Method and apparatus for wirelessly networked distributed resource usage for data gathering

• US 20070271355A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Creemer, David, Flores, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method and system for gathering, collecting, and supplying geographically distributed data. In one embodiment, geographically distributed data is gathered in a server-commanded mode, such that the user of an electronic device need not participate in the capturing or transmitting of the data. In another embodiment, a server initiates requests the user of an electronic device to input data and the data then transmitted to the server. In another embodiment, a user initiates the capture of data with an electronic device and the electronic device transmits the data to a computer server. In another embodiment, the gathering of geographically distributed data is accomplished by the user of an electronic device instructing his electronic device to automatically collect input data and the data is then transmitted to a computer server. In embodiments of the present invention, the electronic device is a palm-sized computer system.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A system, comprising:

one or more computer servers configured to provide location data of a plurality of handheld electronic devices using a wireless network, generate automobile traffic information based on the location data, and provide the automobile traffic information to a computer.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the automobile traffic information is provided to a computer hosting an Internet site.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to select electronic devices from which to gather the location data.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to request the location data from the plurality of handheld electronic devices.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to determine whether the handheld electronic devices are appropriate to contribute to the automobile traffic information.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the determination is made based on whether the location of the handheld electronic devices are within a predefined geographic area.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to encrypt the location data so as to keep it private.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to maintain a list of active handheld electronic devices and to add and subtract handheld electronic devices from the list.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to receive at least one of speed, altitude, direction and time of day data of the plurality of handheld electronic devices.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to receive a request from the computer for automobile traffic information.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more computer servers comprise a plurality of servers, wherein at least one server is coupled to a wireless transmitter configured to maintain a list of the plurality of handheld devices.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the at least one server is configured to verify the identity of at least one handheld electronic device.

43. A system, comprising:

means for providing location data associated with a plurality of handheld electronic devices using a wireless network; and

means for generating automobile traffic information based on the location data.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising means for providing the automobile traffic information to a computer.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising means for receiving a request from the computer for automobile traffic information.

46. The system of claim 43, further comprising means for encrypting the location data so as to keep it private.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising means for maintaining a list of active handheld electronic devices and for adding and subtracting handheld electronic devices from the list.

48. A system for characterizing traffic conditions by processing location data of a plurality of wireless phones, comprising:

one or more computer servers configured to store location data of the plurality of wireless phones, to generate automobile traffic information based on the location data, and to provide the automobile traffic information.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the one or more computer servers are configured to store speed data associated with the plurality of wireless phones.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the one or more computer servers are further configured to identify whether the wireless phones are located within a predefined geographic area, to receive a request from a computer for automobile traffic information and to grant password-protected electronic access to the automobile traffic information.