Wireless user based notification system
A group of wireless device users are notified of an event. A location data determination algorithm is provided to a wireless device, where the algorithm determines a frequency at which the device interacts with network elements to determine its location. The location data is stored in a notification server and used to identify a user at a specific location. When a governmental or commercial entity wishes to issue a notification, a message is provided to those users whose location is identified as being in an area defined by the entity.
1. A server system comprising:
an interface configured to receive a request from an application on a wireless device via a wireless communications network;
memory storing computer-readable instructions defining an algorithm executable by the wireless device to cause the wireless device to transmit location updates over the wireless communications network, the algorithm when executed by the wireless device being configured to dynamically vary respective time intervals between respective location updates to dynamically control when each of the location updates is to be transmitted by the wireless device; and
at least one processor configured to cause the computer-readable instructions to be downloaded to the wireless device over the wireless communications network in response to the request.
2. The server system of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores an update, and the at least one processor is further configured to cause the update to be downloaded to the wireless device over the wireless communications network, the update comprising computer-readable instructions defining an updated algorithm executable by the wireless device to cause the wireless device to transmit location updates via the wireless communications network according to the updated algorithm.
3. The server system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the update to be downloaded to the wireless device using an over-the-air provisioning protocol.
4. The server system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable instructions defining the algorithm specify at least one location-determining method to determine a current location of the wireless device.
5. The server system of claim 4 , wherein the computer-readable instructions defining the algorithm specify to use a global positioning system (GPS) as the at least one location-determining method responsive to a requirement for high accuracy.
6. The server system of claim 1 , wherein the computer-readable instructions defining the algorithm are configured to dynamically vary respective time intervals between respective location updates based at least in part on at least two different scenarios.
7. The server system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to conduct a registration process in relation to the wireless device prior to allowing the computer-readable instructions to be downloaded to the wireless device.
8. A wireless device, comprising:
memory storing an application configured to transmit a request to a server system;
at least one processor configured to execute the application to cause the request to be transmitted to the server system over a first wireless communications network; and
an interface configured to receive, in response to the request, a download of computer-readable instructions defining an algorithm executable by the at least one processor of the wireless device, the algorithm being configured to cause the wireless device to transmit location updates indicative of locations of the wireless device over a second wireless communications network when location updating is active on the wireless device, the algorithm being further configured to dynamically vary respective time intervals between respective location updates to dynamically control when each of the location updates is to be transmitted.
9. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
receive a notification message over a third wireless communications network, the notification message being based at least on a most recent location update of the location updates; and
provide a user notification to a user of the wireless device based at least in part on the notification message.
10. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the notification message is further based at least in part on a user profile associated with the user of the wireless device.
11. The wireless device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a further notification message from the server system, the further notification message being based at least in part on the user profile and on a geographic area different from a most recent location indicated by a most recent location update.
12. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide the user notification to the user by displaying at least part of the notification message on a display of the wireless device.
13. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the notification message is further based at least in part on a proximity of a most recent location indicated by a most recent location update to a location of an event.
14. The wireless device of claim 9 , wherein the third wireless communications network is the same as the second wireless communications network.
15. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the algorithm specifies at least one location-determining method to determine a current location of the wireless device.
16. The wireless device of claim 15 , wherein the algorithm specifies to use a global positioning system (GPS) as the at least one location-determining method responsive to a requirement for high accuracy.
17. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide user controls on the wireless device to activate the location updating.
18. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to provide user controls on the wireless device to deactivate the location updating.
19. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the algorithm is further configured to dynamically vary respective time intervals between respective location updates based at least in part on at least two different scenarios.
20. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the first wireless communications network is the same as the second wireless communications network.
21. The wireless device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the application to conduct a registration process with the server system prior to receiving access to the download of the computer-readable instructions.