PCT
`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`(51) International Patent Classification 7 :
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`WO00/22860
`
`H04Q 7/38
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`20 April 2000 (20.04.00)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`12 October 1999 (12.10.99)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`PA 1998 01297
`
`12 October 1998 (12.10.98)
`
`DK
`
`Janus,
`DEGNBOL,
`(71)(72) Applicant and Inventor:
`[DK/DK]; Sgborg Torv 1, 2, DK-2860 Sgborg (DK).
`
`Friis
`
`PLOUGMANN, VINGTOFT & PARTNERS A/S;
`(74) Agent:
`Sankt Anne Plads 11, P.O. Box 3007, DK-1021 Copen-
`hagen K (DK).
`
`(81) Designated States: AE, AL, AM, AT, AT (Utility model), AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, CZ
`(Utility model), DE, DE (Utility model), DK, DK (Utility
`model), DM, EE, EE (Utility model), ES, FI, FI (Utility
`model), GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU,ID,IL,IN, IS,
`JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV,
`MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW,MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO,
`RU,SD,SE, SG, SI, SK, SK (Utility model), SL, TJ, TM,
`TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW, ARIPO
`patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW,SD,SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW),
`Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM),
`European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK,ES, FI, FR,
`GB, GR,IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF,
`BJ, CF, CG, Cl, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN,
`TD, TG).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`amendments.
`
`
`
`
` User A's areaof interest Processor
`
`(54) Titles A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING DATA BETWEEN UNITS
`
`
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`The present invention relates to a
`method and a system for
`transmitting
`data between communication units,
`In
`particular,
`the present
`invention relates
`to a method and a system for use in
`wireless communication networks. Even
`more particular, the present invention re-
`lates to a method and a system for au-
`tomatic notification of a user "A" of the
`entry of pre-selected user "B" into a
`pre-determined area (or proximity to a
`particular location). The notification may
`further depend on a successful match of
`user specified parameters. The location of
`users "A" and "B"is determined by refer-
`enceto the position of their personal wire-
`less communication unit, such as a mobile
`telephone or a pager.
`
`Google Exhibit 1035
`Google Exhibit 1035
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

` AL
`
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BE
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`cl
`CM
`CN
`cu
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`ES
`Albania
`LS
`Lesotho
`SI
`Spain
`Slovenia
`Armenia
`FI
`Finland
`LT
`Lithuania
`SK
`Slovakia
`Austria
`FR
`France
`LU
`SN
`Luxembourg
`Senegal
`Australia
`GA
`Gabon
`LY
`Latvia
`SZ
`Swaziland
`GB
`MC
`Monaco
`TD
`Chad
`Azerbaijan
`United Kingdom
`GE
`MD
`TG
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Georgia
`Republic of Moldova
`Togo
`Barbados
`GH
`Ghana
`MG
`TJ
`Madagascar
`Tajikistan
`GN
`Guinea
`MK
`Belgium
`TM
`Turkmenistan
`The former Yugoslav
`Burkina Faso
`GR
`Greece
`TR
`Republic of Macedonia
`Turkey
`HU
`Mali
`TT
`Bulgaria
`Hungary
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Benin
`IE
`Treland
`UA
`Ukraine
`Mongolia
`Brazil
`IL
`Israel
`Mauritania
`UG
`Uganda
`Belarus
`IS
`Iceland
`Malawi
`US
`United States of America
`Canada
`IT
`Mexico
`UZ
`Ttaly
`Uzbekistan
`JP
`VN
`Viet Nam
`Central African Republic
`Japan
`Niger
`KE
`Congo
`Netherlands
`YU
`Kenya
`Yugoslavia
`Switzerland
`KG
`ZW
`Kyrgyzstan
`Zimbabwe
`Norway
`Céte d'Ivoire
`KP
`New Zealand
`Democratic People’s
`Cameroon
`Poland
`Republic of Korea
`China
`Republic of Korea
`Portugal
`Cuba
`Kazakstan
`Romania
`Saint Lucia
`Czech Republic
`Russian Federation
`Liechtenstein
`Sudan
`Germany
`Denmark
`Sri Lanka
`Sweden
`Estonia
`Liberia
`Singapore
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`sD
`SE
`SG
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`
`
`

`

`WO00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`A METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING DATA BETWEEN UNITS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method and a system for transmitting data be-
`
`tween communication units. In particular, the present invention relates to a method
`
`and a system for use in wireless communication networks. Even moreparticular, the
`
`present invention relates to a method and a system for automatic notification of a
`
`user “A”of the entry of pre-selected user "B” into a pre-determined area (or proxim-
`
`10
`
`ity to a particular location). The notification may further depend on a successful
`
`match of user specified parameters. The location of users "A” and “B”"is determined
`
`by reference to the position of their personal wireless communication unit, such as a
`
`mobile telephone or a pager.
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Numerous systems for location determination in mobile networks exists, e.g.
`
`W098/00821, WO094/12892, WO93/24911, WO92/05672, EP 0766491, EP
`
`0546758, EP 0335558, US 5,600,706, US 5,508,708, US 5,293,645, GB
`
`20
`
`2310098, GB 2304500.
`
`The simplest form of location determination is based on the fact that all cellular net-
`
`works are built of a number of “cells”, each covering an area ranging from a few
`
`hundred meters to several miles. Users of the system are constantly located by the
`
`25
`
`systems universal tracking function. This means the individual users are tracked by
`
`cell. Although this method is not very accurate and precision varies with cell size, it
`
`may be sufficient for some embodiments of the system described in this document.
`
`More precise systems use technologies such as time difference of arrival, (TDOA),
`
`30
`
`power/signal attenuation, angle of arrival (AOA), Radio Signal Mapping, GPS (Global
`
`Positioning System) or a combination to establish the position of the user. These sys-
`
`tems can be purchased from third-party providers and installed in existing cellular
`
`networks. The only requirementfor use in this system is that they can provide a
`
`streaming real-time or near real-time feed of user location data to a database.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`2
`
`Systems which automatically alert a central location of the exit of a wireless com-
`
`munication unit from a pre-determined area are well-known, e.g. US Patent
`
`5,327,144. These are typically used for vehicle theft alarms, bail absconding units
`and the like.
`
`Systems which automatically notify arrival at a particular location are also well-
`
`known, é.g. international patent application WO 94/27264, a system for notifying a
`
`recipient of an unscheduleddelivery of an item.
`
`10
`
`GB Patent 2814736 describes a system which, on request of a user, presentsa list
`
`of active handsets allowing the user to see which other users are available for com-
`
`munications, but this only refers to whether the users handsetis active or not, and
`
`does not include location information.
`
`15
`
`US Patent US 5,144,301 describes a system for alerting school children that a
`
`school bus is moving towards a nearby bus stop,
`
`thus prompting the children to
`
`leave their residences to reach the bus stop at or before the bus arrives at the stop.
`
`An Internet equivalent of the first embodiment of this system exists in the form of
`
`20
`
`so-called “Buddy List” programs, of which the most well-known is “ICQ”
`
`(http:/www.icq.com). These systems provide a user with the ability to be notified
`
`when friends are on-line, allowing the user to contact them using a variety of meth-
`
`ods such as real-time chat, instant messages or e-mail.
`
`25
`
`It is a disadvantage of the above-mentioned systems, that none of these systems
`
`provide automatic notification of a user “A” of the entry of pre-selected user ”B”into
`
`a pre-determined area (or proximity to a particular location).
`
`It is a further disadvantage of the above-mentioned systems, that none of these sys-
`
`30
`
`tems provide automatic notification of a user “A” of the proximity of another user
`
`with a matching Personal Profile.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem by pro-
`
`viding a method and a system wherein e.g. a user "A" is automatically notified of the
`
`entry of pre-selected user “B” into a pre-determined area (or proximity to a particular
`
`location). Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method
`
`and a system wherein e.g. a user "A" is automatically notified of the proximity of
`
`another user “B” when a match is found between the Personal profiles of users “A”
`
`and “B”.
`
`10
`
`Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for e.g.
`
`two-way(wireless) communication devices (e.g. telephones or pagers) comprising
`
`the ability to alert user "A’s” communication device when a user "B" enters a pre-
`
`defined area (or proximity to a particular location), according to user "A’s"” personally
`
`15
`
`defined selection criteria.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and system for e.g.
`
`two-way (wireless) communication devices (e.g. telephones or pagers) comprising
`
`the ability to alert user "A’s" communication device when a user “B" enters a the
`
`20
`
`proximity of user “A” and a match is found between the Personal Profiles of users
`
`“AY and “BY”
`
`It is an advantage of the present invention that user "A" can be alerted when user
`
`"B" arrives or leaves the defined location(s) or area(s). The particular effect of this
`
`25
`
`information is to enable user "A" to know in advance the proximity or approximate
`
`whereabouts of user "B" before possibly acting upon this information by contacting
`
`user "B" — or allowing “B” to contact “A”:
`
`It is a further advantage of the present invention that user “A” can be automatically
`
`30
`
`alerted of the proximity of another user with a matching Personal Profile. The par-
`
`ticular effect of this information is to enable user "A" to know about the presence of
`
`another person with one or more matchinginterests, allowing user “A” to act upon
`
`this information by contacting the other user ~ or vice versa.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`4
`
`The above-mentioned object is complied with by providing, in a first aspect, a
`
`method for transmitting data to a unit in a set of communication units, the data re-
`
`lating to distance between a first and a second unit in the set, the method compris-
`
`ing the stepsof:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`determining a distance between thefirst and the second unit,
`
`generating a message when the distance between the first and the
`
`second unit is within a predetermined range, and
`
`transmitting the generated message to a unit in the set.
`
`The method further comprising the steps of
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`determining the position of one or more units in the set,
`
`storing the determined positions together with corresponding unit iden-
`
`tifications in a database, and wherein the step of determining a dis-
`
`tance comprises
`
`determining the distance from the corresponding stored positions.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Generally, a user is associated with each of the units in the set. The associated user
`
`may enter additional information, such as rating information, into the database, said
`
`25 rating information being associated with an associated userto a unit in the set.
`
`A unit in the set may comprise a wireless telephone, such as a mobile telephone, a
`
`pager and/or a portable PC's. A unit may also comprise virtual units, such as e-mail
`
`addresses. In addition, a unit in the set may be selected from the group consisting of
`30 wristwatches, personaldigital assistants, embedded chipsorcircuits, implanted chips or
`circuits, navigational units and personal security units
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`The generated message mayidentify the associated user to a unit in the set. The as-
`
`sociated user to a unit in the set may select a subject of interest. The subjectof in-
`terest may be stored in a database together with the corresponding unit identifica-
`tion. The generated message may comprise information relating to the subject of in-
`
`terest selected by the associated user to a unit in the set.
`
`The determination of the position of one or more units in the set may comprise the
`use of several determination methods, such as triangulation methods, GPS, AOA,
`
`10
`
`TDOA, Radio Signal Mapping, power/signal attenuation or a combination. Further, the
`determination of a position of a unit in the set may comprise monitoring movements
`of a unit within a network comprising a plurality of cells.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`The determined position of one or more units in the set may further comprise infor-
`mation about date and time.
`
`The generated message may comprise text, e.g. information about the distance be-
`
`tween user “A” and user “B”, graphics, such as an image or an icon, a map or dia-
`gram with a pointer showing the location of the user, a video clip, sound, such as
`voice, a fragrance, light emission, and/or movements, such as vibration, or any com-
`bination thereof.
`
`In an optional implementation, closer proximity decreases the intervals between alert
`
`signals(i.e. light or sound emission), resulting in an escalation of signal frequency as
`users approach each other.
`
`The user interface can be designed in various ways, partly dependant on the available
`
`messaging technologies in a given implementation. A simple user interface can be
`implemented using text-based alerts, instructions and commands. In these cases,
`complex user interactions with the system — i.e. submitting and changing BuddyLists
`- may beto be carried out via other channels, for example through a web-basedinter-
`face or by calling a customerservice representative at a call-center. More advanced
`
`and user-friendly implementations of the system may make use of graphic and/or
`menu-based user interfaces.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`6
`
`The predetermined range may be selected by the user associated with a unit.
`
`Each predetermined range may have associated communication expenses. The user
`
`may select a range of communication expenses, and thereby determines the range.
`
`Communication expenses may be dependent on time and/or distance.
`
`Each predetermined range may be associated with a geographic area, such as a con-
`
`tinent, country, district, city, co-ordinate range or a street. The geographical area
`
`may be selected by the user.
`
`10
`
`The predetermined range maybe indicated as a direct distance which maybein the
`range from 0 to 100 km, preferable in the range from O to 80 km, more preferable in
`the range from O to 60 km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 40 km, more
`
`preferable in the range from O to 20 km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 15
`
`15
`
`km, more preferable in the range from O to 12 km, more preferably in the range from
`O to 9 km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 6 km, morepreferably in the range
`from O to 3 km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 1 km, more preferable in the
`
`range from O to 500 km, more preferable in the range from O to 250m.
`
`A unit to which the generated message is transmitted may be selected by the user
`associated with a unit.
`
`20
`
`in a second aspect, the present invention relates to a system for transmitting data to
`a unit in a set of communication units, the data relating to distance between a first
`
`and a second unit in the set, the system comprising:
`
`25
`
`30
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`meansfor determining a distance between the first and the second
`
`unit,
`
`meansfor generating a message when the distance between the first
`
`and the second unit is within a predetermined range, and
`
`meansfor transmitting the generated message to a unit in the set.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`The system further comprising:
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`means for determining the position of one or more units in the set,
`
`means for storing the determined positions together with corresponding
`
`unit identifications in a database, and wherein the determination of a
`
`distance comprises
`
`determining the distance from the corresponding stored positions.
`
`10
`
`Generally, each unit in the set is associated with a user. The associated user may
`enter additional information, such as rating information, into the database, said rating
`information being associated with an associated user to a unit in the set.
`
`A unit in the set may comprise a wireless telephone, such as a mobile telephone, a
`
`15
`
`pager and/or a portable PC's. A unit may also comprise virtual units, such as e-mail
`
`addresses. In addition, a unit in the set may be selected from the group consisting of
`wristwatches, personaldigital assistants, embeddedchipsorcircuits, implanted chips or
`circuits, navigational units and personal security units
`
`20
`
`The generated message mayidentify the associated user to a unit in the set. The as-
`
`sociated user to a unit in the set may select a subject of interest. The subject of in-
`
`terest may be stored in a database together with the corresponding unit identifica-
`tion. The generated message may comprise information relating to the subject of in-
`terest selected by the associated user to a unit in the set.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`The determination of the position of one or more units in the set may comprise the
`use of several determination methods, such as triangulation methods, GPS, AOA,
`TDOA, Radio Signal Mapping, power/signal attenuation or a combination. Further, the
`determination of a position of a unit in the set may comprise monitoring movements
`of a unit within a network comprising a plurality of cells.
`
`The determined position of one or more units in the set may further compriseinfor-
`mation about date and time.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
`
`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`8
`
`The generated message may comprise text, e.g. information about the distance be-
`
`tween user “A” and user “B”, graphics, such as an image or an icon, a mapor dia-
`
`gram with a pointer showing the location of the user, a video clip, sound, such as
`
`voice, a fragrance, light emission, and/or movements, such as vibration, or any com-
`
`bination thereof.
`
`In an optional implementation, closer proximity decreases the intervals between alert
`
`signals (i.e. light or sound emission), resulting in an escalation of signal frequency as
`
`users approach each other.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The predetermined range may be selected by the user associated with a unit.
`
`Each predetermined range may have associated communication expenses. The user
`
`may select a range of communication expenses, and thereby determines the prede-
`
`termined range. Communication expenses may be dependent on time and/ordis-
`tance.
`
`Each predetermined range may be associated with a geographic area, such as a con-
`
`tinent, country, district, city, co-ordinate range or a street. The geographical area
`
`20
`
`may be selected by the user.
`
`The predetermined range maybe indicated as a direct distance which maybein the
`
`range from 0 to 100 km, preferable in the range from O to 80 km, morepreferable in
`
`the range from O to 60 km, more preferable in the range from O to 40 km, more
`
`25
`
`preferable in the range from O to 20 km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 15
`
`km, more preferable in the range from 0 to 12 km, more preferably in the range from
`
`0 to 9 km, more preferable in the range from O to 6 km, morepreferably in the range
`
`from 0 to 3 km, more preferable in the range from O to 1 km, morepreferable in the
`
`range from O to 500 m, more preferabie in the range from 0 to 250 m.
`
`30
`
`A unit to which the generated message is transmitted may be selected by the user
`
`associated with a unit.
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
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`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`9
`
`The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompa-
`
`nying figures, wherein
`
`Figure 1 showsa preferred embodimentof the invention,
`
`Figure 2 describes receipt of user position reports,
`
`Figure 3 describes the periodic database scanning, and
`
`Figure 4 describes the userprofile update process.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for
`
`transmitting data between communication units. In particular, the present invention
`
`relates to a method and a system for distribution of data in wireless communication
`
`networks. Even more particular, the present invention relates to a method and a sys-
`
`20
`
`tem for automatic notification of a user “A” of the entry of pre-selected user "B”into
`
`a pre-determined area (or proximity to a particular location). The location of user "B"
`
`is determined by reference to the position of a personal mobile communication unit,
`
`e.g. telephone or pager.
`
`25
`
`Although the following description involves only two users, "A" and "B", an arbitrary
`
`number of users may be involved in various configurations, e.g. one-to-one, one-to-
`
`many, many-to-many and many-to-one.
`
`As an example, the system could be configured to alert user “A” only whenfive or
`
`30
`
`more buddies are in the proximity.
`
`The application is based uponalist of users whose location and/or movementsthe
`
`user wishes to be notified of. This list is henceforth referred to as a “BuddyList”.
`
`The Buddy List may be altered by the user at will, adding or deleting buddies and set-
`
`

`

`WO 00/22860
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`PCT/DK99/00548
`
`10
`
`ting various preferences. This can be donein several ways; e.g. directly from the
`handsetof the users cellular phone, using a web-basedinterface, or by calling an op-
`erator at a call-center.
`
`The Buddy List may be displayed on the display of the users handset, giving the user
`and at-a-glance overview of who is in the proximity. The Buddy List may be dis-
`played as text, images, icons, or video clips. Buddies who are in the proximity may
`be highlighted or in other way emphasised, e.g. by being displayed at the top of the
`list. The user may havethe possibility to group Buddies into different categories, i.e.
`“Friends”,
`“Relatives”, and sub-categories such as “Bowling Friends”, “Friends from
`
`10
`
`work”, “Best Friends”, etc. - and rank them by proximity or popularity.
`
`It may also be possible to transfer a Buddy List from one user to another, and it may
`be possible to transfer Buddy Lists in various ways, e.g. “All Records”, “Selected Re-
`wow
`cords only”,
`
`“Specific Category” or “Synchronisation”.
`
`15
`
`Preferences can be configured on an individual Buddy basis or as overall preferences
`comprising all Buddies on the personal Buddy List. Configuration options may include
`an ability to specify to be alerted only when certain criteria relating to distance, loca-
`
`20
`
`It may also be possible to specify an alternative alerting
`tion, time or date are met.
`method — e.g. by email, synthesized voice call to a specified number,etc.
`
`As an example, user "A" chooses not to be alerted when heis in the geographical
`area covering his home even though another user - "B" - enters that area.
`
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`In another example, user "A" will not be alerted in the situation where user "B" re-
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`petitively movesin and out of a predetermined range.
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`in yet another example, user “A” can configure the system so that he does notre-
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`ceive any alerts between 10 PM and 8 AM, avoiding nightly interruptions.
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`In yet another example, user “A” configures the system so that he only receives
`alerts when he is not within a specific geographical area or within a predetermined
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`distance from user "B".
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`Preferences can be configured in several ways; e.g. directly from the handset of the
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`users cellular phone, using a web-based interface, or by calling an operator at a call-
`center.
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`A distance preference controls the sensitivity of the location alerter. This allows the
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`user to specify that he only wants to be alerted when a buddy comes within a cer-
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`tain range, subject to any personal filters as described in the aforementioned para-
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`graph.
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`For example, user “A” may chooseto configure the system so that he only receives
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`alerts when a Buddy comes within the range of 500 meters.
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`All preferences can be configured on a per-buddy basis, on a per-category basis, or
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`as overall preferences comprising all buddies on the Buddy List.
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`Use of the system builds on mutual consent, requiring users who wish to be alerted
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`of the location and/or movementsof other users to obtain acceptance bythe polled
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`party.
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`For example, John would like to add Jane to his Buddy List. He goes to an “Add
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`Buddy” menu on his handset and types in Jane’s cellular phone number. This
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`prompts the system to send out an SMS message asking Jane for her acceptance —
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`“Joe Smith has asked for permission to add you to his Buddy List - do you accept?”.
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`This request is displayed on Jane’s cellular phone, prompting her for a decision. If
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`Jane consents, her affirmative response goes to the system, which in turn updates
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`Joe’s BuddyList. If not, Joe gets a “request declined” response.
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`Preferably, the present invention provides a method and system suitable for two-way
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`wireless communication devices (e.g. telephones or pagers) with the ability to alert
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`user "A’s" communication device when a user "B" enters a pre-defined area (or
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`proximity to a particular location), according to user "A’s" personally defined alert
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`selection criteria. In this way user "A" can be alerted when user "B" arrives or leaves
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`the defined location(s) or area(s). The particular effect of this information is to enable
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`user "A" to know in advance the proximity or approximate whereabouts of user "B"
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`before possibly acting upon this information by contacting user "B".
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`This is achieved through matching currentunit position data (including time tags) with
`predefined alerting profiles, which may include matching criteria based on unit locations or
`proximity, time and date, as well as alerting permissions. Determination of a match results
`in the generation and delivery of a messageto the alerted uservia his or her specified
`medium — i.e. an SMS messageor a synthesized voicecall.
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`Real-time notification allows the user to single out other users by identity and, based
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`upon this information, selectively (choose to) communicate with users in his area (or
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`another designated area).
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`Distance and precision is not crucial to the system, because the exchangeof afore-
`mentioned data works at manylevels of precision and delivers the same result except
`for exact co-ordinates.
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`The present invention is not constrained to any particular communication technology. Any
`system providing two fundamental elements is a candidate for hosting the invention.
`These two elements are:
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`1. Reporting of current unit position, and
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`2. Delivery of messagesto individual users.
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`The invention described in this document addsa third element to provide the position-
`based alerting service. This processing elementis:
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`3. Matching position reports with predefined userprofiles, and based on resulting
`matches, generating user alert messages.
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`To be useful to the users, eachof the three functions (position reporting, profile matching,
`and message delivery) should be accomplished in near real time,i.e., in seconds or min-
`utes, rather than in hours or days. Communication technologies compatible with imple-
`mentation of this invention include most mobile wireless systems supporting datatransfer,
`such as second- and third-generation cellular, two-way paging, andsatellite systems.
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`The present invention may be used in such a waythat either one or both parties are
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`automatically alerted by the system of the other parties’ presence in an area.
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`Each party will typically have the option to disable and re-enable their participation in
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`the system at will, allowing the individual user of the system to pass though any area
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`incognito.
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`EXAMPLES:
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`1): Joe likes to visit cafés to meet friends. He wants to know wherethe action is
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`- as
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`do his friends. So theyall configure the location alerter to notify them whenever one
`of their friends are in the vicinity - this way they can be sure of never missing a
`chance to meet. They can disable and re-enable their participation in the system at
`will - even on a per-person basis - whenever they wish to be alone or pass through
`an area incognito — while retaining the option to be alerted of others’ presence.
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`2): Wife Julie and husband John work irregular hours. Despite this, the first one
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`home always manages to havedinner ready by the time the other returns, thanks to
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`the location alerter. A request to be alerted of the spouse’s arrival at a given area on
`his/her regular route home leaves enough time to for the other to prepare dinner, and
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`saves the need and expense of routine “I’m coming home”calls.
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`In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and a system for
`transmitting data between communication units. In particular, the present invention
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`relates to a method and a system for distribution of data in wireless communication
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`networks. Even more particular, the present invention relates to a method and a sys-
`tem for automatic notification of a user "A” of the proximity of another user (“B”)},
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`when a match is found between the Personal Profiles of user “A” and “B”. The loca-
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`tion of user "B” is determined by reference to the position of a personal wireless
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`communication unit, e.g. telephone or pager.
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`Similar to the first embodiment the following description involves only two users, "A"
`and "B", but an arbitrary number of users may be involved in various configurations,
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`€.g. one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-many and many-to-one.
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`As an example, the system could be configured to alert user “A” when five or more
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`users with a matching Personal Profile are in the proximity.
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`Use of the system builds on mutual consent, requiring users who wish to be alerted
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`of the location and/or movements of other users to obtain acceptance by the polled
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`party.
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`The application is based upon personal interest profiles, henceforth referred to as
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`“Personal Profiles”, submitted by users and stored in one or more central locations
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`(databases). Submission of data to the Personal Profile may be mandatory for use of
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`the system.
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`Categories in the Personal Profile may be divided into two logical parts; a passive and
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`an active part. The passive part involves users specifying owninterests and bio-
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`graphical information — information that will be available for other users’ interest
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`matching and instant requests.
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`If for example a doctor specifies his profession, he is allowing others to seek him out
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`according to that information. If his qualifications or facilities include a pilot's license
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`andhis facilities a clinic or an aeroplane, these criteria can similarly be included as
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`searchable data for other users. The user wholists areas of competence consents to
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`being sought on thatbasis.
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`The active part involves users specifying what they are looking for in other users, as
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`described in detail below.
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`Information that can be stored in the Personal Profile can be broken down into two
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`main categories:
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`- Categorised information. This information is categorised in a pre-determined
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`hierarchical information structure with set categories — categories may becre-
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`ated by users and/or system operators. Users can submit information e.g.
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`through a web-basedinterface, directly from the handset of their wireless
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`communication unit, or by calling a call-center.
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`As an example, a fan of the Chicago Bulls would select his Interest in the
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`“Chicago Bulls” category, and the path to this category could for example be
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`“Sports — Basketball - NBA league — Chicago Bulls”. Interests and search re-
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`quests can be specified with varying granularity — the user in the above-men-
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`tioned example could chooseto specify his interest on the most general level,
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`by selecting “Sports”, on a more detailed level, by selecting “Sports — Basket-
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`ball”, on an even more detailed level, by selecting “Sports ~ Basketball - NBA
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`league”. There is no limit to the granularity of the categorisation system. The
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`above-mentioned example could also comprise the individual players of Chi-
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`cago Bulls, so that a user would be able to specify his interest in a specific
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`player, e.g. Michael Jordan.
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`Free-text entries. Free-text entries are typically used when no appropriate
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`category exists to classify an interest. This can also be used by clubs, com-
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`munities or closed circles, where a keyword is selected so that a user - “A” -
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`will be automatically alerted when another user — “B” — triggers the exchange
`by reason of their common interest and proximity. A possible consequence of
`free-text searches with no matching interest group is that these searches may
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`over time accumulate and generate new interest groups.
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`Personalprofiles can