A wireless PDA device with proximity detection includes a trigger for
implementing a reminder alert to a user of a wireless PDA device based on
the proximity of another wireless PDA device. The proximity detection may
be accomplished by actual knowledge of proximity (e.g., using appropriate
GPS detection and reporting to a centralized location), or more
preferably inferred using the short range capability of wireless networks
such as a piconet network by comparing the members of a current piconet
network (presumed to be within the range of the relevant wireless PDA
device). In a disclosed embodiment, an intelligent reminder table is
implemented for use by an appropriate reminder application running on a
wireless PDA device. The reminder table includes a proximity alert
election on an entry-by-entry basis, and automatic reminder canceling
based on proximity detection of another wireless PDA device relevant to
the reminder. Example proximity alerts include reminding the user to wish
a person happy birthday the next time they see them (i.e., the next time
that the other person is proximate to the relevant PDA user). The
intelligent reminder table also provides for the automatic cancellation
of a reminder when the reminder relates to a meeting with the other PDA
user detected as being proximate to the relevant PDA user within a given
time frame of a reminder date/time.