US6411899B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Position based personal digital assistant
Assignee: Trimble Inc
•
Filing: 2001-04-30
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2021-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A task description is stored in a database accessible by a mobile computer system. The mobile computer system receives positioning information corresponding to its geographic location and indexes the database based on the positioning information when the information indicates that the mobile computer system is in a geographic location that facilitates completion of a task associated with the task description. The database may be resident in the mobile computer system or accessible in other ways, for example, via the Internet. The task description preferably includes a geocode which corresponds to the geographic location at which completion of the task may be facilitated. The task description may also include textual, voice or other message which can be displayed and/or played back to a user. The positioning information may be obtained from a GPS satellite, a GLONASS satellite or a pseudolite. The mobile computer system may be a portable unit, such as a PDA, or integrated within a vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 William O. Dussell
- 👤 James M. Janky
- 👤 John F. Schipper
- 👤 David J. Cowl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:32
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B29/00; G09B29/10; G09B29/106; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/03; G01S19/10; G01S19/11; G01S19/38; G01S19/39; G01S19/40; G01S19/41; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method, comprising: associating a geographic location with a task description; monitoring positional information of a mobile device; and retrieving the task description when the mobile device is within a selected metric of the geographic location, as determined by the position of the mobile device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method, comprising: associating a geographic location with a task description; monitoring positional information of a mobile device; and retrieving the task description when the mobile device is within a selected metric of the geographic location, as determined by the position of the mobile device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a reminder of the task description.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the reminder is at least one of: a visual reminder, audible reminder, a textual reminder, and a geographical reminder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on a screen of the mobile device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on an automobile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on a heads-up display in the automobile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the audible reminder comprises a playback of a recorded version of the task description.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the audible reminder is played out using a voice synthesizer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task descriptor comprises at least one of: a text message and voice message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task descriptor comprises a reference indicating a location at which an associated task is to be accomplished.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task description is stored in a memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task description is associated with the geographic location on a memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the position of the mobile device is determined using a GPS receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task description is stored in a database remote from the mobile device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a GPS receiver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task description is stored in a computer-readable storage medium capable of being removed from the mobile device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the position of the mobile device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the position of the mobile device is displayed using a map.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising displaying the geographic location associated with the task description.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
38 words
A method, comprising alerting a user of a mobile device of a previously stored task to be performed at a geographic location when the mobile device is determined to be within a selected distance of the geographic location.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
38 words
A method, comprising alerting a user of a mobile device of a previously stored task to be performed at a geographic location when the mobile device is determined to be within a selected distance of the geographic location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein alerting the user comprises providing a reminder of the task.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the reminder comprises one or more of: an audible reminder, a visual reminder, a graphical reminder and a textual reminder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on a screen of the mobile device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the visual reminder is displayed in an automobile.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on a heads-up display in the automobile.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the audible reminder comprises a playback of a recorded version of the task description.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the audible reminder is played out using a voice synthesizer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21 wherein alerting the user comprises displaying one or more of: a graphical alert, a text message, an alert light, a map, and a visual alert accompanied by an audible alert.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein alerting the user comprises playing an audible recording of a description of the task.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the recording is played over an automobile sound system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a description of the task is stored as one or more of: a text message, a voice message, and a graphical message.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the mobile device is determined to be within the selected distance of the geographic location according to the position of the mobile device as indicated by a GPS receiver.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the GPS receiver is separate from a computer-readable storage medium that stores a description of the task.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the description of the task is stored in a computer-readable storage medium separate from the mobile device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a description of the task is stored in a computer-readable storage medium capable of being attached to the mobile device.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
37 words
A method, comprising automatically reminding a user of a mobile device of a task to be performed when the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined distance of a geographic location associated with the task.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
37 words
A method, comprising automatically reminding a user of a mobile device of a task to be performed when the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined distance of a geographic location associated with the task.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 37 wherein reminding the user comprises displaying one or more of: a visual reminder of the task, a graphical reminder of the task, and a textual reminder of the task.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the visual reminder is displayed in a screen of the mobile device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 38 wherein the visual reminder is displayed in an automobile.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the visual reminder is displayed on a heads-up display in the automobile.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 wherein reminding the user comprises playing a voice message regarding the task.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the voice message comprises a task description recorded by the user.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the mobile device is determined to be within the predetermined distance of the geographic location using a GPS receiver.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising displaying a map.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the map is highlighted to show the geographic location associated with the task.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 46 wherein the map is further highlighted to show a position of the mobile device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the predetermined distance is within one mobile of a position of the mobile device.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the task is automatically generated by a computer system.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the task is automatically generated through an analysis of the user's electronic records.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |