Position dependent messaging system

• US 6,683,538 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Wilkes Jr
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Wilkes Jr
• Inventors: Wilkes, Robert D Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/384,316
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/539.1, 340/991, 340/988, 340/989, 340/992, 340/993, 340/995.25, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A messaging system is disclosed, delivery of messages being dependent upon the location of the recipient, the number of recipients being unlimited. The message transmitter may be fixed or mobile. The recipient may be either fixed or mobile, but must have knowledge of its own position. The transmitter broadcasts in radio frequencies (or other convenient medium) three pieces of information per message: a location, a trigger distance, and the message. The recipient, knowing its own position, calculates the actual distance to each location being broadcast. If the actual distance is less than the trigger distance, then the message is displayed to the recipient. In this manner, only messages that are relevant to the recipients'"'"' position are displayed, and messages relevant to other positions are ignored.

Claims

1. A message delivery system consisting of transmitters, receivers, and a position location means, said transmitters broadcasting a signal containing messages with corresponding locations at which said messages are to be delivered, said receivers discriminating in the delivery of said messages in the following manner:

a) said receivers determine their own position via said position location means

b) said transmitters broadcast said signal containing said messages along with said corresponding locations

c) said receivers deconstruct said signal, and determine their proximity to each of said locations via a calculation means

d) said receivers deliver said messages if the proximity of said receiver to any of said corresponding locations is less than or equal to a predetermined distance

said message being information in audio, visual, or other convenient form, and said transmitters are not co-located with said receivers.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, wherein a trigger distance is transmitted along with said location and said message, said receiver comparing its position against said location via said calculation means, delivering said message only if said comparison yields a value less than or equal to said trigger distance.

3. The invention as described in claim 1, wherein a device specific address is also broadcast, said receivers compare their address with said device specific address, ignoring said message if said address does not correspond to said device specific address.

4. A message delivery system consisting of transmitters, receivers, and a position location means, said transmitters broadcasting a signal containing messages and the current location of said transmitter, said receivers discriminating in the delivery of said messages in the following manner:

a) said receivers determine their own position via said position location means

b) said transmitters broadcast said signal containing said messages along with said location of said transmitter

c) said receivers deconstruct said signal, and determine their proximity to said location via a calculation means

d) said receivers deliver said messages if the proximity of said receiver to any of said corresponding locations is less than or equal to a predetermined distance

said message being information in audio, visual, or other convenient form, and said transmitters are not co-located with said receivers.

5. The invention as described in claim 4, wherein said message is determined by the receiver based on information derived from the position of said transmitter and said receiver, such as bearing, distance, closure speed and the like.

6. The invention as described in claim 4, wherein said transmitter broadcasts said message, containing information such as the type of emergency vehicle, the emergency vehicle speed, or any other information useful to said receiver.

7. A position dependent message delivery system employing a fixed transmitter with a defined area of coverage, said transmitter producing a signal with the following content:

a) geographical location

b) discrimination criteria, such as threshold distance, heading, speed, message content identifier, or the like

c) a message corresponding to said location and said discrimination criteria

said signal continuously repeated with one or more distinct locations, associated discrimination criteria, and messages, in sequence, said message delivery system also including one or more receivers, free to move about said area of coverage anonymously, said receivers determine their position via a position location means, said receivers compare said geographical location in said signal with said position, calculate the distance between said geographical location and said position via a calculation means, and only deliver said message if said distance is less than said threshold distance.

8. The invention as described in claim 7, wherein said discrimination criteria are additionally compared with information determined by or furnished to said receivers, to further restrict the number of said messages delivered.

9. A position dependent message delivery system employing a mobile transmitter and a first position location means, said transmitter producing a signal with the following content:

a) the current location of said transmitter, as determined by said first position location means

said signal continuously repeated, said message delivery system also including one or more receivers, free to move about anonymously, said receivers determine their position via a second position location means, said receivers compare said current location in said signal with said position, and only deliver a pre-determined message if said current location is sufficiently close to said position.

10. The invention as described in claim 9, wherein said signal also includes the following elements:

b) a message

said receivers compare said current location in said signal with said position, and only deliver said message if said current location is sufficiently close to said position.

11. The invention as described in claim 10, wherein said signal also includes the following elements:

c) a threshold distance

said receivers determine the distance from said current location to said position via a calculation means, and only deliver said message if said distance is less than said threshold distance.

12. The invention as described in claim 11, wherein said signal also includes the following elements:

d) discrimination criteria, such as heading, speed, message content identifier, or the like

said receivers additionally compare said discrimination criteria to other known information, and only deliver said message if said discrimination criteria are met.