Deferred Distance Notification Service Node for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing location-based services are limited to providing information based on the location of a mobile terminal, failing to support notifications based on distance between devices, which is necessary for applications requiring distance-related parameters.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for providing deferred distance notifications between user devices, involving a service-related node that receives user device identification data and distance criteria, requests and monitors location data, and triggers notifications when distance-related event criteria are fulfilled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing location-based services are used, then location information can be provided, but distance-based notifications between devices cannot be supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice functionalityVSAvoiddistance information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a location-based service node as an intermediary that receives location data from multiple user devices, calculates distances between them, and generates distance-based notifications. This mediator enables distance monitoring functionality without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between devices, thus extending service versatility while maintaining location information accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The location-based service node is designed to handle multiple functions: receiving location data from various devices, calculating distances between any pair of devices, monitoring distance criteria, and generating notifications. This multi-functional approach allows the system to support both traditional location services and new distance-based services through a single unified platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If location data is continuously monitored, then distance changes can be detected, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistance monitoring accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes distance monitoring in advance by receiving distance criteria from the user before actual distance changes occur. The location-based service node pre-configures the monitoring parameters and is ready to detect when distance criteria are met, eliminating the need for complex real-time analysis during dynamic events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The location-based service node automatically performs distance calculations and criterion evaluations without requiring manual intervention or complex processing logic from the user devices. The system self-manages the monitoring process by using received location data to compute distances and trigger notifications when criteria are fulfilled, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If distance criteria are continuously evaluated, then timely notifications can be sent, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification response speedVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system evaluates distance criteria periodically based on location updates received from user devices, rather than continuously monitoring. This periodic evaluation approach maintains timely notifications by processing distance checks at natural update intervals from the location data sources, reducing processing time while ensuring notifications are sent when distance criteria are met.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8792910B2Method and arrangement to monitor distances among a group of electronic communication devices

Publication Date: 2014.07.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A method and service-related nodes for providing a deferred distance notification for at least two user devices. A Location-based gateway receives a request for a deferred distance notification for user devices, and sends a request to a Location enabler for the location of the user devices. The gateway receives location data from the Location enabler, and monitors the fulfillment of user device distance-related event criteria. When a user device distance-related event criterion is fulfilled, the gateway triggers the deferred distance notification, and sends the notification of the user device distance event to an application node. The application node sends a location request after which the Application node receives the notification. Distance notification can thus be provided to a user requesting a location-deferred service, such that the location of entire groups of users can be revealed to the requesting party.