IP Library Granted Patent US 9,049,543
Granted Patent B2
US 9,049,543 · App. 12/432,412 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Method and apparatus for location notification using location context information

Inventors: Ronald Anthony Dicke (Ottawa, CA); Gaëlle Martin-Cocher (Mississauga, CA)
Assignee: blackBerry Limited
H04W4/02H04W64/00H04L29/08072
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,049,543
App. No.
12/432,412
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for location notification using location context information. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a mobile device automatically generates location context information that indicates a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device. For example, if the user of the mobile device is at home, then the location context information indicates that the user is at home instead of merely indicating latitude/longitude information corresponding to the location of the home. The mobile device displays the location context information in order to convey the location of the mobile device in a manner that is meaningful without the need for a map. Alternatively, or additionally, the mobile device provides the location context information to at least one other device. This serves to inform other users of the location of the mobile device in a manner that is meaningful without the need for a map.

Claims (91)

1. A method comprising:

determining a location of a mobile device;

based on the location of the mobile device, determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device by selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion;

generating location context information indicating the point of interest; and

executing a location notification using the location context information in order to convey the location of the mobile device;

wherein:

the plurality of points of interest comprise public points of interest; and

determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device comprises at least one of:

querying a communal database for a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device; or

determining a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating location context information indicating the point of interest comprises:

generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device comprises:

if the mobile device is moving towards the point of interest, generating the location context information to indicate arrival at the point of interest.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device comprises:

if the mobile device is moving away from the point of interest, generating the location context information to indicate departure from the point of interest.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of points of interest that is nearest to the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of points of interest further comprises at least one user-personal point of interest.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one user-personal point of interest comprises at least one of:

at least one point of interest geocoded from at least one address book;

at least one point of interest from a map application;

at least one point of interest geocoded from at least one picture; or

at least one point of interest retrieved from a mobile code.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the mobile device comprises at least one of:

determining the location of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code; or

determining the location of the mobile device based on GPS (Global Positioning System).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the method is executed in the mobile device; and

executing the location notification using the location context information comprises at least one of:

the mobile device displaying the location context information; or

the mobile device providing the location context information to a server or to at least one other device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the method is executed in a server; and

executing the location notification using the location context information comprises:

the server providing the location context information to at least one other device.

11. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution on a processor of a mobile device or a server so as to implement a method comprising:

determining a location of a mobile device;

based on the location of the mobile device, determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device by selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion;

generating location context information indicating the point of interest; and

executing a location notification using the location context information in order to convey the location of the mobile device;

wherein:

the plurality of points of interest comprise public points of interest; and

determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device comprises at least one of:

querying a communal database for a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device; and or

determining a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the point of interest and generating the location context information are executed automatically.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless access radio;

a processor; and

a location context notifier configured for:

determining a location of the mobile device;

based on the location of the mobile device, determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device by selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion;

generating location context information indicating the point of interest; and

executing a location notification using the location context information in order to convey the location of the mobile device;

wherein:

the plurality of points of interest comprise public points of interest; and

determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device comprises at least one of:

querying a communal database for a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device; or

determining a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code.

14. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the location context notifier is configured for generating location context information indicating the point of interest by:

generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the location context notifier is configured for generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device by:

if the mobile device is moving towards the point of interest, generating the location context information to indicate arrival at the point of interest.

16. The mobile device of claim 14 , wherein the location context notifier is configured for generating the location context information based on both location and movement of the mobile device by:

if the mobile device is moving away from the point of interest, generating the location context information to indicate departure from the point of interest.

17. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of points of interest further comprise at least one user-personal point of interest.

18. The mobile device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one user-personal point of interest comprises at least one of:

at least one point of interest geocoded from at least one address book;

at least one point of interest from a map application;

at least one point of interest geocoded from at least one picture; or

at least one point of interest retrieved from a mobile code.

19. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein determining the point of interest and generating the location context information are executed automatically.

20. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the location context notifier is configured for selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion by:

selecting one of the plurality of points of interest that is nearest to the mobile device.

21. The mobile device of claim 13 , wherein the location context notifier is configured for determining the location of the mobile device by at least one of:

determining the location of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code; or

determining the location of the mobile device based on GPS (Global Positioning System).

22. A server comprising:

a processor; and

a location context notifier configured for:

determining a location of a mobile device;

based on the location of the mobile device, determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device by selecting one of a plurality of points of interest according to at least one criterion;

generating location context information indicating the point of interest; and

executing a location notification using the location context information in order to convey the location of the mobile device;

wherein:

the plurality of points of interest comprise public points of interest; and

determining a point of interest in a vicinity of the mobile device comprises at least one of:

querying a communal database for a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device; or

determining a public point of interest in the vicinity of the mobile device based on location information retrieved from a mobile code.

23. The server of claim 22 , wherein determining the point of interest and generating the location context information are executed automatically.

Assignments (8)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDED PATENT NUMBER TO REMOVE PATENT NO. 8,873,407 AT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 64066 FRAME 1. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE DATE MARCH 20, 2023. Recorded Feb 2, 2026
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074921/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET AT PAGE 50 TO REMOVE 12817157 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 063471 FRAME 0474. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 064806/0669 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT 12817157 APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064015 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 5, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064807/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064066/0001 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064015/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
Reel/Frame 063471/0474 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034016/0419 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2009
From: DICKE, RONALD ANTHONY; MARTIN-COCHER, GAELLE
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 022615/0266 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100279710A1 · Nov 4, 2010