Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090164643 | System and Method for Concurrently Utilizing Multiple System Identifiers - System and method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (APs) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual APs (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP “listens for” or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP/WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level. | 06-25-2009 |
20100049855 | Distributed Network Communication System Which Selectively Provides Data to Different Network Destinations - A system and method for providing access and/or roaming features on a network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points coupled to a network. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, and various businesses. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers. The identification information may also or instead indicate an access or privilege level of the user. Each of the access points are operable to “listen for” or detect identification information associated with numerous different providers. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate network provider for the portable computing device using the identification information. Network access may then be provided to the portable computing device through the determined network provider. Thus the network system is useable by subscribers of each of the plurality of possible network providers, thereby enabling subscribers to “roam” on various wireless networks, including networks maintained by other providers. The access information may also include an access level which indicates the user's access or privilege level. Thus, the local network may provide various local resources which are available to users having a first access level, and users with a second access level may not be entitled to view or utilize these network resources on the network, but may be simply provided external Internet access. | 02-25-2010 |
20100202428 | System and Method for Concurrently Utilizing Multiple System Identifiers - System and Method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (Aps) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual Aps (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP “listens for” or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP/WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level. | 08-12-2010 |
20110136505 | Automatically Populating a Database of Wireless Access Point Locations - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110136506 | Determining and Providing Locations of Communication Devices in Proximity to Wireless Access Points - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137813 | Providing a Map Indicating Locations of Users in a Social Network - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137814 | Social Networking System which Provides Notification of User Location Based on Distance - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137995 | Selectively Providing Locations of Users Based on Notification Rules in a Social Network - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137996 | Managing Location Labels in a Social Network - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110137997 | Social Networking System which Provides Location Information of Related Users - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110138006 | Managing User Location Information in a Social Network - Systems, methods, apparatus and software have been discovered for use by individual users to monitor the geographic location of other people or assets with some relationship to the user. Once some manner of location information is determined, users have the ability to describe that location in various ways and control how that information is shared with other users. | 06-09-2011 |
20110202413 | Monitoring a Plurality of Merchant Gateway Devices - A multiservice merchant gateway (MMG) is disclosed. The MMG allows point of sale terminals and other devices to be interfaced with a wide area network, thereby improving speed and service to terminal owners and users, allowing for more efficient systems on merchant premises, and also allowing the merchant to provide and/or utilize various additional features and services. Support infrastructure for configuring MMGs, managing MMGs, and providing related services are also disclosed. | 08-18-2011 |
20120078723 | Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communictions Service - A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the content information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit. | 03-29-2012 |
20120105799 | Eyeglass System and Method - A shield that can be coupled to an eyeglass frame. The shield includes a sheet of material that can extend between the eyeglass frame and a user's face during use. The sheet of material includes an insertion edge that couples to a shield mount channel of the eyeglass frame and a contact edge that can be in contact or in near contact with a user's face during use. The shield can inhibit the evaporation of moisture from a user's eye region during use. | 05-03-2012 |
20120173337 | Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communications Service - A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit. | 07-05-2012 |
20120278454 | Gateway Device Application Development System - Configuring and managing gateway devices. A gateway device may be installed at a location, such as a merchant location or home. The gateway device may manage (e.g., monitor and/or control) one or more devices at the location. For example, the gateway device may manage various fuel tank devices, point of sale devices, refrigeration devices, liquid dispensing devices, etc., at a convenience store. The gateway device may provide reported information to and receive commands from a cloud server, which may be in communication with other devices which may be used to view reported information of or control the managed devices. The cloud server may also be configured to install applications, e.g., for execution by the cloud server, the gateway device, and/or other devices. For example, the gateway device may install applications provided by the cloud server to manage the devices coupled to the gateway device. | 11-01-2012 |
20120284066 | Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communications Service - An apparatus includes memory and a processor. The processor is operable to receive identification information of a user from a portable computing device. The processor is also operable to access the memory to identify a previous trip record based on the identification information of the user and to identify a user preference based on the previous trip record. The processor is further operable to generate reservation information based on the user preference, where the reservation information is associated with a requested trip of the user. | 11-08-2012 |
20130036010 | RECEIVING LOCATION BASED ADVERTISEMENTS ON A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE - A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic location and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit. | 02-07-2013 |
20130038450 | Automatically Generating Electronic Notifications in Response to Received Mail - System and Method for mail notification. An apparatus includes a first member adapted to be placed on an interior portion of the post office box, a flap member rotatably attached to the first member, and a sensor included in at least one of the first member or the flap member. When the apparatus is placed inside the post office box, and when the flap member is moved to be proximate to the first member to allow placement of content inside the post office box, the sensor detects proximity of the flap member to the first member or movement of the flap member from a first position to a second position, and provides an indication in response to detection of proximity, wherein the indication is useable to notify a recipient associated with the post office box. | 02-14-2013 |
20130138811 | Distributed Network Communication System Which Selectively Provides Data to Different Network Destinations - A method comprising storing identification information in a memory medium of a portable computing device, communicating with a network access point to gain access to a network, sending the identification information from the portable computing device to the network access point, and receiving at the portable computing device access to the network through the network access point based on the identification information. | 05-30-2013 |
20130185394 | Providing Information to a Computing Device Based on Known Location and User Information - A method includes receiving a beacon from a mobile device at an access point associated with a transportation station. The beacon includes identification information that identifies the mobile device. The method includes receiving, at the access point via a network, information from at least one service provider based on a location of the access point and the identification information. The method also includes sending the information to the mobile device. | 07-18-2013 |
20130262164 | Providing an Advertisement Based on a Geographic Location of a Wireless Access Point - A method includes receiving, at an information provider, identification information of a portable computing device from a wireless access point. The method includes determining, at the information provider, a service, a product, or both, to be potentially used by a user of the portable computing device. The service, the product, or both, is determined based on a prior user preference of the user. The prior user preference is obtained from a user profile identified based on the identification information. The method includes selecting, at the information provider, an advertisement associated with a business. The advertisement is selected based on the service, the product, or both, to be potentially used by the user and based on a geographic location of the wireless access point. | 10-03-2013 |
20140019251 | Providing Promotion Information to a Device Based on Location - A method includes receiving, at a network device, data indicating a geographic location associated with a mobile communication device. The method also includes selecting promotion information based on the geographic location associated with the mobile communication device. The method further includes transmitting the promotion information to the mobile communication device. | 01-16-2014 |
20140067440 | Transmitting an Automatic Request Based on Location - A system has a device connected to a network and an access point. The access point is configured to communicate with the portable computing device using a wireless communication protocol. The access point is further configured to receive from the portable computing device identification information of the portable computing device. The access point is further configured to transmit a location of the access point and the identification information to the device. The device determines a service provider based on the location and based on a prior user transaction, the prior user transaction determined based on the identification information, and automatically transmits a request to the service provider. | 03-06-2014 |