Point of interest spatial rating search method and system

• US 20030036848A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Networks In Motion Incorporated (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie, Petilli, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for searching and retrieving location information associated with one or more points of interests, whereby the search criteria can be dependent upon the location of a point of interest with respect to the the real-time position of the user, and any preferences or search restrictions selected by the user, such as rating information about the point of interest. Upon selecting a point of interest from the search result, the user is then given further information regarding the selected point of interest, including but not limited to directions for traveling to the point of interest. Additionally, the present invention can provide to the user a proximity notification once the user is within a certain distance from the point interest. Finally, while at a point of interest, the user can provide to the system information regarding the point of interest, such as rating of the food of a restaurant, without having to specifically identify the point of interest as the system can self-identify the point of interest by using the position information of the user.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium containing executable programming instructions for causing a processor to perform a method of retrieving a point of interest, said method comprising the step of:

retrieving real-time position information, said real-time position information indicating the real-time location of a position;

receiving a search criteria;

based upon the real-time position information and search criteria, retrieving from a database location information associate with at least one point of interest; and

displaying at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said search criteria includes a spatial distance from the real-time position.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said search criteria includes a specific category of points of interest.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said search criteria includes customer ratings of points of interest.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said retrieved location information includes at least one of the address and the phone number of the at least one point of interest.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of authorizing the retrieval of the real-time position information.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of automatically making a telephone call to the at least one point of interest.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of storing said location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of recording evaluation information associated with the at least one point of interest.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a destination information, said destination information including a location of a destination; and

retrieving a route of travel from the real-time position to the destination,

wherein said search criteria includes distance of points of interest from the route of travel.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining whether the location of the at least point of interest is ahead or behind the real-time position along the route of travel.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said database is accessed using a wireless network.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said real-time position information is retrieved from a global positioning system.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of storing the search criteria.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of retrieving additional information associated with the at least one point of interest.

17. A system for searching and retrieving a point of interest, said system comprising:

means for retrieving real-time position information, said real-time position information indicating the real-time location of a position;

means for receiving a search criteria;

means for using the real-time position information and search criteria to retrieve from a database location information associate with at least one point of interest; and

means for displaying at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said search criteria includes a spatial distance from the real-time position.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said search criteria includes a specific category of points of interest.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said search criteria includes customer ratings of points of interest.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said retrieved location information includes at least one of the address and the phone number of the at least one point of interest.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for authorizing the retrieval of the real-time position information.

23. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for providing directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for automatically making a telephone call to the at least one point of interest.

25. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for storing said location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

26. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for entering evaluation information associated with the at least one point of interest.

27. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving a destination information, said destination information including a location of a destination; and

means retrieving a route of travel from the real-time position to the destination,

wherein said search criteria includes distance of points of interest from the route of travel.

28. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for determining whether the location of the at least point of interest is ahead or behind the real-time position along the route of travel.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein said database is accessed using a wireless network.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein said real-time position information is retrieved from a global positioning system.

31. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for storing the search criteria.

32. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for retrieving additional information associated with the at least one point of interest.

33. A method for providing to a user information associated with a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving real-time position information of the user;

determining a real-time distance between the location of a pre-selected point of interest and the position of the user;

comparing the real-time distance with a predetermined proximity alert distance; and

providing to the user a proximity notification if the real-time distance is equal or less than the predetermined proximity alert distance.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said real-time position information is retrieved using a global positioning system.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of retrieving location information of the pre-selected point of interest.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing direction information for traveling between the real-time position of the user and the location of the pre-selected point of interest.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said direction information includes turn-by-turn driving directions.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing parking information for parking a vehicle in close proximity to the location of the pre-selected point of interest.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing advertisement information associated with the pre-selected point of interest.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of authenticating the identification of the user.

41. A system for providing to a user information associated with a point of interest, said system comprising:

means for retrieving real-time position information of the user;

means for determining a real-time distance between the location of a pre-selected point of interest and the position of the user;

means for comparing the real-time distance with a predetermined proximity alert distance; and

means for providing to the user a proximity notification if the real-time distance is equal or less than the predetermined proximity alert distance.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said real-time position information is retrieved using a global positioning system.

43. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for retrieving location information of the pre-selected point of interest.

44. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for providing direction information for traveling between the real-time position of the user and the location of the pre-selected point of interest.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said direction information includes turn-by-turn driving directions.

46. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for providing parking information for parking a vehicle in close proximity to the location of the pre-selected point of interest.

47. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for providing advertisement information associated with the pre-selected point of interest.

48. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for authenticating the identification of the user.

49. A method for collecting from a user evaluation information for a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving real-time position information of the user;

identifying a point of interest from amongst a plurality of points of interest by comparing the position information of the user with the locations of one of the plurality of points of interest; and

receiving from the user evaluation information regarding the identified point of interest.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the real-time position information of the user is determined from a global positioning system.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the plurality of points of interest are restaurants.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the evaluation information includes ratings of at least one of quality of service, food, and decor.