Interactive system for processing and retrieving data relating to a particular destination via a communication device

• US 7,590,637 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Starr Braun-Huon
• Original Assignee: Starr Braun-Huon
• Inventors: Braun-Huon, Starr
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers; Matthew B
• Application Number:
  US10/258,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,049 Days
• Field of Search: 726/20, 726/17, 707/100, 340/995, 340/444
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

The present invention is directed to, in part, an efficient system and method for providing precise information to a user in response to a user input, as well as facilitating contact with merchants and other third parties. More specifically, a method is disclosed for providing data relating to a geographic location in a particular destination in response to a user input. The method comprises providing a map including the geographic location, receiving an identifier combination comprising a location identifier and a need identifier (609), accessing the data relating to the geographic location in a remote database based on the identifier combination (610), and transmitting the data to a user via a communication device. A method is also disclosed for providing data relating to one or more categories of information specific to a particular destination in response to a user input comprising providing a map including the particular destination, receiving an identifier combination comprising a need identifier and a sub-need identifier, accessing the data relating to the particular destination in a remote database, based on the identifier combination (646), and transmitting the data relating to the particular destination to a user via a communication device.

Claims

1. A method for providing data relating to a geographic location in response to a user input comprising:

providing a map including said geographic location;

receiving a numeric identifier combination comprising a numeric location identifier corresponding to said geographic location and a numeric need identifier corresponding to a category of information associated with said geographic location;

accessing said data relating to said geographic location in a remote database, based on said numeric identifier combination; and

transmitting said data relating to said geographic location to a user via a communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising requiring a security check in order to provide access to said database.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a welcome message when access to said database is provided.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to historical data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to shopping data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to at least one of restaurant data, entertainment data, nearby sites data, and special events data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving said location identifier includes receiving a location identifier corresponding to at least one of a city, region, country, shopping mall, theme park, building, street address, store and campus.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting said data includes transmitting said data aurally.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting includes transmitting said data textually.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a numeric feature mode to allow said user to execute a corresponding feature.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing an address book.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing an ability to automatically dial a phone number in said address book.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing a currency converter.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing a call forwarding mode.

15. The method of claim 1 further providing a full size map and a plurality of focused maps, wherein each focused map uniquely corresponds to one of a plurality of geographic locations on said full size map.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing one or more indicia on at least one of said full size map and said plurality of focused maps, wherein each of said indicia corresponds to said numeric identifier combinations.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing said user to pause the transmission of said data.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing said user to fast forward the transmission of said data.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing said user to rewind the transmission of said data.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a merchant enrollment program wherein said enrollment corresponds to the receiving of said numeric identifier combination by a merchant.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising providing an identification card via which said user redeems rewards from said merchant enrollment program.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein providing said merchant enrollment program comprises payment by a merchant in exchange for airtime.

23. A system for providing data relating to a geographic location in response to a user input comprising:

a map including said geographic location;

a database comprising said data relating to said geographic location;

a plurality of numeric identifier combinations, each comprising a numeric location identifier corresponding to said geographic location and a numeric need identifier corresponding to a category of information associated with said geographic location; and

a communication device for receiving one of said numeric identifier combinations from a user, and transmitting one of said data files to said user based on said received identifier combination.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said need identifier corresponds to historical data.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said need identifier corresponds to shopping data.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein said need identifier corresponds to at least one of restaurant data, entertainment data, nearby sites data, and special events data.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein said location identifier corresponds to at least one of a city, region, country, shopping mall, theme park, building, street address, store and campus.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein said data file is transmitted to said user aurally.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein said data file is transmitted to said user textually.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein said communication device comprises one or more numeric feature modes.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said feature modes includes an address book mode.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising an ability to automatically dial a phone number in said address book.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein said feature modes includes a currency converter mode.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein said feature modes includes a call forwarding mode.

35. The system of claim 23 further comprising a full size map and a plurality of focused maps, wherein each focused map uniquely corresponds to one of a plurality of geographic locations on said full size map.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising one or more indicia on at least one of said full size map and said plurality of focused maps, wherein each of said indicia corresponds to said numeric identifier combinations.

37. The system of claim 23 wherein the transmission of said data is paused.

38. The system of claim 23 wherein the transmission of said data is fast-forwarded.

39. The system of claim 23 wherein the transmission of said data is rewound.

40. The system of claim 23 further comprising a merchant enrollment program wherein said enrollment corresponds to the receiving of a numeric identifier combination by a merchant.

41. The system of claim 40 further comprising an identification card via which said user redeems rewards from said merchant enrollment program.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein said merchant enrollment program comprises payment by said merchant in exchange for airtime.

43. A system for providing data relating to a geographic location in response to a user input comprising:

means for providing a map including said geographic location;

means for receiving a numeric identifier combination comprising a numeric location identifier corresponding to said geographic location and a numeric need identifier corresponding to a category of information associated with said geographic location;

means for accessing said data relating to said geographic location in a remote database, based on said numeric identifier combination; and

means for transmitting said data relating to said geographic location to a user via a communication device.

44. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for requiring a security check in order to provide access to said a database.

45. The system of claim 44 further comprising means for transmitting a welcome message when access to said database is provided.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said need identifier corresponds to historical data.

47. The system of claim 43 wherein said need identifier corresponds to shopping data.

48. The system of claim 43 wherein said need identifier corresponds to at least one of restaurant data, entertainment data, nearby sites data, and special events data.

49. The system of claim 43 wherein said location identifier corresponds to a city, region, country, shopping mall, theme park, building, street address, store and campus.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein said data is transmitted aurally.

51. The system of claim 43 wherein said data is transmitted textually.

52. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for providing a numeric feature mode to allow said user to execute a corresponding feature.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said feature mode is an address book.

54. The system of claim 53 further comprising means for automatically dialing a phone number in said address book.

55. The system of claim 52 wherein said feature mode is a currency converter.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein said feature mode is a call forwarding mode.

57. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for providing a full size map and a plurality of focused maps, wherein each focused map corresponds to one of a plurality of geographic locations on said full size map.

58. The system of claim 57 further comprising means for providing one or more indicia on at least one of said full size map and said plurality of focused maps, wherein each of said indicia corresponds to said numeric identifier combinations.

59. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for pausing the transmission of said data.

60. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for fast forwarding the transmission of said data.

61. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for rewinding the transmission of said data.

62. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for compensating said user.

63. The system of claim 43 further comprising means for providing a merchant enrollment program wherein said enrollment corresponds to the receiving of a numeric identifier combination by a merchant.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein said merchant enrollment program comprises payment by a merchant in exchange for airtime.

65. A method for providing data relating to a particular destination in response to a user input comprising:

providing a map including said particular destination;

receiving a numeric identifier combination comprising a numeric need identifier corresponding to one of a plurality of categories of information which define said particular destination, and a numeric sub-need identifier corresponding to a sub-category of information further defining said category of information;

accessing said data relating to said particular destination in a remote database, based on said numeric identifier combination; and

transmitting said data relating to said particular destination to a user via a communication device.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising requiring a security check in order to provide access to said database.

67. The method of claim 66 further comprising transmitting a welcome message when access to said database is provided.

68. The method of claim 65 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to time and money savers.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to currency exchange.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to entertainment information.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to nightclubs.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to theater.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to sports facilities.

74. The method of claim 65 wherein receiving said need identifier includes receiving a need identifier corresponding to shopping data.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to department stores.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to street markets.

77. The method of claim 74 wherein receiving said sub-need identifier includes receiving a sub-need identifier corresponding to antique dealers.

78. The method of claim 65 wherein transmitting said data includes transmitting said data aurally.

79. The method of claim 65 wherein transmitting includes transmitting said data textually.

80. The method of claim 65 further comprising providing a numeric feature mode to allow said user to execute a corresponding feature.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing an address book.

82. The method of claim 81 further comprising providing an ability to automatically dial a phone number in said address book.

83. The method of claim 80 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing a currency converter.

84. The method of claim 80 wherein providing said feature mode includes providing a call forwarding mode.

85. The method of claim 65 further comprising compensating said user.

86. The method of claim 85 wherein compensating said user comprises providing said user with an identification card for redeeming said compensation.

87. The method of claim 65 further comprising providing a merchant enrollment program wherein said enrollment corresponds to the receiving of a numeric identifier combination by a merchant.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein said merchant enrollment program comprises payment by said merchant in exchange for airtime.

89. The method of claim 65 further comprising providing one or more indicia on said full size map, wherein each of said indicia corresponds to said numeric identifier combinations.