Area watcher for wireless network

Abstract

Dynamic and current information is provided regarding a wireless device's entry into or exit from a geographically defined “watched” area. An area watcher application monitors preconfigured wireless devices entry/exit into preconfigured watched areas. The watched areas may watch for any/all subscribers, or for select, preconfigured subscribers listed in an appropriate table or database. Provision of location information is triggered by a wireless subscriber's entry, exit or changing between designated ‘watched’ areas or locations. Continuous polling may be used, or the mobile device itself or network element may be triggered to push its own location upon notification of its entry into or out of watched areas from an area watcher. A third party may be notified when a wireless user enters an area surrounding their retail store, and be sent a message such as “sale inside”, or “Your rentals are overdue”, on their wireless device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a speed determiner configured to determine a change in location over time of a particular wireless device relative to a geographic area; and   an area watcher configured to selectively output a trigger message from a plurality of trigger messages based on the determined change in location over time of the particular wireless device in response to the particular wireless device one or more of entering and exiting the geographic area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic area is defined by a zip code. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic area is defined by boundaries of the reach of a particular cell site. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geographic area is defined by proximity to a particular retail establishment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a database configured to associate the particular wireless device with the geographic area. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger message is provided to the particular wireless device. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 establishing a watched geographic area;   monitoring a change in location over time of a given wireless device of a plurality of wireless devices relative to the watched geographic area; and   selecting an area watch message from the plurality of area watch messages based on the monitored change in location over time of the given wireless device in response to detection of the given wireless device at least one of entering and exiting the watched geographic area.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing the selected area watch message to the given wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the selected area watch message corresponds to unsolicited retail information. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising associating the given wireless device with the watched geographic area. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the monitoring comprises polling of location information for the plurality of wireless devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the monitoring comprises a location push by the given wireless device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the monitoring comprises a location push by a wireless carrier network servicing the given wireless device. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a location services client configured to establish a watched geographic area;   a location server configured to monitor a change in location over time of a wireless device relative to the at least one geographic area; and   the location services client being configured to select an area watch message of a plurality of area watch messages based on the monitored change in location over time of the wireless device in response to detection of the wireless device at least one of entering and exiting the watched geographic area.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the selected area watch message corresponds to unsolicited retail information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a database configured to associate the given wireless device with the watched geographic area. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the location server is further configured to poll location information regarding the wireless device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the location server is further configured to receive a location push from the wireless device to facilitate the monitoring. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the location server is further configured to receive a location push from a wireless carrier network servicing the wireless device to facilitate the monitoring. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the location services client is further configured to provide the selected watch message to the wireless device.