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`US 20030055983!“
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2003/0055983 A1
`
`Callcgari
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`(54) METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL
`JOURNAL
`
`filed on Mar. 19, 2001. Provisional application No.
`60:271187, filed on Mar. 19, 2001.
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jefl' Callegari, Kirkland, WA (US)
`
`Publication Classification
`
`fi‘rrfflnfinfi ’t‘dLLF‘i-‘W
`3'“
`'
`" ‘r “a “l
`DORSEY & WHITNEY [.LI'
`Suite 3400
`1420 Fifth Avenue
`Seattle, WA 98101 (US)
`
`(51)
`52
`(
`)
`
`_
`(”7)
`
`Int. (:1.7 ..................................................... 0061“ 15216
`U.S. Cl.
`709 227- 70952th
`if
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`1
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`(21) APp1. NC":
`(7,)
`filed
`..-
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`
`10f102’604
`Mar 19 2002
`I
`’
`Related U.S.Applieatitln Data
`
`((30) Provisionalapplication No. 60971174, filed on Mar.
`19, 2001. Provisional application No. (10977300,
`
`Methods for providing Virtual eonlent are discussed. One
`aspecl of the present invention includes a mclhod for pro-
`viding a journal. The melhod includes creating a journal
`entry [hat
`is virtually allixed lo a location 01‘ interest. 'lhe
`method also includes presenting the journal entry to a
`selected person when the selected person is within the
`vicinity of the location of interest.
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`

`US 2003/0055983 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`METHODS FOR PROVIDING A VIRTUAL
`JOURNAL
`
`C ROSS—REFERENC E TO RELATED
`APPLICA'I‘IONS
`
`[0001] This application is a sibling of co-pending appli-
`
`cation Ser. Nos.
`and
`, and claims priority to
`provisional patent application Nos. 60271174, 60f277,200
`and 6(1i277,187, all filed Mar.
`t9, 2001, all of which are
`incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002] The technical field relates generally to providing
`geo spatial
`location specific information in virtual form.
`More particularly,
`it pertains to creating and accessing
`virtual content that is associated with a geographic location
`as a journal entry. The content is created by and accessed by,
`users that communicate with a presence server through a
`consumer device.
`
`COPYRIGHT N O'l‘l CE—PERMISSION
`
`[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains materials, which are subject to copyright protec-
`tion. 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 soft—
`ware and data as described below and in the drawings
`attached hereto: Copyright© 2001, Cellular Technical Ser-
`vices Company, lnc., All Rights Reserved.
`
`BACKGROUND 01" THE INVEN'I'ION
`
`[0004] The world is comprised on an enormous number of
`geographical
`locations that are visited by various persons
`and a large number of persons that would like to record
`information about places visited, or receive such informa-
`tion recorded by others. Such recorded information content
`may be considered personal journal entries made by persons
`regarding specific locations. Unfortunately, there are few
`services that provide access to individual journal entries
`regarding locations without a great deal of effort on the part
`of users. The World Wide Web has become an important
`resource that provides web sites, web pages and variety of
`information contents stored on a server that can be accessed
`by users with a personal computer. Typically,
`the user
`accesses a conventional search engine to search the World
`Wide Web for certain words or concepts related to locations
`in which they have an interest.
`
`[0005] One of the problems with using search engines
`with the World Wide Web is that
`they are not
`location
`specific in a true sense. Users are not able to obtain infor-
`mation content about specific locations without sorting
`through an unmanageable amount of material that is “hit” as
`a result of a search. In essence, the user must go through a
`laborious process to cull information randomly obtained
`from databases based on the consumer‘s skill in locating a
`search engine, the type of search engine, the type ot‘search
`and the user’s skill in constructing the same and skimming
`through the results.
`
`such as cell phones, portable computers, portable digital
`assistants, “BLACKBERRIES” and the like. These devices
`use a varied assortment of protocols auditor formats for
`receiving and transmitting information including,
`for
`example, Wireless Application Protocol, HTML and E-mail.
`These technologies allow users to access information from
`a mobile platform without being restricted by physical
`location. Mobile connection to the World Wide Web has all
`the same limitations as the World Wide Web with regard to
`user searching for specific geographic location content.
`Another problem with mobile communication technology
`stems from the variety of protocols and formats in use,
`which prevents users from obtaining information content
`unless the information content is available in a compatible
`protocol or format for the communication device.
`
`type of infon'nation service combines
`[0007] Another
`mobile communications with various position determining
`equipment (PDE) to send or receive positional information
`regarding the user’s location. Enterprises that provide posi—
`tioning equipment andtor locating services are variously
`called Location Service Providers (LSP), Mobile Position-
`ing Centers (MPG) or Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
`services. Example technologies for locating a user’s position
`include GPS systems, assisted GPS systems (A-GPS), time
`domain of arrival systems {TBA} or signal triangulation
`systems. While such systems may be useful for mobile
`communications, they at best have the same limitations as
`the World Wide Web in terms of locating information
`content regarding specific locations.
`
`[0008] There is, therefore, a need in the art for methods
`and systems that put users in contact with other user’s.
`information on the basis of geographical location, so that
`users may easily record and obtain information from other
`users concerning various geographical locations that may be
`ofcommon interest without combing through a vast amount
`of random search results.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0009] The present invention fulfills these and other needs
`that will be apparent
`from the following description of
`various aspects of the invention. There are provided systems
`an methods that allow users to provide geospatially encoded
`virtual journal content
`in an electronic medium and to
`interactively create, link, or otherwise deploy that content
`between users. The content is location sensitive. Discrete
`
`messages, newsgroups, bulletin boards, chat rooms, or live
`instant messaging are all made location sensitive. The term
`"content" encompasses all of these forms of communication
`and also includes programming applications andfor applets
`deployed or executed as pan of the content.
`
`[0010] This content may be designated private (only
`accessible to the usert'author) or may be shared with others
`in "buddy lists" for collaboration. The content may also be
`designated public, which is available to an entire base of
`users of the system. The virtual content can be in any media
`or format. For example, the content can include text, voice,
`video, graphics audio files and the like. Presentation of this
`content depends on what was created and on individual
`personalized settings of users who create and/”or access the
`(20111501.
`
`[0006] Mobile communication technology now permits
`users to access the World Wide Web using portable devices
`
`[0011] The virtual journal service disclosed herein allows
`users to establish a private, public, semi-public or other
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US 2003/0055983 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`collaborative Context that defines a location-based messag-
`ing community. The journal service overlays the physical
`world of locations. Users can interact with the service in an
`ad hoc fashion or in a regulated fashion. The content of
`virtual journals may also be ”push" enabled. The term
`"push“ means the inclusion of a technology that receives an
`indication of user’s point of origin (or area of interest) and
`actively presents information to the user automatically,
`continuously or at specified intervals, without the need for
`the user to perform active search queries. Thus, while in
`certain embodiments the content may be queried by a search
`using various query interfaces,
`the content may also be
`configured to be pushed to users of the virtual journal
`service.
`
`[0012] All of the embodiments of the present invention
`provide quick, easy and direct interaction between users
`using a location aware presence server that allows users to
`share journal entries based on the geographic location of
`points of interest that are defined by the users.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates features of users and locations
`according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates other features of users and loca-
`tions according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`[0015] FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram of a graphical user
`interface (GUI) for creating buddy lists according to one
`aspect of the invention.
`
`[0016] FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram of a GU] for selecting
`a service according to one aspect of the invention.
`
`[0017] FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram of a user locating GUI
`according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`[0018] FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a basic system
`according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`[0019] FIG. 61% is a block diagram of an expanded system
`according to one aspect of the present invention.
`
`[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an Application
`that implements methods according to one aspect of the
`present invention.
`
`[0021] FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram of a GUI for config-
`uring a device interface for communication with a consumer
`device according to one aspect of the invention.
`
`[0022] FIG. 9 is a GUI for selecting a private service
`context according to one aspect of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE.
`INVENTION
`
`In the following detailed description of exemplary
`[0023]
`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 substantially similar
`components throughout the several views. These embodi—
`ments are described in sufficient detail
`to enable those
`skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodi-
`ments 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.
`
`[0024] As used herein, the term “journal entry” is infor-
`mation content
`that
`is stored on electronic medium that
`includes a definition of a geographic location and a message
`or other note associated with that geographic location.
`Typically,
`a journal entry is entered using a consumer
`communication device that may be wired or wireless. The
`term "wired", with respect
`to a communication device
`includes any hard line data communication conduit, includ-
`ing, for example, cable, telephone lines, fiber optic lines and
`the like. The term “wireless” includes any device that
`communicates data without need of a hard line.
`
`[0025] A "user" refers to any person, business enterprise
`or other entity that cornmu nicates with, andfor subscribes to,
`a service that
`implements the methods andtor systems
`described herein.
`
`[0026] An illustrative aspect of the invention includes a
`method for providing a virtual journal that includes receiv—
`ing a journal entry in an electronic medium from a first user.
`The journal entry includes a definition ofa geographic point
`of origin and information content associated with the geo-
`graphic point of origin. The method further includes receiv-
`ing an indication from a consumer device that includes a
`location defined by a second user and presenting the journal
`entry in electronic medium to the consumer device if the
`location indicated from the second user overlaps with the
`geographic point of origin defined by the first user.
`
`In certain embodiments, the first user is the same as
`[0027]
`the second user. In other embodiments the first and the
`second users are difierent. Typical embodiments also include
`receiving an identification of the second users from the first
`user, so that presenting the journal entry occurs only if the
`Second user is a user identified by the first user. In some
`embodiments, the identification of the second user includes
`a buddy list of a plurality of second users. Other embodi-
`ments include defining a Context criteria of access for the
`second user so that presenting the journal entry only occurs
`if the seconrl user fulfills the Context criteria.
`
`In some embodiments, the definition of the geo-
`[0028]
`graphic poirlt of origin is selected from at least one of, a
`place name, a geographic addrem‘. and geo positioning coor-
`dinates. The geographic point of origin may includes a
`defined area of interest around the point of origin. The area
`of interest may be defined by the first user, assigned by a
`service provider, selected by the first user from a list, defined
`as a geographical boundary, or defined by a geometric form
`encompassing a defined distance from a point origin for the
`geographic location received from the first user. in similar
`embodiments, the indication of the location received from
`the consumer device includes an area of interest for the
`second user and the journal entry is presented to the con-
`sumer device only if the second user’s area of interest
`overlaps with the definition of geographic point of origin
`defined by the first user. In some embodiments, the area of
`interest for the second user is defined by the second user,
`assigned by a service provider, selected by the second user
`from a list, defined as a geographical boundary, or defined by
`a geometric form encompassing a defined distance from a
`point origin of the second user.
`
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`
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`US 2003/0055983 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`L»)
`
`In various embodiments, the information content
`[0029]
`associated with the geographic point of origin may include
`an indication ot‘a first category of interest so that the journal
`entry is presented to the consumer device only if the second
`user indicates a second category of interest
`that overlaps
`with the first category of interest. In some embodiments, at
`least one of the first category of interest and the second
`category of interest is determined from a list of keywords
`contained within the information content associated with the
`location.
`
`In some embodiments. receiving the indication of
`[0030]
`location from the second user includes receiving geographic
`positioning coordinates from the consumer device. In certain
`embodiments,
`the geographic positioning coordinates are
`automatically changed as the location of the consumer
`device changes and the presentation of the journal entry
`changes in response to the changed location of the consumer
`device
`
`In some embodiments, presenting the journal entry
`[0031]
`includes selecting a protocol andlor a format that is com~
`patible with the consumer device so that the journal entry is
`transmitted using a compatible protocol andlor format. The
`compatible protocol andi’or formats may include any type
`electronic format,
`including but not
`limited to HTML,
`Xl-ITMI., Web format, Wireless Application Protocol, Wire-
`less Markup Language (WMIJ, Voice extensible Markup
`Language (VoiceXML), Short Message Service (SMS), and
`E—mail. In some embodiments. thejournal entry may include
`a Web page and the act of presenting presents the Web page
`to the second user if the consumer device has the capability
`to view the Web page. In other embodiments, the journal
`entry is presented as an E-mail message to the second user
`if the consumer device has the capability to receive E-rn ail.
`In still other embodiments, the journal entry may include an
`audio Iile and the act of presenting presents an audio
`message to the consumer device if the consumer device has
`the capability to receive an audio message. The act of
`presenting to the consumer device may be selectively
`enabled or disabled by the second user.
`
`[0032] Systems and applications for implementing the
`various embodiments of the invention are also described.
`One embodiment ofa system includes a presence server that
`stores a journal entry concerning the geographic location of
`interest The journal entry includes a defined point of origin
`for the geographic location of interest and information
`content concerning the geographic location received from a
`first user. The system also includes a communication port
`operably configured with the presence server to receive an
`indication of a second user’s location from a consumer
`device and to present the journal entry to the consumer
`device if the indication of the second user’s location over-
`
`laps with the defined geographic location of interest. The
`system also includes a device interface operably configured
`with the presence server to format the journal entry to be
`compatible with the consumer device in at least one of a
`protocol and format recognized by the consumer device.
`Some embodiments of the system are configured to com—
`municate with a location service provider to receive the
`indication of the second user’s location and to receive an
`indication of the protocol and format recognized by the
`consumer device from the location service provider. Other
`
`embodiments of the system are configured to receive inforn
`mation pertaining to the compatible protocol andi’or formats
`directly from the users.
`
`1 and 2 illustrate features of users and
`[0033] FIGS.
`geographic locations pertinent to various embodiments of
`this invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a first user 8 is located
`at position A travels to position B. Along the way, the first
`user encounters various geographic locations of interest
`defined in part by points of origin 2 and 4 for each geo-
`graphic location. The geographic locations may be merely a
`geographic position or may be an enterprise or attraction
`located at the points of origin 2 and 4. The points of origin
`2 and 4 may be defined by the first user 8 in various ways,
`for example, by an address, geo positioning coordinates, or
`a place name. It is understood that any address or place name
`has corresponding geo positioning coordinates associated
`with it and that certain geo positioning coordinates can be
`mapped to a known address or place name.
`
`[0034] Each location also has an area of interest 3 and 5
`surrounding its points of origin 2 or 4. 'Ihe areas of interest
`3 and 5 may also be defined by the first user 8 or be defined
`automatically be defined by default by a system that imple-
`ments the methods disclosed herein. The areas interest 3 and
`5 may, for example, be defined as a geometric area encom-
`passed by an ellipse or rectangle with a perimeter located a
`specified distance from the point of origin 2 or 4. Alterna-
`tively,
`the area of interest 3 or 5 may be defined by
`socio—political boundaries, such as the boundaries of a
`neighborhood, city or other circumscribed region The areas
`of interest 3 and 5 may, therefore, be any size, for example,
`as small as the width of a shop window or as large as a state.
`
`[0035] When the first user 8 encounters a geographic
`location of interest, the user 8 accesses a system provided
`herein and makes a journal entry that includes information
`content associated with the geographic location and a defi-
`nition that includes the geographic point of origin 2 and 4 of
`the location of interest. The journal entry is made using a
`consumer device that transmits the information in an elec-
`tronic medium to a system described herein. The consumer
`device may be any communication device equipped with
`electronics that allow the user to interact with a database
`including a wired or a wireless device. Suitable consumer
`devices include, but are not limited to, mobile telephones,
`mobile computers, personal desk top computers connected
`to the World Wide Web, personal digital assistants, and the
`like. The journal entry may be in any suitable format for the
`consumer device, including but not limited to voice, audio,
`video or text format. When the journal entry is made, it is
`stored in electronic medium as an association with the
`geographic location of interest by the point of origin 2 or 4,
`the area of interest 3 or 5 or both point of origin and area of
`interest.
`
`[0036] Continuing with FIG. 1, a second user 9 makes an
`independent journey from point C to point D. The second
`user 9 transmits an indication of various locations shown by
`points of origin 1] or 13 for the second user. These indica-
`tions of location may be points traversed during a trip or may
`be independently indicated by simply entering a desired
`point of origin. Alternatively, the second user 9 transmits an
`indication of location for points of origin 2 or 4 in the same
`manner as the first user, i.e., by place name, coordinate
`position or address. Upon receipt of the indication of loca-
`
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`
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`

`US 2003/0055983 A1
`
`Mar. 20, 2003
`
`tion, the system provided herein determines whether the
`indication of location transmitted by the consumer device
`from the second user overlaps with the area of interest 3 or
`5 or the point of origin 2 and 4 defined in the journal entry
`of the first user 8 If so the journal entry of the first user 8
`is presented to the consumer device ofthe second user 9. The
`second user 9 may also make a journal entry regarding the
`same geographic location of interest and that entry will also
`be presented along with entry by the first user to any user
`who transmits an indication of location that overlaps with
`the geographic location of interest.
`
`[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates embodiments where the indica-
`tion of location provided by the second user 9 includes an
`area of interest 12 defined for the second user. The area of
`interest 12 changes with the point of origins 1'1 and 13 for
`the second user. The second user 9 may define the area of
`interest 12, the area of interest 12 may be defined by default
`by an automated system. be selected by the second user from
`a list of options, may be defined by a geo political boundary,
`or as a geometric area encompassing a defined distance from
`the second user’s points of origin 11 or 13, as with the lirst
`user. In these embodiments, journal entries are presented to
`the second user 9 only if the area of interest 12 delined by
`the second user overlaps with the point of origins 2 and 4 of
`the geographic area of interest, or overlaps with the areas of
`interest 3 and 5 associated with those geographic points of
`origin 2 and 4, respectively.
`
`[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a Buddy List GUI 39 for access
`ing andlor establishing a list of users that share access to
`journal entries made by the first user 8. The Buddy List GUI
`39 includes a banner 82 indicating the service provider, an
`identified user name 31 that identifies the current user and a
`select
`type list 32. The select
`type list 32 provides the
`identified user 31 with the opportunity to select among
`various options such as displaying the buddy list. The Buddy
`List GUI 39 includes a buddy list field 33 that list names for
`a variety of buddy lisLs that may be established by the
`identified user 31. For example. one buddy list may include
`business associates, another may include friends and another
`may include family. Each of these ditIerent types of buddy
`lists may have different levels of Context for different levels
`of access, i.e., some maybe private, other semi-private, and
`still other public. Context is described in more detail else—
`where irt the present disclosure. These Context attributes are
`determined by the identified user 31 when establishing a
`new list. All available buddy list for the identified user 31 are
`listed in the buddy list field 33 while each user name within
`the selected buddy list 33 is displayed in a buddy names field
`34. A note field 35 is provided for the identified user 31 to
`create a summary description ofeach buddy list displayed in
`the buddy list field 33. The identified user 31 may edit an
`existing buddy list 33, create an entirely new buddy list or
`remove an existing buddy list using an Edit button 37, New
`List button 38 or Delete List button 39, respectively. In
`addition, a Pool I.isl button 41] permits the user to manage
`buddy lists by merging two or more buddy lists 33 into one.
`
`[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a Select Service GUI 29 for
`choosing among a variety of types of location specific
`journal content that is useful for obtaining virtual informa—
`tion [or users operating business services. The Select Service
`GUI 29 includes the banner indicating the operator 82 of the
`service and an option list 21 for selecting from a plurality of
`types of virtual information content services. The types of
`
`business services available include services for creating a
`virtual private service 21, a virtual coupon 22, a merchant
`presence 23 and a buddy list 24. The virtual coupon 22 and
`the merchant presence 23 are described in greater detail in
`
`co-pending sibling applications No.
`and
`.
`The Select Service GUI 29 also includes an interest category
`list 25. The interest category list 25 serves as a category
`content filter that allows the users of the system to filter the
`types of information that will be presented according to
`categories. The items in the interest category list 25 may be
`user defined or pro-selected by the service provider 82.
`Example interest categories in category list 25 include
`business (i.e., the options displayed in select service inter
`face 20), citytregion, people, entertainment, lifestyle. news.
`sports, travel, weather, games, system, and journal 28. The
`joumal 28 category links to the Select Service GUI 29 for
`creating virtual journals.
`
`[0040] The consumer device may be operated in a con-
`ventional search mode. In the search mode, the user defines
`searches for specified locations with category filters. A large
`number of variables affect whether a user desires to receive
`information content regarding geogra