Location based service request system

• US 20030109244A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tendler Cellular Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Robert K. Tendler
• Inventors: Tendler, Robert K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A wireless phone based system to accommodate users of wireless phones for providing information as to the location of certain services such as gasoline stations, movie theatres, drug stores, etc., includes the utilization of a GPS receiver and a wireless phone, with the wireless phone adapted to call a predetermined number requesting the desired service and providing the location of the cellular phone. In one embodiment, the GPS receiver is co-located with the wireless phone in a car, with the wireless phone being carried in a handsfree cradle having a number of service-request buttons, such that depression of a service-request button activates the wireless phone through its bus structure to call a predetermined number and provide the identity of the caller along with the caller'"'"'s location. In a further embodiment, a single button, located on the phone or on the handsfree cradle, is utilized to cause the wireless phone to dial a concierge service, in which the concierge service has operators and a database, such that the operator can either direct the caller to whatever service the caller desires or take care of the request, with the operator having been apprised of the location of the wireless phone. This allows the operator to key in the latitude and longitude of the wireless phone and access the database of services both as to the type of service and as to the location of the closest service provider.

Claims

1. A wireless phone based system for providing location-based information to a dispatch office to enable selection of the closest service provider for a predetermined service request from said wireless phone comprising:

a wireless phone at one location;

a GPS receiver at said one location for receipt of GPS satellite signals and for providing as an output signal the calculated geophysical coordinates of said one location;

means at said wireless phone for transmitting said coordinates along with said service request to said dispatch office;

means at said dispatch office for receipt of said coordinates and for determining the closest service provider; and

,

means at said dispatch office for communicating with said closest service provider said service request.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein communicating means includes means for apprising said closest service provider the location of said wireless phone.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication means includes means for patching said wireless phone to said closest service provider.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless phone has a phone number and wherein said transmitting means includes means for transmitting said phone number to said dispatch office.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless phone has a modulation section and wherein said means at said wireless phone for transmitting said coordinates includes a speech synthesizer for generating audio signals representing said coordinates, and means for coupling said audio signals to the modulation section of said wireless phone.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said phone has a phone number and wherein said speech synthesizer generates audio signals representing said phone number such that said phone number is verbally transmitted and announced at said dispatch office.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said GPS receiver has an antenna and wherein said GPS receiver, said antenna and said coordinate transmitting means are integrally carried by said phone.

8. The system of claim 7, and further including a handsfree cradle adapted to receive said phone, said handsfree cradle including a transfer antenna adjacent said GPS antenna and an externally mounted GPS antenna coupled to said transfer antenna.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said transmitting means includes request button activation means for causing said phone to dial said dispatch office and for transmitting a predetermined request.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said request button activation means is mounted on said phone.

11. The system of claim 9 and further including a handsfree cradle for said phone, and wherein said request button activation means is mounted on said cradle.

12. A wireless phone based system for providing location-based information to a dispatch office to enable the dispatch of service from a service provider for a predetermined service request from said wireless phone comprising:

a wireless phone at one location;

a GPS receiver at said one location for receipt of GPS satellite signals and for providing as an output signal the calculated geophysical coordinates of said one location;

means at said wireless phone for transmitting said coordinates to said dispatch office;

means at said dispatch office for receipt of said coordinates; and

,

means at said dispatch office for communicating with said service provider said service request.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein communicating means includes means for apprising said service provider the location of said wireless phone.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said communication means includes means for patching said wireless phone to said service provider.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said wireless phone has a phone number and wherein said transmitting means includes means for transmitting said phone number to said dispatch office.