Position identification method and system

• US 20030078035A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artax LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Networks In Motion Incorporated (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie, Petilli, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for collecting and maintaining an up-to-date database of points of interests, whereby agents of the points of interests, such as owners or operators of hotels or restaurants, can register their point of interest onto the database by uploading their contact information and physical address. Subsequently, on a periodic basis, the agents of the points of interests may log into the system and update their information, such as operating hours. The collected data is then made accessible to the general public and can be searched through using a variety of search criteria.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining a database of information using a communication network, the information including identification information for a plurality of points of interests, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing, communication between the database and a point-of-interest client, said communication being established through the communication network;

identifying the point-of-interest client, said point-of-interest client is identified by using one of a telephone number and a communication network address of the point-of-interest client; and

providing to the point-of-interest client a unique password for accessing the database and uploading into the database identification information of the point-of-interest client, said identification information including one of the telephone number and a physical location of the point-of-interest client,

wherein the database information can be retrieved by the general public using the communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

looking up the identity of the point-of-interest client,

wherein if the identity of the point-of-interest client is not already stored in the database, creating a new entry for the point-of-interest client prior to providing the unique password to the point-of-interest client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication between the database and the point-of-interest client is established through a direct connection on the communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication between the database and the point-of-interest client is established using an encryption protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating the identity of the point-of-interest client.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for encrypting the communication between the database and the point-of-interest client.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for authenticating the identity of the point-of-interest client.

6. A machine-readable medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a processor to perform a method for maintaining a database of information using a communication network, the information including identification information for a plurality of points of interests, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication between the database and a point-of-interest client, said communication being established through the communication network;

identifying the point-of-interest client, said point-of-interest client is identified by using one of a telephone number and a communication network address of the point-of-interest client; and

providing to the point-of-interest client a unique password for accessing the database and uploading into the database identification information of the point-of-interest client, said identification information including at least one of the telephone number and a physical location of the point-of-interest client, and

wherein the database information can be retrieved by the general public using the communication network.

7. The medium of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

looking up the identity of the point-of-interest client,

wherein if the identity of the point-of-interest client is not already stored in the database, creating a new entry for the point-of-interest client prior to providing the unique password to the point-of-interest client.

8. The medium of claim 6, wherein said communication between the database and the point-of-interest client is established through a direct connection on the communications network.

9. The medium of claim 6, wherein said communication between the database and the point-of-interest client is established using an encryption protocol.

10. The medium of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of authenticating the identity of the point-of-interest client.

11. A system for maintaining a database of information using a communication network, the information including identification information for a plurality of points of interests, said system comprising:

means for establishing communication between the database and a point-of-interest client, said communication being established through the communication network;

means for identifying the point-of-interest client, said point-of-interest client is identified by using one of a telephone number and a communication network address of the point-of-interest client; and

means for providing to the point-of-interest client a unique password for accessing the database and uploading into the database identification information of the point-of-interest client, said identification information including at least one of the telephone number and a physical location of the point-of-interest client,

wherein the information stored on the database can be retrieved by the general public using the communication network.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for looking up the identity of the point-of-interest client; and

means for creating new entry for the point-of-interest client,

wherein if the identity of the point-of-interest client is not already stored in the database, the unique password is provided to the point-of-interest client after a new entry is created for the point-of-interest client.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said communication between the database and the point-of-interest client is established through a direct connection on the communications network.

16. A system for maintaining a database of information using a communication network, the information including identification information for a plurality of points of interests, said system comprising a geographic identification server, wherein said geographic identification server includes:

a communication network interface;

a database server interface; and

a map server interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said communication network interface is a voice server interface.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said communication network interface is an Internet server interface.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said geographic identification server further includes a XML server interface.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said geographic identification server further includes:

a user database; and

a point-of-interest database,

wherein said database server interface is operatively coupled to said user database and said point-of-interest database.