User-definable communications methods and systems

US 6,741,927 B2
Filed: 05/12/2003
Issued: 05/25/2004
Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
Status: Expired due to Fees

- Alert
- Pin

Associated Cases

109

Associated Defendants

First Claim

Patent Images

1. A notification method, comprising:

enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;

enabling the user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others;

monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;

determining that the notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to the location;

comparing a current time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods;

selecting the communication methods based upon the comparing step; and

providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria.

View all claims

6 Assignments

Timeline View

Assignment View

Litigations

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; enabling a user to define one or more criteria when each communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others; monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria. A notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

583 Citations

51 Claims

1. A notification method, comprising:
- enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;
  
  enabling the user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others;
  
  monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;
  
  determining that the notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to the location;
  
  comparing a current time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods;
  
  selecting the communication methods based upon the comparing step; and
  
  providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one criterion of the criteria is a time period when the communications method should be utilized.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, wherein more than one communications method is used concurrently.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using different types of communications devices.
  - 5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using the same or the same type of communications device.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a report regarding travel status of the mobile thing during the notification via the one or more communications methods.
  - 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel data is scheduled route data.
  - 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of updating the scheduled route data based upon tracking of the mobile thing.
  - 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are implemented by a computer system.
  - 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile thing is a plane, train, motor vehicle, boat, package, or container.
  - 11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication to a telephone, pager, television, or computer.
  - 12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication over the Internet.
  - 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- participating in a communication session with the user over the telephone; and
  
  performing the enabling steps during the communication session.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of analyzing a proximity in terms of time or distance of the mobile thing to the stop location to determine when the notification should be initiated.

16. A notification system, comprising:
- means for enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;
  
  means for enabling the user to define one or more criteria when a communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others;
  
  means for monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;
  
  means for determining that the notification should be made, based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing to the location;
  
  means for comparing a time value with one or more preset time periods associated with one or more communications methods;
  
  means for selecting the communication methods based upon the comparing step;
  
  means for causing one or more notifications using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one criterion of the criteria is a time period when the communications method should be utilized.
  - 18. The system of claim 16, wherein more than one communications device is notified concurrently.
  - 19. The system of claim 16, wherein at least two of the communications methods involve using different types of communications devices.
  - 20. The system of claim 16, wherein at least two of the communications devices use the same or same type of communications device.

21. A method for a notification system, comprising:
- enabling one or more communications methods to be defined for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;
  
  enabling one or more preset time periods to be associated with each of the communications methods;
  
  monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;
  
  determining that a notification should be made, based upon the travel data and a stop location;
  
  selecting one or more communication methods based upon a time value and the time periods associated with the communications methods; and
  
  causing one or more notifications to be initiated using the selected communications methods.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- - 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a report regarding travel status of the mobile thing during the notification via the one or more communications methods.
  - 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the travel data is scheduled route data.
  - 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of updating the scheduled route data based upon tracking of the mobile thing.
  - 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the steps are implemented by a computer system.
  - 26. The method of claim 21, wherein the mobile thing is a plane, train, motor vehicle, boat, package, or container.
  - 27. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication to a telephone, pager, television, or computer.
  - 28. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication over the Internet.
  - 29. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
30. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
- participating in a communication session over the telephone; and
  
  performing the enabling steps during the communication session.
31. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of analyzing a proximity in terms of time or distance of the mobile thing to the stop location to determine when the notification should be initiated.

32. A system for providing notifications, comprising:
- means for enabling one or more communications methods to be defined for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing;
  
  means for enabling one or more preset time periods to be associated with each of the communications methods;
  
  means for monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing;
  
  means for determining that a notification should be made, based upon the travel data and a stop location;
  
  means for selecting one or more communication methods based upon a time value and the time periods associated with the communications methods; and
  
  means for causing one or more notifications to be initiated using the selected communications methods.
- View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
- - 33. The system of claim 32, further comprising means for providing a report regarding travel status of the mobile thing during the notification via the one or more communications methods.
  - 34. The system of claim 32, wherein the travel data is scheduled route data.
  - 35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a means for updating the scheduled route data based upon tracking of the mobile thing.
  - 36. The system of claim 32, wherein the means elements of the system are implemented in a computer system.
  - 37. The system of claim 32, wherein the mobile thing is a plane, train, motor vehicle, boat, package, or container.
  - 38. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication to a telephone, pager, television, or computer.
  - 39. The system of claim 32, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication over the Internet.
  - 40. The system of claim 32, wherein the one or more communications methods are defined by a user over the Internet and wherein the one or more preset time periods are associated with the time periods by the user over the Internet.
  - 41. A The system of claim 32, wherein the one or more communications methods are defined by a user over the telephone network and wherein the one or more preset time periods are associated with the time periods by the user over the telephone network.
  - 42. The system of claim 32, further comprising a means for analyzing a proximity in terms of time or distance of the mobile thing to the stop location to determine when the notification should be initiated.

43. A method for practice by a user in connection with a notification system that monitors travel status of a mobile thing, comprising:
- initiating a first communication with the notification system;
  
  during the first communication, defining one or more communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of the mobile thing;
  
  during the first communication, specifying one or more preset time periods with each of the communications methods; and
  
  receiving a second communication from the notification system via a defined communication method during a time that falls within a specified preset time period, the second communication indicating the travel status of the mobile thing.
- View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
- - 44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of receiving a report regarding travel status of the mobile thing during the second communication.
  - 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the steps are implemented by a telephone, pager, television, or personal computer associated with the user.
  - 46. The method of claim 43, wherein the mobile thing is a plane, train, motor vehicle, boat, package, or container.
  - 47. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication to a telephone, pager, television, or computer.
  - 48. The method of claim 43, wherein at least one of the communications methods comprises causing a communication over the Internet.
  - 49. The method of claim 43, wherein the first communication is over the Internet.
  - 50. The method of claim 43, wherein the first communication is over the telephone network.
  - 51. The method of claim 43, wherein the receiving step is performed when the mobile thing is a predetermined proximity in terms of time or distance of a stop location.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Shipping & Transit, LLC
Original Assignee
Arrivalstar SA
Inventors
Jones, M. Kelly
Primary Examiner(s)
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.

Application Number

US10/436,119
Publication Number

US 20030195697A1
Time in Patent Office

379 Days
Field of Search

701/200-201, 701/207-211, 701/117, 340/901, 340/905, 340/988, 340/989, 340/993, 340/994, 340/995.13, 340/995.23, 340/996, 340/426.16, 340/426.2, 340/426.21, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/458, 455/502, 455/517, 455/521, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.17
US Class Current

701/201
CPC Class Codes

G01S 2205/008   using a mobile telephone ne...

G01S 5/0027   of actual mobile position, ...

G06Q 10/08   Logistics, e.g. warehousing...

G08G 1/123   indicating the position of ...

User-definable communications methods and systems

First Claim

6 Assignments

Litigations

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

583 Citations

51 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links

User-definable communications methods and systems

First Claim

6 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

Litigations

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

583 Citations

51 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links