Wireless location routing applications and architecture therefor

• US 7,903,029 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mobile Maven LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Original Assignee: TracBeam LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Inventors: Dupray, Dennis Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US11/464,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.1, 342/450, 342/367, 342/442, 342/451, 342/457, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/457, 701/202, 701/203, 701/209, 701/211
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0258 by combining or switching between measurements derived from different systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices

Abstract

A system for wirelessly locating mobile station/units (MS) and using resulting location determinations for providing a product or service is disclosed. The system is useful for routing an MS user to a plurality of desired locations, alerting an MS user to a nearby desired product or service based on satisfaction of user criteria, and providing enhanced security and 911 response. In one embodiment, the system responds to MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication between a distributed network of location processing sites. A plurality of locating technologies including those based on: (1) TDOA; (2) pattern recognition; (3) timing advance; (5) GPS and network assisted GPS, (6) angle of arrival, (7) super resolution enhancements, and (8) supplemental information from low cost base stations can be activated, in various combinations, by system embodiments. MS location difficulties resulting from poor location accuracy/reliability and/or poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with automatically adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes so that the system becomes progressively more comprehensive and accurate. Further, the system can be modularly configured for use in location signaling environments ranging from urban, dense urban, suburban, rural, mountain to low traffic or isolated roadways. Accordingly, the system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information to a plurality of mobile units, wherein for each of the mobile units, wireless signal measurements are obtained from transmissions between the mobile unit and a network having a plurality of terrestrial communication stations, and wherein each of the mobile units is independently moveable from each of the communication stations, and each of said communications stations includes one or more of:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to the mobile units, and a receiver for receiving wireless signals from the mobile units;

wherein output from at least one of the following location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) is available;

(A-1) a first technique for locating a mobile unit (M₁) of the mobile units by recognizing a pattern of wireless signal transmission characteristics, wherein said pattern of characteristics is indicative of a plurality of wireless signal transmission paths between the mobile unit M₁ and each of one or more of the communication stations,

(A-2) a second technique for locating a mobile unit (M₂) of the mobile units, wherein at least one of the following steps (A-2-1) through (A-2-3) are performed;

(A-2-1) determining a time difference of arrival (TDOA) from timing information of signals transmitted between the mobile unit M₂ and the communication stations,

(A-2-2) determining a timing advance (TA) location estimate for the mobile unit M₂ using wireless signals communicated between M₂ and at least one of the communication stations, and

(A-2-3) determining a location of the mobile unit M₂ using the TDOA, and the TA location estimate,

(A-3) a third technique for locating a mobile unit (M₃) of the mobile units , wherein a first measurement for a time of travel of a signal transmitted by a wireless transmitter not supported on the earth'"'"'s surface is received by the mobile unit M₃, wherein the first measurement is used for determining the location of the mobile unit M₃,

(A-4) a fourth technique for locating a mobile unit (M₄) of the mobile units by using a value indicative of a signal strength of one or more signals communicated between the mobile unit M₄ and the communication stations, and

(A-5) a fifth technique for locating a mobile unit (M₅) of the mobile units by using a joint probability from location related information obtained from each of two different location providing information sources,

wherein access to a data storage is available, the data storage used for storing, for each of a plurality of users of the plurality of mobile units, corresponding user preference information providing preferences related to the user accessing one or more of a plurality of products or services available for purchase;

wherein access to a data repository is available, the data repository used for storing data of the plurality of products or services, including data for providing one or more corresponding presentations for the products or services to the mobile units via network communications,

comprising;

for each one of the plurality of mobile units, the following steps (A) through (H) are performed;

(A) receiving, for a corresponding user of the one mobile unit, a corresponding user input for establishing at least a portion of the user preference information for the corresponding user;

(B) providing the portion of the user preference information for storing, in the data storage;

(C) first obtaining, from the network, a first estimate indicative of a location of the one mobile unit, wherein one of the location techniques (A-1) through (A-5) is used for locating the one mobile unit;

(D) selecting, from the data repository first data for an instance (I_1,1) of one of the plurality of products or services, wherein the first data is selected according to both of (a) and (b) following;

(a) a first result from a matching of one or more characteristics of the instance I_1,1 with the stored user preference information for the corresponding user, and

(b) a second result from evaluating, a first geolocation condition from the stored preference information for the corresponding user, wherein the first geolocation condition is dependent upon both (i) and (ii) following;

(i) first location data obtained from the data repository for identifying a corresponding geographic location (L₁) for accessing the instance I_1,1, and

(ii) the first estimate;

(E) obtaining a first extent for a route from a location for the one mobile unit to substantially the geographic location L₁;

(F) selecting, from the data repository second data for one of an additional instance (I_1,2) of one of the plurality of products or services, wherein the second data is selected according to both of (c) and (d) following;

(c) a third result from a matching of one or more characteristics of the instance I_1,2 with the stored user preference information for the corresponding user, and

(d) a fourth result from evaluating, a geolocation condition from the stored preference information for the corresponding user, wherein the geolocation condition is dependent upon both;

second location data obtained from the data repository for identifying a corresponding geographic location L₂ for accessing the instance I_1,2, and a location along the first extent;

(G) obtaining a route (R) to substantially the geographic location L₁;

wherein the route R is determined using the geographic location L₂ providing access to the additional instance I_1,2 so that the location L₂ is along the route R; and

(H) outputting, to the one mobile unit, data indicative of the route R, and corresponding presentation data (P_1,2) for the additional instance I_1,2, wherein the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 provides information identifying a merchant for accessing the additional instance I_1,2.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least one of mobile units (M), the route R for M commences at substantially the first estimate for M, or at an expected location of M obtained using the first estimate.

3. The method of claim 1, further including providing content for the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 to the one mobile unit in one of a plurality of media presentation forms, including a visual form and an audio form, wherein at least one of the media presentation forms used in presenting the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 is selectable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein for the corresponding user, the user preference information therefor includes at least first and second categories of user preferences, a user preference in the first category differing from a user preference in the second category by one of:

a time related constraint, or a geographic constraint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preference information includes one or more of the following (a) through (c) informational items related to accessing at least one instance of one of the products or services:

(a) a relative location of the at least one instance, (b) a merchant preference, (c) traffic condition, (d) a parking condition, (e) an availability of the at least one instance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein for at least one of the users, the user preference information therefor includes at least three of the informational items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least one of mobile units (M), the first geolocation condition therefor includes one of the following criteria (a1) through (a3) so that:

for some estimated location of the mobile unit M, or location of the mobile unit M along an expected future route,

(a1) the mobile unit M is within one of;

a specified user travel distance of a location for accessing an instance of one of the products or services, or within a specified geographically identified area of a location for accessing an instance of one of the products or services,

(a2) the mobile unit M is within a specified expected elapsed time of travel from a location for accessing an instance of one of the products or services; and

(a3) the mobile unit M is nearer to a location for accessing an instance of one of the products or services than at least one other location for accessing an instance of one of the products or services.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data includes merchant related information for the instance I_1,1, wherein advertising presentation data, dependent upon the merchant related information, is provided to the one mobile unit for display thereon, and wherein the second data includes second merchant related information for the instance I_1,2, wherein the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 is dependent upon the second merchant related information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first data is selected according to an acceptability of the first result and the second result, and the step (E) of obtaining is performed with the geographic location L₁ obtained when both the first and second results are acceptable;

and

wherein the second data is selected according to an acceptability of the third result and the fourth result, and the route R is obtained when both the third and fourth results are acceptable.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the merchant related information includes the first location data, and the second merchant related information includes the second location data.

17. The method of claim 1 further including a step of registering information related to a location of interest to the user so that the user can be routed to the location of interest at a later time.

8. A method for communicating information to a plurality of mobile units, wherein for each of the mobile units, wireless signal measurements are obtained from transmissions between the mobile unit and a network having a plurality of terrestrial communication stations, and wherein each of the mobile units is independently moveable from each of the communication stations, and each of said communications stations includes one or more of:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals to the mobile units, and a receiver for receiving wireless signals from the mobile units;

wherein access to a data repository is available, the data repository used for storing data of a plurality of products or services available for purchase, including data for providing one or more corresponding presentations for the products or services to the mobile units via network communications, comprising;

for each one of the plurality of mobile units, the following steps (A) through (G) are performed;

(A) receiving, for a corresponding user of the one mobile unit, a corresponding user input for establishing at least a portion of user preference information for the corresponding user, the user preference information providing preferences related to the user accessing one or more of the plurality of products or services;

(B) first obtaining, from the network, a first estimate indicative of one of a plurality of locations of the one mobile unit, wherein for at least a second of the plurality of locations of the one mobile unit, a second estimate therefor is different from the first estimate;

(C) selecting, from the data repository first data for an instance (I_1,1) of one of the plurality of products or services, wherein the first data is selected according to both of (a) and (b) following;

(a) a first result from a matching of one or more characteristics for the instance I_1,1 with the user preference information for the corresponding user, and

(b) a second result from evaluating, a first geolocation condition for travelling to a corresponding geographic location (L₁) for accessing the instance I_1,1, the first geolocation condition obtained from the user preference information for the corresponding user, wherein the first geolocation condition is dependent upon both;

first location data obtained from the data repository for identifying the corresponding geographic location L₁ for accessing the instance I_1,1, and the first estimate;

(D) obtaining a first extent for a route from a location for the one mobile unit to substantially the geographic location L₁;

(E) selecting, from the data repository second data for one of an additional instance (I_1,2) of one of the plurality of products or services, wherein the second data is selected according to both of (c) and (d) following;

(c) a third result from a matching of one or more characteristics for the instance I_1,2 with the user preference information for the corresponding user, and

(d) a fourth result from evaluating, a geolocation condition for travelling to a corresponding geographic location (L₂) for accessing the instance I_1,2, the geolocation condition obtained from the user preference information for the corresponding user, wherein the geolocation condition is dependent upon both;

second location data obtained from the data repository for identifying the corresponding geographic location L₂ for accessing the instance I_1,2, and a location along the first extent;

(F) obtaining a route (R) to substantially the geographic location L₁;

wherein the route R is determined using the geographic location L₂ providing access to the additional instance I_1,2 so that the location L₂ is along the route R; and

(G) outputting, to the one mobile unit, data indicative of the route R, and corresponding presentation data (P_1,2) for the additional instance I_1,2, wherein the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 provides information identifying a merchant for accessing the additional instance I_1,2.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein for each user U of at least some of the users, the one or more characteristics for one of the instances I_1,1 and I_1,2, for the user U, include an identification of the one instance, and an identification of a merchant for the one instance, and further including obtaining advertising data for the one instance, the advertising data for presenting to the mobile unit for the user U, wherein the advertising data is at least in part generated from the user preference information for the user U.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the advertising data includes one or more of:

a coupon, a discount, a price, and a quality rating.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein for one of the mobile units (M) at a location (L_M), and preference information (PI) for a corresponding user (U) of M, the step of selecting the first data, using PI and L_M, respectively, for the user preference information and the location L₁, succeeds after an unsuccessful attempt to select the first data due to a value of the first estimate for L_M , and

wherein for a second location (L_M2) of the mobile unit M, the step of selecting the first data does select the first data due to a value of the first estimate for L_M2.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein for a product or service instance being one of:

the instance I_1,1, or the instance I_1,2, one of the characteristics for the at least one instance includes an availability of the instance.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the first geolocation condition includes one of more of:

(a1) a condition for determining whether the first estimate is within one of;

a specified user travel distance of a location for accessing the instance I_1,1, or within a specified geographically identified area of a location for accessing the instance I_1,,

(a2) a condition for determining whether the first estimate is within a specified expected elapsed time of travel from a location for accessing the instance I_1,1; and

(a3) a condition for determining whether first estimate is nearer to a location for accessing the instance I_1,1 than at least one other location for accessing another instance of the one or more products or services; and

wherein the geolocation condition include one of more of;

(b1) a condition for determining whether the location along the first extent is within one of;

a specified user travel distance of a location for accessing the instance I_1,2, or within a specified geographically identified area of a location for accessing the instance I_1,2, (b2) a condition for determining whether the location along the first extent is within a specified expected elapsed time of travel from a location for accessing the instance I_1,2; and

(b3) a condition for determining whether the location along the first extent is nearer to a location for accessing the instance I_1,2 than at least one other location for accessing another instance of the one or more products or services.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the first data includes merchant related information for the instance I_1,1, wherein advertising presentation data, dependent upon the merchant related information, is provided to the one mobile unit for display thereon, and wherein the second data includes second merchant related information for the instance I_1,2, wherein the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 is dependent upon the second merchant related information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first data is selected according to an acceptability of the first result and the second result, and the step (E) of obtaining is performed with the geographic location L₁ obtained when both the first and second results are acceptable;

and

wherein the second data is selected according to an acceptability of the third result and the fourth result, and the route R is obtained when both the third and fourth results are acceptable.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the merchant related information includes the first location data, and the second merchant related information includes the second location data.

21. The method of claim 8 further including a step of registering information related to a location of interest to the user so that the user can be routed to the location of interest at a later time.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein for at least one of mobile units (M), the route R for M commences at substantially the first estimate for M, or at an expected location of M obtained using the first estimate.

23. The method of claim 8, further including providing content for the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 to the one mobile unit in one of a plurality of media presentation forms, including a visual form and an audio form, wherein at least one of the media presentation forms used in presenting the corresponding presentation data P_1,2 is selectable by the user or by according to an activity of the user or a configuration of the one mobile unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the activity includes driving a vehicle.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein for the corresponding user, the user preference information therefor includes at least first and second categories of user preferences, a user preference in the first category differing from a user preference in the second category by one of:

a time related constraint, or a geographic constraint.

26. The method of claim 8, wherein the user preference information includes some of the following (a) through (k) informational items related to accessing at least one instance of one of the products or services:

(a) a relative location of the at least one instance, (c) a merchant preference, (d) traffic condition, (e) a parking condition, (f) an availability of the at least one instance, and (g) an acceptable method of payment.