System and method for indicating reminders via a portable computing device

Abstract

A method of processing location data at a portable computing device is provided and includes receiving information associated with a user defined location at the portable computing device. The information includes a central point and an entry indication perimeter. An entry alert associated with the user defined location is received at the portable computing device. The location of the portable computing device is monitored to determine when the portable computing device crosses the entry indication perimeter associated with the central point of the user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to the user defined location. The method further includes switching the portable computing device from a roaming state to an entry state indicating that the portable computing device is about to enter the user defined location. An indication can be provided to the user that the portable computing device has switched to the entry state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing alerts via a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving information associated with a user defined location at the portable computing device, the information including a central point and a departure indication perimeter;   receiving at least one departure alert associated with the user defined location at the portable computing device;   monitoring a location of the portable computing device; and   determining when the portable computing device crosses the departure indication perimeter associated with the central point of the user defined location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the departure indication perimeter is a distance from the central point and wherein crossing the departure indication perimeter indicates that the portable computing device is about to depart the user defined location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one departure alert is a recurring departure alert. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one departure alert is a one time only departure alert. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising switching the portable computing device from a home state to a departure state indicating that the portable computing device is about to depart the user defined location. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising indicating that the portable computing device has switched to the departure state. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising presenting the at least one departure alert to a user of the portable computing device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving an indication to prevent the portable computing device from switching to the departure state. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising modifying the size of the zone around the central point. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising increasing the size of the zone around the central point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising switching from the departure state to a roaming state. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising waiting a predetermined time period before switching to the roaming state. 
     
     
         13 . A method of reminding a user via a portable computing device, the method comprising:
 sounding a wake alarm at the portable computing device, when a wake time is reached;   sounding a reminder alarm at the portable computing device, a predetermined time before a predetermined departure time;   determining whether the reminder alarm is acknowledged; and   increasing a volume of the reminder alarm.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining whether a snooze function has been selected at the portable computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising sounding the wake alarm after a snooze period elapses. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining whether the wake alarm has been turned off by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising automatically turning the wake alarm off after an alarm expiration time period. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising automatically calling a back up telephone number. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wake time is defined by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the wake alarm is selected from a menu of wake alarms. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reminder alarm is selected from a menu of reminder alarms. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the departure time is defined by the user. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the alarm expiration time period is input by the user. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the back up telephone number is input by the user. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reminder alarm is acknowledged by pressing a button at the portable computing device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reminder alarm is acknowledged by disconnecting the portable computing device from a charger. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the reminder alarm is acknowledged by removal of the device from a location. 
     
     
         28 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory device accessible by the processor;   a global positioning module; and   a computer program embedded within the memory and responsive to the global positioning module, the computer program comprising:
 at least one instruction to monitor a location of the portable computing device; and 
 at least one instruction to determine when the portable computing device crosses an entry indication perimeter associated with a user defined point indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to a user defined location. 
   
     
     
         29 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory device accessible by the processor;   a location determination module embedded within the memory device; and   a computer program embedded within the memory, the computer program comprising:
 at least one instruction to monitor a location of the portable computing device, the location determined by the location determination module; and 
 at least one instruction to determine when the portable computing device crosses a departure indication perimeter associated with a user defined point of a user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is about to depart the user defined location. 
   
     
     
         30 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory device accessible by the processor; and   a computer program embedded within the memory, the computer program comprising:
 at least one instruction to sound a wake alarm; 
 at least one instruction to sound a reminder alarm a predetermined time before a predetermined departure time; and 
 at least one instruction to determine whether the reminder alarm is acknowledged. 
   
     
     
         31 . A user interface for a portable computing device, the user interface comprising:
 a set home point button, wherein in response to selection of the set home point button, one or more location coordinates associated with a home point location are saved at the portable computing device.   
     
     
         32 . The user interface of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more location coordinates are global positioning system coordinates. 
     
     
         33 . The user interface of  claim 30 , further comprising a home location name input field for receiving a location name associated with the home point. 
     
     
         34 . The user interface of  claim 32 , further comprising a home point radius input field for receiving a home point radius associated with the home point. 
     
     
         35 . The user interface of  claim 33 , further comprising an alert input field for receiving an alert associated with the home point. 
     
     
         36 . The user interface of  claim 34 , further comprising a one-time only button, wherein when the one-time only button is selected the alert is presented to a user once. 
     
     
         37 . The user interface of  claim 34 , further comprising a recurring button, wherein when the recurring button is selected the alert is presented to a user multiple times. 
     
     
         38 . The user interface of  claim 30 , further comprising a set sub point button, wherein when the set sub point button is selected, one or more global positioning system coordinates associated with a sub point are saved at the portable computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The user interface of  claim 37 , further comprising a sub point name input field for receiving a location name associated with the sub point. 
     
     
         40 . The user interface of  claim 38 , further comprising a sub point radius input field for receiving a sub point radius associated with the sub point. 
     
     
         41 . A computer program embedded within a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
 at least one instruction to monitor a location of a portable computing device outside of a virtual perimeter around a user defined point; and   at least one instruction to determine whether the portable computing device has crossed an entry indication perimeter around the virtual perimeter, indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to the virtual perimeter.   
     
     
         42 . A computer program embedded within a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
 at least one instruction to monitor a location of the portable computing device within a virtual perimeter around a user defined point; and   at least one instruction to determine whether the portable computing device has crossed a departure indication perimeter within the virtual perimeter, indicating that the portable computing device is about to cross the virtual perimeter.   
     
     
         43 . A computer program embedded within a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:
 at least one instruction to sound a wake alarm;   at least one instruction to sound a reminder alarm at a predetermined time before a predetermined departure time is reached;   at least one instruction to determine whether the reminder alarm is acknowledged; and   at least one instruction to increase a volume of the reminder alarm when the reminder alarm is not acknowledged.   
     
     
         44 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 means for monitoring a location of the portable computing device; and   means for determining when the portable computing device crosses an entry indication perimeter associated with a user defined point indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to a user defined location.   
     
     
         45 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 means for monitoring a location of the portable computing device; and   means for determining when the portable computing device crosses a departure indication perimeter associated with a user defined point of a user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is about to depart the user defined location.   
     
     
         46 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 means for sounding a wake alarm;   means for sounding a reminder alarm a predetermined time before a predetermined departure time; and   means for determining whether the reminder alarm is acknowledged.