Interactive to-do list item notification system including GPS interface

A mobile user terminal comprising:

• a user input for entering a to-do list, each item on the to-do list being associated with a performance location;
• a memory coupled to the user input for storing the to-do list and the performance location of each of the items, the memory further storing a status indication for each to-do list item;
• a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals;
• a processor coupled to the GPS receiver and the memory for determining a current location of the mobile user terminal based on the GPS signals, the processor further comparing the current position of the mobile user terminal with the performance location of a to-do list item and updating the status indication for the to-do list item in response to a user command;
• and
• a display screen for displaying a notification when a proximity criteria of the to-do list item has been satisfied;
• wherein the memory stores one or more user identifiers with a to-do list item, each user identifier corresponding to a user sharing the to-do list item, and wherein the processor, after receiving a confirmation message for a to-do list item from a particular user with a user identifier associated with the to-do list item, retrieves other user identifiers associated with the confirmed to-do list item from the memory and transmits an update status message of the to-do list item to the other users associated with the other user identifiers, the update status message excluding other users from further notification of the confirmed to-do list item.

In a computer network enabling communication between a host computer having a database and a plurality of user mobile terminals, a method for providing electronic notifications of a to-do list item, the method comprising:

• downloading the to-do list to the mobile user terminal from the host computer, each item on the to-do list being associated with a performance location and one or more user identifiers, each user identifier corresponding to a user sharing the to-do list item;
• automatically detecting a current position of the mobile user terminal;
• comparing the current position of the mobile user terminal with the performance location of a to-do list item;
• electronically notifying the user when a proximity criteria of the to-do list item has been satisfied;
• transmitting a confirmation message for the to-do list item to the host computer upon receipt of the notification;
• retrieving the user identifiers associated with the confirmed to-do list item;
• and
• transmitting an update status message of the to-do list item to the users associated with the retrieved user identifiers, the update status message excluding the users who did not transmit the confirmation from further notification of the confirmed to-do list item.

A system for providing electronic notifications of a to-do list item, the system comprising:

• a host computer comprising:
• an input means for entering the to-do list, each item on the to-do list being associated with a performance location and one or more user identifiers, each user identifier corresponding to a user sharing the to-do list item;
• a first database means coupled to the input means for storing the to-do list and the performance location and user identifiers associated with each of the items;
• a second database means coupled to the input means for storing a location database having a plurality of performance location entries, each entry mapping a performance location to a performance address;
• a first processor coupled to the first and second database means for converting the performance location of an item on the to-do list to a performance address;
• and
• a first communication means coupled to the first processor for transmitting the to-do list and the performance addresses;
• a plurality of mobile user terminals in communication with the host computer, each user mobile terminal comprising:
• a second communication means for downloading the to-do list and the performance addresses from the host computer;
• a memory coupled to the second communication means for downloading the to-do list and the performance addresses;
• a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals;
• a second processor coupled to the GPS receiver and the memory for determining a current location of the mobile user terminal based on the GPS signals, the second processor further comparing the current position of the mobile user terminal with the performance address of a to-do list item;
• and
• a display screen for displaying a notification when a proximity criteria of the to-do list item has been satisfied.