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`!!Bi.Stis a request for filing a PROVISIONAL APPLICATION under 37 CFR 1.53(c).
`0
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION COVER SHEET
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`I Docket Number I 500978_00
`
`inside this box ➔
`
`INVENTOR(s)/APPLICANT{s)
`
`GIVEN NAME (first and m1ddle[1f any)) I
`FAMILY OR SURNAME
`Jeff
`Callegari
`
`RESIDENCE
`I
`(CITY AND EITHER STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY)
`Kirkland, Washington
`
`n Additional inventors are being named on separately numbered sheets attached hereto.
`
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (280 characters max)
`
`METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL COUPON
`
`CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`D. C. Peter Chu, Esq.
`Dorsey & Whitney LLP
`CUSTOMER NO. 27,076
`U.S. Bank Center Building
`1420 Fifth Avenue
`Seattle, Washington 98101
`Phone: (206) 903-8800 Fax: (206) 903-8820
`
`1:1
`t:;j
`
`eJ Specification
`
`.
`~*!?
`~ Drawing(s)
`
`!~
`
`ENCLOSED APPLICATION PARTS (check all that apply)
`[!] Applicant(s) Claim(s) Small Entity Status
`□
`
`Number of Pages I 34
`Number of Sheets I 7
`
`I
`I
`
`Other (specify)
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check one)
`[!] A check or money order is enclosed to cover the Provisional filing fees
`[!] The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any deficiencies in the filing fees
`or credit any overpayment to Deposit Account Number: 50-1266
`
`FILING FEE
`AMOUNT($)
`
`$75
`
`The invention was made by an agency of the Umted States Government or under a contract with an agency of the United States
`Government.
`~ No.
`Yes, the name of the U.S. Government agency and the Government contract number are: _____________ _ _
`
`RespectfWly su~~
`
`/
`
`,
`
`SIGNATURE-~-___:::--------'-------=----(cid:173)
`
`Date
`
`\.•Vr(l .. c.* \ <I:\ \ l,<01 \
`
`TYPED or PRINTED NAME _ _,D=·...:C=.-"-P=et=er""'C""h=u~-------
`
`REGISTRATION NO. _4~1=6~7~6~--------
`(if appropriate)
`\\sefile03\files\ip\documents\clients\cellular technical services\500978.00\500978.00 prov appl cover.doc
`
`LYFT 1008
`
`1
`
`

`

`FEE TRANSMITTAL SHEET
`(FOR FY 2001)
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (Check One)
`1. [X] The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any
`additional fee required under 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.16 and 1.17 and
`1.136(a)(3) and credit any over payments to Deposit Account
`No.: 50-1266; Deposit Account Name: DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
`
`2. [X] Check Enclosed
`
`FEE CALCULATION
`
`1. BASIC FILING FEE
`Small Entity
`Large Entity
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`ID
`ID
`Code
`710
`355
`
`n
`
`(~01,
`
`201
`
`Fee Description
`
`[] Utility Filing Fee
`
`Hl
`1~1:06
`. '
`·~
`\Jos
`
`I
`1
`
`320
`
`20p
`
`160
`
`[] Design Filing Fee
`
`710
`
`20~
`
`355
`
`[] Reissue Filing Fee
`
`150
`
`214
`
`75
`
`[X] Provisional Filing Fee
`
`Subtotal (1)
`
`$1§
`
`Complete if Known
`
`Express Mail No.
`
`EL 646070548 US
`
`Filing Date
`
`Concurrently Herewith
`
`First Named Inventor Jeff Callegari
`
`Group Art Unit
`
`Not Yet Assigned
`
`Examiner
`
`Not Yet Assigned
`
`Atty. Docket Number 500978.00
`FEE CALCULATION (Continued)
`
`3. ADDITIONAL FEES
`Large Entity
`Small Entity
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee
`Fee Description
`Code
`Code
`($)
`($)
`130
`65 Surcharge - Late filing fee or oath
`205
`105
`25 Surcharge - late prov1s1onal filing fee
`or cover sheet
`130 Non-English specification
`For Filing a Request for
`Reexamination
`55 Extension for reply within first month
`
`130
`
`2,520
`
`110
`
`215
`
`50
`
`227
`
`139
`
`147
`
`2,520
`
`127,
`
`139
`
`147
`
`115
`
`390
`
`890
`
`1,390
`
`1,890
`
`310
`
`260
`
`110
`
`216
`
`217
`
`218
`
`280
`
`220
`
`270
`
`248
`
`116
`
`117
`
`118
`
`128
`
`120
`
`121
`
`148
`
`140
`
`195
`
`Extension for reply within 2nd month
`
`445 Extension for reply within 3rd month
`
`695 Extension for reply within 4th month
`
`945
`
`155
`
`Extension for reply within 5th month
`
`Filing a brief in support of an appeal
`
`135 Request for oral hearing
`
`55 Terminal Disclaimer Fee
`
`Fee paid
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`$
`$
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`;
`
`~~ EXTRA CLAIM FEES
`Prior
`j , ~urrent Claims
`.. ;-:;7
`.
`20
`(a::rotal
`- - - ---
`-
`\'Ind.
`3
`;i"''; - - - ---
`;''"!Multiple Dependent Claims
`F.:::-:
`
`=
`
`=
`
`X
`
`X
`
`X
`
`=
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$ =
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`Subtotal (2)
`
`$0
`
`Fee Descnt;ition
`
`Large Entity
`Fee
`Fee
`~ J1l.
`18
`103
`
`Small Entity
`Fee
`Fee
`J1l.
`Code
`203
`
`9 Claims in excess of 20
`
`102
`
`104
`
`109
`
`110
`
`BO
`
`270
`
`80
`
`18
`
`202
`
`204
`
`209
`
`210
`
`40
`
`Independent claims in excess of 3
`
`135 Multiple dependent Claim
`40 Reissue independent claims over
`original patent
`9 Reissue claims in excess of 20 and
`over original patent
`
`Extra
`
`Fee
`
`Fee Pa,d
`
`141
`
`, 142
`
`1,240
`
`241
`
`1,240
`
`,242
`
`10
`
`240
`
`55 Petition to revive - unavoidable
`
`620 Petition to revive - unintentional
`620 Utility/Reissue issue fee ( + advance
`copies)
`220 Design issue fee ( + advance copies)
`
`130
`
`50
`
`180
`
`40
`
`355
`
`Pet1t1ons to the Commissioner
`Petitions related to provisional
`applications
`Subm1ss1on of IDS
`Recording each patent assignment
`per property (times number of
`properties)
`Request for Continued Examination
`(RCE)
`
`14i3
`
`122
`
`123
`
`126
`
`581
`
`179
`
`440
`
`243'
`
`130
`
`;122
`
`50
`
`123
`
`180
`
`126
`
`40
`
`81
`
`710
`
`279
`
`Other fee (specify)
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`$
`
`Subtotal (3)
`
`$0
`
`Total Amount of Payment:
`
`$ 75
`
`Submitted by:
`
`Name: D. C. Peter Chu
`
`Signature:
`\\sefile03\files\ip\documents\clients\cellular technical services\500978 00\500978.00 fee trans appl.doc
`
`Telephone: (206) 903-8800
`
`Date: "1\ ~
`
`2
`
`

`

`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Applicant
`
`: Jeff Callegari
`
`Attorney Docket No.: 500978.00
`
`Filed
`Title
`
`: Concurrently herewith
`: METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL COUPON
`
`CERTIFICATE OF MAILING BY "EXPRESS MAIL"
`
`PATENT
`
`0
`E--<
`a.
`
`(/1
`::::,
`t-(cid:173)...,
`c:, -~
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`
`Box Provisional Application
`Commissioner of Patents
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Sir:
`
`I hereby certify that the enclosures listed below are being deposited with the
`
`United States Postal Service "EXPRESS MAIL Post Office to Addressee" service under 37
`C.F.R. § 1.10, Mailing Label Certificate No. EL646070548US, on March 19, 2001, addressed to
`
`Box Provisional Application, Commissioner of Patents, Washington, DC 20231.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`PC:hap
`
`Enclosures:
`Postcard
`Check
`Fee Transmittal Sheet(+ copy)
`Provisional Application Cover Sheet
`Application Data Sheet
`Specification, Claims, Abstract (34 pages)
`7 Sheets of Drawings (Figures 1-7)
`
`\\sefile03\files\ip\documents\clients\cellular technical services\500978.00\500978.00 cert of exp mail.doc
`
`3
`
`

`

`EXPRESS MAIL NO. EL 646070548 US
`
`APPLICATION DATA SHEET
`
`Inventor Information
`
`Inventor One Given Name
`Family Name
`Postal Address Line One
`City
`State or Province
`County
`Postal or Zip Code
`City of Residence
`State or Prov. Of Residence
`Country of Residence
`Citizenship Country
`
`Correspondence Information
`
`Name Line One
`Address Line One
`Address Line Two
`City
`State or Province
`Postal or Zip Code
`Telephone
`Facsimile
`E-Mail
`
`Application Information
`
`Title
`Total Drawing Sheets
`Formal Drawings
`Application Type
`Attorney Docket Number
`Assigned
`
`Jeff
`Callegari
`11419 NE 111 th Place
`Kirkland
`Washington
`King
`98033
`Kirkland
`Washington
`United States of America
`Canada
`
`D. C. Peter Chu, Esq.
`DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
`1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3400
`Seattle
`Washington
`98101
`206-903-8800
`206-903-8820
`patentseattle@dorseylaw.com
`
`METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL COUPON
`7
`NO
`Provisional
`500978.00
`No
`
`Representative Information
`
`Representative Customer No.
`
`27,076
`
`\\sefile03\files\ip\documents\clients\cellular technical services\500978.00\500978.00 appl data sheet.doc
`
`4
`
`

`

`Express Mail No. EL646070548US
`
`1
`
`METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL COUPON
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The technical field relates generally to providing a virtual incentive to form
`
`goodwill. More particularly, it pertains to providing a virtual coupon at a location such that
`
`when a consumer is within the vicinity of the location, the virtual coupon is revealed to the
`
`consumer.
`
`COPYRIGHT NOTICE - PERMISSION
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materials, which is
`
`subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`
`reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent
`
`and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights
`
`whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the
`
`drawings attached hereto: Copyright © 2001, Cellular Technical Services Company, Inc., All
`
`Rights Reserved.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An illustrative aspect of the invention includes a method for providing a coupon.
`
`The method includes creating a virtual coupon, wherein creating includes defining an active area.
`
`The method also includes presenting the virtual coupon to a consumer when the consumer is
`
`within the vicinity of the active area so as to allow the consumer to redeem the virtual coupon.
`
`The consumer is defined to be a consumer selected from a group consisting of a consumer with a
`
`device within the active area and a consumer making an electronic search that includes the active
`
`area.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system showing the software architecture for
`
`providing a merchant presence according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`5
`
`

`

`2
`
`Figure 2 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface for creating a virtual coupon
`
`using the system of Figure 1 according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`Figure 3 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface for presenting a number of
`
`virtual coupons to a consumer according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`Figure 4 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface for searching for a merchant
`
`presence by a consumer according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`Figure 5 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface for allowing a consumer to
`
`selectively secure his location so as to reveal or to conceal his presence according to one aspect
`
`of the present invention.
`
`Figure 6 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface for allowing a consumer to select
`
`a device to which a merchant may reveal the merchant presence so that the consumer may
`
`interact with the merchant according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`Figure 7 is a pictorial diagram of a user interface that allows a consumer or a
`
`merchant to personalize a presence using an application according to one aspect of the present
`
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention,
`
`reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are
`
`shown, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be
`
`practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantia11y similar components throughout
`
`the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in
`
`the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical,
`
`electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
`
`present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
`
`sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
`
`Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 according to one aspect of the present
`
`invention. The system 100 includes various pieces of software and hardware that provide a
`
`merchant presence for a merchant at a desired geographic location. The desired geographic
`
`6
`
`

`

`3
`
`location is defined as an area where the merchant is interested in having a presence to do
`
`business with a consumer. The consumer interacts with the merchant through a consumer
`
`device. The consumer device includes any computing device that will allow the consumer to
`
`interact with the merchant, such as a wired device or a wireless device.
`
`The system 100 includes a presence server that reveals the merchant presence to
`
`the consumer. The presence server includes a device interface. The device interface detects the
`
`type of device the consumer is using to interact with the merchant. When the type of device has
`
`been determined, the device interface selectively communicates an appropriate user interface for
`
`the type of device the consumer is using. For example, if the consumer device can interpret
`
`hypertext markup language (HTML), the device interface may send information in the form of
`
`HTML pages to the consumer device.
`
`The system 100 includes a Web server. The Web server serves HTML pages.
`
`The user interface of the presence server may be implemented as HTML pages that may
`
`communicate to the consumer device if the device interface has determined that the consumer
`
`device can interpret HTML pages.
`
`The system 100 includes a VoiceXML server. The VoiceXML server serves
`
`Voice extensible Markup Language pages. The user interface of the presence server may be
`
`implemented as VoiceXML pages that may communicate to the consumer device if the device
`
`interface has determined that the consumer device can interpret VoiceXML pages.
`
`The system 100 includes a number of applications, such as merchant applications.
`
`These merchant applications include applications that allow the merchant to interface with the
`
`presence server to create the merchant presence.
`
`The presence server may use a number of other systems to provide the merchant
`
`presence. These other systems include a mapping system. The mapping system provides
`
`geographic addresses and routing methods to define the geographic area of the merchant
`
`presence. It may also be used by the consumer to search for a desired merchant presence within
`an area of interest. The database keeps information that is generated to provide the merchant
`
`presence.
`
`In one embodiment, the database is implemented using Oracle, but any suitable
`
`database technology can be used, such as Microsoft SQL server. The audio processing allows
`
`7
`
`

`

`4
`
`processing of audio information for voice recognition, voice to text, or text to voice. The audio
`
`processing allows the consumer device to comprise a simple plain old telephone system (POTS)
`
`to a sophisticated cellular phone with digital personal assistant technology.
`
`The embodiments of the present invention enable merchants to easily create,
`
`deploy, and sustain a location of specific wireless and non-wireless presence. The merchants can
`
`do so with or without assistance from a service provider or other third party agent. The
`
`embodiments of the present invention put a merchant wireless "presence" in merchant's own
`
`handsl The aforementioned third parties may also utilize the system on behalf of clients.
`
`Merchants can log on to their personalized system account and navigate to their
`
`own customized
`
`location-based presence.
`
`This presence
`
`is
`
`initially populated with
`
`personalization data taken from their own user accounts. From then on the merchant can come
`
`back to their setup page/wizard and modify the various data associated with them. This is a
`
`"live" presence.
`
`The merchant works with the setup page/wizard to create/deploy their "presence"
`
`and the consumer is presented with a "consumer view" of this "presence." This consumer view
`
`is presented in many different user interfaces and many diverse devices including but not limited
`
`to web, W AP/WML, voiceN oiceXML, SMS (text messaging), email, and other modalities.
`
`The presence is part of an overall system, which allows consumers (or merchants)
`
`to search, find, detect and interact with the merchant all rooted in location- aware technology.
`
`Although the system has the capability to import (through a custom interface)
`
`merchant data from existing sources such as directories and directory services, the system allows
`
`merchants to independently subscribe to the service and take full control of their presence. The
`
`overall accuracy of the system (both spatial and content) are therefore inherently more accurate
`
`than existing technologies that employ for example "spiders" that almost blindly attempt to index
`
`"location" from existing web pages. Merchant presence is "live." Changes are immediately
`
`reflected into the overall system.
`
`Because the system does not require any design/tech talent other than operating a
`
`browser and filling out forms (formal web experience), it is available to a broad base of
`
`merchants. Some of these merchants may have expertise in web presence and others may not.
`
`8
`
`

`

`5
`
`The merchant presence captures the merchant information within the system application
`
`database, which also supports links to external sources. Merchants that already have a home
`
`page (wireless or non-wireless) can link these external sources to this location-based presence,
`
`thus, in fact automatically making their existing non-location- enabled presence location
`
`sensWve.
`
`The embodiments of the present invention provide quick and easy direct
`
`interaction between the merchant and consumer through various buttons and links: e.g., contact,
`
`home page, get map, get directions etc. The present invention also provides easy navigation to a
`
`virtual coupon offering.
`
`The system 100 also supports virtual coupons as an application. A location-based
`
`coupon is an incentive marketing tool: permission-based marketing.
`
`Merchant Interaction: Merchants subscribe to this application (which may be free
`
`or pay-for service) and create, modify, or update a coupon. The setup of this coupon and the
`
`business process or logic of a "coupon" is captured by an easy-to-use interface. The interface is
`
`designed with the specific goal of supporting a broad merchant skill base. Complex business and
`
`transport logic is masked by a lowest common denominator interface-designed for both
`
`technical novices and technically savvy merchants. The coupons leverage both merchant
`
`presence data and merchant account data to make it relatively painless to implement a coupon
`
`campaign.
`
`The application provides business process/logic for selecting a number of
`
`different types of incentives or offerings. Merchants can also control their "campaign" by
`
`specifying logistical parameters such as when the campaign starts, ends, how many coupons to
`
`serve, and the duration or time a coupon is valid. The merchant also has explicit control of the
`
`campaign-a simple checkbox allows a merchant to immediately stop or restart the campaign
`
`(coupon) delivery. The merchant also can obtain demographics and statistical data from the
`
`system, which may be used to improve the business process and the campaign.
`
`Coupons are delivered in many formats such as W AP/WML, email, SMS, Voice,
`
`text to speech, VoiceXML, etc. The merchant has great flexibility in controlling the presentation
`
`of the coupon, as does the user in receiving coupons.
`
`9
`
`

`

`6
`
`Coupons are delivered in many formats such as W AP/WML, email, SMS, Voice,
`
`text to speech, VoiceXML, etc. The merchant has great flexibility in controlling the presentation
`
`of the coupon, as does the user in receiving coupons.
`
`User Interaction: Users subscribe to this application and configure various
`
`parameters that affect the behavior of the application for themselves ( customized/personalized).
`
`Based on these preferences, information is proactively delivered to their device. The application
`
`uses the system "filters" which allow any user of the system to create search criteria such as
`
`radius of interest (e.g., within¼ mile from a certain location), keywords, subjects, business types,
`
`offering types, time windows, etc.) The system is intended to match user profiles with
`
`coupon/merchant profiles. This system of filters is intended to funnel only those coupons of
`
`specific interest to the user and only those within a certain geospatial area, time domain, etc.
`
`This is the "permission" aspect of this marketing genre.
`
`Presentation of the coupon or indication of redemption code is "valid" receipt of
`
`push. The term "push" means the inclusion of a technology developed in relation to the World
`
`Wide Web, designed to provide end users with personalized Web access by having a site actively
`
`"push" requested information to the user's desktop, either automatically or at specified intervals.
`
`Merchants may also devise their own systems of recognition. Redemption codes may be keyed
`
`into point of sale systems and therefore close the information systems loop.
`
`On some devices or formats "real" push may not be technically feasible-only
`
`polling may be possible. In these examples the system implements recognition of successful
`
`push (by decrementing the coupon counter) by recording the user action of asking for "detail."
`
`Although the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
`
`will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated
`
`to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This
`
`application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be
`
`understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.
`
`Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments will be apparent to those of
`
`skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention includes any
`
`other applications in which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. Accordingly,
`
`10
`
`

`

`7
`
`the scope of the invention should only be determined with reference to the appended claims,
`
`along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
`
`Although the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
`
`will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated
`
`to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This
`
`application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be
`
`understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.
`
`Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments will be apparent to those of
`
`skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention includes any
`
`other applications in which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. Accordingly,
`
`the scope of the invention should only be determined with reference to the appended claims,
`
`along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
`
`11
`
`

`

`Alternate Realities
`
`Cellular Technical Services
`
`A Wireless Service
`Network and Platform for
`Geolocation Applications
`and Services
`
`A virtual infrastructure for the physical
`world.
`
`PROPRIETARY NOTICE
`© COPYRIGHT CELLULAR TECHNICAL SERVICES COMPANY, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE
`INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS THE CONFIDENTIAL AND EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF
`CELLULAR TECHNICAL SERVICES AND SHALL NOT BE DISCLOSED TO OTHERS, COPIED, REPRODUCED,
`OR OTHERWISE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF CELLULAR
`TECHNICAL SERVICES.
`
`12
`
`

`

`' Alternate Realities
`
`Table of Contents
`Introduction .................................................................................... 5
`
`The Vision ....................................................................................... 6
`
`The System ............................................................................. 7
`
`Content. ................................................................................... 8
`
`Sell To Carrier ....................................................................... 11
`
`Sell to ISP ............................................................................. 11
`
`Sell the Technology .............................................................. 11
`
`Host it ourselves .................................................................... 11
`
`Location Service Provider Interface ....................................... 11
`
`Application Model ...................................................................... 12
`
`Overview ............................................................................... 12
`
`System .................................................................................. 12
`
`Realm .................................................................................... 12
`
`User ....................................................................................... 13
`
`Location ................................................................................. 13
`
`1
`
`2
`
`2.1.
`
`2.2.
`
`5.1.
`
`5.2.
`
`5.3.
`
`5.4.
`
`6
`
`7
`
`7.1.
`
`7.2.
`
`7.3.
`
`7.4.
`
`7.5.
`
`7 .5.1.
`
`Size of Location ................................................................. 14
`
`7.6.
`
`Service .................................................................................. 14
`
`7.6.1.
`
`7.6.2.
`
`7.6.3.
`
`7.6.4.
`
`Users ................................................................................. 14
`
`Context .............................................................................. 14
`
`Topic .................................................................................. 15
`
`Service Definition ............................................................... 16
`
`7.7.
`
`Content. ................................................................................. 18
`
`7.7.1.
`
`Order ................................................................................. 18
`
`7.8.
`
`7.9.
`
`7.9.1.
`
`7.9.2.
`
`Presentation .......................................................................... 19
`
`Web Interface ........................................................................ 19
`
`User Account Administration ............................................. 19
`
`User Preferences ............................................................... 19
`
`13
`
`

`

`' Alternate Realities
`
`lo
`
`7.9.3.
`
`7.9.4.
`
`8
`
`8.1.
`
`8.2.
`
`8.3.
`
`9
`
`9.1.
`
`9.1.1.
`
`9.1.2.
`
`9.1.3.
`
`9.1.4.
`
`9.1.5.
`
`9.2.
`
`9.3.
`
`9.4.
`
`9.5.
`
`9.6.
`
`9.7.
`
`Geolocation ....................................................................... 19
`
`Data-Mining, Views, and Reporting ................................... 19
`
`External Interfaces ..................................................................... 20
`
`Database Access .................................................................. 20
`
`External Calls/Events ............................................................ 20
`
`Reporting ............................................................................... 20
`
`Developing Value Added Applications .................................. 20
`
`Example: Traffic Informational Application .......................... 20
`
`The Traffic Application ....................................................... 20
`
`Real Time Traffic ............................................................... 21
`
`Traffic Alerts ...................................................................... 21
`
`User Routes ....................................................................... 21
`
`Communication of Alerts and Traffic Info .......................... 21
`
`Easy Traffic Application ........................................................ 21
`
`Example: Pay for Tour ......................................................... 21
`
`eCoupons .............................................................................. 22
`
`Auto Pay: Toll ....................................................................... 22
`
`Family Archive ....................................................................... 22
`
`Restaurant. ............................................................................ 23
`
`9.8.
`shows
`
`Finding movie theatres or concerts in your area, and info & amateur reviews of the
`23
`
`Finding other folks in the same general location that you are (or the location that you
`9.9.
`are heading toward) that have some kind of mutual interest -- some reason to possibly want to
`hook up. 24
`
`9.10.
`
`Tracking movements of others (such as friends) who've been there before.
`
`24
`
`9 .11 .
`
`Nearest Doctors in Health Plan ............................................. 24
`
`9.12.
`
`9.13.
`
`9.14.
`
`9.15.
`
`Graffiti. ................................................................................... 24
`
`Employment .......................................................................... 24
`
`Smell! .................................................................................... 25
`
`Asset Tracking ...................................................................... 25
`
`14
`
`

`

`' Alternate Realities
`
`I(
`
`Table of Figures
`Figure 1 Model Overview .................................................... 12
`
`Figure 2 Example Location Structure ................................. 13
`
`Figure 3 Example Contexts ................................................ 15
`
`Figure 4 Example Topics .................................................... 16
`
`Figure 5 Service Definition ................................................. 16
`
`Figure 6 Example Content Structure .................................. 18
`
`15
`
`

`

`' Alternate Realities
`
`\l..
`
`A Vntual Infrastructure for
`the Physical World
`
`Wireless Geolocation Service Network and
`Application Framework
`
`1 Introduction
`
`At this point in time both Internet, modern computing resources, and networks are
`abundant, commodity technologies. Wireless data, voice, and wireless appliances are
`the next big thing (or THE thing depending on your perspective!). Old and new
`players in the field are scrambling to come up with opportunities! Mobile computing
`is driving new and exciting applications. Geolocation technology is part of this
`mobile computing/communicating revolution. We are in the early and opportune
`stages of this revolution that will bring location sensitive applications and services
`to the masses. This enabling capability will move very rapidly into the marketplace,
`fueled by regulatory requirements and the prospect of new, exciting, and profitable
`revenue opportunities.
`
`The combination of ubiquitous geolocation capability and state of art computing will
`generate new applications and whole new paradigms of how we live and work. The
`concept that is described here fits both: new application-new paradigm. The
`product that is described here has two very important aspects: it describes a
`product that stands alone and it provides an enabling infrastructure for the rapid
`development and deployment of value added applications and services on top of it.
`These two attributes are extremely important factors in revenue potential.
`
`Geolocation provides an anchor between the real world and the virtual world! Up to
`this point applications, the web, informational services, and networks have lacked
`this connection to the physical world. While physical address, servers, homepages,
`namespaces, and the like perform some level of locality, they are for the most part
`artificial, difficult to maintain, and cannot be interacted with in the same way that
`objects can be in the physical world. They are all a poor substitutes!
`
`16
`
`

`

`' Alternate Realities
`
`2 The Vision
`
`Envision a world where all space is 11mapped" and at any particular location, there are
`associations to the virtual world. For any given location in space, there may be an
`untold number of records or 11associations 11
`• You can imagine a particular "location"
`as having attachments or annotations connected to them. In essence we are talking
`about the physical world of objects and a parallel world of information or
`applications associated with that location; an unseen world so to speak. A world
`that can only be seen using a lens (cell phone, appliance, PDA or other computing
`resource).
`
`In order to fully explain this product concept, it is important to arrive at a common
`understanding of terms. For explaining this product, a particular location has a
`number of dimensions:
`
`■ Origin: the latitude and longitude (perhaps Z) that describes the
`reference point for the center of the location region
`
`■ Size: location's may simplistically be described as a circle or
`ellipse. The radius can be used to describe the Area Of Interest
`(AIO) for a location or a use of the