U.S. patent application number 14/465332 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-25 for aggregated geo-fencing area based information delivery.
The applicant listed for this patent is International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Billy W. CHANG, Sarbajit K. RAKSHIT.
Application Number | 20160057573 14/465332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55349477 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160057573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; Billy W. ; et
al. |
February 25, 2016 |
AGGREGATED GEO-FENCING AREA BASED INFORMATION DELIVERY
Abstract
Aggregated geo-fencing area based information delivery, in one
aspect, may include determining a plurality of first geo-fencing
areas of a first user based on monitoring or detecting locations of
the first user. The locations may be detected via one or more user
selected devices, which include location-aware devices such as GPS
receiver/transmitter devices. A second user identifier may be
received from the first user. One or more second geo-fencing areas
of a second user may be determined, for example, similarly to the
first geo-fencing areas. Content may be gathered based on
aggregated geo-fencing area comprising the plurality of first
geo-fencing areas and the one or more second geo-fencing areas. The
content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area may be
presented, for example, for collaborative activity among the
users.
Inventors: |
CHANG; Billy W.; (Rockville,
MD) ; RAKSHIT; Sarbajit K.; (Kolkata, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
International Business Machines Corporation |
Armonk |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55349477 |
Appl. No.: |
14/465332 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/456.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/029 20180201;
H04W 4/021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/02 20060101
H04W004/02 |
Claims
1.-8. (canceled)
9. A system for providing aggregated geo-fencing area based
information delivery, comprising: a processor; and a storage
device, the processor operable to determine a plurality of first
geo-fencing areas of a first user based on monitoring locations of
the first user, information associated with the locations received
from one or more user selected devices equipped with one or more
global positioning system receiver/transmitter devices, the
processor operable to store information associated with the
plurality of first geo-fencing areas in the storage device, the
processor further operable to receive a second user identifier from
the first user, the processor further operable to determine one or
more second geo-fencing areas of a second user and store
information associated with said one or more second geo-fencing
areas in the storage device, the processor further operable to
aggregate the plurality of first geo-fencing areas and the one or
more second geo-fencing areas into aggregated geo-fencing area and
store information associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area
in the storage device, the processor further operable to gather
content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area at least by
searching online network information, the processor further
operable to present the content associated with the aggregated
geo-fencing area to at least one of the first user and the second
user.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor presents the
content to one or more of the first user and the second user based
on one or more predefined rules.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further
operable to receive a registration request from the first user
identifying said one or more user selected devices, monitor the
locations of the first user based on information received from the
one or more user selected devices, store a history of the monitored
locations, rate of movement and timing information retrieved from
monitoring, and analyze the history of the monitored locations,
rate of movement and timing information to determine the plurality
of first geo-fencing areas of the first user.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the timing information
comprises duration of time spent in the monitored locations and
time and date spent in the monitored locations.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further
operable to allow the first user to specify a distance radius from
one or more of the monitored locations, wherein the plurality of
first geo-fencing areas is calculated based on the user specified
distance radius.
14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying a
program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method
of aggregated geo-fencing area based information delivery, the
method comprising: determining a plurality of first geo-fencing
areas of a first user based on detecting locations of the first
user, the locations detected via one or more user selected devices;
receiving a second user identifier from the first user; determining
one or more second geo-fencing areas of a second user; aggregating
the plurality of first geo-fencing areas and the one or more second
geo-fencing areas into aggregated geo-fencing area; gathering
content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area; and
presenting the content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing
area.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
14, wherein the presenting content comprises presenting content
based on the aggregated geo-fencing area to one or more of the
first user and the second user.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
14, wherein said gathering content associated with the aggregated
geo-fencing area is based on one or more rules.
17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
14, wherein the content comprises advertisement.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
14, wherein said determining a plurality of first geo-fencing areas
of a first user comprises: receiving a registration request from
the first user identifying said one or more user selected devices;
monitoring the locations of the first user based on information
received from the one or more user selected devices; storing a
history of the monitored locations, rate of movement and timing
information based on said monitoring; and analyzing the history of
the monitored locations, rate of movement and timing information to
determine the plurality of first geo-fencing areas of a first
user.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the second user is dynamically selected by the first
user, wherein the aggregated geo-fencing area is dynamically
created, and wherein the aggregated geo-fencing area is dynamically
created based on time patterns.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
18, wherein the first user is enabled to cluster the aggregated
geo-fencing area based on one or more parameters in one or more
cluster types, the cluster types comprising at least one or more of
friends, family, and project team, wherein the aggregated
geo-fencing area is created based on the one or more cluster types.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present application relates generally to computers, and
computer applications, and more particularly to aggregated
geo-fencing area based information delivery.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Geo-fence refers to a virtual perimeter of a geographic
area. Applications of geo-fence include detecting crossing of such
geo-fences, for example, for ensuring safety. For example,
geo-fence techniques may be used to let parents know if their small
children travel outside a neighborhood or other set region, and/or
to recover stolen vehicles. Geo-fence techniques may be also used
to notify one if someone, e.g., a friend is traveling in the same
area. Computer-implemented systems or applications in conjunction
with Global Positioning System devices may detect such crossing and
provide notifications, for instance, via mobile or another
device.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] A method for aggregated geo-fencing area based information
delivery, in one aspect, may comprise determining a plurality of
first geo-fencing areas of a first user based on detecting
locations of the first user. The locations may be detected via one
or more user selected devices. The method may also comprise
receiving a second user identifier from the first user. The method
may further comprise determining one or more second geo-fencing
areas of a second user. The method may further comprise aggregating
the plurality of first geo-fencing areas and the one or more second
geo-fencing areas into aggregated geo-fencing area. The method may
further comprise gathering content associated with the aggregated
geo-fencing area. The method may also comprise presenting the
content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area.
[0004] A system for providing aggregated geo-fencing area based
information delivery, in one aspect, may comprise a processor and a
storage device. The processor may be operable to determine a
plurality of first geo-fencing areas of a first user based on
monitoring locations of the first user, information associated with
the locations received from one or more user selected devices
equipped with one or more global positioning system
receiver/transmitter devices. The processor may be further operable
to store information associated with the plurality of first
geo-fencing areas in the storage device. The processor may be
further operable to receive a second user identifier from the first
user. The processor may be further operable to determine one or
more second geo-fencing areas of a second user and store
information associated with said one or more second geo-fencing
areas in the storage device. The processor may be further operable
to aggregate the plurality of first geo-fencing areas and the one
or more second geo-fencing areas into aggregated geo-fencing area
and store information associated with the aggregated geo-fencing
area in the storage device. The processor may be further operable
to gather content associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area
at least by searching online network information. The processor may
be further operable to present the content associated with the
aggregated geo-fencing area to at least one of the first user and
the second user.
[0005] A computer readable storage medium storing a program of
instructions executable by a machine to perform one or more methods
described herein also may be provided.
[0006] Further features as well as the structure and operation of
various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to
the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers
indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an aggregated
geo-fencing area based information delivery method in one
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a geographical map with
geo-fences of multiple users in one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates components of a
system of the present disclosure in one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of an example computer or
processing system that may implement an aggregated geo-fencing area
based information delivery system in one embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Geo-fence or geo-fencing provides a virtual perimeter or
boundary for an area, a real geographical area or region. A user
may have one or more geo-fencing areas, for example, a predefined
area boundary near the user's office, user's residence, a club,
and/or others. At the same time, one user can have multiple family
members and friends, social network friends, who may also have
their own one or more geo-fencing areas. In one embodiment of the
present disclosure, a methodology may be provided that aggregate
the geo-fencing areas of a user and/or multiple users, e.g., a user
and user's friends or family members, and deliver appropriate
information to the user.
[0012] In the below description, the terms, "first user" and
"second user" are employed only to provide a clearer description in
explaining different users among multiple users or set of users.
Such terms do not connote or imply any order or sequence.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an aggregated
geo-fencing area based information delivery method in one
embodiment of the present disclosure. At 102, a user's geo-fencing
areas are identified. For example, a plurality of geo-fencing areas
of a first user may be determined based on detecting locations of
the first user, the locations detected via one or more user
selected devices. In one aspect, for example, a registration
request may be received from the first user identifying devices for
detecting location of the first user, for instance, the devices
which the first user selects or identifies as permissible or
allowable to use for detecting the location of the first user. The
location of the first user then may be monitored based on
information received from the selected devices. The history of
locations, rate of movement and timing information, e.g., the time
of day or week or time and date, or another, may be stored.
[0014] The history of locations, rate of movement, and timing
information are analyzed to determine aggregated geo-fencing area
for the first user. For instance, the stored information may
provide the first user's mobility pattern (pattern of movement) and
duration of time spent in different places. Based on such
information, the first user's possible residence address, office
address, club address, community center, and/or others, may be
calculated.
[0015] For instance, inference may be made based on the time and
duration spent in a location as to whether the location is a user's
residence, workplace, or another. In another aspect, a user may be
presented with the calculated location information and asked to
verify or confirm the locations, e.g., as being the user's
residence, office, or another.
[0016] Yet in another aspect, a user may be provided with an option
to enter or confirm the user's geo-fencing perimeter around the
identified locations. For instance, the identified information from
the analysis of the history of locations, rate of movement, and
time, may be presented to the user and the user may be provided
with a user interface to allow the user to enter or define the
user's geo-fencing boundary, e.g., 1 kilometer radius around the
user's office address and 2 kilometer radius around the user's home
address, and so forth.
[0017] In this way, multiple geo-fencing areas may be determined or
identified associated with a user, e.g., the first user.
[0018] In one aspect, content may be presented to a user, e.g., the
first user, based on the identified multiple geo-fencing areas of
the first user as shown at 104. For example, an individual's (e.g.,
the first user's) multiple geo-fencing areas may be aggregated, and
appropriate content may be provided to that individual.
[0019] In another aspect, appropriate content may be provided based
on a user's aggregated geo-fencing area, the current location of
the user, and one or more rules which may have been predefined,
e.g., by the user. For instance, the one or more rules may specify
to present certain information to the user if the user is currently
located within one of the multiple geo-fencing areas. The rules may
be adjusted. For instance, a user interface may be provided to
allow a user to define and redefine or adjust the rules.
[0020] At 106, one or more second user identifiers may be received.
For example, a user interface may be provided to allow a user to
specify one or more other users. For example, a first user may
specify one or more second users, e.g., who may be a friend or a
family member, with whose geo-fencing area or areas the first user
would like to have his or her geo-fencing areas to be aggregated
for delivery of information.
[0021] At 108, one or more geo-fencing areas (e.g., also referred
to as second geo-fencing area or areas) associated with those one
or more other users (e.g., also referred to as a second user or
second users) may be determined. For example, similar methodology
described above with respect to determining one or more geo-fencing
areas of the first user may be employed to determine a geo-fencing
area or areas for one or more other users. For instance, the first
user with a permission of the second user may specify second user's
one or more devices that may be used to monitor the locations of
the second user. As another example, the second user may be already
a registered user who has registered one or more of his or her
devices. In this case, for example, the second user's geo-fencing
areas may already have been determined, e.g., according to the
similar methodology described above with reference to determining
the first user's geo-fencing areas.
[0022] Yet as another example, the second user may be a registered
user, who may be asked to enter or specify one or more devices with
which the second user's locations can be monitored. So for example,
with the information from the specified devices of the second user,
the second user's geo-fencing areas may be determined using the
similar methodology described above with reference to determining
the first user's geo-fencing areas.
[0023] As another example, the second user's one or more
geo-fencing areas may be determined by the first user simply
specifying the second user's one or more geo-fencing areas.
[0024] At 110, the plurality of first geo-fencing areas (e.g.,
geo-fencing areas of the first user) and the one or more second
geo-fencing area (e.g., one or more geo-fencing areas of one or
more second user) are aggregated. For clarity of explanation the
plurality of first geo-fencing areas and the one or more second
geo-fencing area that are aggregated are referred to as aggregated
geo-fencing area. For example, aggregation defines geo-fencing
areas from which information may be searched. For instance, the
first user's profile such as user's likes, dislikes, and/or others
may be gathered and used to find appropriate information from the
aggregated geo-fencing area.
[0025] At 112, content may be gathered using information associated
with the aggregated geo-fencing area. For example, content may
include information about entities in or activities that can occur
within the aggregated geo-fencing area. Content may be
advertisements, e.g., of services or items or the like that can be
obtained within the aggregated geo-fencing area. Content may be
information describing social gathering opportunities,
collaborative assistance, buying opportunities, selling offers,
and/or others.
[0026] At 114, the content or information gathered associated with
the aggregated geo-fencing area may be presented or provided to one
or more of the first user and one or more second users. In one
aspect, one or more rules may be employed to specify to whom and/or
when the information or content should be presented. For example,
one or more rules may specify to present the information based on a
current location of one or more users, e.g., one or more of the
first user and the one or more second users. In one aspect, the
content may be presented with the information such as the
associated geo-fencing area and the user associated with that
geo-fencing area.
[0027] In this way, information such as advertisements may be
consolidated between a user and one or more other users. Such
consolidated information may assist a user (e.g., a first user) to
request another user (e.g., a second user) to purchase products for
the first user based on the proximity of the second user to a
location to purchase products. Other uses of the consolidated
information may be to coordinate activities of the users
involved.
[0028] For example, User A, User B, User C are close friends, and
they also have their own different geo-fencing areas. The
methodology of the present disclosure in one embodiment identifies
the geo-fencing areas of those users, and delivers consolidated
advertisement (or other information) to one or more of those users
(e.g., User A, User B, and User C). Thus, any user can purchase for
his friend or friends upon receiving a request from one friend. For
example, User A knows one of his required products is available
within the geo-fencing area of User C, so user A can request User C
to purchase the product for him.
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a geographical map with
geo-fences of multiple users in one embodiment of the present
disclosure. User A has a geo-fencing area 202 near the user A's
residence area, a geo-fencing area 204 near the user A's office
area. User B has a geo-fencing area 206 near the user B's residence
area, and a geo-fencing area 208 near the user B's office area. A
methodology of the present disclosure in one embodiment may
aggregate the geo-fencing areas of user A and user B (e.g., 202,
204, 206 and 208), and deliver or present combined content
associated with all those geo-fencing areas.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates components that
may implement a methodology of the present disclosure in one
embodiment. One or more processors 302 may determine a plurality of
first geo-fencing areas of a first user based on monitoring
locations of the first user, for example, from information
associated with the locations detected via one or more user
selected devices (e.g., 304, 306) and received from those one or
more users selected devices (e.g., 304, 306). For example, one or
more user selected devices may be equipped with or include one or
more global position system (GPS) receiver/transmitter devices
(e.g., 314, 316). The processor may store information associated
with the plurality of first geo-fencing areas in a storage device
(e.g., 322).
[0031] The processor 302 may receive one or more second user
identifiers from the first user. For example, a user interface
running on the processor may enable or allow the first user to
enter one or more identifiers of respective one or more second
users, with whom the first user would like to aggregate geo-fencing
areas. Upon establishing proper permissions, one or more devices of
one or more second users (e.g., 318, 320) that are equipped with
one or more GPS receiver/transmitter or like location information
aware devices, may be monitored, and one or more geo-fencing areas
(e.g., referred to as second geo-fencing areas) for one or more
second users may be also determined, for example, in a similar
manner as done in the case of the first user, e.g., described with
reference to FIG. 1. User devices, e.g., 304, 306, 308, 310, may be
mobile devices or others, e.g., than can transmit information via
wireless technology, for example, from various locations to the one
or more processors 302. The processor may store information
associated with one or more second geo-fencing areas in the storage
device (e.g., 322).
[0032] The processor 302 may aggregate the plurality of first
geo-fencing areas and the one or more second geo-fencing areas into
aggregated geo-fencing area. For instance, geo-fencing area may be
identified based on user's mode of travel, frequency of travel,
time spent, and/or others, e.g., by analyzing historical data
comprising the user's mode of travel, frequency of travel, time
spent, and/or others. Multiple friends may be selected and
aggregated geo-fencing area may be created that include the
geo-fencing areas of the friends or the like.
[0033] The processor 302 may gather content or information
associated with the aggregated geo-fencing area. For example, the
location data of areas in the aggregated geo-fencing area may be
used to search for information associated with those areas, e.g.,
items or services that are available (e.g., for purchase) in those
areas, activities that can be performed in those areas, and/or
others. Content that is presented may include such information,
e.g., advertisements for such information. The information may be
gathered from searching an online network 312, for example, the
Internet, in one embodiment.
[0034] The processor 302 may present the content to one or more
users, for example, at least one of the first user and one or more
second users. The content may be presented on one or more of the
user devices 304, 306, 308, 310, and/or another device.
[0035] In one embodiment, the content may be presented based on one
or more rules, which a user may be allowed to define and modify,
e.g., via a user interface provided on the one or more processors
302. Such user interface may also allow a user to specify one or
more second users with whom to aggregate geo-fencing areas for
presentation of combined content. One or more second users may be
friends or family of the user (e.g., first user). The content or
information may include advertisement, social gathering
opportunities, collaborative assistance, buying opportunities,
selling offers, and/or others. The combined content may help users
and/or advertises to purchase and/or sell a product, item or
service in a collaborative manner.
[0036] In one aspect, a user can also dynamically select different
participating friends, and accordingly aggregated geo-fencing area
can be created. In another aspect, a user can also cluster the
aggregated geo-fencing area based on different parameters, for
example, close friends, family members, project team, etc. Based on
the cluster type, aggregated geo-fencing area may be created. For
example, the first user may be enabled to cluster the aggregated
geo-fencing area based on one or more parameters in one or more
cluster types. Examples of cluster types may include one or more of
friends, family, and project team. The aggregated geo-fencing area
may be created based on the one or more cluster types.
[0037] A set of geo-fencing may be determined dynamically. For
example, geo-fencing areas may be set dynamically, for instance,
changed with time, e.g., time of day or time of week. For example,
User A may be in a routing business and his shift coverage may be
from 9 am-5 pm, and would like to see multiple geo-fencing areas
from his coworkers during his shift coverage. But once User A's
shift (job) is completed, User A may go home and may not be
interested in those geo-fencing areas, but instead would like to
see or utilize family and friends' geo-fencing areas. Thus, a
geo-fencing pattern may vary based on time pattern (e.g., weekday,
week night, and/or weekend).
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of an example computer or
processing system that may implement an aggregated geo-fencing area
based information delivery system in one embodiment of the present
disclosure. The computer system is only one example of a suitable
processing system and is not intended to suggest any limitation as
to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the
methodology described herein. The processing system shown may be
operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose
computing system environments or configurations. Examples of
well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations
that may be suitable for use with the processing system shown in
FIG. 4 may include, but are not limited to, personal computer
systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients,
handheld or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,
microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer
electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computer
systems, and distributed cloud computing environments that include
any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
[0039] The computer system may be described in the general context
of computer system executable instructions, such as program
modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally, program
modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, logic,
data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. The computer system may
be practiced in distributed cloud computing environments where
tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked
through a communications network. In a distributed cloud computing
environment, program modules may be located in both local and
remote computer system storage media including memory storage
devices.
[0040] The components of computer system may include, but are not
limited to, one or more processors or processing units 12, a system
memory 16, and a bus 14 that couples various system components
including system memory 16 to processor 12. The processor 12 may
include a module 10 that performs the methods described herein. The
module 10 may be programmed into the integrated circuits of the
processor 12, or loaded from memory 16, storage device 18, or
network 24 or combinations thereof.
[0041] Bus 14 may represent one or more of any of several types of
bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or
local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of
example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry
Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)
bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards
Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component
Interconnects (PCI) bus.
[0042] Computer system may include a variety of computer system
readable media. Such media may be any available media that is
accessible by computer system, and it may include both volatile and
non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.
[0043] System memory 16 can include computer system readable media
in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM)
and/or cache memory or others. Computer system may further include
other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer
system storage media. By way of example only, storage system 18 can
be provided for reading from and writing to a non-removable,
non-volatile magnetic media (e.g., a "hard drive"). Although not
shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a
removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a "floppy disk"), and
an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable,
non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other
optical media can be provided. In such instances, each can be
connected to bus 14 by one or more data media interfaces.
[0044] Computer system may also communicate with one or more
external devices 26 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a
display 28, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to
interact with computer system; and/or any devices (e.g., network
card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system to communicate with
one or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur
via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 20.
[0045] Still yet, computer system can communicate with one or more
networks 24 such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area
network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via
network adapter 22. As depicted, network adapter 22 communicates
with the other components of computer system via bus 14. It should
be understood that although not shown, other hardware and/or
software components could be used in conjunction with computer
system. Examples include, but are not limited to: microcode, device
drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,
RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems,
etc.
[0046] The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a
computer program product. The computer program product may include
a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer
readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to
carry out aspects of the present invention.
[0047] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible
device that can retain and store instructions for use by an
instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium
may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage
device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an
electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or
any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of
more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium
includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk,
a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable
programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static
random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a
floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or
raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon,
and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable
storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being
transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely
propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves
propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,
light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical
signals transmitted through a wire.
[0048] Computer readable program instructions described herein can
be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a
computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or
external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a
local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network.
The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical
transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,
switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter
card or network interface in each computing/processing device
receives computer readable program instructions from the network
and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage
in a computer readable storage medium within the respective
computing/processing device.
[0049] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out
operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions,
instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine
instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware
instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object
code written in any combination of one or more programming
languages, including an object oriented programming language such
as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or
similar programming languages. The computer readable program
instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on
the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on
the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on
the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote
computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area
network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry
including, for example, programmable logic circuitry,
field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays
(PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by
utilizing state information of the computer readable program
instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to
perform aspects of the present invention.
[0050] Aspects of the present invention are described herein with
reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of
methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products
according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood
that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations
and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable
program instructions.
[0051] These computer readable program instructions may be provided
to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to
produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via
the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing
apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts
specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in
a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a
programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable
storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an
article of manufacture including instructions which implement
aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0052] The computer readable program instructions may also be
loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing
apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps
to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or
other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that
the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable
apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0053] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products
according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this
regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent
a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one
or more executable instructions for implementing the specified
logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in
the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations
of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0054] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and
"the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood
that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0055] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of all means or step plus function elements, if any, in
the claims below are intended to include any structure, material,
or act for performing the function in combination with other
claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the
present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration
and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to
the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and
variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to
enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
* * * * *