Method for routing data packets using an IP address based in GEO position

• US 20010036183A1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lightwaves Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Melick, Bruce D., Baych, Leslie D., Snyder, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/122 by minimising distances, e.g. by selecting a route with minimum of number of hops
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Method of routing data over a network in which contact is made with a home network to determine the reported geo-position, using this geo-position to transmit data to the device over a path through a node in which the node reads the geo-position, accesses a list of possible recipients and their geo-positions, compares its location to the positions, selects a recipient based at least in part on the proximity of the recipient to the device, and transmits the data over the best path. Eventually, the device becomes the recipient. A geo-position may be transmitted as part of an IP address. The geo-position information can be generated from a GPS receiver. This method and/or IP address may be used in a method of doing business in which the geo-position is used to identify the source and location for delivery. This information may be incorporated into a purchase order or confirmation receipt.

Claims

1. A method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position, the method comprising:

contacting a second device'"'"'s home network server over a transmission path, wherein the second device geographic position is stored on the home network server;

requesting the second device geographic position;

receiving the second device geographic position from the home network server over the transmission path into memory;

transmitting the data and second device geographic position over the transmission path to a node having a node geographic position, wherein the node reads the second device geographic position, accesses a recipient geographic position for possible recipients, accesses the node geographic position, compares the node geographic position with the second device geographic position and selects a recipient based at least in part on the geographic proximity of the recipient to the second device; and

transmitting the data from the node to the recipient over the transmission path.

2. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the transmission path is wired.

3. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the transmission path is wireless.

4. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the transmission path includes wireless and wired portions.

5. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the second device geographic position is transmitted as at least a part of an internet protocol address.

6. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the second device geographic position is supplemented with a device identifier.

7. The method of routing data stored on a first device over a telecommunications network to a second device wherein the transmission path is based in part on geographic position of

claim 1

wherein the second device is the recipient.

8. An internet protocol address stored in memory on a device which is based on the geographic position of the device, the address comprising:

digital data in the form of electronic bits indicating a device geographic position, the data being generated based on input from a global positioning system receiver; and

digital data in the form of electronic bits indicating a device identifier.

9. The internet protocol address stored in memory on a device which is based on the geographic position of the device of

claim 8

wherein the input from the global positioning system receiver is in the form of latitude, longitude, and altitude information.

10. The internet protocol address stored in memory on a device which is based on the geographic position of the device of

claim 8

wherein the input from the global positioning system receiver is in the form of Cartesian coordinates.

11. The internet protocol address stored in memory on a device which is based on the geographic position of the device of

claim 8

further comprising:

digital data in the form of electronic bits indicating a time stamp.

12. The internet protocol address stored in memory on a device which is based on the geographic position of the device of

claim 8

further comprising:

digital data in the form of electronic bits indicating a date stamp.

13. A method of doing business, the method comprising:

identifying the source of a message from an internet protocol address including a geographic position;

using the geographic position to determine a delivery position; and

delivering a product to the delivery position.

14. The method of doing business of

claim 13

wherein the delivery position is incorporated into a purchase order.

15. The method of doing business of

claim 13

wherein the delivery position is incorporated into a confirmation receipt.

16. The method of doing business of

claim 13

wherein the internet protocol address includes a global positioning system time stamp.

17. The method of doing business of

claim 13

wherein the internet protocol address includes a global positioning system date stamp.