System and method for using location information to execute an action
View Patent ↗A system and method is provided for using location information associated with wireless devices. The system includes a wireless device, a location system, and a feature server. The wireless device includes any wireless apparatus having wireless communications capabilities. The location system can generate location information pinpointing the location of the wireless device. The feature server can use the location information to determine whether to execute an action in accordance with subscriber rules. A large number of applications may be implemented to execute the action via a number of communication channels, including without limitation, a wireless communications network, a computer network, and a public switched telephone system, for example.
1. A method for monitoring a transit state of an item, the method comprising:
defining subscriber rules to take an action based upon a first location of the item;
storing the subscriber rules in a memory storage;
determining, using a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, a transit speed of the item;
estimating, using the processing unit, a time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules;
determining, using the processing unit, a present location of the item; and
executing, using the processing unit, the action in accordance with the subscriber rules responsive to the present location of the item satisfying the first location defined by the subscriber rules, wherein executing the action includes implementing at least one delivery notification preference providing the present location of the item and the estimated time of arrival for the item at the second location defined in the subscriber rules.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action is to report the status.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying a person when the delivery is not on schedule.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the action is executed via a network.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending an e-mail to execute the action.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
making a telephone call to execute the action.
7. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions, for execution by a computer, which when executed performs a method for monitoring a transit state of an item, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
determining a present location of the item;
determining a transit speed of the item;
estimating a time of arrival for the item at a location defined in the subscriber rules;
determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules; and
executing, in response to determining that the determined location of the item satisfies the subscriber rules, an action in accordance with the subscriber rules, wherein executing the action comprises:
reporting a status including the present location of the item and the estimated time of arrival for the item at the location defined in the subscriber rules, and implementing a personalized feature associated with the item at a particular location dependent upon a user preference at the particular location.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the determining the location of the item comprises determining the location of the item wherein the item comprises at least one of the following: a package, a personal property item, and a shipping container.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules comprises determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules defined by at least one of the following: the subscriber, a customer of the subscriber, and a service provider.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules comprises determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules comprising at least one of the following: a report routing instruction, a condition for implementing the action, a preference for implementing the action, a time for implementing the action, and a location for implementing the action.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein reporting the status comprises reporting the status in a report comprising at least one of the following: a current location, a prior location, a starting indication, an ending indication, a log of events, and a log of an input.
12. A system for monitoring a transit state of an item, the system comprising:
a memory storage for maintaining a database; and
a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
determine a present location of the item;
determine a transit speed of the item;
estimate a time of arrival for the item at a location defined in the subscriber rules;
determine that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules; and
execute, in response to determining that the determined location of the item satisfies the subscriber rules, an action in accordance with the subscriber rules, wherein the processing unit being operative to execute the action comprises the processing unit being operative to:
report a status including the present location of the item and the estimated time of arrival for the item at the location defined in the subscriber rules, and implement a personalized feature associated with the item at a particular location dependent upon a user preference at the particular location.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine the location of the item wherein the item comprises at least one of the following: a package, a personal property item, and a shipping container.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules defined by at least one of the following: the subscriber, a customer of the subscriber, and a service provider.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to determine that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules comprising at least one of the following: a report routing instruction, a condition for implementing the action, a preference for implementing the action, a time for implementing the action, and a location for implementing the action.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processing unit is further operative to report the status in a report comprising at least one of the following: a current location, a prior location, a starting indication, an ending indication, a log of events, and a log of an input.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, using the processing unit, that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules, wherein determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules comprises determining that the determined location of the item satisfies subscriber rules defined by at least one of the following: the subscriber, a customer of the subscriber, and a service provider.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises using the determined transit speed of the item to estimate the time of arrival.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises using the determined transit speed of the item to estimate a time of arrival based on a delivery transportation mode comprising at least one of the following: an airplane, a truck, and a train.
20. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising: notifying a person when the delivery is not on schedule.
21. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising: sending an e-mail to execute the action.
22. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , further comprising: making a telephone call to execute the action.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein estimating the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises using the determined transit speed of the item to estimate the time of arrival.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein estimating the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises using the determined transit speed of the item to estimate a time of arrival based on a delivery transportation mode comprising at least one of the following: an airplane, a truck, and a train.
25. The system of claim 12 , further comprising the processing unit being operative to notify a person when the delivery is not on schedule.
26. The system of claim 12 , further comprising the processing unit being operative to send an e-mail to execute the action.
27. The system of claim 12 , further comprising the processing unit being operative to make a telephone call to execute the action.
28. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor being operative to estimate the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises the processing unit being further operative to use the determined transit speed of the item to estimate the time of arrival.
29. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor being operative to estimate the time of arrival for the item at a second location defined in the subscriber rules comprises the processing unit being further operative to use the determined transit speed of the item to estimate a time of arrival based on a delivery transportation mode comprising at least one of the following: an airplane, a truck, and a train.