System and method using location-aware devices to provide content-rich mobile services in a wireless network

• US 20050245271A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vesuna, Sarosh
• Application Number:
  US10/834,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method is provided for providing enriched content over a wireless network to a mobile device based on location information read by the mobile device from a location information storage device. The location information storage device may be a bar code, RFID tag, Infobutton, or any other device which may be affixed to a fixed location and which may store unique location information to be read by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based information over a wireless network, comprising:

providing at a geographic location a machine-readable coded identification item, said item providing data for uniquely identifying said geographic location;

providing a first database correlating said data to said geographic location;

providing a second database having information correlated to said geographic location;

reading said identification item with a portable reader to obtain said identification data;

using said first database to ascertain said geographic location; and

using said second database to retrieve information correlated to said geographic location.

2. A method as specified in claim 1, wherein said identification item is a bar code label.

3. A method as specified in claim 1, wherein said identification item is an RFID tag.

4. A method as specified in claim 1, wherein said identification item is an information button.

5. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein providing said second database includes providing a map.

6. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein providing said second database includes providing information regarding businesses located in the vicinity of said geographic location.

7. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said information correlated to said geographic location is retrieved via a wireless network.

8. A system for providing location-based information, comprising:

a wireless network;

a machine-readable coded identification item, said item storing data related to the location of said machine-readable coded identification item; and

a mobile device, which mobile device includes at least a processor, a memory, a wireless radio configured to communicate on said wireless network, and a reader capable of reading data from said machine-readable coded identification item;

wherein said mobile device is configured to read said data from said machine-readable coded identification item and transmit said data over said wireless network, and further to receive from said wireless network information relating to said location of said machine-readable coded identification item.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the machine-readable coded identification item is a bar code.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the machine-readable coded identification item is an RFID tag.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the machine-readable coded identification item is an information button.

12. A method for providing location-based information over a wireless network, comprising:

providing at a geographic location a machine-readable coded identification item, said item providing data for uniquely identifying said geographic location; and

reading said identification item with a portable reader to obtain information regarding said geographic location.

13. A system for providing location-based information, comprising:

a wireless network;

a machine-readable coded identification item, said item storing data related to the location of said machine-readable coded identification item; and

a mobile device, which mobile device includes at least a processor, a memory, a wireless radio configured to communicate on said wireless network, and a reader capable of reading data from said machine-readable coded identification item;

wherein said mobile device is configured to read said data from said machine-readable coded identification item to obtain information regarding the location of said mobile device.

14. A method for providing location-based information over a wireless network, comprising:

providing at a geographic location a machine-readable coded identification item, said item providing data for uniquely identifying said geographic location;

providing a database correlating said data to information relating to said geographic location;

reading said identification item with a portable reader to obtain said identification data; and

providing said information relating to said geographic location to said portable reader.