it is often desirable
to permit an "availability" status to other mobile communications
users to further qualify the transmission of the information
related to a user's location to other users, even when physical
proximity and notification preference requirements are met.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a system for
matching users of mobile communications devices is provided
comprising a first mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the first mobile communications
device and a user receiving status; a second mobile communications
device for transmitting information defining a location of the
second mobile communications device and a user receiving status;
and a central unit having a processor coupled to a memory, the
central unit capable of communicating with the first mobile
communications device over a first wireless communications link and
with the second mobile communications device over a second wireless
communications link, the memory storing a first user profile
including information associated with a user of the first mobile
communications device and a second user profile including
information associated with a user of the second mobile
communications device, wherein the central unit receives the user
receiving statuses and the information defining the locations of
the first and the second mobile communications devices and wherein
the processor receives the first and the second user profiles to
match information of the users and, if there is a match and
depending upon the user receiving statuses, effects the
transmission to the first mobile communications device of locating
information for the second mobile communications device and effects
the transmission to the second mobile communications device of
locating information for the first mobile communications device,
the locating information for each of the devices being based upon
the information defining the locations of the first and the second
mobile communications devices.
In the above invention, it is also desirable to provide a system in
which the first user profile and the second user profile each of
which includes a location, area, or volume and the match of
information of the users includes a match of the location, area, or
volume contained in the first user profile with the location of the
second mobile communications device and a match of the location,
area, or volume contained in the second user profile with the
location of the first mobile communications device in the invention
above.
In another aspect of the invention, it is desirable to provide a
system for matching users of mobile communications devices
comprising a first mobile communications device for transmitting
information defining a location of the first mobile communications
device and a user receiving status; a second mobile communications
device for transmitting information defining a location of the
second mobile communications device; and a central unit having a
processor coupled to a memory, the central unit capable of
communicating with the first mobile communications device over a
first wireless communications link and with the second mobile
communications device over a second wireless communications link,
the memory storing a first user profile including information
associated with a user of the first mobile communications device
and a second user profile including information associated with a
user of the second mobile communications device, wherein the
central unit receives the user receiving status from the first
mobile communications device and the information defining the
locations of the first and the second mobile communications devices
and wherein the processor receives the first and the second user
profiles to match information of the users and, if there is a match
and depending upon the user receiving status, effects the
transmission to the first mobile communications device of locating
information based upon the information defining the locations of
the first and the second mobile communications devices.
In the above invention, it is also desirable to provide a system in
which the first user profile includes a location, area, or volume
and the match of information of the users includes a match of the
location, area, or volume with the location of the second mobile
communications device. Further, the system may include features in
which the user receiving status is provided by a power-on state of
the first mobile telecommunications device.
In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a system for
matching users of mobile communications devices comprising a first
mobile communications device for transmitting information defining
a location of the first mobile communications device; a second
mobile communications device for transmitting information defining
a location of the second mobile communications device and a user
sending status; and a central unit having a processor coupled to a
memory, the central unit capable of communicating with the first
mobile communications device over a first wireless communications
link and with the second mobile communications device over a second
wireless communications link, the memory storing a first user
profile including information associated with a user of the first
mobile communications device and a second user profile including
information associated with a user of the second mobile
communications device, wherein the central unit receives the user
sending status from the second mobile communications device and the
information defining the locations of the first and the second
mobile communications devices and wherein the processor receives
the first and the second user profiles to match information of the
users and, if there is a match and depending upon the user sending
status, effects the transmission to the first mobile communications
device of locating information based upon the information defining
the locations of the first and the second mobile communications
devices.
In the above invention, it is also desirable to provide a system in
which the first user profile includes a location, area, or volume
and the match of information of the users includes a match of the
location, area, or volume with the location of the second mobile
communications device. It is also desirable to provide a system in
which the user sending status is provided by a power on state of
the second mobile telecommunications device or in which the
locating information is locating information for the second mobile
communications device. Systems are further contemplated in which
the locating information includes a location other than the
location of either the first mobile communications device or the
second mobile communications device or in which at least one of the
first and the second mobile communications devices includes an
input device for inputting the profile information.
In the above invention, it is also desirable to provide a system in
which the user profile information includes characteristics of the
user and preferences of the user, and the match of information of
the users includes matching preferences of the first user with
characteristics of the second user and preferences of the second
user with characteristics of the first user. It is also desirable
to provide a system in which at least one user and the preferences
of at least one user is selected from the group consisting of a
business relationship, a social relationship, a family
relationship, physical characteristics, food, clothing, sports,
entertainment, music, and video or in which at least one of the
first and the second mobile communications devices is a cellular
phone, a pager, a personal data assistant, a global positioning
system receiver, a transponder, a radio, a walkie-talkie, or a
wireless Internet access device. Further it is desirable to provide
systems in which the information defining the location of at least
one of the first and the second mobile communications devices
includes an address, an intersection, a landmark, a marker,
co-ordinates, or a telephone number or in which the locating
information includes a map, vectors, directions, and an
address.
In the above invention, it is also desirable to provide a system in
which the locating information includes audio information, video
information, textual information, or graphical information or in
which the locating information is updated to track a movement of at
least one of the first and the second mobile communications devices
or in which the central unit transmits additional information to at
least one of the first and second mobile communications devices
with the locating information. It is also desirable to provide a
system in which additional information is obtained from an Internet
web site or in which the user profile of at least one of the first
mobile communications device and the second mobile communications
device includes information identifying the user of the other
mobile communications device.
In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a system for
notifying a first user and a second user of mobile communications
devices of each other's presence comprising a first mobile
communications device for the first user, the first mobile
communications device transmitting a location of the first user and
a first user receiving status; a second mobile communications
device for the second user, the second mobile communications device
transmitting a location of the second user and a second user
receiving status; and a central unit having a processor coupled to
a memory, the central unit capable of communicating with the first
mobile communications device over a first wireless communications
link and with the second mobile communications device over a second
wireless communications link, the memory storing a profile for each
of the first user and the second user, wherein the central unit
matches the first user and the second user if the first user
profile contains a preference for the second user and the second
user profile contains a preference for the first user and the
location of the first user and the location of the second user are
within a specified distance of one another, the central unit
transmitting the location of the first user to the second user and
the location of the second user to the first user upon making the
match and depending upon the first and second user receiving
statuses.
In a final aspect, the present invention includes a child location
system for notifying a parent comprising a mobile communications
device for a parent; a mobile communications device for a child,
the mobile communications device for the child capable of
transmitting a location of the child and a status indicator for the
mobile communications device of the child; and a central unit
coupled to a memory, the central unit coupled to the mobile
communications device for the parent over a first mobile
communications link and coupled to the mobile communications device
for the child over a second mobile communications link, the memory
storing a parent profile including information identifying the
mobile communications device of the child and a child profile
including information identifying the mobile communications device
of the parent, the central unit receiving the status indicator and
the location of the child from the second mobile communications
device and making a match between the mobile communications device
of the parent and the mobile communications device of the child
based on the parent profile and the child profile, the central unit
transmitting information related to the location of the child to
the mobile communications device of the parent over the first
mobile communications link upon making said match when the location
of the child is outside a predefined boundary.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a mobile telecommunications network
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a logical diagram of two mobile communications devices
and associated data according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a process for determining the
delivery of information to mobile communications devices according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is another logical diagram of two mobile communications
devices and associated data according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a process for determining the
delivery of information to mobile communications devices according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile telecommunications system 10
according to a particular embodiment of the present invention is
shown. Mobile telecommunications system 10 consists of a mobile
telecommunications network 15 that connects a first mobile
communications device 17 with a second mobile communications device
19 over first and second wireless communications links 18 and 20
respectively. Mobile telecommunications network 15 may consist of a
cellular telephone network using one of the cellular
telecommunications protocols, such as Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA). Further, mobile telecommunications
network 15 may be a pager network, a wireless web network
employing, for example, any of the wireless protocols such as WAP,
i-mode or 3G, or any other such wireless data or voice transmission
network. Likewise, first and second mobile communications devices
17 and 19 may be cellular telephones, pagers, PDAs or other mobile
communications or computing devices compatible with mobile
telecommunications network 15. Further, the mobile communications
devices may be associated with a user, e.g., a human being, pet,
livestock, or a particular physical entity, e.g., an automobile, a
house, a retail shop, or heavy equipment.
Mobile telecommunications network 15 is connected to a central
computer server 25. Central server 25 minimally includes a
processor with associated memory. Central server 25 may be a
personal computer, Internet or World Wide Web (hereinafter used
interchangeably) server, mainframe computer, or other computing
device capable of connecting to mobile telecommunications network
15. Central server 25 may be connected to mobile telecommunications
network 15 via wireless link 26. Central server 25 is also
connected to computer network 30 which, in turn, is connected to
other computers 27 and 28. Computer network 30 is further connected
to mass storage devices 40 for storing large amounts of data
related to the mobile communications devices 17 and 19 and their
respective users. It should be understood that mass storage devices
40, as well as all other computer memories resident on computer
network 30, are accessible by central server 25 and are considered
to be "associated" memory for the purpose of storing and retrieving
the data and information described in this invention.
In addition to wireless link 26, central server 25 may be connected
to mobile telecommunications network 15 via other connections 29,
e.g. a hardwired link. Central server 25 may be co-located with
mobile telecommunication network 15. For example, computer network
30 may be connected to the Internet 60 via dedicated landline
services 50 through network hubs, bridges and routers 35.
Dedicated, landline telecommunications services 50 may include Tl,
ATM, DSL, frame relay, or other services provided by the
telecommunications companies for connection to the Internet in
general. Network connection 65 connecting Internet 60 and mobile
telecommunications network 15 exists through any of the present or
heretofore developed services that connect these two networks.
FIG. 2 is a logical diagram showing the physical locations of the
first and second mobile communications devices 17 and 19 and some
of the data associated with those devices. In particular, first
telecommunications device 17 is situated at first location 100 and
second telecommunications device 19 is positioned at second
location 200. First and second locations 100 and 200 are preferably
determined by GPS transceivers within the mobile communications
devices. The GPS data indicative of first and second locations 100
and 200 may be stored within a memory inside the mobile
communications devices for later transmission over wireless links
18 and 20, shown in FIG. 1, to the central server 25.
Alternatively, the GPS data reflecting the locations of the
communications devices may be transmitted continuously to the
central server 25 so as to accurately reflect the positions of
those devices on a real-time basis.
Associated with each of the mobile communications devices 17 and 19
are data structures 210 and 220 respectively. The data within data
structures 210 and 220 may be stored on the mobile communications
devices themselves, on central server 25, or on the mass storage
elements 40 within mobile telecommunications system 10. Regardless
of the storage location, each mobile communications device has a
data structure associated with it that contains a plurality of
types of data.
The first data associated with the mobile communications devices
are the above-mentioned GPS determined location data 211 and 221
indicative of first and second locations 100 and 200 respectively.
As previously mentioned, this data is preferably generated by a GPS
transceiver within the mobile communications devices and may be
stored in memory within those devices prior to transmission to the
central server 25.
The second data associated with the mobile communications devices
are the receive/transmit statuses 212 and 222 for the mobile
communications devices. As an example, the receive status data
consists of a toggle bit within the wireless data stream
transmitted over the wireless communications links that indicates
whether the associated mobile communications device is accepting
data or requests from other mobile communications devices or the
central server 25. The transmit status data works similarly in that
it indicates to the mobile communications device itself, whether
requests or data should be sent to other mobile communications
devices or to the central server. In one embodiment, the
receive/transmit status may simply default to "available" according
to the "power-on" or "ready status" condition of the mobile
communications device. In that case, the data type 212, 222 would
allow transmitting the data structures 210, 220 and receiving and
accordingly would not require those datatypes. The same applies to
the other embodiments. Alternatively, a user of the mobile
communications device may toggle either of the above-described
status conditions using data input means on the mobile
communications device such as the keypad of a cell phone or a
handwriting tablet portion of a PDA.
The third data associated with the mobile communications devices
are the profile/preference data 213 and 223 for the mobile
communications device or the user thereof. The commercial
applications for the present invention are numerous and varied.
Consequently, as provided in more detail below, the contents of the
profile/preference data are likewise numerous and varied. At a
fundamental level, however, the profile/preference data contain
elements that uniquely identify the particular mobile
communications device with which it is associated. Further, the
profile data may reflect the particular preferences of the mobile
communications device or its user. As with the status data, this
data may be entered directly into the mobile communications device
using input means on the device or may be integrated as part of the
device, for example, embedded in the device firmware.
The profile/preference data held by the server for each user or
mobile communications device may be generally divided into two
parts. First, each user's or mobile communications device's profile
data contains data related to the characteristics of the user or
the device. As an example, the user's characteristic data may
include that the user is a manager level employee who works in the
Networking group at Xerox Corp. Second, the profile data may
contain preference data for the user or device to be used by the
central server in making the match. In the example above, the
preference data may include other managers who also work at Xerox
and who are in the same city (within approximately 20 miles). Thus
the profiles may contain both specific information related to the
users/device and the preference data for the user/device that is
being sought. Further, the above-mentioned receive/transmit status
212 and 222 may actually be a data element within the
preference/profile data 213 and 223. For example, the user may only
wish to receive a matching notification from the central server
after 5:00 P.M. on weekdays and sets his communications device
availability accordingly.
The data contained within data structures 210 and 220 associated
with first and second mobile communications devices 17 and 19
respectively may be entered and transmitted to one another and to
the central server 25 in a number of ways. As previously mentioned,
location data 211 and 221 may be transmitted directly to the other
mobile communications device via a mobile telecommunications
network 15 and/or transmitted to the central server 25 via any of
its network connections shown in FIG. 1. The receive/transmit
status 212 and 222 are typically entered on the mobile
communications device to either activate or inactivate the receive
and/or transmit status for that particular device. In this regard,
the status may be either maintained within the memory associated
with the mobile communications device, or may be transmitted
directly to the other mobile communications devices or the central
server. If the receive/transmit status 212 and 222 of the first and
second mobile communications devices is stored within the memory of
those devices, then the central server 25 may poll each of the
mobile communications device on the mobile telecommunications
network 15 in order to determine the appropriate status of those
devices. Although such continuous polling is possible, a
particularly preferred embodiment transmits the status of the
mobile communications device to the central server 25 for storage
within the memory associated with the central server so as to
reduce the required transmission bandwidth for the mobile
telecommunications network. Thus, mobile telecommunications data
structures 210 and 220 may be stored within first and second mobile
communications devices 17 and 19 respectively either in whole, or
in part. Any portion of the data within those data structures not
stored within the memory of the telecommunications devices
themselves may be transmitted to the central server 25 for storage
or to the other mobile communications devices within the
network.
It should be appreciated that at least the preference/profile data
213 and 223 may be supplied to central server 25 via means other
than the first and second mobile communications devices themselves.
In particular, a personal computer 80, shown in FIG. 1, may be
employed by a user of first mobile communications device 17 to
transmit the preference/profile data 213 associated with that
device to central server 25 or to the other mobile communications
devices on the mobile communications system 10. Personal computer
80 associated with the first mobile communications device 17 does
not necessarily need to be physically proximate to the first mobile
communications device 17 during any operational phase of the
present invention. For ease of data transfer, however, certain PDA
and cell phones now offer synchronization software that permits
data transfer between PCs and the mobile communications devices.
The same physical relationship, or lack thereof, is true of other
communications devices on the network.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
mobile communications system 10 operates as follows. First and
second mobile communications devices 17 and 19 continuously
transmit data, including their location data 211 and 221 determined
by the embedded GPS transceiver, through wireless links 18 and 20
to mobile telecommunications network 15. Central server 25 receives
the location data from the mobile communications devices via
wireless link 26, connections 65 and 50 to the Internet 60 or other
connections 29. In conjunction with the location data, mobile
communications devices also transmit their receive/transmit status
over the same wireless connections. The preference/profile data,
however, has preferably been previously transmitted to the central
server 25 for storage within its associated memory.
The decision making process executed by central server 25 in
determining whether data should be sent is provided in the flow
chart of FIG. 3. First, step 301, central server 25 performs a
matching function between the profile/preference data 213 of the
first mobile communications device 17 and the profile/preference
data 223 associated with the second mobile communications device
19. If a match is made, central server 25 continues with step 305
and examines either one or both of the transmit/receive status data
212 and 222 associated with first and second mobile communications
devices 17 and 19. If both devices are sending transmit/receive
status data that permits them to notify one another of their
physical proximity, then central server 25 determines in step 310
whether the first mobile communications device 17 is within a
distance 240 of the second mobile communications device 19, as
shown in FIG. 2.
After step 310, central server 25 continues with step 315 and
causes locating information to be transmitted to either or both of
the first and second mobile communications devices 17 and 19
indicating that a "matching" and "available" mobile communications
device is in proximate relation to another. Such locating
information may include either graphic or textual information and
may be in any known format, e.g. a graphical map, textual
directions, a video of the actual route to be traveled etc.
Locating information may also be the raw GPS determined data. If
any of the decision-making conditions in FIG. 3 are violated, then
no data is transmitted by central server 25.
As refinements to the transmission of the profile/preference
information above, the preference or personal data transmitted from
the central server to the seeking party or the sought after party
may be filtered, e.g. upon the information provider's request, so
that certain, otherwise available data is not transmitted. Further,
it should be recognized that additional data, for example location
dependent data gleaned from Internet sources regarding real-time
traffic or weather conditions, may also be transmitted to the
receiving mobile communications device along with or in lieu of the
profile/preference information.
In an alternate embodiment according to the present invention, the
profile/preference data for each of the mobile communications
devices may also reside in memories incorporated as part of the
mobile communications devices. In this configuration, the
profile/preference information, and receive/transmit statuses of
the first and second mobile telecommunications devices are stored
in the memory associated with the central server 25 and are used in
steps 301 and 305 to determine an available match. Once the full
proximity match is made at step 310, the profile/preference data
stored on one mobile communications device is transmitted directly
to the receiving mobile communications device, say for example,
upon the receipt of an "ok-to-transmit" signal from the central
server. In this configuration, the output transmission bandwidth
from the central server is reduced since full profile/preference
information in each transmission to and from communications devices
is isolated between the sending and receiving mobile communications
devices and does not involve the central server once the match is
made and the appropriate communications devices are notified.
First mobile communications device 17 may also have its own
associated proximity range, shown as distance 140 in FIG. 2.
Distance 140, for example, may correspond to an independently
selectable range within which the first mobile communications
device 17 may wish to be notified and/or transmit its information
regarding the possibility of a match, but only if second mobile
communications device 19 is within that distance range.
Consequently, the central server 25 processing at step 310 in FIG.
3 would compare the location data 211 and 221 with both distances
240 and 140 respectively and would only proceed to step 315 if both
distance conditions are satisfied. It should be recognized that the
first and second distances 140 and 240 may be selected in
real-time, by the mobile communications device user for example,
and transmitted to central server 25 as profile/preference data
along with the location data and the receive/transmit status
data.
As a hybrid arrangement of the above, if the first and second
distances 140 and 240 are unequal, it is possible to have the
central server notify the mobile communications device having the
longer distance of the presence of another matching device without
notifying the mobile communications device having a shorter
distance. In this instance, the communications device having the
shorter distance may also receive a special message saying, for
example, that another matching and available user is "not in your
range, but you are in his. Do you want to meet?".
The applications to which the present invention may be directed are
numerous. The distinction between them lies primarily in the types
of data provided in the profile/preference data associated with the
mobile communications devices and used to perform the matching of
step 301 in FIG. 3. In a particularly preferred application, the
first and second mobile communications devices 17 and 19 are used
by subscribers of a matchmaking or dating service. The mobile
communications devices, e.g., web-enabled cellular telephones,
transmit their location data to central server 25 as previously
described. Each of the users associated with the cell phones
employs the input key pad thereon to indicate their availability as
a potential match on a real-time basis by keying in their
transmit/receive status using the cell phone keypad. As one
practical example, two teens in a shopping mall may wish to meet
other teens according to specified criteria. In addition to
inputting an availability status, the teens may also use their cell
phones to dynamically indicate a physical proximity within which
the match must be located by specifying a distance, area or volume
preference, e.g., 500 feet away, same floor, same mall wing.
Finally, the preference data upon which the match is to be based
may also be entered in real-time by the teens using the cell phone
keypad. Alternatively, the preference data may have been previously
entered offline via a personal computer and transmitted to the
central server 25. The matchmaking preference data may include, for
example, the gender of the potential match, or the religious,
social or economic characteristics of the potential match.
In the above scenario, if a male teenager wishes to meet a female
teenager of the same religious background, then that data is
entered by the male teenager on his mobile communications device as
the male teenager walks through the mall. The preference data is
then transmitted to central server 25 which begins to search for
matches based on information according to step 301 of FIG. 3. Upon
finding all matches, the receive/transmit statuses of the potential
matching female teenagers are determined, corresponding to step 305
of FIG. 3. Based upon the set of "available matches", the central
server then monitors the locations of all "available matches" to
determine when they are within a default or user specified distance
of the requesting male teenager, as in step 310 of FIG. 3. Upon
finding an available, proximate match, the central server then
transmits data to the requesting male teenager indicating a
matching female teenager has been found. In this regard, the
seeking male teenager may receive the location and/or the personal
information for the matching female teenager, including the
religion if the receive status of the matching female calls for
information to be sent. Alternatively, the matching female teenager
may also receive the location and/or preference data of the
requesting male teenager.
As another example of a matchmaking service, business travelers may
wish to locate a particular business service on a nearest available
basis when traveling in an unknown area. For example, to determine
the nearest available hairdresser, a business traveler may input
his or her preferences for a particular type of hair dresser, e.g.
salon or barber, from which services are desired. All hairdressers
that have indicated that they have available appointments within
five miles of the business traveler, for example, may be sent the
cell phone number of the traveler so that he may be contacted to
set up an appointment.
In another, similar commercial embodiment, an unoccupied
taxi/passenger matching system may be implemented by a system
operating according to the present invention. In this system, a
passenger desirous of taxi service is matched immediately and
directly with the nearest unoccupied taxi.
In another commercial application of the present invention, an
automated scheduling function is implemented to determine a common
meeting place for a plurality of attendees. In this application, a
plurality of mobile communications devices, all being identifiable
subscribers of a particular group, are distributed within a
particular distance of one another. The central server may be
provided with a time at which the plurality of users wish to meet,
and based upon the instantaneous location data of the plurality of
users as provided to the central server by their mobile
communications devices, the central server 25 may select a
convenient meeting place from a predetermined list of available
meeting places stored within its memory. In this commercial
embodiment, the profile data for each of the mobile communications
devices would include, for example, a subscription group identifier
that identifies those mobile communications devices as members of
the meeting group. Provided each of the mobile communications
devices have activated their receive/transmit status, the central
server 25 transmits a message to each of the mobile communications
devices prior to the pre-arranged meeting time indicating the time
and the location of the meeting. In a variation of this commercial
embodiment, the potential meeting attendees may be provided with a
menu of possible meeting locations by the central server 25 from
which each responds by selecting a preferred meeting location. The
meeting location selected from each mobile communications device is
then transmitted to the central server which selects one location
based upon a selection algorithm or set of heuristics. The central
server then transmits the selected meeting location to all of the
attendees' mobile communications devices.
In yet another commercial embodiment of the present invention, the
mobile telecommunications system according to the present invention
provides an optimized matching system for shipping packages. In
this system, dynamic rerouting of packages is performed by the
central server based on the location of the packages and the routes
of drivers delivering those packages. For example, package driver 1
having a first mobile communications device and providing profile
data indicating his route and the package contents of his truck may
be determined to be within a certain proximity of a second package
driver having a second mobile communications device that provides
profile data indicating his route and the package contents of his
truck. If the central server determines that one or more of the
packages on the first driver's truck are more efficiently delivered
if placed on the second driver's truck, then the central server
transmits a message to the two drivers indicating a convenient
meeting place. If, however, the drivers have timed delivery
commitments, as shown in their package profile information or by
either driver's indication of an unavailable receive/transmit
status on his mobile communications device, then a meeting is not
suggested by the server and no notices are sent to the drivers. In
this way, a real-time optimization of package shipping may be
effected.
In another commercial implementation of the optimized package
shipping embodiment, a driver whose package delivery truck has
broken down may transmit its position to central server 25. In this
embodiment, each truck will have its own GPS-based communications
device so that the location of the disabled truck and the locations
of nearby available trucks are known to central server 25. The
package delivery information for all the packages on the truck
would be contained in the package profile associated with of the
broken-down truck, which may be compared with the package delivery
profiles of the nearest available delivery trucks by central server
25 to determine the best truck or trucks to which the packages may
be transferred. The central server may then reroute and reassign
those packages on the broken down truck to one or more of the
remaining package delivery vehicles that comes to the aid of the
broken-down vehicle on a real-time basis.
In yet another commercial embodiment according to the present
invention, an object finder or object-carrier tracking system may
be implemented in which both a valuable, tangible good, e.g.
currency bags, and a carrier of the good both contain a GPS
position transmission ability. During normal transportation of the
currency, both the object and the carrier are at the same
geographic location at the same time. However, if the goods are
stolen and the currency becomes separated from the carrier, a
warning indicator may be forwarded by the central server 25 when,
for example, the physical distance between the goods and the
carrier becomes greater than a maximum set threshold. In this
commercial embodiment, the profile data for the two mobile
communications devices would be an association group including
location data indicating a maximum permissible separation distance.
It is noted from this commercial embodiment that separation
distances as well as proximity ranges may be applied according to
the present invention.
In yet another commercial embodiment according to the present
invention, computer-mediated activity on an aggregate level may be
coordinated through the use of a mobile telecommunications system.
As one example, the central server may track the locations of a
plurality of persons or entities via their mobile communications
devices. Based upon those detected positions and an applied group
of heuristics, an optimal course of action may then be determined
for the plurality of persons. The group of heuristics may be
devolved from past and/or similar situations, such that an optimal
plan for managing those people or entities are easily used to solve
a particular problem. One example might be to direct the location
of troops in a military theater where the positions of friendly and
enemy troops are known. The central server would apply an optimal
battle strategy based upon the transmitted positions of the troops
and redirect their activities to adopt new positions. In another
application, a forest fire fighting team may have its actions in a
remote area coordinated through the use of mobile communications
devices and a remote positioning system in which locations of the
remotely located fire fighting members are otherwise difficult to
coordinate.
In another commercial embodiment according to the present
invention, animals or livestock may be fitted with mobile
telecommunications capabilities so as to provide information
regarding potential husbandry matches within their roaming areas.
For some animals and livestock, the roaming areas are typically
larger areas than are monitored by conventional techniques. In this
commercial example, the profile information for each of the animals
would include criteria that may be used to provide the most optimal
mating for the animals based on their physical proximity to other
animals of desirable mating characteristics.
In another commercial embodiment, an efficient human donor matching
system is implemented by tracking the locations of human donors of
blood, genes or organs and matching the donors with needy
recipients. In this example, the profile data for each person would
include a blood type, available organs for donation, and/or genetic
characteristics of the donor. Upon the request of a potential
recipient, a matching donor physically close to the recipient may
be quickly identified. In addition, passive identification and
storage of people with the same preferences, e.g. blood type., may
also be effected for future use. In this system, the central server
would track the locations and blood types of all persons in a
community. If a person having a rare blood type AB- enters the
community, their location would be tracked as well. Then, when an
emergency situation arises in which a person needs a transfusion of
the rare blood type, potential donors may be contacted that are
within a viable transportation distance from the person in need. In
this matching system, a passive match making system is provided,
i.e., one in which the match is not known to either user. The
users, of course, may be provided the ability to participate in a
such donation program by setting their "availability"
appropriately.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4
shows an alternative arrangement of the physical locations of the
first and second mobile communications devices 17 and 19 and some
of the data associated with those devices. Unlike the arrangement
of FIG. 2, the first telecommunications device 17 is disposed at
location 420 with respect to a fixed location 400 rather than with
respect to the second telecommunications device 19. As with the
embodiment of FIG. 2, the location data 411 for first mobile
communications device 17 is preferably determined by GPS
transceivers and transmitted to a central server 25 through the
wireless link 18 shown in FIG. 1. Unlike the embodiment shown on
FIG. 2, however, a proximate location determination for the first
mobile communications device 17 is made when the first mobile
communications device is within distance 440 of the fixed location
400 rather than with respect to a distance from the second mobile
communications device 19. Thus, the second mobile communications
device 19 may be located anywhere, although in FIG. 4 it is shown
to be beyond distance 440 of fixed location 400. In this second
embodiment, the information transmitted to the first mobile
communication device may include a data that the device is inside
or outside the distance 440 of fixed point 400. Further, this
information may also be transmitted to the second mobile
communications device 19 on a real-time basis or at some later
time.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an arbitrary boundary
450 containing fixed location 400 may be substituted for fixed or
more regularly defined distance 440 with respect to fixed location
400. Additional boundary data 415 and 425 may be included as part
of data structures 410 and 420 to assist in defining the bounded
area 452 and in determining the position of the first mobile
communications device with respect thereto. As with other data, the
boundary data 415 and 425 may be transmitted from the mobile
communications devices in real-time or may be pre-stored within the
memory associated with central server 25 prior to any proximity
determinations.
The mobile telecommunications network in FIG. 1 may be modified to
include position determining means other than a GPS positioning
system. In particular, a well defined bounded area 452 may contain
its own network of short distance, radio-controlled transceivers or
location fixing devices within the boundaries of a confined
geographical area. Such transceivers may be used to triangulate the
position of a mobile communications device based on the
transmission and return of signals between those transceivers and
the devices themselves. Similarly, the boundary 450 may be
maintained by perimeter sensors, e.g. those used by the invisible
dog fence. Messages and locations may be transmitted based on the
position of the persons within or without the perimeter 450 as
determined by the perimeter sensors and discussed above.
The flow chart of FIG. 5 provides the decision making process
executed by central server 25 in determining whether to send data
according to this second embodiment. First, at step 501, central
server 25 performs a matching function between the
profile/preference data 413 of the first mobile communications
device 17 and the profile/preference data 423 associated with the
second mobile communications device 19. If a match is made, central
server continues with step 505 and examines either one or both of
the receive status data 412 of the first mobile communications
device 17 and the transmit status data 422 of the second mobile
communications device 19. If both devices are sending
transmit/receive status data that permits them to notify one
another of their physical proximity, then central server 25
determines at step 510 whether first mobile communications device
17 is within distance 440 of the fixed location 400. Alternatively,
when a fixed boundary 450 is used, the central server determines
whether the first mobile communications device 17 is within the
perimeter of the fixed boundary 450 at step 510. If so, central
server 25 continues with step 515 and causes locating information
to be transmitted to either or both of the first and second mobile
communications devices 17 and 19 indicating that a "matching" and
"available" mobile communications device is in proximate relation
to the fixed point or is disposed inside/outside the fixed
boundary. If any of decision making conditions are violated in the
flow of FIG. 5, then no data is transmitted by central server
25.
As with the first embodiment, first mobile communications device 17
may also have its own associated proximity range, shown as distance
430 in FIG. 4. Distance 430, for example, may correspond to an
independently selectable range within which the first mobile
communications device 17 may wish to be notified and/or transmit
its information regarding the possibility of a match, but only if
it is within distance 430 of fixed point 400. Consequently, the
central server 25 processing at step 510 in FIG. 5 would compare
the location data 411 and fixed location 400 and would only proceed
to step 515 if both distance conditions, 430 and 440, are
satisfied. It should be recognized that the first and second
distances 430 and 440 may be selected in real-time, by the mobile
communications device user for example, and transmitted to central
server 25 as profile/preference data along with the location data
and the receive/transmit status data.
Also as in the first embodiment, a hybrid arrangement of the above
system is possible. If the first and second distances 430 and 440
are unequal, it is possible to have the central server notify the
mobile communications device having the longer distance of the
presence of another matching device without notifying the mobile
communications device having a shorter distance. In this instance,
the communications device having the shorter distance may also
receive a special message saying, for example, that "you are
outside/inside the designated range or perimeter but the center
location is not within your range."
In a variation of either the first or second embodiments, one or
both of the mobile communications devices may be connected to the
Internet via traditional land lines. New generation phones that
have both cellular and wireless capabilities, for example, may be
used to receive and transmit information over a cellular network or
the traditional land line telecommunications network. In addition,
the user profiles may specify a communications device, phone number
or other address other than one associated with itself to receive
the matching and locating information transmitted by the central
server. As one example, the central server may determine that the
GPS determined location of the receiving mobile communications
device is a home or a work location. This information could then be
used by the central server to route the transmitted information
over traditional land lines, using text-to-voice conversion for
example, to transmit the information over a regular telephone line
or to an email address/URL that is known to be associated with that
location.
In one commercial embodiment according the second embodiment of the
present invention, parents may locate their children within an
amusement park or monitor their children's physical presence within
the park. In this embodiment, both the parents and the children are
equipped with mobile communications devices. The profile data 413
for the roving child holding first mobile communications device 17
would contain data identifying the second mobile communications
device as its parent as well as geographic boundary data 415 that
identifies a containment distance 440 or a boundary 450. When the
child exceeds the distance 440 or exits area boundary 450, data is
sent by the central server to one or both of the first and second
mobile communications devices indicating that condition. In this
amusement park scenario, information may be sent to a lost child's
mobile communications device indicating that they have left the
fixed boundary of the park, or other confinement area specified by
the parent. Additionally, the child's mobile communications device
may be provided with the location of the parent based on the
location data 421 associated with the second mobile communications
device. Using this information, the child may find the parent
regardless of whether the second mobile communications device used
by them is inside or outside the fixed distance or boundary
area.
According to another commercial embodiment of this invention, a
virtual sign-out system may be implemented in which a number of
items may be tracked within a defined physical area or volume. Once
an object that contains a mobile communications device exceeds a
distance from a fixed location or exits a boundary area, the
central server 25 receives a log-out command as part of the data
transmission of step 515. The logout command indicates that the
object is leaving the specified area and is recorded as being
removed therefrom. To complement this, the associative techniques
described above with respect to the object finding commercial
embodiment may be used to match that item leaving the geographic
boundary with a person, also carrying a mobile communications
device, such that ownership of that device is now associated with
that user. Thus, this embodiment may be practically applied to
include the check out of library books, video rentals or valuable
equipment, such as work-related assets removed from the employment
premises by employees.
As another commercial example of the second embodiment, a user
having a mobile communications device may transmit data to the
central server 25 when it is within a particular distance of a
fixed location so as to leave a virtual "calling card" with the
server indicating that the user was there at some point in time.
The data transmitted to the central server may indicate not only
the user's presence but also the interests of that user. As an
example, the user's desire to acquire certain types of comics, or
stamps in a pawnshop may be forwarded to the computer server.
Subsequent users of the mobile communications devices entering the
pawn shop, i.e. those entering within a fixed distance of the shop
or physically entering within the four walls of the shop, are
subsequently notified upon their proximity detection by the central
server that the first user was previously present. The subsequent
visitors would then be forwarded additional information regarding
all previous visitors along with their reasons for leaving the
"calling cards". In essence, this commercial embodiment is a latent
version of the matchmaking embodiment described with respect to the
first embodiment above.
In yet another commercial embodiment according to the present
invention, a flea market vendor located in a fixed booth may
transmit information concerning his products to the mobile
communications devices that are configured to receive such data and
which have indicated a preference for receiving such data. The
shoppers are transmitted the location of the flea market vendor or
are notified when passing within a given distance of the matching
vendor sites or when entering their store.
In yet another commercial embodiment according to the present
invention, an empty parking spot locator is implemented according
to the present invention. The driver of an automobile having a
mobile communications device would send a message to the central
server upon departing its parking spot (a fixed location or
boundary) indicating the vacancy. Other cars within the parking lot
searching for an open spot and possessing mobile communications
devices would be notified of the vacant spot and the position of
the spot via message communication with the central server 25. More
particularly, the users may be sequentially notified based on their
own physical proximity to the open spot so that a rush for that
open spot is avoided.
While particular embodiments and applications of the invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that the specific terms and figures are employed in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of
limiting or reducing the scope of the broader inventive aspects
herein. By disclosing the preferred embodiments of the present
invention above, it is not intended to limit or reduce the scope of
coverage for the general applicability of the present invention.
Persons of skill in the art will easily recognize the substitution
of similar components and steps in the apparatus and methods of the
present invention.
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