Wireless data communications network and a method of obtaining data files via transmitters in said network

• US 6,484,205 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Byford, Derrick John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Application Number:
  US09/107,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/218, 709/217, 709/245, 455/454, 455/461, 455/432, 455/440, 455/446, 455/423, 455/561, 455/562, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.44, 340/825.49, 340/905, 340/995, 370/313, 370/314, 370/338, 370/401
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A data communications network comprises a plurality of geographically spaced wireless transmitters each for transmitting a different network address. At least one mobile user terminal has a wireless receiver for receiving the network addresses transmitted by the transmitters, a wireless transmitter for transmitting requests for delivery of data files from remote locations identified by the network addresses, a wireless receiver for receiving from the remote location the data files identified by the network addresses, and output means for outputting the data files received. Preferably, the network addresses each comprise a Uniform Resource Locator and the data files each comprise a World Wide Web page.

Claims

1. A data communications network comprising:

a plurality of geographically spaced wireless transmitters each for transmitting a different network address; and

, at least one mobile user terminal having a wireless receiver for receiving selectively the network addresses transmitted by the transmitters, the selective reception of an address depending on proximity of the mobile user terminal to individual ones of the spaced wireless transmitters, a wireless transmitter for transmitting requests for delivery of data files from remote locations identified by the network addresses, a wireless receiver for receiving from the remote locations the data files identified by the network addresses, and output means for outputting the data files received to a user.

2. A network as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network addresses each comprise a Uniform Resource Locator and the data files each comprise a World Wide Web page.

3. A network as chimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of geographically spaced base stations each comprising a receiver for receiving the requests for delivery transmitted by each mobile user terminal and for forwarding the requests for delivery to the remote locations identified by the network addresses via a network known as “

the Internet ”

.

4. A network as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in use, each geographically spaced wireless transmitter continuously transmits the network address.

5. A network as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in use, each geographically spaced wireless transmitter transmits the network address on detection of an interrogation signal generated by each user terminal.

6. A network as claimed in claim 1 wherein the output means comprises a display device for displaying the data files received.

7. A network as claimed in claim 1 wherein the output means comprises an audio output device for generating an audio output as a function of the data files received.

8. A method of accessing a data file in a data communications network, the method comprising:

transmitting, by wireless communications, a different network address from each of a plurality of geographically spaced wireless transmitters;

receiving selectively, in a mobile user terminal, by wireless communications, the network addresses transmitted by the transmitters, the selective reception of an address depending on proximity of the mobile user terminal to individual ones of the spaced wireless transmitters;

transmitting from the mobile user terminal, by wireless communications, requests for delivery of data files from remote locations identified by the network addresses;

receiving, by wireless communications, in the user terminal, the data files identified by the network addresses from the remote locations; and

, outputting, by the user terminal, the data files received.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the network addresses each comprise a Uniform Resource Locator and the data files each comprise a World Wide Web page.