Methods and systems for delivering travel-related information

• US 7,995,999 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Benjamin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US11/459,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/414.2, 455/404.2, 455/414.3
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for delivering travel related information with an intelligent network. One method embodiment includes establishing a communication with the intelligent network through an access device, determining a location of the access device, and obtaining the travel-related information with the access device through the intelligent network, wherein the travel-related information includes data related to a location of the access device. Additional system and computer-readable media embodiments of the present methods and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining travel-related information for a traveler from an intelligent network, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from an access device, the communication including;

a request for travel related information within a database within the intelligent network, the travel related information being associated with the location of the access device at the time the communication was initiated;

a code to identify the communication as a request for access to the database containing the travel-related information;

information that identifies the accessing device;

prompting the access device for selection of a method to determine the location of the access device;

receiving the selected method;

determining the location of the access device according to the received method, wherein the location is determined over a range of times;

determining a direction of travel of the access device by extrapolating the location of the access device over the range of times; and

sending the travel-related information including data related to the determined location of the access device and the determined direction of travel of the access device to the access device, wherein the travel-related information comprises content including weather related to the determined location of the access device and weather related to the determined direction of travel of the access device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the travel-related information at the access device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information further includes traffic information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering the travel-related information in a format selected from the group consisting of text and speech, wherein the format is specified by user preferences.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a selection of the format for delivering the travel-related information from the access device during normal operation and storing the selection as a user preference for future delivery of travel-related information without the user accessing their user profile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information comprises photographs of traffic in proximity to the location of the access device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information is obtained with a system incorporating aerial reconnaissance vehicles, remote terrestrial sensors and manual observation for data input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information that identifies the access device includes at least one of a phone number, a serial number, and a wireless system identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method of determining the selection of the access device comprises looking up the location of where the access device is connected to the intelligent network based upon the access device'"'"'s phone number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method of determining the location of the access device comprises triangulation of a communication signal to the access device.

11. A computer-readable medium, excluding data signals, containing instructions for performing acts that provide travel related information from an intelligent network, the acts comprising:

receiving a request for travel related information, the travel related information being associated with a location of an access device, a code to identify the travel-related information and information that identifies the access device;

determining whether the access device is entitled to receive the travel-related information at the time the request is received by comparing the information of the request to information of a database;

prompting the access device for selection of a method to determine the location of the access device;

receiving the selected method;

determining the location of the access device by the received method, wherein the location is determined over a range of times;

determining a direction of travel of the access device by extrapolating the location of the access device over the range of times; and

sending the travel-related information including data related to the determined location of the access device and the determined direction of travel of the access device to the access device, wherein the travel-related information comprises content including weather related to the determined location of the access device and weather related to the determined direction of travel of the access device.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the acts further comprise:

delivering the travel-related information in a format selected from the group consisting of text and speech, wherein the format is specified by user preferences; and

receiving a selection of the format for delivering the travel-related information from the access device during normal operation and storing the selection as a user preference for future delivery of travel-related information without the user accessing their user profile.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the travel-related information comprises photographs of traffic in proximity to the location of the access device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the travel-related information is obtained with a system incorporating aerial reconnaissance vehicles, remote terrestrial sensors and manual observation for data input.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the information that identifies the access device includes at least one of a phone number, a serial number, and a wireless system identifier.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the travel related information further includes traffic information.