WO2014068469A1

WO2014068469A1 - Method and system for generating location based trigger

Info

Publication number: WO2014068469A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/059714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sriram Kannan
Original assignee: Sriram Kannan
Priority date: 2012-10-30
Filing date: 2013-10-28
Publication date: 2014-05-08

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating location based trigger that involves identifying the location of a particular device and then, based on the location, setting off one or more trigger responses. In one embodiment, the device being located is a location tracking device such as GPS, while in another embodiment, the device is a mobile communication device. The trigger is arrived at based on at least one rule, wherein the at least one rule resides in a location intelligence interface. The invention also provides a tool and a software program product that uses the method of the invention as described herein. Further, the invention provides a system that is based on the method and tool of the invention.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING LOCATION BASED TRIGGER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND USE OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to a method for generating location based triggers and more specifically to generating location based triggers wherein the location is of a locator device or a mobile communication device.

PRIOR ART AND PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

[0002] Location tracking devices such as GPS-based tracking devices and the like are common for determining the location of a given object or a person. Mobile communication devices are further being equipped with position determining systems and corresponding algorithms and software. Consequently, the position of a person is determined in a facile manner by determining the position of the corresponding mobile communication device. PCT/IB2011/053464 describes one useful method of determining the position of a mobile communication device in an accurate manner. Other methods of determining the location of a mobile communication device are also known in the art. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Based on a given position of a mobile communication device or a person or an object such as a location-tracking device, several other actions need to be taken by several other people. Consequently, informing one or more people through suitable communication means, or initiating action sequences based on the exact location of the mobile communication device or location tracking device is a dire need in the art.

[0004] The principal object of the invention is to provide a method for generating a location-based trigger for a device.

[0005] Other objects of the invention include a tool, a software product program, and a system as descried herein further to use the method for generating the location-based trigger for the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect, the invention provides a method for generating a location-based trigger for a device. The method comprises providing a location intelligence interface that contains a plurality of rules. The method also includes determining a location of the device. Exemplary devices useful in the invention include a mobile communication device, a location tracking device based on GPS tracking, and the like, and combinations thereof. The method then includes identifying at least one rule from the location intelligence interface based on at least one of the device, the location of the device or combinations thereof. Subsequently, the method involves generating at least one trigger for the device based on the at least one rule and the location of the selected device.

[0007] In another aspect, the invention provides a tool that uses the method of the invention as described herein. [0008] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a software program product comprising instructions for the method steps of the invention as described herein.

[0009] In a further aspect, the invention provides a system for generating location based trigger for a device. The system of the invention comprises a location intelligence interface comprising a plurality of rules for the device; a location identifying module for transmitting a location of the device to the location intelligence interface; and a client interface for tracking the device and for generating at least one trigger based on at least one rule from the plurality of rules.

DRAWINGS

[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of exemplary steps involved in the method of the invention; [0012] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary situation involving a mobile communication device traversing through a route; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagrammatic representation of the system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0015] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a",

"an", and "the" encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0016] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

[0017] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. [0018] As used herein, Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation system which provides information on location and time of a person or an object anywhere on or near earth. The location from a GPS is made available in the form of co-ordinates. These co-ordinates may be represented similar to a three dimensional Cartesian co-ordinate system i.e. (x,y,z). Further, altitude or depth information may also be made available using GPS relative to sea level. Alternately, GPS co-ordinates may be represented in the form of latitude and longitude based on an angular coordinate system where degrees of latitude and longitude measure the angle between a location and the reference line, namely the equator for latitude and the prime meridian for longitude. Other forms of representations of position and time information will become known to those skilled in the art, and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. It is useful for tracking any moving or stationary object. It typically makes use of a separate device that is capable of giving GPS related information. Alternately, some mobile communication devices are equipped with GPS functions.

[0019] As used herein, mobile communication device means an electronic device that is capable of two-way communication over a cellular network. Communication may be voice-based, or may be limited to only sending and receiving short message services (SMS), multi-media message service (MMS), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and the like, and combinations thereof. The mobile communication device is also capable of wide range of functions, such as storing phone numbers, address books, calendars, displaying time and date, alarm functions, web browsing, etc. The capabilities and capacities of a given mobile communication device depends on the make and model of the device. Some of the functions may require permissions from cellular operator, and may operate through the cellular network tower, while others are independent of the cellular operator and cellular network tower, and are entirely user defined and controlled.

[0020] A cellular network is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver known as a cell site. The cellular network is operated by a cellular operator, and for a mobile communication device to function, permission has to be obtained from the cellular operator in the form of subscriptions. One of ordinary skill in the art will be aware that more than one cellular operators can operate in an area. Typically, a mobile communication device is associated with a single cellular operator, however, subscription from more than one cellular operator is also possible. As used herein, user is a person in possession of and using a mobile communication device.

[0021] Each cellular network tower is identified by a unique identifier. In one exemplary embodiment, the unique identifier for a cellular network tower comprises four components: MCC, MNC, LAC, CID, wherein MCC stands for a country code, MNC stands for a cellular network code, LAC stands for a location area code, and CID stands for the cellular network tower's unique ID. Other forms of unique identifiers for a cellular network tower are also known, and use of this identifier is contemplated within the scope of the invention. On some mobile communication devices, it is possible to programmatically query the unique identifier of a cellular network tower to which the mobile communication device is communicating with at any point in time. Knowing the unique identifier of the cellular network tower, it is possible for the user of the mobile communication device to find out the location of the cellular network tower in one of the following methods: in one method, based on information provided by cellular operator to which the cellular network tower belongs; alternately, in another method a short string representing the location of the cellular network tower is typically sent to the mobile phone through a special mechanism called the cell broadcast service (CBS), which string is capable of being read on some mobile communication devices through the use of appropriate programs. [0022] The number of cellular network towers in a given area of region is determined by a cellular operator. The considerations for the number of cellular network towers may include for example, the number of users in a given area, the nearest next available cellular network tower, the volume of calls faced by a cellular network tower, and the like. A mobile communication device at any given location may be within the vicinity of one or more than one cellular network towers. But only one cellular network tower will actually be in contact with the mobile communication device at a given point of time. While stationary or in motion, the mobile communication device will be transferred from one cellular network tower to another cellular network tower based on a variety of considerations, such as signal strength, volume of calls, and the like. The transfer is achieved through a process commonly known in the art as "handing over" or "handing off." The transfer of mobile communication device from one cellular network to the other is referred as tower transition.

[0023] In one aspect, the invention provides a method for generating a location based trigger for a device. Fig. 1 is a flowchart representation of the method of the invention comprising exemplary steps, wherein the method is generally depicted by the numeral 10. The method comprises providing a location intelligence interface depicted by numeral 12 in Fig. 1. The location intelligence interface comprises a plurality of rules and a corresponding set of triggers associated with the plurality of rules. Exemplary rules include location of a mobile communication device, change of status of the location tracking device from stationary to movement, and the like, and combinations thereof. A series of one or more triggers based on different environments in which the device is deployed may be associated with each of the rules in the location intelligence interface. The environment referred herein may be a personal environment where the rules and triggers are designed for personal needs of a user of the method, or it may be a business or social environment. One skilled in the art will recognize that the plurality of rules and the corresponding triggers may be present on a programmable chip such as an EPROM, or may be present in a remote location such as a server computer. The mobile communication device may be a passive device reacting to a given situation and providing outputs such as, but not limited to, reached a particular location, or remained static between three cellular network towers, etc., in which case the action items related to the triggers and rules may be effected from a remote location, such as a server through an application programming interface (sometimes abbreviated in the art as API). Alternately, the mobile communication device itself is capable of taking actions related to the rules and the trigger as described herein. [0024] One skilled in the art will also be able to extend the invention to a situation wherein the rules and triggers may be in relation to more than one independent mobile communication devices. In one exemplary embodiment, a rule involving the relative locations of Person A and Person B as determined by the mobile communication devices may be made available (such as for example, within a particular distance like 1 kilometer of each other) and a suitable trigger may be deployed, such as send a short messaging service to both of them. Other variations and embodiments will become obvious to one skilled in the art, and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

[0025] One skilled in the art will also be capable of extending the invention to tracking multiple triggers. These triggers may be occurring simultaneously or at different time points. The relationship between multiple triggers may be understood at the API or the server based on some predefined logic, or alternately may be manually identified. These interrelated triggers may then be used for further processing, providing other triggers, and the like, and combinations thereof. [0026] The method then includes determining a location of a device, shown in Fig. 1 by numeral 14. Exemplary devices useful in the invention include a mobile communication device, a location tracking device based on GPS tracking, devices comprising Bluetooth, infrared, and wireless networking capability, and the like, and combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the device useful in the invention is a mobile communication device. A useful method for determining location of the device includes the use of GPS coordinates.

[0027] Another useful method of determining the location is based on cellular tower transition data (also sometimes herein referred to as tower transition data), which is described in co-pending application PCT/IB2011/053464. In an exemplary embodiment, when a mobile communication device is allowed to traverse through two separate and distinct paths between the same starting and ending points, then two different sets of GPS coordinates will be obtained for each path taken, for example, the exemplary coordinates gl, g2, g3 and g4 for the first path and exemplary coordinates g5, g6 and g7 for the second path. Thus, as can be seen, a single cellular network tower may be associated with a plurality of GPS coordinates, and also a plurality of sequence of GPS coordinates depending on the route taken by the mobile communication device. For purposes of illustration and explanation, a mobile communication device has been described to be in contact with a single cellular network tower. However, one skilled in the art will recognize at a given location, a mobile communication device may be in contact with more than one cellular network tower over a period of time. The handing off from one cellular network tower to another cellular network tower occurs on the basis of several factors that may include, for example, call volume, proximity of the mobile communication device to the cellular network tower, and the like, and combinations thereof.

[0028] In another exemplary embodiment, when a mobile communication device traverses along a path, it comes into contact with a first cellular network tower and the associated GPS coordinates g8, g9, and glO are recorded. Fig. 2 provides a graphical illustration of the situation described herein, wherein the path is denoted by numeral 20, the GPS coordinates g8, g9 and glO are denoted by numeral 22 and the first cellular network tower is depicted by numeral 24. Then, while still in motion, the mobile communication device then passes through a region which overlaps with the first cellular network tower 24 and a second cellular network tower 26, and the GPS coordinate gl l is recorded, which is depicted by numeral 28 in Fig. 2. Subsequently, as the mobile communication device traverses into the region covered by the second cellular network tower, the GPS coordinates gl2, gl3 and gl4 are recorded, as shown in Fig. 2 by numeral 30. Depending on the exact conditions prevalent at a given region, the GPS coordinate gl l may be associated with either the first cellular network tower or the second cellular network tower. The exact cellular network tower identity may be easily determined without undue experimentation by one of ordinary skill in the art. The movement from one location to another causing a change from a first cellular network tower to the second cellular network tower associated with the mobile communication device is referred to herein as transition.

[0029] As used herein, a gchain is a sequence of GPS coordinates associated with a cellular network tower transition. The gchain associated with a tower transition from towerl to tower2 consists of a ghead which is the first GPS coordinate while in contact with towerl in the sequence of GPS coordinates associated with the cellular network tower transition to tower2, and gtail which is the last GPS coordinate just before getting into contact with tower2, in that sequence. It is possible for a cellular network tower to have more than one gchain as the area covered by a cellular network tower will have multiple regions and thus covering several possible pathways. It is also possible for the same tower transition to have multiple distinct gchains associated, as the same two towers could potentially be visited in sequence on a totally different path nearby that is nearby. As used herein, a gcloud comprises all the gchain's that are covered by a single cellular network tower. Table 1 gives an exemplary manner of recording cellular network tower IDs and associated GPS coordinates in a suitable manner for the situation shown in Fig. 2. Such a representation of data is referred to herein as Towers Table.

Table 1

[0030] Other relevant data may also be recorded as part of the mapped data, and this may include, for example, time spent at each GPS coordinate, and/or the mode of travel involved during capture of this transition, such as for example "highway", "main road", "cross lane", "railway line" etc. The time associated with each cellular network tower, when recorded, is called "location packet". Location packet may be recorded as time in the form of hours, minutes and seconds in a particular time zone associated with each cellular network tower. Alternately, location packet may be recorded as time elapsed from a predefined starting point for each cellular network tower. The predefined starting point may be a variety of trigger events, such as, but not limited to, start of a journey, start of a particular job, or any other event. Thus, location packet may be recorded as seconds elapsed, minutes, or hours elapsed from the trigger event for each cellular network tower.

[0031] Exemplary steps for generating cellular tower transition data include receiving at least two cellular network tower identity (ID), receiving at least one GPS coordinate for each cellular network tower ID periodically, identifying a head GPS coordinate and a tail GPS coordinate associated with at least one pair of cellular network tower IDs to generate tower transition data. The cellular network tower ID and the at least one GPS coordinate may be made available from a mobile communication device, or may be made available from two or more devices. The periodicity of receiving the at least one GPS coordinate depends on various factors, and may be, in one exemplary embodiment, 10 seconds, and in another exemplary embodiment, every 1 second, and in yet another exemplary embodiment, every 1 minute. These steps may be repeated throughout the course of traversing by the mobile communication device. Thus, a set of GPS coordinates associated with a series of pairs of cellular network tower IDs may be obtained. Tower transition data may be represented in various ways. In one embodiment, the tower transition data is in a tabular form. Other forms of data representation may include graphical representation, in a text form, a comma separated value (csv) form, and the like, and combinations thereof. The tower transition data may then be stored in a suitable electronic form, such a text file ASCII file, and the like. Table 2 provides an example of how a tabular form of tower transition data based on the exemplary embodiment.

Table 2

[0032] For the data given in Table 2, the head GPS coordinate of Transition ID TRl is g8 (the first coordinate associated with the first cellular network tower ID in the pair of cellular network towers) and the tail GPS coordinate of Transition ID TRl is gl l. Other relevant data may also be recorded as part of the mapped data, and this may include, for example, location packet, nature of path (railway line, highway, cross street, .etc.), mode of transportation undertaken (train, bus, car, etc.), time of transition (which may include details such as hours, minutes, seconds, time zone), date of transition and the like, and combinations thereof.

[0033] As can be seen in Table 2, the direction of travel will also determine the sequence of gchains associated with the transition. Thus, the gchain associated with the transition TRl for travel from Tower ID Tl to Tower ID T2 is different from the gchain associated with the transition TR2 in the reverse direction from Tower ID T2 to Tower ID Tl.

[0034] One skilled in the art will also understand that the towers data and tower transition data may be constantly updated with new information that is made available. Thus, for example, in one path traversed by a mobile communication device, the cellular network tower ID associated with the path is T20, and the gchain includes glOO, glOl and gl02; while in another path traversed by another mobile communication device, the cellular network tower ID is T20, but the gchain includes g50, g51, g52 and g53; then the gcloud is updated to include all the gchains to associate with the cellular network tower ID. In a similar manner, the tower transition data is also updated to include any and all transitions between two cellular network tower IDs.

[0035] Turning to Fig. 1 again, the method then comprises identifying at least one rule from the location intelligence interface, shown in Fig. 1 by numeral 16. The identifying of the rule is generally based on at least one of the device, the location of the device or combinations thereof. An exemplary rule may include "identify all known locations in vicinity", "identify any known wireless networking point", "identify a nearest bus-stop", "identify another known device", "identify closest restaurants", "identify customer sites in the vicinity" and so on.

[0036] Subsequently, the method involves generating at least one trigger for the device based on the at least one rule and the location of the selected device, represented by numeral 18 in Fig. 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the trigger is sent to a mobile communication device. Triggers include at least one of short messaging service, an electronic mail, a chat message, a sound based alarm, a visual based alarm, a callback into another application server connected to the location intelligence API server, and the like, and combinations thereof. The mobile communication device may be the same device involved in the traversing, or may be a different mobile communication device. In an exemplary situation where a friend wants to be alerted to the presence of a person's in the vicinity, the method of the invention is particularly useful in alerting the friend of such event. Similarly, a parent can be automatically alerted to a child's presence in a certain predefined region. In another exemplary use case scenario, a manager of a sales team may become aware of the time spent by each particular sales personnel at a client's location. In another exemplary embodiment, traffic congestion may be deduced with the knowledge of the number of mobile phones beyond a certain threshold and moving at a speed between a bounding lower and a higher speed limit within a particular segment of a road. Each of these use case scenarios has its own motivations and further uses, such as plotting sales team's travel time versus client face time, and so on. Several other use cases will become apparent to one skilled in the art and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Thus, the method of the invention also comprises performing analytics based on the at least one trigger, the location of the device, the at least one rule, and so on, and combinations thereof.

[0037] The method of the invention may be advantageously implemented as a set of executable instructions for an algorithm using a suitable computing device. Such computing device may range from, for example, a computer, a tablet, a mobile communications device, and the like. Thus, other additional features and interfaces necessary for implementation of the method of the invention will become obvious to one skilled in the art, and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

[0038] In one embodiment, a client interface for selecting the at least one trigger is included in the implementation of the method of the invention. The client interface may be in the form of a communication sent to the location intelligence interface, such as a short messaging service or an email. Alternately, client interface may include a graphical user interface used to login to a system comprising the instructions to execute the algorithm. Thus in an exemplary embodiment, the client interface is used to send a client query to the location intelligence interface. The location intelligence interface is configured for sending an approval response to the client query to the client interface, wherein the approval is based on a device permission obtained for the device. Once an approval is received in response to the client query, the person making the request through the client interface is then allowed to track the device through the location intelligence interface, and will then become privy to the alerts and other triggers associated with the device, the location of the device, and so on, and combinations thereof. The nature of query may vary depending on the person making the request and the device being tracked, and generally includes a device tracking query. Device tracking query may include at least one of finding location, delay alerts, movement alerts, or setting destination etc. and combination thereof. [0039] Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a tool that uses the method of the invention as described herein.

[0040] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a software program product comprising instructions for the method steps of the invention as described herein. In such instances, the software program product may be implemented using a computing device of suitable configuration, wherein the configuration is defined by parameters such as, but not limited to, processor speed, RAM space, storage drive memory space, storage space memory speed, and the like, and combinations thereof. The software program product may also implemented as a downloadable program from a suitable location, such as a compact disc, a flash drive, a website, and the like. Suitable authorizations may also be made part of the usage of the software program, and may include various levels of use, such as, but not limited to, administrator, guest, manager, and the like. The software program may be enabled in the presence of a dongle. Many other variations will become obvious to one skilled in the art, and is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.

[0041] In a further aspect, the invention provides a system for generating location based trigger. Fig. 3 is a block diagrammatic representation of the system of the invention, which is depicted by numeral 32. The system of the invention comprises a location intelligence interface 34, which in turn comprises a plurality of rules for a device. The system 32 then comprises a location identifying module 36 for transmitting a location of the device to the location intelligence interface. The location identification module may be a dedicated location tracking device such as a GPS device or a mobile communication device whose position may be determined using the methods described herein. The system also comprises a client interface 38 for tracking the device and for generating at least one trigger based on at least one rule from the plurality of rules as already described herein. Other configurations will become obvious to one skilled in the art. Further, other modules such as output module and display module may be part of the system of the invention as appropriate, to display the output in a suitable manner, such as the path traversed by the mobile communication device in a graphical form.

[0042] Since mobile communication devices are very commonly available, with nearly every person carrying one on their person at all times, it is advantageous to track a person's location by tracking their personal mobile communication device. The invention provided herein uses this feature effectively, with its implementation also being cost effective, facile and extremely useful. The invention has a wide variety of uses. The manner of communication allows for unobtrusive tracking of a mobile communication device by an authorized third party. Also, certain actions by the mobile communication device may trigger some actions. This may include, for example, when a mobile communication device leaves a certain location or reaches a particular location, an alert could be effected to, for example, an authorized third party. The tracking itself may be effected by any of several means, and may include, a text message of an instant location to an authorized mobile communication device, a multimedia message of a graphical representation of path taken to an authorized mobile communication device, a text of various locations within a time period to a computer screen, locations overlaid on an existing map made available from a third party source, and the like.

[0043] Several use case scenarios are enabled by the invention. For example, a parent can track a child's movement, and become aware when the child is close to home, through for example, a text message received when the child reaches a particular location. In an alternate use case scenario, a manager can track a sales personnel as to the visits made, and the time spent at each sales visit location. In yet another situation, the location of a truck driver moving goods over long distances may be determined at any point using the method and the system of the invention. In yet another situation, a merchant offering deals and offers at a specific outlet, may gain knowledge about the presence of a particular user within vicinity (after prior approval and willingness to receive such offers and deals by the user in the first place), and thereby use an appropriate communication channel such as SMS or a mobile application to notify the user about the deals and offers. Further variations such as enabling of determination of path traversed only during working hours, and disabling of determination of path traversed during off-school hours, and the like, are also enabled using the method and system of the invention. The determination of path traversed and the location of the mobile communication device, and hence, its owner, is achieved in a completely unobtrusive manner, without involving the owner of the mobile communication device, thus ensuring that the owner is not distracted from the task they are currently involved in, such as driving. The path traversed by a mobile communication device as determined by the method of the invention requires less infrastructure in terms of equipment and instrument, (in most cases, only a mobile communication device is sufficient to obtain data for processing, and sufficient processing is also possible in several mobile communication device that are commercially available) and is still generally found to be more accurate than any of the other known methods in the art. Thus, the method and the system of the invention allows for very inexpensive and unobtrusive tracking of a user of a mobile communication device with a high degree of accuracy.

[0044] In yet another embodiment illustrating an exemplary use-case scenario for the method and the system of the invention, the location of the mobile communication device may further be estimated more accurately using other auxiliary components. For example, using a mobile communication device comprising a WiFi device (a wireless communicating device), if the location of the mobile communication device based on the at least one most probable transitions is found to be a known location such as 'home', then the WiFi connectivity to an existing known WiFi router at 'home' can be checked for. If the WiFi device on the mobile communication device can lock onto the WiFi router signal, then the location of the mobile communication device is ascertained to be 'home' . If the WiFi device cannot read a signal from the WiFi router, then the location can further be pinpointed to be 'close to home'.

[0045] In a further exemplary use-case scenario, the WiFi device in a mobile communication device may be turned off until the location is estimated to be at a pre-defined location, such as 'home', 'office', etc. where such locations are known to have WiFi connections. Other devices in the mobile communication device, such as Bluetooth, GPS receiver, and the like, may also be turned off and on depending on the location. This will save the battery life on the mobile communication device, thus extending its use life immensely. [0046] While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A method for generating a location based trigger for a device, wherein the method comprises: providing a location intelligence interface, wherein the location intelligence interface comprises a plurality of rules; determining a location of the device; identifying at least one rule from the plurality of rules based on at least one of the device, the location of the device or combinations thereof; and generating at least one trigger for the device based on the at least one rule and the location of the selected device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one trigger is sent to a mobile communications device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile communications device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the location is by using GPS coordinates.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger is at least one of short messaging service, an electronic mail, a chat message, a sound based alarm, a visual based alarm, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location intelligence interface comprises a plurality of rules and corresponding triggers.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the location intelligence interface resides on a server external to the device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the location intelligence interface is provided through at least one of a user interface, an application programming interface or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a client interface for selecting the at least one trigger.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing one or more analytics based on the at least one rule, the at least one trigger, the location of the device, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining of the location is based on cellular tower transition data.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the client interface sends a client query to the location intelligence interface, and wherein the location intelligence interface is configured for sending an approval response to the client query to the client interface, wherein the approval is based on a device permission obtained for the device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the client query is a permission to track the device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the client interface is used to send a device tracking query.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the device tracking query is at least one of finding location, delay alerts, movement alerts, or setting destination or combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one rule is based on the tracking query, and the intelligence location interface processes the data representative of the location of the device based on the at least one rule and the tracking query to generate a response for the query.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising sending the response to the client interface.

18. A tool that uses the method of claim 1.

19. A software program product comprising instructions for: providing a location intelligence interface; determining a location of a device; identifying at least one rule from the location intelligence interface based on at least one of the device, the location of the device or combinations thereof; and generating at least one trigger for the device based on the at least one rule and the location of the selected device.

20. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the at least one trigger is sent to a mobile communications device.

21. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the device is a mobile communications device.

22. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the determining the location is by using GPS coordinates.

23. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the trigger is at least one of short messaging service, an electronic mail, a chat message, a sound based alarm, a visual based alarm, or combinations thereof.

24. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the location intelligence interface comprises a plurality of rules and corresponding triggers.

25. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the location intelligence interface resides on a server external to the device.

26. The software program product of claim 19 further comprising a client interface for selecting the at least one trigger.

27. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the location intelligence interface is provided through at least one of a user interface, application programming interface, or combinations thereof.

28. The software program product of claim 19 further comprising performing one or more analytics based on the at least one rule, the at least one trigger, the location of the device, or combinations thereof.

29. The software program product of claim 19 wherein the determining of the location is based on cellular tower transition data.

30. A system for generating location based trigger, wherein the system comprises: a location intelligence interface comprising a plurality of rules for a device; a location identifying module for transmitting a location of the device to the location intelligence interface; and a client interface for tracking the device and for generating at least one trigger based on at least one rule from the plurality of rules.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the device is a dedicated location device.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the device is a mobile communications device.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the at least one trigger is sent to a mobile communication device.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the location intelligence interface is provided through at least one of a user interface, an application programming interface, or combinations thereof.