System and Method for Communicating with a Mobile Unit

• US 20090311994A1
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleet Connect Solutions LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Himmelstein
• Inventors: Himmelstein, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/03 Protecting confidentiality, e.g. by encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Methods of communicating with a mobile unit are described. In one embodiment, a method of communicating with a mobile unit comprises identifying a mobile unit with an identifier; determining a status of the mobile unit; constructing a communication comprising at least one communication packet, the at least one communication packet comprising a plurality of information fields, the information fields comprising an address, and the identifier; and transmitting the communication comprising the at least one communication packet to the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method of communicating with a mobile unit, comprising:

identifying a mobile unit with an identifier;

determining a status of the mobile unit;

constructing a communication comprising at least one communication packet, the at least one communication packet comprising a plurality of information fields, the information fields comprising an address, and the identifier; and

transmitting the communication comprising the at least one communication packet to the mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying is by a second mobile unit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the second mobile unit is located along a roadside of which the mobile unit is traveling.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second mobile unit interfaces with the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting occurs as the mobile unit approaches a property.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the communication in a communication log.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprises an advertisement.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprises a traffic update.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprises weather information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information fields comprises a security field.

11. A method of broadcasting a communication to at least one mobile unit, the method comprising:

accessing a system to store user information, the system comprising an interface for inputting a communication;

filtering a plurality of mobile units by the system, the filtering being based upon at least one information field to determine from the plurality of mobile units at least one mobile unit to receive a broadcast of the communication;

assembling at least one packet of the communication, the at least one packet comprising a data message;

forwarding the at least one packet to a router for transmission;

transmitting the at least one packet to alert the at least one mobile unit of the communication; and

storing, by the system, a log associated with the communication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the system comprises a website.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the user information is entered by a user and the at least one information field comprises the user information.

14. An apparatus for broadcasting a communication to at least one mobile unit, the apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory in communication with the microprocessor and storing instructions to control the operation of the microprocessor;

the instructions operative to direct the processor to;

access a system to store user information, the system comprising an interface for inputting a communication;

filter a plurality of mobile units by the system, the filtering being based upon at least one information field to determine from the plurality of mobile units at least one mobile unit to receive a broadcast of the communication;

assemble at least one packet of the communication, the at least one packet comprising a data message;

forward the at least one packet to a router for transmission;

transmit the at least one packet to alert the at least one mobile unit of the communication; and

store a log associated with the communication.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the system comprises a website.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the user information is entered by a user and the at least one information field comprises the user information.