Method and apparatus for waypoint services navigational system

• US 7,092,724 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sybase Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fellenstein, Craig William, Gusler, Carl Phillip, Hamilton, II, Rick Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/171,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/457, 455/414.1, 701/200, 701/201, 340/905
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A Waypoint Services Navigational System (WSNS) is disclosed comprising a mobile unit connected to a server and to a database by the Internet. The WSNS uses omnipresent digital cellular links or any other form of radio frequency communications for transmission of information by a registered services provider to a traveler with a WSNS mobile unit. Using WSNS, the registered service provider announces its presence along with specific services/products to a traveler with a WSNS mobile unit within a predefined geographic radius. This information may be viewed via a conventional mobile computer, a personal digital assistant screen, or through a Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping longitude/latitude device. The WSNS mobile unit may be portable or mounted in a vehicle in a convenient location. Specific directions to a selected services provider are provided based upon the proximity positioning information at that moment in-time when the information is requested. Advertising specials, competitive services/products, entertainment, or emergency services may all be broadcast, and the user may choose from menus for the nature of services desired. Information may be provided regarding “upcoming” service providers through a combination of user geographical location, user directional data, and overlay maps showing registered businesses. Products or services may be ordered through a WSNS online order system for placing credit-or account backed purchases using the WSNS combination of locational information and business registration. WSNS service may also be provided through conventional internet-only communications, downloadable into a GPS-attached mobile computer to alleviate the need for a cellular link to the car.

Claims

1. A waypoint services navigation system for providing target business information to a mobile user, wherein the target business information includes a target business'"'"'s identify and the target business'"'"'s location, and the system comprises:

a wireless network;

a geographic information systems table comprising

a target business identity field, and

a target business location field;

a system server computer that

receives the target business information from a target business computer,

stores the target business'"'"'s identify in the target business identify field, and

stores the target business'"'"'s location in the target business location field; and

a mobile unit that sends the mobile user'"'"'s location to the system server computer through the wireless network so that the system server computer compares the mobile user'"'"'s location with the target business'"'"'s location stored in the geographic information systems table and transmits the target business information to the mobile unit if the target business location is within a service range of the mobile user'"'"'s location;

wherein the mobile unit presents the target business information to the mobile user if the system server computer transmits the target business information to the mobile unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the service range is an area circumscribed by a circle having a center co-located with the mobile user'"'"'s location and a radius configured by the system server computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the service range is restricted to an area circumscribed by a circle having a center co-located with the mobile user'"'"'s location and a radius entered by the mobile user.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the service range is an area configured by the system server computer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the service range is an area configured by a distance entered by the mobile user.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the target business information further includes an advertisement, the geographic information systems table further comprises a target business advertisement field, and the system server computer stores the advertisement in the target business advertisement field so that the system server computer transmits the advertisement to the mobile unit if the target business location is within the service range of the mobile user'"'"'s location.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile unit further receives payment data from the mobile user and transmits the payment data to the system server computer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile unit further comprises a display screen, and the mobile unit presents the target business information on the display screen.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile unit further comprises a Global Positioning System transceiver for determining the mobile unit'"'"'s coordinates in the Global Positioning System, and the mobile unit transmits the mobile unit'"'"'s coordinates in the Global Positioning System as the mobile user'"'"'s location.

10. A computer implemented process for providing target business information to a mobile unit, the target business information comprising a target business'"'"'s identify and location, the process comprising:

receiving the target business information from the target business;

entering the target business information into a geographic information systems table;

receiving the mobile unit'"'"'S location over a wireless network;

comparing the mobile unit'"'"'s location with the target business'"'"'s location stored in the geographic information systems table;

transmitting the target business information to the mobile unit if the target business location is within a service range of the mobile unit'"'"'s location; and

presenting the target business information on the mobile unit if the target business information is transmitted to the mobile unit.

11. The computer implemented process of claim 10, wherein the target business information further comprises an offer to sell a product or service, and the process further comprises:

placing an order for the product or service from the target business over the wireless network; and

transmitting payment data to the target business over the wireless network.

12. The computer implemented process of claim 10, wherein the target business information further comprises an advertisement, and the process further comprises:

transmitting the advertisement to the mobile unit if the target business location is within the service range of the mobile unit'"'"'s location.

13. The computer implemented process of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the order to the target business.

14. A waypoint services navigation system for providing target business information to a mobile user, wherein the target business information comprises an identity of a target business and a location of the target business, the system comprising:

a geographic information system table comprising an identity field and a location field;

a system server computer;

a mobile unit;

a wireless network;

means for registering the target business information in the system server computer so that the target business identity is stored in the identify field of the geographic information system table and the location is stored in the location field of the geographic information system table;

means for transmitting a request for information from the mobile unit to the system server computer;

means for transmitting the mobile unit'"'"'s location concurrently with the request for information so that the system server computer compares the mobile unit'"'"'s location with the target business location stored in the geographic information system table and transmits the target business information over the wireless network to the mobile unit if the target business location is within a service range of the mobile unit'"'"'s location; and

means for presenting the target business information to the mobile user if the system server computer transmits the target business information to the mobile unit.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising means for advertising the target business information on the mobile unit.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for ordering a product or service from the target business; and

means for transmitting payment data from the mobile unit to the target business.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising a user interface means for configuring the mobile unit to limit the service range to an area circumscribed by a circle having a center co-located with the mobile unit'"'"'s location and a radius entered by the mobile user.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising a user interface means for configuring the mobile unit to limit the service range to a user-specified distance.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the geographic information systems table is stored in a portable medium that is readable by the mobile unit.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the portable medium is a CD-ROM.

19. The system of claim wherein the means for transmitting the mobile unit'"'"'s location is a Global Positioning System transceiver.