Methods and systems for broadcasting an estimated time of arrival

{
  "publication_number": "US2010198646A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Methods and systems for broadcasting an estimated time of arrival",
  "abstract": "A mobile device of a user may provide an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) of the user to other participants of a scheduled meeting. In providing the ETA, the mobile device may retrieve meeting information associated with the scheduled meeting, location information associated with the location of the user, and environmental condition information associated with an intended path of the user to the scheduled meeting. The mobile device may calculate the ETA to the scheduled meeting based on the meeting information, the location information, and the environmental condition information. The calculated ETA may then be transmitted to the other participants.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for providing an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a user traveling to a scheduled meeting, the method comprising: retrieving meeting information associated with the scheduled meeting, the meeting information comprising at least one of a location the scheduled meeting, a time of the scheduled meeting and meeting participants; calculating the ETA to the scheduled meeting in accordance with the scheduled meeting information; and transmitting the ETA to the scheduled meeting participants. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: retrieving location information, the location information comprising at least a current location of the user. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein calculating the ETA to the scheduled meeting is in accordance with the scheduled meeting information and the location information. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: retrieving environmental conditions associated with an intended path of the user to the scheduled meeting, the environmental conditions comprising at least a current time. 5. The method of claim 4, where in calculating the ETA to the scheduled meeting occurs in accordance with the scheduled meeting information, the location information, and the environmental conditions. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the location information further comprises a remaining distance to the scheduled meeting location, and a speed at which the user will be traveling. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the environmental conditions further comprise at least one of the following: traffic conditions, weather conditions, legal speed limits along the path the user will travel, road conditions, a notice of traffic accidents, road construction, and a road blockage. 8. The method of claim 5 further comprising: determining, from the ETA, whether the user will arrive late to the scheduled meeting; when, based on the determination, will be the user will arrive late, providing the scheduled meeting participants an ability to perform at least one of the following: reschedule the scheduled meeting, continue the scheduled meeting, and initiate a conference call. 9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: initiating the conference call at the time of the scheduled meeting. 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: transferring the conference call to a landline when the location information indicates that the user will be within a predetermined area. 11. The method of claim 8 further comprising: terminating the conference call when the location information indicates that the user has arrived at the location of the scheduled meeting. 12. The method of claim 5 further comprising: monitoring changes that occur to at least one of the scheduled meeting, the location information, or the environmental conditions; calculating an updated ETA for the user when changes to the scheduled meeting information, the location information, or the environmental conditions warrant doing so; and transmitting the updated ETA to the other meeting participants. 13. A mobile device for providing an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of a user traveling to a scheduled meeting, the mobile cellular device comprising: a cellular transceiver for receiving and transmitting cellular communication signals; a location information receiver for receiving location information, the location information containing at least a current location of the user; a processor comprising: a meeting information module configured to retrieve scheduled meeting information regarding the scheduled meeting, the scheduled meeting information containing at least one of a location of the meeting, a time of the meeting and meeting participants; an environmental module configured to retrieve environmental conditions regarding an intended path the user will travel to the scheduled meeting, the environmental conditions containing at least a current time; an ETA calculation module for calculating the ETA to the scheduled meeting in accordance with the scheduled meeting information, the location information, and the environmental conditions; and a notification module for transmitting the ETA to meeting participants. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the location information further comprises the remaining distance to the meeting location, and/or the speed at which the user will be traveling. 15. The device of claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions further comprises at least one of traffic conditions, weather conditions, legal speed limits along the path the user will travel, road conditions, a notice of traffic accidents, road construction, or a road blockage. 16. The device of claim 13, wherein the notification module determines, from the ETA, whether the user will arrive late to the meeting; and wherein the processor further comprises: when it will be determined that the user will arrive late, a reschedule module for providing the meeting participants an ability to at least one of reschedule the meeting, continue the meeting, or initiate a conference call. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor further comprises: a conference call module for initiating the conference call at the time of the schedule meeting. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the conference call module further comprises transferring the conference call to a landline when the location information indicates that the user will be within a predetermined area. 19. The device of claim 17, wherein the conference call module comprises terminating the conference call when the location information indicates that the user has arrived at the location of the scheduled meeting. 20. The device of claim 13, wherein the ETA calculation module comprises calculating an updated ETA for the user when changes to the scheduled meeting information, the location information, or the environmental conditions warrant doing so; and wherein the processor further comprises: a monitoring module for monitoring changes that occur to at least one of the scheduled meeting information, the location information, and the environmental conditions; and a notification module for transmitting the updated ETA to the other meeting participants."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Currently, an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) may be provided to a user of a mobile device such as Personal Data Assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, or the like after calculating the ETA. For example, a mobile device may calculate an ETA after determining the location and velocity of the mobile device. After calculating the ETA, the ETA may then be presented to the user via a display device associated with the mobile device. Upon viewing the ETA, the user may wish not only to notify other individuals of the ETA, but also to update the ETA as the user travels to the scheduled meeting location. Unfortunately, the user may not have the time or the proper information to contact each of the other users personally.\n\nDisclosed herein are methods and systems for broadcasting an ETA. In broadcasting an ETA, the mobile device may provide the user with an ETA to a schedule meeting location. To calculate the ETA, the mobile device may retrieve meeting information from a scheduling database, environmental conditions from an environmental conditions monitor, and location information from a location information transmitter. After retrieving the information, the mobile device may determine the current location of the user and a path of travel that the user may follow. The mobile device may then calculate the ETA in accordance with the meeting information, location information, and environmental conditions, and broadcast the ETA.\n\nThe foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages of providing and broadcasting an ETA may be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04M 3/42348",
    "G01C 21/3438",
    "G06Q 10/06",
    "G06Q 10/0631",
    "G06Q 10/06311",
    "G06Q 10/063116",
    "H04M 2203/2072",
    "H04M 2203/5027",
    "H04M 2207/206",
    "H04M 2242/30",
    "H04M 3/42263",
    "H04M 3/565"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01C 21/26",
    "G06F 15/16",
    "G06Q 10/00",
    "G01C 21/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "AT&T Mobility II LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jeffrey Clinton Mikan",
    "Justin McNamara",
    "John Ervin Lewis",
    "Fulvio Arturo Cenciarelli"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2009-01-30",
  "publication_date": "2010-08-05",
  "priority_date": "2009-01-30",
  "application_number": "US-36337409-A",
  "family_id": "42398458",
  "cited_by_count": 45,
  "citations": [
    "US20050227680A1",
    "US20060218029A1",
    "US20070118415A1",
    "US20080004002A1",
    "US20080195312A1"
  ]
}