System and method for providing routing, mapping, and relative position information to users of a communication network

• US 7,333,820 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Artax LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Networks In Motion Incorporated (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Angie, Sheha, Michael A., Petilli, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/194,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/457, 342/357.08, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 342/357.06, 342/357.01, 455/457, 455/456.1, 455/415, 455/566, 455/414.1, 455/411, 455/410, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/517, 455/456.4, 701/202, 701/209, 701/211, 701/201, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/213, 701/300, 379/88.19, 379/142.06, 379/142.05, 379/142.1, 379/93.23, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/142.04, 379/142.17, 379/142.02, 379/201.06, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 379/201.11, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991, 340/993, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.2, 340/995.19, 340/995.24, 340/995.23
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing real-time position information of one party to another party by utilizing a conventional telecommunication network system such as the convention telephone network, a mobile telecommunications network, a computer network, or the Internet. More specifically, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow a caller and a receiver of a telephone call to provide to and receive from each other position information related to the caller and/or receiver'"'"'s physical location, including address information, GPS coordinates, nearby fixed locations such as a parking structure, etc. Additionally, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow a caller and receiver to retrieve routing instructions or maps for traveling to or from each other. In another embodiment of the present invention, a party may locate the position of another party via the entry of the other party'"'"'s unique identifier such as a phone number of the other party'"'"'s mobile phone. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the position information of a party may be concurrently delivered to another party'"'"'s computer terminal whereby the other party can process the information in further detail.

Claims

1. A method of providing position information of a caller using a telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event that is initiated by the caller, said caller information including at least one of a caller identification information and the phone number information of the caller;

accessing caller privacy information, said caller privacy information identifying a caller user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by said caller, each group member of the caller user group being a user of the telecommunication network;

receiving receiver information, said receiver information being associated with said telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

verifying whether the receiver is a member of the caller user group;

retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

transmitting to the receiver the caller position information if the receiver is verified to be a member of the caller user group,

wherein the transmission of the caller position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a receiver position information, said receiver information indicating a location of the receiver; and

providing, to the receiver, one of routing information for traveling between the location of the caller and the location of the receiver, mapping information of the location of the caller or of the location of the receiver, and relative position information showing both the location of the caller and the location of the receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said caller information is a phone number of the caller.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiver information further includes a receiver user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the receiver, each group member of the receiver user group being a user of the telecommunication network, said method further comprising the steps of:

verifying whether the caller is a member of the receiver user group; and

transmitting, to the caller, the position information of the receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller position information is transmitted to a personal computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller position information is transmitted to a telecommunication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller position information includes one of graphical mapping information, GPS information, longitudinal and latitudinal information, altitude information, and address information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller position information includes position information of a fixed location nearby the location of the caller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller position information is retrieved in real time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting to the caller the caller position information.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein said telecommunications network is a wireless communication network, and

wherein the caller information is received from a wireless communication device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer.

13. A system of providing position information of a caller using a telecommunication network, said system comprising:

means for receiving caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event that is initiated by the caller, said caller information including at least one of a caller identification information and the phone number information of the caller;

means for accessing caller privacy information, said caller privacy information identifying a caller user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by said caller, each group member of the caller user group being a user of the telecommunication network;

means for receiving receiver information, said receiver information being associated with said telecommunication even initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

means for verifying whether the receiver is a member of the caller user group;

means for retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

means for transmitting to the receiver the caller position information if the receiver is verified to be a member of the caller user group,

wherein the transmission of the caller position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for retrieving a receiver position information, said receiver information indicating a location of the receiver; and

means for providing, to the receiver, one of routing information for traveling between the location of the caller and the location of the receiver, mapping information of the location of the caller or of the location of the receiver, and relative position information showing both the location of the caller and the ideation of the receiver.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said caller information is a phone number of the caller.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiver information further includes a receiver user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the receiver, each group member of the receiver user group being a user of the telecommunication network, said system further comprising:

means for verifying whether the caller is amember of the receiver user group; and

means for transmitting, to the caller, the position information of the receiver.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the caller position information is transmitted to a personal computer.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the caller position information is transmitted to a telecommunication device.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the caller position information includes one of graphical mapping information, GPS information, longitudinal and latitudinal information, altitude information, and address information.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the caller position information includes position information of a fixed location nearby the location of the caller.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the caller position information is retrieved in real time.

22. The system of claim 13,

wherein said telecommunications network is a wireless communication network, and

wherein the caller information is received from a wireless communication device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the location of the caller is one of a metropolitan area, a state within the United States of America, and an international political territory.

25. A method of providing position information of a receiver to a caller using a telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event that is initiated by the caller, said caller information including an identification information of the caller;

receiving from the caller via the telecommunication network a receiver information, said receiver information being associated with the telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

accessing receiver privacy information, said receiver privacy information identifying a receiver user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the receiver, each group member of the receiver user group being a user of the telecommunication network;

verifying whether the caller is a member of the receiver user group;

retrieve a receiver position information, said receiver position information indicating a location of the receiver; and

transmitting to the caller the receiver position information if the caller is verified to be a member of the receiver user group,

wherein the transmission of the receiver position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

transmitting, to the caller, one of;

routing information for traveling between the location of the caller and the location of the receiver, mapping information of the location of the caller or of the location of the receiver, and relative position information showing both the location of the caller and the location of the receiver.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of transmitting to the receiver the caller position information.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the receiver position information includes one of graphical mapping information, GPS information longitudinal and latitudinal information, altitude information, and address information.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said routing information includes one of graphical mapping information, text information, and turn-by-turn direction information.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the location of the caller is one of a metropolitan area, a state within the United States of America, and an international political territory.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the location of the receiver is one of a metropolitan area, a state within the United States of America, and an international political territory.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the receiver position information is retrieved in real time.

33. The method of claim 25,

wherein said telecommunications network is a wireless communication network, and

wherein the caller information is received from a wireless communication device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer.

35. A system of providing position information of a receiver to a caller using a telecommunication network, said system comprising:

means for receiving caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event that is initiated by the caller, said receiver information including an identification information of the caller;

means for receiving from the caller via the telecommunication network a receiver information, said receiver information being associated with the telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

mean for accessing receiver privacy information, said receiver privacy information identifying a receiver user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the receiver, each group member of the receiver user group being a user of the telecommunication network;

means for verifying whether the caller is a member of the receiver user group;

means for retrieving the receiver position information, said receiver position information indicating a location of the receiver; and

means for transmitting to the caller the receiver position information if the caller is determined to be a member of the receiver user group,

wherein the transmission of the receiver position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

means for retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

means for transmitting, to the caller, one of routing information for traveling between the location of the caller and the location of the receiver, mapping information of the location of the caller or of the location of the receiver, and relative position information showing both the location of the caller and the location of the receiver.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising means for transmitting to the receiver the caller position information.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the receiver position information includes one of graphical mapping information, GPS information, longitudinal and latitudinal information, altitude information, and address information.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein said routing information includes one of graphical mapping information, text information, and turn-by-turn direction information.

40. The system of claim 36, wherein the location of the caller is one of a metropolitan area, a state within the United States of America, and an international political territory.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the location of the receiver is one of a metropolitan area, a state within the United States of America, and an international political territory.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the receiver position information is retrieved in real time.

43. The method of claim 35,

wherein said telecommunications network is a wireless communication network, and

wherein the caller information is received from a wireless communication device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said wireless communication device is one of a wireless telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable computer.

45. A method for providing position information of a caller using a mobile communication device to a receiver using a personal computer operatively coupled to the Internet, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the mobile communication device, caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said caller information including a caller identification information of the caller;

accessing caller privacy information, said caller privacy information identifying a caller user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the caller;

receiving receiver information, said receiver information being associated with said telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

verifying whether the receiver is a member of the caller user group;

retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

sending to the receiver data terminal the caller position information if the receiver is verified to be a member of the caller user groups,

wherein the sending of the caller position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

46. A system for providing position information of a caller using a mobile communication device to a receiver using a personal computer operatively coupled to the Internet, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from the mobile communication device, caller information, said caller information being associated with a telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said caller information including a caller identification information of the caller;

means for accessing caller privacy information, said caller privacy information identifying a caller user group consisting of a plurality of group members pre-defined by the caller;

means for receiving receiver information, said receiver information being associated with said telecommunication event initiated by the caller, said receiver information including a unique identification information of the receiver;

means for verifying whether the receiver is a member of the caller user group;

means for retrieving a caller position information, said caller position information indicating a location of the caller; and

means for sending to the receiver data terminal the caller position information if the receiver is verified to be a member of the caller user group,

wherein the sending of the caller position information is associated with the telecommunication event and occurs after the telecommunication event is initiated.

47. A method of providing position information of a first user to a second user using a telecommunications network, said first and second users each using a communication device for communicating with each other via the telecommunication network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from the communication device of the first user, a request for position information of the second user, said request including identification information of the first user to uniquely identify the first user, said position information indicating a location of the communication device of the second user;

accessing privacy information of the second user, said privacy information of the second user identifying an authorized user group, said authorized user group consisting a plurality of user group members pre-defined by the second user;

determining whether the first user is a member of the authorized user group;

retrieving the position information of the second user; and

transmitting to the first user the position information of the second user if the first user is determined to be a member of the authorized user group.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the position information of the communication device of the second user includes GPS-based location information.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of retrieving the position information of the communication device of the first user, said position information of the communication device of the first user indicating a location of the communication device of the first user.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising the step of transmitting to the communication device of the second user the position information of the communication device of the first user.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising, the steps of:

generating routing information for traveling between the location of the communication device of the first user and the location of the communication device of the second user; and

transmitting to the communication device of one of the first user and the second user the generated routing information.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the communication device of the first user is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistance, and a personal computer.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the communication device of the second user is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistance, and a personal computer.

54. A system for providing position information of a first user to a second user using a telecommunications network, said first and second users each using a communication device for communicating with each other via the telecommunication network, said system comprising:

means for receiving, from the communication device of the first user, a request for position information of the second user, said request including identification information of the first user to uniquely identify the first user, said position information indicating a location of the communication device of the second user;

means for accessing privacy information of the second user, said privacy information of the second user identifying an authorized user group, said authorized user group consisting a plurality of user group members pre-defined by the second user;

means for determining whether the first user is a member of the authorized user group;

means for retrieving the position information of the second user; and

means for transmitting to the first user the position information of the second user if the first user is determined to be a member of the authorized user group.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the position information of the communication device of the second user includes GPS-based location information.

56. The system of claim 54, further comprising means for retrieving the position information of the communication device of the first user, said position information of the communication device of the first user indicating a location of the communication device of the first user.

57. The system of claim 56, further comprising means for transmitting to the communication device of the second user the position information of the communication device of the first user.

58. The system of claim 56, further comprising:

means for generating routing information for traveling between the location of the communication device of the first user and the location of the communication device of the second user; and

means for transmitting to the communication device of one of the first user and the second user the generated routing information.

59. The system of claim 54, wherein the communication device of the first user is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistance, and a personal computer.

60. The system of claim 54, wherein the communication device of the second user is one of a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistance, and a personal computer.