Location-dependent, server side macro method, apparatus and computer readable medium

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of managing computer macros is disclosed. The method includes storing code for a computer macro at an internet-accessible hosted computer system and associating the stored code with a user account on the hosted computer system. The method also includes automatically identifying with the hosted computer system, independent of whether a user associated with the user account is currently active on the hosted computer system, a triggering event that is defined as being directed to the macro. Furthermore, the method includes executing the macro using an application running on the hosted computer system to generate macro results, and storing the macro results on the hosted computer system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 storing a computer macro at an internet-accessible hosted computer system;   associating the computer macro with a plurality of different user accounts registered with the hosted computer system;   receiving location information indicating locations of mobile devices respectively associated with the user accounts; and   executing the computer macro in response to the location information of at least one mobile device associated with a first one of the user accounts.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 ,
 said executing step executing the computer macro in response to the location information of a plurality of mobile devices respectively associated with the user accounts.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking an external event external to the hosted computer system to determine occurrence of a triggering event;   said executing step executing the computer macro in response to a combination of the location information and occurrence of the triggering event.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 tracking a plurality of external events external to the hosted computer system to determine occurrence of triggering events;   said executing step executing the computer macro in response to a combination of the location information and occurrence of a combination of the triggering events.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing execution results of the computer macro to at least one receiving user associated with the different user accounts.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 5 , said providing step using a communication method chosen according to the location information of the receiving user. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an internet-accessible hosted computer system including one or more processing devices and one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to:   store a computer macro at the internet-accessible hosted computer system;   associate the computer macro with a plurality of different user accounts registered with the hosted computer system;   receive location information indicating locations of mobile devices respectively associated with the user accounts; and   execute the computer macro in response to the location information of at least one mobile device associated with a first one of the user accounts.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method according to  claim 7 , said executing step executing the computer macro in response to the location information of a plurality of mobile devices respectively associated with the user accounts. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to:
 track an external event external to the hosted computer system to determine occurrence of a triggering event;   said executing step executing the computer macro in response to a combination of the location information and occurrence of the triggering event.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to:
 track a plurality of external events external to the hosted computer system to determine occurrence of triggering events;   said executing step executing the computer macro in response to a combination of the location information and occurrence of a combination of the triggering events.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising the one or more storage devices storing instructions, that when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices additionally to:
 provide execution results of the computer macro to at least one receiving user associated with the different user accounts.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , said providing step using a communication method chosen according to the location information of the receiving user. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing one or more processors and/or memory to perform the method according to  claim 1 .