Concepts for providing notifications for events of interest

{
  "publication_number": "US9876693B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Concepts for providing notifications for events of interest",
  "abstract": "Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided. In one embodiment, the location of computing entities can be monitored to determine whether they are within a configurable distance from each other. In another embodiment, direct communications with each other can be monitored. The locations or communications can be used to initiate specific actions/steps.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for providing notifications for events of interest, the method comprising: responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, storing, via a server entity, a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest; receiving, via the server entity, a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity; responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other: storing, via the server entity, the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, determining, via the server entity, whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, providing, via the server entity, a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other; receiving, via the server entity, a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other: storing, via the server entity, a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and providing, via the server entity, a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other.",
    "2. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including program code, the at least one memory and the program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, store a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest; receive a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity; responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other: store the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, determine whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, provide a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other; receive a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other: store a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and provide a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other.",
    "3. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: an executable portion configured to, responsive to registering a first mobile computing entity to provide notifications of events of interest related to the first mobile computing entity, store a profile for the first mobile computing entity, the profile (a) identifying a unique device identifier for the first mobile computing entity, (b) identifying a wireless electronic communication protocol that enables automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity, (c) comprising authentication credentials that allow for automatic connections by and to the first mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol, and (d) comprising notification preferences for a plurality of events of interest; an executable portion configured to receive a first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and a second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, wherein (a) the first mobile computing entity is configured to automatically connect to the second mobile computing entity via the wireless electronic communication protocol using the authentication credentials, (b) the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other comprises a first time and a first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication, and (c) the first location is determined by a location determining aspect of the first mobile computing entity; an executable portion configured to, responsive to receiving the first notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other: store the first time and the first location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct electronic communication with each other, determine whether the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is at least one of the plurality of events of interest, and responsive to determining that the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity is the at least one of the plurality of the events of interest, provide a second notification to an electronic destination address of a user based at least in part on the notification preferences, wherein (a) the second notification comprises information identifying the at least one of the plurality of events of interest, (b) the information of the second notification comprises at least information regarding past activities associated with the first mobile computing entity, which is derived at least from the direct electronic communication between the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity, and (c) the second notification comprises the first time and the first location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were in direct communication with each other; an executable portion configured to receive a third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other; and an executable portion configured to, responsive to receiving the third notification indicating the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other: store a second time and a second location the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other, wherein the first location and the second location are different, and provide a fourth notification to the electronic destination address of the user based at least in part on the notification preferences, the fourth notification comprising the second time and the second location at which the first mobile computing entity and the second mobile computing entity were no longer in direct communication with each other."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "With the explosion of mobile devices, new techniques and approaches are needed for determining/identifying events of interest and providing notifications/messages regarding the same.\n\nIn general, embodiments of the present invention provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for providing notifications for events of interest.\n\nIn accordance with one aspect, a method is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises (1) monitoring the location of a first computing entity, the location of a second computing entity, or both; (2) determining whether the first computing entity and the second computing entity are within a configurable distance from each other; and (3) responsive to determining that the first computing entity and the second computing entity are within the configurable distance from each other, storing an indication of the time and the location at which the first computing entity and the second computing entity were within the configurable distance from each other.\n\nIn accordance with another aspect, a computer program product is provided.",
  "cpc": [
    "H04W 4/21",
    "H04L 29/08657",
    "H04L 43/08",
    "H04L 51/04",
    "H04L 51/222",
    "H04L 63/0492",
    "H04L 67/18",
    "H04L 67/306",
    "H04L 67/52",
    "H04L 67/55",
    "H04M 2242/30",
    "H04N 21/25841",
    "H04W 12/06",
    "H04W 4/008",
    "H04W 4/02",
    "H04W 4/021",
    "H04W 4/023",
    "H04W 4/025",
    "H04W 4/029",
    "H04W 4/12",
    "H04W 4/80",
    "H04W 64/00",
    "H04W 64/003",
    "H04W 76/023",
    "H04W 76/14"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 15/173",
    "H04L 12/26"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "United Parcel Service of America Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mark J. Davidson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-07-18",
  "publication_date": "2018-01-23",
  "grant_date": "2018-01-23",
  "priority_date": "2014-03-25",
  "application_number": "US-201414335025-A",
  "family_id": "60956960",
  "cited_by_count": 17,
  "citations": [
    "US6411891B1",
    "US20140206400A1",
    "US20030020623A1",
    "US20060015503A1",
    "US20040174264A1",
    "US20040243430A1",
    "US7624024B2",
    "US20070282621A1",
    "US20080032666A1",
    "US20110294521A1",
    "US20080214235A1",
    "US20080291022A1",
    "US20090030999A1",
    "US20090191849A1",
    "US20100289644A1",
    "US20120030133A1",
    "US20130304349A1",
    "US20130030873A1",
    "US20130231130A1",
    "US20130331127A1",
    "US20150305077A1",
    "US20140128103A1",
    "US20140192737A1",
    "US20140192667A1",
    "US20140280865A1",
    "US20150081587A1"
  ]
}