(12) United States Patent
`Parker
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,509,814 B1
`Aug. 13, 2013
`
`US008509814B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING
`LOCATION BASED SERVICES INTO RETAL
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`(75) Inventor: Benjamin J. Parker, Overland Park, KS
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: serial spectrum L.P., Overland Park,
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1481 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/807,684
`(22) Filed
`Mar 24, 2004
`1C
`a 24.
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04/24/00
`H04M 3/42
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ..................................... 455/456.3:455/414.2
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............. 455/456.3, 422.1, 440, 456.1, 456.2
`455,456.5. 4566. 403. 4.14.14144.
`s
`s
`705f14.1-1 473
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(2009.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,396,537 B1
`5/2002 Squilla et al.
`6,912,398 B1
`6, 2005 Domnitz
`6,944,447 B2 * 9/2005 Portman et al. ............ 455,422.1
`6.961,555 B1 * 1 1/2005 Philyaw ........................ 455,403
`7,035,647 B2 * 4/2006 de Verteuil .......
`... 455,456.1
`7,076,244 B2 * 7/2006 Lazaridis et al.
`... 455,414.2
`7,096,030 B2 * 8/2006 Huomo ............
`... 455,456.3
`7,369,864 B2 *
`5/2008 Vaananen ..................... 455,466
`7,386,318 B2 * 6/2008 Moon et al. ................ 455,456.3
`
`
`
`stoo
`
`7,558,584 B2 * 7/2009 Yamamoto et al. ........ 455,456.5
`2001/0018349 A1
`8/2001 Kinnunen et al. .....
`... 455,456
`2002/O123359 A1* 9, 2002 Wei et al. ...........
`... 455,466
`2002fO155844 A1* 10, 2002 Rankin et al. ..
`... 455,456
`2002fO160759 A1* 10, 2002 Pradhan et al.
`... 455,414
`2002/0183046 A1* 12/2002 Joyce et al. ...
`... 455,414
`2004/02O3909 A1* 10, 2004 KOster ....
`... 455,456.1
`2005/0070262 A1* 3/2005 Weigand ....................... 455,418
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Kölmel, B., Alexakis, S., “Location Based Advertising.” M-Business
`2002, The First International Conference on Mobile Business.
`
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — George Eng
`Assistant Examiner — Nam Huynh
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method and system for integrating location based services
`into retail applications. Correlation-data and request-trigger
`logic are stored in data storage of a portable device. The
`correlation-data defines geographic locations and corre
`sponding network addresses. The portable device determines
`its geographic location (i.e. by using a GPS receiver device).
`In response to determining its location, the portable device
`uses the request-trigger logic to determine if its present loca
`tion is within a geographic area defined in the correlation
`data. When the request-trigger logic finds that the location is
`within a defined area, the portable device responsively sends
`an information-request to a network address pre-correlated
`with the given location. In response to the information-re
`quest, the portable device receives merchant-information (i.e.
`coupons, special offers, etc.) from a merchant-server. The
`portable device displays the merchant information for view
`ing by a user. Advantageously, the invention can help avoid
`having merchants "spam' the device with unwanted informa
`tion.
`
`32 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`DOYOU WANT TO GET
`MERCHANT OFFERS
`FORCURRENT
`LOCATION:
`| TIMES SQuARE, NY?
`
`- TOM'S CAFE
`- DSCOUNT GOODS
`
`User selects
`DISCOUNT GOODS
`
`= 704
`
`THANK YOU FOR
`SHOPPING AT
`
`Page 1 of 15
`
`SAMSUNG EX-1205
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 13, 2013
`Aug. 13, 2013
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`US 8,509,814 B1
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`WIRELEssy
`NETWORK
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`PROCESSING
`UNIT
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`DATA STORAGE
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`correlation data
`REGUEST TRIGGER
`LOGIC
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`210 -
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`NETWORK
`COMMUNICATION
`INTERFACE
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`FG. 4
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`WIRELESS
`NETWORK
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`NETWORK
`COMMUNICATION
`INTERFACE
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`410 -
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`CORRELATION-DATA
`REouEST. TRIGGER
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`INPUT/OUTPUT
`COMPONENTS
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`DISPLAY SCREEN
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`AUDIO SPEAKER
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`KEYPAD
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`MICROPHONE
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 13, 2013
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`F.G. 6
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`602
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`PortABLE DEVICE DETERMINES
`ITS GEOGRAPHC LOCATION
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`seasca
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`PORTABLE DEVICE COMPARES DETERMINED
`GEOGRAPHC LOCATION WITH GIVEN LOCATIONS
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`IS THERE A n
`MATCH2
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`PORTABLE DEVICE SENDS AN INFORMATION
`REGUEST TO A NETWORKADDRESS PRE
`CORRELATED WITH THE GIVEN GEOGRAPHIC
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`608
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`PORTABLE DEVICE RECEIVES MERCHANT
`NFORMATION
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`Rumm-Rarm--R ===s-s- O
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`esseev
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`PORTABLE DEVICE DISPLAYS MERCHANT
`INFORMATION FOR VIEWING BY A USER
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 13, 2013
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`Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 8,509,814 B1
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`
`
`(Do you want to Get
`MERCHANT OFFERS
`FOR CURRENT
`LOCATION:
`TIMES SQUARE, NY?
`
`
`
`Selects
`
`- TOM'S CAFE
`- DSCOUNT GOODS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`THANK YOU FOR
`SHOPPING AT
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`Page 8 of 15
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`1.
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING
`LOCATION BASED SERVICES INTO RETAL
`APPLICATIONS
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`10
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`15
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`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to location based wireless
`services and, more particularly, to a delivery system and
`method for providing location-based merchant information to
`portable devices.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Given the widespread popularity of wireless communica
`tions and the availability of location-determining technolo
`gies, it is now possible for merchants to deliver advertise
`ments to portable devices that happen to be located in a
`particular geographic area at a particular time. Merchants can
`use this capability to enhance the effectiveness of their mar
`keting efforts by targeting consumers who are carrying por
`table devices in a particular area where advertisements might
`be particularly effective, such as near a merchant’s storefront.
`In practice, for instance, a merchant would interact with a
`wireless carrier to determine when a portable device is
`located near the merchant, and the merchant would then send
`an advertisement or coupon to the portable device, as an SMS
`25
`message for instance.
`Unfortunately, however, this process can result in delivery
`of unwanted junk mail' or "spam' to portable devices. For
`instance, as a portable device passes by multiple stores, the
`stores could bombard the portable device with advertisements
`seeking the consumer's business. Such advertisements could
`be an annoyance to the user of the portable device, as the user
`may prefer to receive advertisements from only certain types
`of merchants or, alternatively, from no merchants. Therefore,
`there is a need for a portable device that can determine when
`it is in a location where it would make sense for the device to
`receive location-based information Such as advertisements or
`coupons, and responsively request Such information.
`
`30
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`SUMMARY
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`40
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`The present invention provides an improved method and
`system for providing location-based merchant information to
`portable devices wherein the device itself can determine
`when it is in a location where it would make sense to receive
`45
`Such information. According to an exemplary embodiment of
`the invention, a portable device is provided that has a network
`communication interface, a processing unit, and data storage
`with correlation-data and trigger-logic stored therein. The
`correlation-data stored in the data storage defines a plurality
`of geographic locations with a corresponding network
`address for each location. The trigger logic that is stored in the
`data storage is executable by the processing unit to monitor
`the geographic location of the portable device, to determine
`when the geographic location of the portable device matches
`a geographic location defined by the correlation-data, and if a
`match is found, to initiate a process of requesting information
`from the corresponding network address via the network
`communication interface.
`By way of example, a portable device (i.e. a cellular tele
`phone) could monitor its geographic location and determine
`when its current geographic location matches a geographic
`location defined in the correlation-data. For instance, the
`portable device may periodically employ a GPS receiver to
`determine its location, and/or the device may periodically
`query a radio access network to obtain a reading of the
`device's geographic location. When the portable device
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`US 8,509,814 B1
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`determines that its geographic location matches a geographic
`location defined by the correlation-data, the device could
`initiate a process of requesting information from the corre
`sponding network address. For instance, the device may
`prompt a user for permission to send an information-request
`to the network address and, upon receipt of user approval,
`send the information-request. Alternatively, the device may
`simply go ahead and send the information-request. Sending
`this information-request may include sending a Hypertext
`Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request to the network address. A
`merchant server at the network address will then deliver infor
`mation to the portable device in response to the information
`request. Upon receiving the information delivered to it by the
`merchant server, the portable device might interpret and dis
`play the information for viewing by a user.
`The information that the merchant server provides can be
`merchant information, sight-seeing information, or other
`sorts of information, preferably related to the device's current
`location in some manner. Additionally, the information deliv
`ered to the portable device by the merchant server can take
`various forms but preferably comprises a merchant-interface
`through which a user of the device can interface with the
`merchant. For instance, the merchant-interface could define a
`merchant-coupon that a user of the device can redeem for
`discounts on goods or services, and the merchant-interface
`could also define redemption-logic that a user of the device
`can invoke in order to generate and send a coupon-redemption
`request to the merchant. Further, the merchant could tailor the
`merchant-interface based on an identity of the requesting
`device or user.
`Advantageously, by having the device itself determine
`when it is located in a given location and then request infor
`mation from a network address corresponding to that loca
`tion, the invention can help avoid having merchants 'spam'
`the device with unwanted information. Ideally, a user of the
`device could establish the correlation-data in advance, so as to
`set the device to request information only when the device is
`at specific geographic locations designated by the user.
`Additionally, a merchant can benefit from this invention by
`learning when an interested customer happens to be nearby or
`in the merchants store. If the user provisions the device in
`advance with correlation-data reflecting locations of impor
`tance to the user (e.g., stores that the user likes to visit), in
`response to an information-request, the merchant-server
`could generate and send a notification to Such merchants that
`Such a customer is in or near the merchant's place of business.
`The merchant might want to use this information to cater to
`that user as an interested customer. For instance, in response
`to the information-request made by a user's device, a mer
`chant could have a sales person personally greet or otherwise
`assist the user as the user enters or browses through the
`merchants store. Other examples are possible as well.
`These and other aspects and advantages of the present
`invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in
`the art by reading the following detailed description, with
`reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.
`Further, it should be understood that the foregoing summary
`is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of
`the invention as claimed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
`described herein with reference to the drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of an
`exemplary cellular radio communications system;
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`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device that
`may be used in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;
`FIG.3 is a block diagram illustrating a merchant server that
`may be used in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device that
`may be used in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a cellular radio com
`munications system having exemplary positioning determin
`ing components;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a functional process flow
`in accordance with the exemplary embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a merchant interface
`that may be used in accordance with the exemplary embodi
`ment.
`
`4
`multiplexed calls and/or data sessions. Typical components
`for CDMA systems include those described in the
`CDMA2000 standard, 3GPP2 C.S0001-C, dated May 28,
`2002, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
`The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or
`other methods may also be used.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portable device 200 in
`accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention. As illustrated, the portable device 200 may include
`a network communication interface 202, a processing unit
`204, and data storage 206, all coupled to at least one bus,
`illustrated as a bus 208. In an exemplary embodiment, the data
`storage 206 may store data, including correlation-data 210,
`and computer instructions, including request-trigger logic
`212, executable by the processing unit 204. The portable
`device 200 could be many different types of devices, includ
`ing a cellular telephone, a portable computer, or a personal
`digital assistant (PDA). Other types of devices are also pos
`sible.
`The stored correlation-data 210 can define a plurality of
`geographic areas, and for each geographic location, a corre
`sponding network address. For instance, referring to Table 1,
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Second
`First
`Second
`First
`Longitude Longitude Latitude Latitude
`
`Network
`Address
`
`Location
`Name
`
`A.
`
`E
`I
`
`B
`
`F
`J
`
`C
`
`G
`K
`
`D
`
`H
`L
`
`XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX Shopping
`Area. A
`Mall Z.
`yXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
`ZXX.XXX.XXX.XXX Shopping
`Area B
`
`the correlation-data 210 may be contained in a table having a
`first column containing first longitude coordinates, a second
`column containing second longitude coordinates, a third col
`umn containing first latitude coordinates, and a fourth column
`containing second latitude coordinates. The first and second
`longitude coordinates and the first and second latitude coor
`dinates could define a geographic area having the longitude
`and latitude coordinates listed in one of the rows of the table
`as its boundaries. Additionally, the table may have a fifth
`column containing a network addresses corresponding to the
`geographic areas defined by the stored coordinates. The net
`work address could be an Internet protocol (IP) address, or a
`uniform resource identifier (URI), such as a uniform resource
`locater (URL). Other types of network address identifiers
`could also be used. A sixth column containing corresponding
`geographic location name information (e.g. Shopping Area
`A) that the portable device 200 could use to inform the user of
`current location in terms readily understandable by the user is
`also possible, as are other columns containing additional
`information.
`Turning back to FIG. 2, the request-trigger logic 212 may
`contain instructions for monitoring the geographic location of
`the portable device 200, for determining when the location of
`the portable device 200 is within a geographic area defined by
`the correlation-data 210, and for initializing a process of
`requesting information from the corresponding network
`address via the network communication interface 202, in
`response to the determination. The network communication
`interface 202 could be used to connect the device 200 with a
`merchant server, for instance, via a wired or wireless network
`214, depending on the type of device (FIG. 2 illustrates a
`wireless configuration). A wireless network communication
`interface 202 would include a suitable antenna and trans
`ceiver circuitry (e.g. a QualcommTM MSM Series chipset) to
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY
`EMBODIMENT
`
`1. Exemplary Architecture
`
`Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illus
`trating components of a cellular radio communications sys
`tem (wireless network) 100. In a typical wireless network
`100, an area is divided geographically into a number of cell
`sites 102. Each cell 102 can by defined by a radio frequency
`(RF) radiation pattern from a respective base transceiver sta
`tion (BTS) 104 antenna, and each cell 102 can include one or
`more sectors (not shown for clarity). Each BTS 104 typically
`can transmit and receive wireless communications to and
`from a plurality of portable devices 106, illustrated in FIG. 1
`as a cellular telephone. Other types of portable devices are
`possible as well.
`Each BTS 104 might connect to a base station controller
`(BSC) 108. As its name suggests, the BSC 108 can function to
`control communications via one or more BTSs 104. For
`instance, in Some arrangements, a BSC 108 might control the
`power level of wireless signals emitted by a BTS 104 and
`might control the handoff of communications as a portable
`device 106 moves between sectors within a BTS coverage
`aca.
`Each BSC 108 might then be coupled to a telecommuni
`cations Switch or gateway. Such as a mobile Switching center
`(MSC) 110 and/or a packet data serving node (PDSN) 112,
`for instance. The MSC 110 might be coupled to one or more
`networks, such as the public switched telephone network
`(PTSN) 114, and manage voice sessions established by the
`portable devices 106. The PDSN 112 might be coupled to one
`or more data networks. Such as a packet data network 116, and
`manage packet data sessions established by the portable
`devices 106. Additionally, the packet data network 116 might
`have at least one merchant server 118 connected to it in order
`to provide the portable device 106 with access to the merchant
`Server 118.
`When a user positions a portable device 106 in a cell 102,
`the portable device 106 might communicate via an RF air
`interface with the BTS 104 of the cell 102. Consequently, a
`communication path can be established between the portable
`device 106 and the network 100, via the air interface, the BTS
`104, the BSC 108, and the switch or gateway (MSC 110 or
`PDSN 112, for example).
`A portable device 106 might communicate with the BTS
`104 using any of a variety of different protocols. For instance,
`in a TDMA system, each BTS 104 typically communicates on
`a group of frequencies, and each frequency may itself carry at
`least one multiplexed call or data session. In a CDMA system,
`by comparison, each BTS 104 communicates over a spread
`spectrum of frequencies, and the spectrum may carry many
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`facilitate communication over an air interface with a wireless
`network 214. Standard air interface protocols such as CDMA,
`GSM, or TDMA, as well as others, could be used. Other
`arrangements are possible as well.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a merchant server 300 in
`accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention. As illustrated, the merchant server 300 may
`include a network communication interface 302, a processing
`unit 304, and data storage 306, all coupled to at least one bus,
`illustrated as a bus 308. In an exemplary embodiment, the data
`storage 306 may store data, including merchant data 310, and
`computer instructions, including content-selection logic 312,
`executable by the processing unit 304. Additionally, the mer
`chant server 300 might be accessible over a network314 (e.g.
`a packet network) via the network communication interface
`3O2.
`The stored merchant data 310 can define a plurality of
`merchant advertisements, offers, and coupons, for instance,
`corresponding to various merchants, as well as a merchant
`interface that allows a user to interact with the merchant. A
`markup language. Such as Hypertext Markup Language
`(HTML) or Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML),
`could define the merchant data 310. The stored content-se
`lection logic 312 may contain instructions for determining
`what advertisements, offers, or coupons to send to a user.
`FIG. 4 is another block diagram of the portable device 200
`of FIG. 2, showing input/output components 416 (i.e. a user
`interface), and a GPS satellite positioning receiver unit 418,
`both attached to the bus 408. Additionally, a merchant server
`420 is shown connected to the wireless network 414. The
`input/output components 418 of the portable device 400 can
`facilitate interaction withauser of the portable device 400. As
`Such, the input/output components 418 might include as input
`mechanisms, a keypad 422 and/or a microphone 424, and as
`output mechanisms, an audio speaker 426 and/or a display
`screen 428, for instance. The portable device 400 might also
`comprise other or additional input and/or output components,
`or fewer input and/or output components than shown in FIG.
`4.
`The GPS receiver unit 418 shown in FIG. 4 can be used to
`determine the geographic location of the portable device 400,
`however, the portable device 400 could alternatively employ
`other types of satellite-positioning technologies. The GPS
`receiver 418 could be a GPS 1TM receiver manufactured by
`QualcommTM, for instance. The GPS receiver 418 typically
`determines its geographic location by measuring the arrival
`time of at least three concurrently received wireless signals
`transmitted from a constellation of GPS satellites. The GPS
`receiver 418 then translates the measured arrival times into
`longitude and latitude coordinates and outputs its determined
`location over the bus 408. Although longitude and latitude
`coordinates typically define the location of the portable
`device 400, other arrangements are possible.
`As an alternative, or in addition, to employing a satellite
`positioning technology, such as GPS, the portable device 400
`could have a position determination module comprising logic
`to enable the portable device 400 to query the wireless net
`work 100 to determine its geographic location. FIG. 5 is
`another block diagram of the wireless network of FIG. 1
`further depicting an exemplary network location system 520
`having position determining components that the network
`might use to provide the portable device 506 with its geo
`graphic location in the wireless network 500. In an exemplary
`embodiment, the network location system 520 can determine
`the location of the portable device 506, and, in response to a
`request from the portable device 506, report to the portable
`device 506 its location. As such, the location system 520 and
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`position determining components could take a variety of
`forms. For example, the position determining components
`might include position determining equipment (PDE) 522
`and a mobile positioning center (MPC) 524 as defined by
`J-STD-036.
`The PDE 522 can be any system for determining the loca
`tion of one or more portable devices 506. As an example, the
`PDE 522 might comprise a network-based location determi
`nation system, Such as a home location register (HLR) that
`can maintain a record of the cell 502 and sector (not shown for
`clarity) in which each portable device 506 in communication
`with the wireless network 500 is operating. As another
`example, the PDE 522 might comprise a triangulation system
`that can determine the geographic location of the portable
`device 506 based on a comparison of relative signal strengths
`transmitted by the portable device 506 measured by at least
`three separate BTSs 504. Alternatively, or additionally, the
`PDE 522 might comprise a portable device 506 having a GPS
`receiver 420, capable of determining its location using satel
`lite signals, as discussed above, as well as functionality to
`communicate that location information from the portable
`device 506 to the network (e.g. using SMS and location
`messaging defined by IS-801). In another embodiment, the
`PDE 522 might be integrated with one or more BTSs 504 of
`the wireless network 500 and might also include other radio
`frequency processing or collating devices for providing the
`geographic coordinates of the portable device 506 to the MPC
`524. Other examples are also possible. Additional methods
`for measuring position might also include a time difference of
`arrival (“TDOA) method or an angle of arrival (AOA')
`method. Other examples are possible as well.
`In an exemplary embodiment, location coordinates of lon
`gitude and latitude can identify the location of the portable
`device 506. The PDE 522 might update the location of the
`portable device once a user changes the location of the por
`table device 506, or the PDE 522 might update the location of
`the portable device 506 only in response to the portable device
`506 querying the wireless network 500 for the location of the
`portable device 506. Other examples are possible as well.
`The MPC 524 can generally be a database application
`executed on a service control point and can function to store
`the location of one or more portable devices 506. In an exem
`plary embodiment, the MPC 524 can maintain a record of the
`location of the portable device 506, as determined by the PDE
`522. In an exemplary embodiment, the MPC 524 might com
`municate with otherentities of the wireless network 500, such
`as the MSC510. In turn, the portable device506 can query the
`MPC 524 to determine its location, and the MPC 524 can
`report the requested location to the device 506 via the wireless
`network 500.
`In an exemplary embodiment, the MSC 510 might receive
`from the portable device 506 a request for the portable
`device's geographic location. The MSC 510 might then trans
`mit that request to the MPC 524, which might then process
`that request, and provide the geographic location of the por
`table device 506 to the MSC 510 for forwarding to the
`requesting portable device 506 via the wireless network 500.
`Any of the above described methods for determining the
`geographic location of the portable device 506 might be com
`bined with at least one other such method in an attempt to
`improve the accuracy with which the network can determine
`the geographic location of the device 506.
`2. Exemplary Operation
`
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary functions
`performed by the portable device 400 in accordance with an
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`exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At step 600,
`the portable device 400 determines its geographic location.
`The portable device 400 could determine its geographic loca
`tion by utilizing a satellite-positioning receiver, such as a GPS
`receiver 420 and/or by querying a radio access network 416
`via the network communication interface 402 to obtain a
`reading of the device's geographic location, as discussed
`above. Other methods are possible as well. Additionally, the
`request-trigger logic 412 can be applied to monitor the geo
`graphic location of the portable device 400 by automatically
`and periodically employing one of the above methods for
`determining the geographic location of the device, or by
`employing one of the above methods only when directed to do
`So by a user.
`After the portable device 400 determines its location, the
`processing unit 404 executes the request-trigger logic 412 at
`step 602 to compare the actual geographic location of the
`portable device 400 with the geographic areas defined by the
`correlation-data 410. The request-trigger logic 412 can do
`this by searching the ranges of geographic longitude and
`latitude coordinates Stored in the first, second, third, and
`fourth columns of the table of correlation-data 300 (see Table
`1), for instance. If the request-trigger logic 412 does not find
`a row in the correlation-data table having a range of longitude
`and latitude coordinates that contains the current longitude
`and latitude coordinates of the portable device 400 at step
`604, the process starts over at step 600. However, if the
`request-trigger logic 412 does find a row with a range of
`longitude and latitude coordinates containing the location of
`the portable device 400, it causes the portable device 400, at
`step 606, to initiate a process of requesting information from
`the corresponding network address via the network commu
`nication interface 402.
`The device could make the information request via the
`network interface 402 by using an HTTP GET request, for
`instance. By way of example, the processing unit 404 of the
`portable device 400 might cause the portable device 400 to
`prompt a user for permission to send an information-request
`to the network address, and send the information-request only
`upon receipt of user approval. Alternatively, the device 400
`may simply go ahead and automatically send the information
`request in response to a determination at step 604 that a
`geographic location match exists.
`The information-request could also define a requestor
`identity comprising information about the user, and could
`provide this information to the merchant server 300. The user
`could provision this requestor-identity in the portable device
`400, via the keypad 422, by entering information Such as age,
`sex, interests, and stores that the user frequents, for instance,
`and by storing the entered requestor-identity in data storage
`406.
`The merchant server 300 could use the content-selection
`logic 312, along with the information contained in the
`requestor-identity, to tailor the merchant-information deliv
`ered to a particular user's portable device 400. The capability
`of the merchant server 300 to tailor the merchant information
`sent to the portable device 400 based on the requestor-identity
`could allow merchants to provide specific advertisements,
`offers, and coupons to users meeting certain criteria (e.g. age,
`sex, etc.), while providing other merchant information to
`users meeting other criteria or having no user-identity. By
`way of example, if the requestor-identity comprises informa
`tion that the requestor is 65 years old, the merchant server
`could provide the user with offers that might be of particular
`interest to a 65 year old.
`Additionally, in response to receiving an information-re
`quest, from a portable device 400, the merchant server 300
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`could generate and transmit a notification to be delivered to a
`store indicating that the user is located at a particular location
`(e.g. in the store). A store that receives notification that the
`user is located in a particular area might want personally greet
`or otherwise assist the user. Additionally, if the information
`request comprises information regarding stores that the user
`of the portable device 400 frequents, and if the notification
`from the merchant server 300 reflects that information, upon
`receiving the notification, the merchant might want to cater to
`the user as an interested customer. Other examples are pos
`sible as well.
`In response to the information-request, a merchant server
`300 at the corresponding network address will deliver infor
`mation to the portable device 400, which will receive the
`information at step 608. The information that the portable
`device 400 receives from the merchant server 300 could take
`various forms (i.e. advertisements, coupons, etc.), but prefer
`ably comprises a merchant-interface that can be displayed by
`the portable device 400, at step 610. The information could
`define the merchant interface in a markup language Such as
`HTML or HDML, for instance, and the portable device 400
`could include an interpreter for interpreting the markup-lan
`guag