Abstract: A mobile telephone (10), an advertiser, broadcasts an advertisement over a wireless short range piconet link to another mobile telephone (12), a consumer. The advertisement is broadcast with a predetermined set of classification tags and the consumer phone (12) has a filter set to accept only certain adverts. When an advertisement of interest is received by the consumer phone (12) it requests further details automatically via the piconet link and the advertiser phone (10) provides then automatically via the piconet link. When the consumer wishes to reply to the advertisement they contact the advertiser phone (10), or an advertiser device, via a long range cellular link (16).

Abstract: A method of transferring high rate data between a first communications device (32) and a second communications device (1) is disclosed. The second communications device (1) has a first transceiver (4) for communication with the first communications device (32) at a first, low data rate over a long range, and a second transceiver (2) for communicating at a second, high data rate over a short range. The method comprises the steps of forming a coordinated short-range network (piconet) using the second communications device (1) and a plurality of other similar communications devices (11, 21), transferring a portion of said data to or from the first communications device (32) from or to each of said second communications device and said other communications devices using their first transceivers (2, 12, 22), and transferring said data portions between said other communications devices and the second communications device using their second transceivers (4, 14, 24).

Abstract: A method of transferring high rate data between a first communications device (32) and a second communications device (1) is disclosed. The second communications device (1) has a first transceiver (4) for communication with the first communications device (32) at a first, low data rate over a long range, and a second transceiver (2) for communicating at a second, high data rate over a short range. The method comprises the steps of forming a coordinated short-range network (piconet) using the second communications device (1) and a plurality of other similar communications devices (11, 21), transferring a portion of said data to or from the first communications device (32) from or to each of said second communications device and said other communications devices using their first transceivers (2, 12, 22), and transferring said data portions between said other communications devices and the second communications device using their second transceivers (4, 14, 24).

Abstract: An electronic whiteboard (2) having a data store (6, 28) for storing images recorded on the whiteboard, which data store (6, 28) has a presence on a network, for example the internet via a unique network location or URL. In one preferred embodiment the electronic whiteboard includes a network server for the data store and the server has a unique network location or URL. In a second preferred embodiment the data store (6, 28) has a presence on the network via a remote server (26) which acts as a gateway from the network to the data store (6, 28) and the server has a presence on the network, defined by a unique network location or URL.

Abstract: A method is provided of adapting a user interface to the user's current situation. The method involves a user specifying a home-area interface (83), for example, a web browser home page, and an “away” interface (84). When the user connects to a network (10) using a device (20) and calls up his/her browser home page, a determination is made of the location of the device in order to decide which version of the home page is to be served back to the user device by the home-page server of the user. In a preferred embodiment, the “away” home page (84) includes specific types of local data of interest to the user (such as best local restaurants). When asked to provide the “away” home page, the homepage server uses this information to find the URLs of local special interest web sites (122) carrying the relevant type of data, the server inserting these URLs in the “away” home page (84) before providing it to the user device (20) concerned.

Abstract: Particular functionality of an item of equipment (70) is enabled upon both a location condition and a personnel condition being satisfied. The location condition is tested for by obtaining current-location data (67) representing the current location of the equipment, and comparing the current-location data with authorized-location data representing a predetermined authorized location or locality for operation of the equipment functionality. The personnel condition is tested for by checking for the presence at or near the equipment of at least one person (77) fitting stored authorized-personnel data (42) that identifies specified person or persons, or a specified grade of person. The location and personnel conditions can be tested for at the equipment (70) or at a remote service system (40).

Abstract: A user (70) is pre-qualified for a service to be provided at a particular location. A service instance element (76) is stored as is location data (74) indicative of where the service is to be triggered. The service instance element (76) may be a full customized instance of the service delivery code or other item that provides an association between the user and an instance of the service for which the user has been qualified. Thereafter, the location of the user (70), as indicated by a mobile entity associated with the user, is periodically checked against the location data (74) and when a location match is indicated, the service instance (76) for which the user has been qualified is executed to deliver the required service to the user (70).

Abstract: A shopping assistance service system (40) is provided to which mobile enquirers (20) can submit enquiries regarding the availability of specified goods or services from local traders (70). The service system (40) in searching for solutions to the enquiry, takes account of the significance of the location of the enquiry. This significance can be both in terms of the objective significance concerning a function associated with the enquiry location, such as a shop, shopping mall, motorway, etc., and the subjective significance of the location, such as home, workplace, local to home area, remote from home area, etc.

Abstract: A method is provided for searching for a lost asset (50) equipped with a short-range wireless transceiver (52). A finder service (40) sends out a search request (36) including a lost-asset identifier, this request being sent over a mobile radio infrastructure (10) to a plurality of mobile devices (20). These devices transmit on the request in their immediate vicinity using short-range wireless transceivers (21). Upon a mobile device (20B) receiving back a response from the lost asset (50), it returns a found message (35) over the mobile radio infrastructure (10) to the finder service (40), this message either including location data concerning the whereabouts of the lost asset or enabling such data to be obtained by the finder service.

Abstract: A shopping assistance service system (40) is provided to which enquirers (8A) can submit enquiries regarding the availability of item of interest from local traders (70). The enquiry message (150) includes a description (151) of the item of interest, this description being intended for human interpretation and taking the form of image and/or unstructured audio data. The service system (40) automatically determines a location associated with the enquiry, this being either the enquirer's current location or a location where the enquirer intends to shop. The service system (40) then selects from a database of traders (44), traders appropriate to the enquiry at least in terms of location and the type of the item of interest, and forwards the description of the item of interest to the selected traders (70A,B,D). Traders (70B,D) then respond either directly to the enquirer (8A) or via the service system (40).

Abstract: The presence of persons is detected, for example, by detecting short-range communication devices carried by the detected persons. The interests of the detected persons are then determined by reference to specific interests transmitted by the user devices and/or by reference to customer profile data. The discovered interests of the current detected persons are then used to select content for display on an electronic display during a next display slot. The display is spaced from the zone in which the persons are detected, being located at a downstream location through which most of the detected persons will pass.

Abstract: The proximity of potential customers to a shop is detected, for example, by detecting short-range communication devices carried by passers-by. The interests of the detected passers-by are then determined by reference to specific interests transmitted by the passer-by devices and/or by reference to customer profile data. The discovered interests of the current passers-by are then used to select content for display on a shop-window electronic display during a next display slot. Passers-by who may be particularly interested in the displayed content are preferably sent an alert. In other embodiments, the targeted audience is a static group, such as train passengers, with the targeted information being displayed at a station.

Abstract: A mobile entity (20) provides accuracy limit data (Q) that indicates a desired accuracy of location data (L) about the mobile entity. This data (Q) is passed, either directly or indirectly from the mobile entity (20), to a location handling system (80) which provides location data (L) about the corresponding mobile entity limited to the desired accuracy. In one embodiment, the location handling system is a location server. In another embodiment the location handling system is a decryption entity (80) for decrypting encrypted location data.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for obscuring the location of a mobile entity to a specified accuracy level. Available location data that has a known accuracy greater than the specified accuracy has its accuracy decreased (85) by combining with the components of the available location data, additional components randomized over a range set by the difference between the known accuracy of the available location data and the specified accuracy level.

Abstract: A cell phone (20Z) is provided with a short-range wireless transceiver (28). This transceiver is used to pick up local information from local transmitters (51B). In many instances this local information is insufficient to locate the user, being, for example, information about the local branch of a business (50B) having many branches. However, by combining this local information with a locality indicator, such as current cell ID for the cell in which the cell phone (20Z) is camped, it is much more likely that the location of the user can be established without ambiguity. A service system (40) is provided that has a database (42) searchable by locality indicator and local information to provide the user's current location. As well as, or alternatively to, providing user location, the database (42) can be used to provide information about the locality of the user or about the party controlling the local transmitter (51B) from which the local information was obtained.

Abstract: Location data about a mobile entity (20) is provided in encrypted form by a location server (79) to a recipient that is one of the mobile entity (20) or a service system (40) usable by the mobile entity. The location data (P) is encrypted such that it can only to be decrypted using a secret available to a decryption entity (80) that is not under the control of the recipient. This permits location data (P) to be provided in a confidential manner to service systems (40) and also protects billing relationships between participants. A mechanism is also described for limiting the accuracy of decrypted location data (L) made available to a service system (40).

Abstract: Location information about a communicating entity (41), in particular a mobile entity, is derived by identifying intermediate nodes (42) along the communication path being used by the entity, and then looking up, in a database (44), the geographic significance of at least one of these nodes when considered in a direction along the communication path towards the entity of interest. Preferably, account is taken of any identified downstream/upstream nodes to refine the geographic significance of a node. The geographic significance information can be compiled by taking location fixes at a plurality of endpoint locations and associating the location data thus obtained with the intermediate nodes traversed when communication is effected from the corresponding endpoint locations.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring location-associated events such as the availability for collection at business premises of items previously ordered by a customer. The method involves storing a descriptor of the event of interest to the customer, the descriptor being stored, for example, in a third-party service system (40) by the business concerned. The descriptor explicitly or implicitly includes details of the parties and the location of the premises (70). Subsequently, when the customer comes near the business premises (70), the service system (40) determines a match with the event descriptor and indicates as much to the customer (115), either directly or after first checking event status data provided by the business. Where the event descriptor is stored by the customer, either in a mobile device or a third-party system, then the determination of a match can be used to alert the business that the customer is near.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring location-associated events such as the availability for collection at business premises of items previously ordered by a customer. The method involves storing a descriptor of the event of interest to the customer, the descriptor being stored, for example, in a third-party service system (40) by the business concerned. The descriptor explicitly or implicitly includes details of the parties and the location of the premises (70). Subsequently, when the customer comes near the business premises (70), the service system (40) determines a match with the event descriptor and thereupon carries out an event status check using status data provided by the business. The result of the status check is reported to the customer (115).