Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems

• US 20050181807A1
• Filed: 04/06/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Push Data LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Geobrowser Innovations LP
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, Anastasi, Mark Nicholas, MacFarlane, Duncan Leo
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area. The geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems disclosed herein enable improved road-navigation and traffic management, advertisement, and related services.

Claims

1. A method for use in a mobile unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a cellular communication network according to a cellular communication air interface protocol that supports wireless packet data connectivity;

receiving an unsolicited data packet from the cellular communication network, wherein the unsolicited data packet contains an identifier and a pointer to a stored server-side content, and the identifier is indicative of the stored server-side content;

processing the unsolicited data packet by comparing the identifier to one or more stored user-configured preference parameters to selectively generate a user-selectable notification for display to the user when the comparison generates a positive result; and

upon user selection of the user-selectable notification, transmitting via the cellular communication network information related to the pointer to a remote network server in order to request at least some of the stored server-side content to be downloaded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the pointer comprises an address of the remote network server, and this address is used to direct the request packet to the remote network server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the address comprises a URL indicative of an application layer address of the remote network server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an indication of at least one information class.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsolicited data packet further comprises an address field to address the unsolicited data packet to the mobile unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsolicited data packet is a broadcast packet that can be received and processed via the processing by any of one or more mobile units.

7. A method for use in a mobile unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a cellular communication network according to a cellular communication air interface protocol that supports wireless packet data connectivity;

receiving an unsolicited data packet from the cellular communication network, wherein the unsolicited data packet contains an identifier and a data content, and the identifier is indicative of the data content;

processing the unsolicited data packet by comparing the identifier to one or more stored user-configured preference parameters to selectively block the data content when the comparing generates a negative result; and

displaying information related to the data content to the user on a display device when the comparing generates a positive result.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data content is hierarchically selectable, and upon a user selection of the information related to the data content, more of the data content is displayed to the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the information related to the data content comprises at least a portion of the data content itself.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the unsolicited data packet further comprises an address field to address the unsolicited data packet to the mobile unit.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the unsolicited data packet is a broadcast packet that can be received and processed via the processing by any of one or more mobile units.

12. A method for use in a mobile unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a public access wireless local area network station, wherein the public access wireless local area network station comprises a gateway connection to an Internet and wirelessly communicates according to a low-power air interface protocol that supports wireless packet data connectivity;

receiving an unsolicited data packet from the public access wireless local area network station, wherein the unsolicited data packet contains an identifier and a pointer to a stored server-side content, and the identifier is indicative of the stored server-side content;

processing the unsolicited data packet by comparing the identifier to one or more stored user-configured preference parameters to selectively generate a user-selectable notification for display to the user when the comparison generates a positive result; and

upon user selection of the user-selectable notification, transmitting via public access wireless local area network station information related to the pointer to a remote network server in order to request further related information to be downloaded.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information related to the pointer is an address of the remote network server, and this address is used to direct the request packet to the remote network server.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the address comprises a URL indicative of an application layer address of the remote network server.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises an indication of at least one information class.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the unsolicited data packet further comprises an address field to address the unsolicited data packet to the mobile unit.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the unsolicited data packet is a broadcast packet that can be received and processed via the processing by any of one or more mobile units.

18. A method for use in a mobile unit, the method comprising:

communicating with a public access wireless local area network station, wherein the public access wireless local area network station comprises a gateway connection to an Internet and wirelessly communicates according to a low-power air interface protocol that supports wireless packet data connectivity;

receiving an unsolicited data packet from the public access wireless local area network station, wherein the unsolicited data packet contains an identifier and a data content, and the identifier is indicative of the data content;

processing the unsolicited data packet by comparing the identifier to one or more stored user-configured preference parameters to selectively block the data content when the comparing generates a negative result; and

displaying information related to the data content to the user on a display device when the comparing generates a positive result.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data content is hierarchically selectable, and upon a user selection of the information related to the data content, more of the data content is displayed to the user.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the information related to the data content comprises at least a portion of the data content itself.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the unsolicited data packet further comprises an address field to address the unsolicited data packet to the mobile unit.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the unsolicited data packet is a broadcast packet that can be received and processed via the processing by any of one or more mobile units.