Automated generation of context information

Abstract

A method includes determining geographic coordinates of a plurality of entities, the plurality of entities including a first set of entities that have each been associated with a respective context information item and a second set of entities that have each not been associated with a respective context information item. The geographic coordinates of the first set of entities are used to identify geographic coordinates located within a first geographic area associated with a first context information item. The geographic coordinates of the second set of the entities are used to identify a first entity of the second set of entities that is located within the first graphic area associated with the first context information item. The first entity is associated with the first context information item.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system, according to an example embodiment, to automatically generate context information for an entity, represented by a data entity such a business object

FIG. 2 is an entity relationship diagram illustrating tables that may be included within the business object database, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an example embodiment, to automatically associate context information with entity information.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, illustrating an example identification of geographic coordinates within a coverage area associated with a cellular identifier.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an example embodiment, to utilize location-enhanced entity data to deliver services or increase functionality provided to a mobile application client.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram further illustrating contents of various communications (e.g. messages) that may be communicated between the mobile application client and the application server, in one example embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the example form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed.

Claims

1. A method comprising: determining geographic coordinates of a plurality of entities, the plurality of entities including a first set of entities that have each been associated with a respective context information item and a second set of entities that have each not been associated with a respective context information item;utilizing the geographic coordinates of the first set of entities, identifying geographic coordinates located within a first geographic area associated with a first context information item;utilizing the geographic coordinates of the second set of the entities, identifying a first entity of the second set of entities that is located within the first geographic area associated with the first context information item; andassociating the first entity with the first context information item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of entities comprises a plurality of business objects, the first context information item comprises a first cellular identifier, and the first geographic area is located within a first cellular coverage area.

3. The method of claim 1, including: receiving, at an application server, context information items associated with the first set of entities from mobile devices connected through a mobile communications network to the application server; andassociating the context information items with the first set of entities responsive to the receipt thereof by the application server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the geographic coordinates of the plurality of entities includes: communicating address information for each of the plurality of entities to a geographic coordinates service; andreceiving the geographic coordinates from the geographic coordinates service.

5. The method of claim 4, the geographic coordinates are Global Positioning Service (GPS) coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the geographic coordinates located within a first geographic area includes: geometrically identifying the geographic coordinates located within the first geographic area.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the geometric identification of the geographic coordinates located within the first geographic area includes: calculating a polygon, defining the first geographic area, utilizing the geographic coordinates of at least three entities of the first set of entities.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification of the first entity of the second set of entities that is located within the first geographic area includes: comparing geographic coordinates of the first entity to the geographic area defined by the polygon; anddetermining that the geographic coordinates of the first entity are located within the first geographic area defined by the polygon.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the first entity is performed responsive to an assignment of a context information item to a entity of the first set of entities.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the first entity is performed responsive to the assignment of more than a threshold number of context information items to entities of the first set of entities.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identification of the first entity is performed on a periodic basis.

12. The method of claim 1, including: receiving a target context information item in association with an information request from a mobile client application executing on a mobile device;identifying entities of the plurality of entities that are associated with the target context information item; andprocessing the identified entities for communication to the mobile client application.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing of the identified entities includes selecting the identified entities for communication to the mobile client application.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing of the identified entities includes prioritizing the identified entities for utilization by the mobile client application.

15. A system comprising: a business application server to host a business applicationa database to store a plurality of business objects of the business application;a geographic coordinates determination module to determine geographic coordinates of the plurality of business objects, the plurality of business objects including a first set of business objects each associated with a respective cellular identifier and a second set of business objects each not associated with a respective cellular identifier; anda cellular identifier assignment module to: determine geographic coordinates located within a first cellular coverage area associated with a first cellular identifier, utilizing the geographic coordinates of the first set of business objectsidentify a first business object of the second set of business objects that is located within the first cellular coverage area associated with the first cellular identifier, utilizing the geographic coordinates of the second set of the business objects; andassociate the first business object with the first cellular identifier.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the cellular identifier assignment module is to receive cellular identifiers associated with the first set of business objects from mobile devices connected through a cellular network to the business application server, and to associate the cellular identifiers with the first set of business objects.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the geographic coordinates determination module is to: provide address information for at least one of the plurality of business objects to a geographic coordinates service; andreceive geographic coordinates for the at least one of the plurality of business objects from the geographic coordinates service.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the geographic coordinates are Global Positioning Service (GPS) coordinates.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the cellular identification assignment module is to geometrically identify the geographic coordinates located within the first cellular coverage area.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the cellular identification assignment module is to calculate a polygon, defining an included geographic area that is within the first cellular coverage area, utilizing the geographic coordinates of at least three business objects of the first set of business objects.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the cellular identification assignment module is to compare geographic coordinates of the first business object to the included geographic area defined by the polygon, and to determine that the geographic coordinates of the first business object are located within the included geographic area defined by the polygon.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the business application includes a business object localization module to: receive a target cellular identifier in association with an information request from a mobile client application executing on a mobile device;identify business objects of the plurality of business objects that are associated with the target cellular identifier; andprocess the identified business objects for communication to the mobile client application.

23. A system comprising: first means for determining geographic coordinates of a plurality of entities, the plurality of entities including a first set of entities that have each been associated with a respective context information item and a second set of entities that have each not been associated with a respective context information item;second means, utilizing the geographic coordinates of the first set of entities, for identifying geographic coordinates located within a first geographic area associated with a first context information item; andthird means, utilizing the geographic coordinates of the second set of the entities, for identifying a first entity of the second set of entities that is located within the first geographic area associated with the first context information item, and for associating the first entity with the first context information item.

24. A machine-readable medium having instructions, that when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method including: determining geographic coordinates of a plurality of entities, the plurality of entities including a first set of entities that have each been associated with a respective context information item and a second set of entities that have each not been associated with a respective context information item;utilizing the geographic coordinates of the first set of entities, identifying geographic coordinates located within a first geographic area associated with a first context information item;utilizing the geographic coordinates of the second set of the entities, identifying a first entity of the second set of entities that is located within the first geographic area associated with the first context information item; andassociating the first entity with the first context information item.