LOCATION-BASED INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20030060211A1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: CHERN, VINCENT, SON, WILLIAM Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/384,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060211A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless location-based information-retrieval system includes a wireless communication device. The wireless device has a transceiver for sending and receiving communications across a wireless communication network, a position-determination device for determining the location of the wireless device, and an Internet browser. A remote server communicates with the wireless device. The server receives the location data from the wireless device over the network and maintains a web page listing information service options. The information service options are accessible to and selectable by the wireless device via the browser. The server retrieves information from a database based on the location data provided by the wireless device and on the selected service option. The retrieved information is sent to the wireless device over the network.

Claims

1. A wireless location-based information-retrieval system comprising:

a wireless communication device comprising a transceiver for sending and receiving communications across a wireless communication network, a position-determination device for determining a location of the wireless device and providing location data indicative of the location to the wireless device, and an Internet browser;

a remote server in communication with the wireless device over the network, wherein the server receives the location data from the wireless device over the network and maintains a web page listing information service options that are accessible to and selectable by the wireless device via the browser; and

a database in communication with the server, the server retrieving information from the database based on the location data provided by the wireless device and based on a selected service option, and sending the information to the wireless device over the network.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position determination device is a GPS receiver.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless device further comprises memory for storing user information and preferences, and wherein the user information and preferences is provided to the server to assist in information retrieval.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service options are selected from a group comprising driving directions, points of interest, location monitoring and notification services.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service options including a driving direction service, and wherein the server automatically determines the starting point from the location data provided by the wireless device and the destination point is entered by a user of the wireless device and sent to the server over the network, the server compiling driving directions and sending the driving directions to the wireless device.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising a traffic monitoring service, wherein the wireless device periodically sends the current location to the server, and the server accesses a real time database to determine whether any impediments exist between the current location and the destination point, the server calculating new driving directions if necessary and sending the new driving directions to the wireless device.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service options comprise a points of interest service, wherein the server searches for points of interest to the user of the wireless device based on the location data and sends the points of interest to the wireless device for display.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service options comprise a location monitoring option, wherein the wireless device periodically sends location data to the server and the server maintains a log of the location data.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information service options comprise a notification service, wherein the wireless device periodically sends location data to the server and the server in response searches for information corresponding to pre-selected parameters and sends notifications to the wireless device of any such information that is found.

10. A method for accommodating information requests from a user of a wireless device comprising the following steps:

presenting the user with information service options via a wireless network;

determining the location of the wireless device;

obtaining user information stored on the wireless device;

accepting a user'"'"'s information service choice from the wireless device via the wireless network;

retrieving information corresponding to the service choice based on the user location and user information; and

sending retrieved information to the wireless device over the wireless network.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information service options are presented to the user on an Internet web page.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the user is presented with an option for obtaining driving directions from the location of the wireless device to a destination point.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, and comprising the additional steps of:

obtaining the destination point from the user;

determining a route from the location of the wireless device to the destination point; and

sending the route to the wireless device for display to the user.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, and further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the route for impediments until the user reaches the destination point;

calculating a new route if an impediment is found; and

sending the new route to the wireless device for display to the user.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the user is presented with an option for being informed of points of interest near the location of the wireless handset.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, and comprising the additional steps of:

obtaining points of interest preference information from the user;

retrieving points of interest matching the preference information that are within a pre-determined proximity to the location of the wireless device; and

sending the retrieved points of interest to the wireless device for display to the user.

17. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the user is presented with an option for having the location of the wireless device monitored.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, and comprising the additional steps of:

periodically receiving the current location of the wireless device; and

maintaining a user-accessible log of the locations of the wireless device.

19. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the user is presented with an option for receiving notifications about subject matter of interest to the user.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, and comprising the additional steps of:

presenting the user with notification options;

accepting the user'"'"'s chosen notification options from the wireless handset via the network;

retrieving information corresponding to the chosen notification options based on the location and user data; and

sending and notifying the user of the retrieved information.