Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9420419
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 16:33:46
Document Index: 733349498

Matched Legal Cases: ['§120', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 201210217276', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 201210217276', 'Application No. 201210217276', 'Application No. 201210217276', 'Application No. 04791729']

US9420419B2 - Providing location-based information in local wireless zones - Google Patents
US9420419B2
US9420419B2 US14454260 US201414454260A US9420419B2 US 9420419 B2 US9420419 B2 US 9420419B2 US 14454260 US14454260 US 14454260 US 201414454260 A US201414454260 A US 201414454260A US 9420419 B2 US9420419 B2 US 9420419B2
US14454260
US20140349685A1 (en )
Mobile terminals to receive location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone.
This Application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/831,028, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,”which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/233,524, filed Sep. 15, 2011, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,”, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,401,568 which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/745,836, filed Dec. 24, 2003, titled “Providing Location-Based Information in Local Wireless Zones,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,046,000, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Mobile terminals to exchange location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone. In one embodiment, an IP address is provided to the mobile terminal, which can use the IP address to access the location-based information. If the mobile terminal is within multiple local wireless zones at any given time, location-based information for a particular local wireless zone may be selected. The mobile terminal will then establish communications with the access point for the selected local wireless zone, and request the location-based information from the associated server.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the subject matter described herein and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects, and together with the description serve to explain the described principles.
FIG. 1 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and overlapping local wireless zones according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a communication flow illustrating operations according to the communication environment of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a block representation of a communication environment having three independent and non-overlapping local wireless zones according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block representation of an access point according to one embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a block representation of a content server according to one embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a block representation of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment.
Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the described concepts and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
One or more embodiments described herein allow a mobile terminal capable of communicating over a local wireless interface to readily access content based on the relative location of the mobile terminal. The content is generally referred to as location-based information, because the location of the mobile terminal plays a role in determining what content is made available to the mobile terminal. The location-based information may be the only content provided to any mobile terminal at a certain location, or various types of content may be provided in light of specific location information. In essence, when a mobile terminal comes within communication range of a local wireless interface, location-based information may be provided to the mobile terminal. Additional factors or information provided by the mobile terminal may assist in determining new location-based information to provide to the mobile terminal. Thus, a close association is created between a local wireless zone in which communications with the mobile terminal are possible and a content server, so that a mobile terminal entering the local wireless zone can readily access the content server and receive the location-based information. Prior to delving into the details, an overview of exemplary communication environments is provided.
To facilitate the delivery of the location-based information to the mobile terminal 16, the local wireless system 12 is able to recognize that the mobile terminal 16 is within a local wireless zone 18 afforded by an access point 14, provide access to the mobile terminal 16, and then deliver the location-based information to the mobile terminal 16. As illustrated, local wireless systems 12A and 12B include a stand alone content server 20 for providing the location-based information, wherein the content server 20 is coupled to the access points 14A and 14B through a dedicated Ethernet switch 22 or other local network (not shown). Access to the local wireless systems 12A and 12B by the mobile terminal 16 is governed by access servers 24. The access servers 24 may take the form of Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) servers, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers, or Domain Name Service (DNS) servers. Those skilled in the art will recognize other types of servers and corresponding protocols through which authorization, accounting, address provisioning, and address translation can be provided. Notably, all of these functions are not required, but are beneficial in select embodiments as will be described in further detail below. Further, the various access servers 24 and the content server 20 may take various forms and may be implemented as functions in a variety of devices.
Turning now to FIG. 3, a communication flow diagram is provided to illustrate operation of one embodiment, in light of the communication environment 10 of FIG. 2. Assume that the mobile terminal 16 is positioned such that it is within the local wireless zones 18A and 18B of local wireless systems 12A and 12B, respectively, but not within the local wireless zone 18C. Notably, the access server 24 may actually be multiple servers or a single device providing multiple server functions. In this example, the access server(s) 24 takes the form of a DHCP server 24′, a DNS server 24″, and a AAA server 24′″.
With reference to FIG. 4, a communication environment 10 according to a third embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, multiple (three) access points 14 are supported by a common content server 20, access server 24, and Ethernet switch 22. By providing multiple access points 14 in a local wireless system 12, a larger area may be covered by the respective local wireless zones 18 provided by the access points 14. In this embodiment, each access point 14 or local wireless zone 18 is associated with the same zone ID (ZONE ID A). Further refinement of the location-based information may be based on an access point ID, which is uniquely associated with each of the respective access points 14. Thus, if the access point ID is not provided to the content server 20, more generalized location-based information will be provided to the mobile terminal 16. If the access point identifier or other identifier associated with the particular local wireless zone 18 is provided to the content server 20, more specific location-based information may be provided to the mobile terminal 16.
With reference to FIG. 5, a fourth embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, each local wireless zone 18 is associated with a unique zone ID, which may be used by the mobile terminal 16 to select the location-based information from the content server 20. In this embodiment, a common content server 20 and access server 24 support each of the three unique local wireless zones 18. Alternatively, each access point 14 may have a unique identifier, which is used to select the location-based information from the content server 20.
With reference to FIG. 6, a fifth embodiment is illustrated, wherein multiple content servers 20A, 20B, 20C are provided. In this embodiment, each local wireless zone 18 has a unique zone ID. In this environment, the mobile terminal 16 may request content from different ones of the content servers 20 and do so using the unique zone identifier or a unique access point identifier. Accordingly, the location-based information from multiple content servers 20 may correspond to different types of applications or services made available to the mobile terminal 16. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the multiple applications or services may be afforded by a single content server 20, and thus not require multiple content servers 20 as illustrated.
With reference to FIG. 7, a sixth embodiment is illustrated wherein multiple local wireless zones 18 are supported by a content server 20 and access servers 24 over a data network 26 via a router or firewall 28, which provides for secure communications between the mobile terminal 16 and the content server 20. In one embodiment, a tunnel 30 is established between the router or firewall 28 and the content server 20 using layer 2 tunneling protocol (L2TP) or IPSec. As illustrated, the zone IDs are identical for each of the local wireless zones 18; however, those skilled in the art will recognize that unique zone IDs may be used as discussed above.
In essence, the local wireless zones 18 would be established in association with public places, such that mobile terminals 16 moving within the local wireless zone 18 will have access to location-based information for corresponding applications or services. For example, the public place may be a restaurant, airport check-in station, or a museum exhibit. As such, the restaurant may provide coupons, advertisements, menu information, or may communicate with the mobile terminal 16 to make reservations or place orders. The user may cooperate with the mobile terminal 16 to facilitate check-in at the airport. Further, the mobile terminal 16 may communicate with various access points 14 throughout a museum to receive information from different exhibits corresponding to the various local wireless zones 18 afforded by the multiple access points 14 spread throughout the museum. As such, the location-based information may simply be streaming media describing artwork in each exhibit, wherein the mobile terminal 16 will travel from one exhibit to another and access different content based on its location. Further, the above description focuses on the mobile terminal 16 requesting the location-based information from the content server 20. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the concepts are equally applicable to situations wherein the content server 20 will push information to the mobile terminal 16 upon learning of its presence within the local wireless zone 18.
Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments described herein. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.
1. A method of providing location-based information to a mobile terminal in a local wireless zone served by an access point, the method comprising:
establishing a communication session with the mobile terminal;
sending configuration data to the mobile terminal for access to a content server including at least one of a zone identifier corresponding to the access point or an access point identifier to enable requests from the mobile terminal for location-based information, the access point identifier associated with the access point and distinguishing the access point from among multiple access points that each share the same zone identifier corresponding to the access point; and
supplying location-based information to the mobile terminal via the access point responsive to requests from the mobile terminal that include at least one of the zone identifier corresponding to the access point or the access point identifier.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying further comprises refining the location-based information based upon which of the zone identifier or the access point identifier are contained in the requests.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the configuration data to the mobile terminal comprises transmitting a signal that includes the zone identifier associated with the access point.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the configuration data to the mobile terminal comprises transmitting a signal that includes the access point identifier.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying further comprises:
receiving a request from the mobile terminal;
identifying a server associated with the access point; and
querying the identified server to request location-based information.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the request contains the zone identifier, the zone identifier is associated with general location-based information for the local wireless zone, and supplying comprises supplying the generalized location-based information.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the request contains the access point identifier, the access point identifier is associated with specific location-based information for the access point, and supplying comprises supplying the specific location-based information.
8. An access point for a wireless communication network, the access point comprising:
a local wireless interface; and
a control system operable with the local wireless interface to:
establish communication sessions with mobile terminals;
obtain requests from the mobile terminals having a zone identifier corresponding to the access point or an access point identifier, the access point identifier associated with the access point and distinguishing the access point from among multiple access points that each share the same zone identifier corresponding to the access point; and
communicate location-based information to the mobile terminals responsive to the requests from the mobile terminals including:
supplying general location-based information for a local wireless zone in response to requests that contain the zone identifier; and
supplying specific location-based information for the access point in response to requests that contain the access point identifier.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying further includes supplying content to the mobile terminal in addition to supplying the location information, the content made available by the content server acting as a traditional web server.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content server is associated with the particular zone identifier.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the content server is associated with the particular zone identifier and associated with the multiple access points.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone identifier enables the mobile terminal to identify the local wireless zone from among multiple local wireless zones each associated with a different zone identifier.
13. The access point of claim 8, wherein the control system is further operable to identify and query a server associated with the access point to request location-based information corresponding to the local wireless zone or access point.
14. The access point of claim 8, wherein the control system is further operable to supply user-specific information to the mobile terminals based on user identifying data included in the requests.
15. The access point of claim 8, wherein the zone identifier comprises at least one of a domain name or an IP address corresponding to a content server configured to provide the location-based information.
16. The access point of claim 8, wherein the local wireless interface is operable to transmit a signal including one or more of the zone identifier associated with the access point or the access point identifier.
a communication interface operable to enable local wireless communications with an access point when present in a local wireless zone served by the access point;
a control system associated with the communication interface and operable to:
obtain configuration data to enable access to a content server via the access point including at least one of a zone identifier corresponding to the local wireless zone or an access point identifier for the access point to enable requests from the mobile terminal for location-based information, the access point identifier associated with the access point and distinguishing the access point from among multiple access points that each share the same zone identifier corresponding to the access point;
form requests including one or more of the zone identifier corresponding to the access point or the access point identifier; and
receive location-based information supplied by the access point responsive to communication of the requests to the access point.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein location-based information specific to the access point is received responsive to communication of requests that are formed to contain the access point identifier.
19. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein general location-based information for the local wireless zone is received responsive to communication of requests formed to contain the zone identifier and not the access point identifier.
20. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the multiple access points associated with the local wireless zone share the zone identifier and have different access point identifiers, respectively.
US14454260 2003-12-24 2014-08-07 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones Active US9420419B2 (en)
US10745836 US8046000B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2003-12-24 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US13233524 US8401568B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2011-09-15 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US13831028 US8843159B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2013-03-14 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US14454260 US9420419B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2014-08-07 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US13831028 Continuation US8843159B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2013-03-14 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US20140349685A1 true US20140349685A1 (en) 2014-11-27
US9420419B2 true US9420419B2 (en) 2016-08-16
US10745836 Active 2024-09-26 US8046000B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2003-12-24 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US13233524 Active US8401568B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2011-09-15 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US13831028 Active US8843159B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2013-03-14 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US14454260 Active US9420419B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2014-08-07 Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
EP (1) EP1704739A4 (en)
GB0408671D0 (en) * 2004-04-19 2004-05-19 Mitel Networks Corp A method for recognising location move of VOIP phones and IP devices
DE602004007131T2 (en) * 2004-08-03 2007-10-11 Alcatel Lucent A method for improving the selection of an access network in the context of a discontinuous covering the access network, the corresponding access control and corresponding multicast system
WO2009064889A3 (en) 2007-11-14 2009-07-02 Cradlepoint Inc Configuring a wireless router
US8477639B2 (en) 2004-09-08 2013-07-02 Cradlepoint, Inc. Communicating network status
DE102005045182A1 (en) * 2005-09-21 2007-04-05 Siemens Ag Method and arrangement for configuring a mobile device
EP2084917A4 (en) * 2006-10-20 2017-04-05 T-Mobile Usa Inc System and method for determining a subscriber's zone information
WO2010102242A3 (en) * 2009-03-06 2011-01-13 T-Mobile Usa, Inc. System and method for indicating a subscriber's zone within converged telecommunications networks
RU2015103111A (en) * 2009-03-04 2015-08-20 Моэйсис Глоубал Инк. Appointment of cells in the systems providing information based on location selection
US20020137523A1 (en) 2001-03-21 2002-09-26 Global Locate, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing location based information
JP2003016347A (en) 2001-07-02 2003-01-17 Nec Corp Method and system for distributing area advertisement information, and portable terminal installed with the system
WO2003007553A1 (en) 2001-04-27 2003-01-23 Appear Networks Systems Ab Method and system for wireless distribution of local information
US20030171112A1 (en) 2000-09-01 2003-09-11 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Generic wlan architecture
US20040092271A1 (en) 2002-11-12 2004-05-13 Nokia Corporation Method and system for providing location-based services
US20040203890A1 (en) 2002-09-12 2004-10-14 Broadcom Corporation Advertising and controlling the advertisement of wireless hot spots
US20040203863A1 (en) 2002-06-28 2004-10-14 Heikki Huomo System and method for initiating location-dependent applications on mobile devices
US20050085187A1 (en) 2003-10-17 2005-04-21 Magnus Jendbro Wireless user note server apparatus, methods and computer program products and wireless terminals for use therewith
US20050169214A1 (en) 2001-07-12 2005-08-04 Riku Suomela System and method for accessing ubiquitous resources in an intelligent environment
US20050277418A1 (en) 2000-08-11 2005-12-15 Sandeep Kishan Singhal Enabling seamless user mobility in a short-range wireless networking environment
US7123875B1 (en) 1999-11-04 2006-10-17 Xm Satellite Radio, Inc. System and method for multipoint distribution of satellite digital audio radio service
US20100200242A1 (en) 2009-02-11 2010-08-12 George Joel Rodger Method and apparatus for centrifugal separation
US20020046090A1 (en) 1995-06-06 2002-04-18 Stewart Brett B. Distributed network system which transmits information to users based on past transactions of the users
US20120003994A1 (en) 2003-12-24 2012-01-05 Rockstar Bidco Lp Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
US20130203446A1 (en) 2003-12-24 2013-08-08 Microsoft Corporation Providing location-based information in local wireless zones
"Decision on Appeal", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Mar. 3, 2009, 17 pages.
"Examiner's Answer", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Jul. 23, 2007, 45 pages.
"Examiner's Answer", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, May 4, 2007, 45 pages.
"Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Dec. 16, 2009, 47 pages.
"Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, May 3, 2006, 38 pages.
"Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 13/233,524, Apr. 6, 2012, 13 pages.
"Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 13/831,028, Sep. 27, 2013, 12 pages.
"Foreign Notice of Allowance", CA Application No. 2,551,624, Mar. 6, 2013, 1 page.
"Foreign Notice of Allowance", CN Application No. 201210217276.6, Aug. 11, 2015, 4 Pages.
"Foreign Office Action", CA Application No. 2,551,624, Aug. 6, 2012, 2 pages.
"Foreign Office Action", CN Application No. 201210217276.6, Apr. 8, 2014, 14 Pages.
"Foreign Office Action", CN Application No. 201210217276.6, Feb. 9, 2015, 16 Pages.
"Foreign Office Action", CN Application No. 201210217276.6, Nov. 13, 2014, 10 Pages.
"International Search Report and Written Opinion", Application No. PCT/IB2004/003450, Mar. 31, 2005, 9 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Dec. 9, 2010, 9 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Jun. 19, 2009, 45 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Nov. 2, 2005, 36 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 13/233,524, Dec. 30, 2011, 11 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 13/831,028, Feb. 4, 2014, 7 pages.
"Non-Final Office Action", U.S. Appl. No. 13/831,028, Jun. 4, 2013, 8 pages.
"Notice of Allowance", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Jun. 14, 2011, 10 pages.
"Notice of Allowance", U.S. Appl. No. 13/233,524, Nov. 13, 2012, 4 pages.
"Notice of Allowance", U.S. Appl. No. 13/831,028, May 16, 2014, 6 pages.
"Notice of Panel Decision from Pre-Appeal Brief Review", U.S. Appl. No. 13/233,524, Jul. 25, 2012, 2 pages.
"Notice of Panel Decision from Pre-Appeal", U.S. Appl. No. 10/745,836, Oct. 1, 2010, 2 pages.
"Supplementary European Search Report", EP Application No. 04791729.9, Mar. 10, 2011, 3 pages.
Schulzrinne, et al., "Ubiquitous Computing in Home Networks", IEEE Communications Magazine, Nov. 2003, pp. 128-135.
EP1704739A4 (en) 2011-04-13 application
WO2005067332A1 (en) 2005-07-21 application
JP2007517445A (en) 2007-06-28 application
US8046000B2 (en) 2011-10-25 grant
US20050148342A1 (en) 2005-07-07 application
CN102724630A (en) 2012-10-10 application
CA2551624A1 (en) 2005-07-21 application
US8401568B2 (en) 2013-03-19 grant
EP1704739A1 (en) 2006-09-27 application
US20120003994A1 (en) 2012-01-05 application
CN1918933B (en) 2012-08-22 grant
CA2551624C (en) 2013-06-18 grant
US20140349685A1 (en) 2014-11-27 application
US8843159B2 (en) 2014-09-23 grant
CN1918933A (en) 2007-02-21 application
US20130203446A1 (en) 2013-08-08 application
CN102724630B (en) 2015-12-09 grant
US7930342B2 (en) 2011-04-19 Method, terminal device and system allowing for handling location services independently from a cellular communication system
US20050004968A1 (en) 2005-01-06 System, apparatus, and method for a mobile information server
US20070143489A1 (en) 2007-06-21 Communication network device for universal plug and play and Internet multimedia subsystems networks
US20050071423A1 (en) 2005-03-31 System, apparatus, and method for providing Web services on mobile devices
US20080242373A1 (en) 2008-10-02 Method and device for providing position information
US20060277312A1 (en) 2006-12-07 Location-specific or range-based licensing system
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:033517/0001
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SYLVAIN, DANY;REEL/FRAME:033516/0711
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP;REEL/FRAME:033517/0481