System and method for electronic notes in a mobile environment

Abstract

A system and method for handling electronic notes in a mobile environment, wherein the system includes a memory configured to store an electronic note, which electronic note includes location information, a location detector configured to detect location information for the mobile device, and a processor configured to: monitor the location information for the mobile device based on data from the location detector; compare the location information for the mobile device with the location information in the electronic note; and activate the electronic note when the location information for the mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the location information in the electronic note.

1 . A mobile device configured to process electronic notes, comprising:
 a memory configured to store an electronic note and a filter, the electronic note comprises product information identifying a product and the filter sets a minimum level of discounting before the electronic note is activated; and   a processor configured to:
 receive product information and sale information provided by a commerce server, the sale information being updateable by the commerce server when an indication from a merchant is received at the commerce server that the product is discounted from its standard pricing; 
 compare the product information in the electronic note with the product information provided by the commerce server; and 
 activate the electronic note in response to the sale information provided by the commerce server indicating that the product is discounted from its standard pricing by at least the minimum level of discounting set by the filter, when the product information in the electronic note and the product information provided by the commerce server match. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device further comprises a location detector configured to detect location information for the mobile device, wherein the processor is further configured to receive location information provided by the commerce server, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor the location of the mobile device based on data from the location detector, and wherein the processor is further configured to compare the location information for the mobile device with the location information provided by the commerce server to determine whether the electronic note is to be activated. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the location information for the mobile device and the location information provided by the commerce server indicate that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the merchant, before activating the electronic note. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to change at least one of the form or color of the electronic note in response to determining that the location information for the mobile device and the location information provided by the commerce server indicate that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the merchant. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the memory is further configured to store location information detected by the location detector in the memory. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 compare an electronic note received from a different device with the electronic note stored in the memory;   determine if the electronic note received from the different device corresponds to an edited version of the electronic note stored in the memory; and   replace the electronic note stored in the memory with the electronic note received from the different device if the electronic note received from the different device corresponds to the edited version of the electronic note stored in the memory.   
     
     
         7 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the electronic note from a different device, before storing the electronic note in memory. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the electronic note from the different device via e-mail. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to block electronic notes received from the different device unless permitted based an authorized sender list stored on the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the electronic note from the different device via a message management server. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the electronic note from the different device via a mobile note server, wherein the mobile note server is configured to store the electronic note. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic note stored in the memory further comprises a function indicator and a list identifying at least one recipient, and wherein the processor is further configured to, for the electronic note stored in the memory:
 monitor for changes in the electronic note; and   send changes to the electronic note to at least one recipient.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising a signaling device, wherein the processor is configured to activate the signaling device to provide a sensory signal as output at the mobile device when the electronic note is activated. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , further comprising a time detector configured to detect time information for the mobile device, wherein the electronic note stored in the memory further comprises time information, and wherein the processor is further configured to, for the electronic note stored in the memory:
 monitor the time information for the mobile device based on data from the time detector;   compare the time information for the mobile device with the time information in the electronic note; and   determine that the time information of the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the time information in the electronic note before activating the electronic note.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to change at least one of the form or color of the electronic note in response to determining that the time information of the mobile device is within a predetermined range of the time information in the electronic note. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the time information is provided by at least one of a clock, or a timing signal from an external source. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the memory is further configured to store location information provided by the commerce server in the memory. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive location information from a different device, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
 compare location information received from the different device with location information provided by the commerce server stored in the memory;   determine if the location information received from the different device corresponds to an updated version of stored location information; and   replace the stored location information with the received location information if the received location information corresponds to an updated version of the stored location information.   
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to poll a server for at least one of location information or product information. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive user input comprising information for the electronic note. 
     
     
         21 . The mobile device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the electronic note stored in the memory to a recipient.