Wireless distribution network

• US 8,150,381 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-Lane Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Lane Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Basir, Otman Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US11/071,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,588 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 370/310, 455/418, 455/420, 455/406, 709/249, 701/29, 705/26
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A wireless distribution network provides content delivery and data collection to and from portable devices. The network connects a server controlling access to content storage by home nodes, service center nodes and a plurality of wireless nodes. The wireless nodes are disposed at a plurality of locations, such as gas stations (vehicle service stations). The plurality of wireless nodes are connected to the server via the network. Each wireless node is capable of transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices. Each node is capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices. Each node transfers information between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices. The node also transfers the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.

Claims

1. A method for transferring information between a first computer at a first location and a portable device at a node at a second location, the method including the steps of:

a) detecting the presence of the portable device proximate the second location, wherein the portable device is installed in a vehicle;

b) identifying the portable device at the second location;

c) transferring the information between the first computer and the node across a wide-area network; and

d) transferring the information between the node and the portable device in response to said steps a) and b), wherein the information includes vehicle usage data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step c) is performed before said step d).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step e) is performed by transmitting the information wirelessly between the node and the portable device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the information is transmitted via Bluetooth in said step e).

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of transmitting data from the portable device to the node.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of transmitting the data from the node to the first computer.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the data includes email.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes audio files.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second location is a gas station.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said step c) is performed after said step d) and wherein the information is transmitted from the portable device to the node in said step d).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information includes email.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle usage data indicates where the vehicle has been driven.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the vehicle usage data indicates a speed at which the vehicle has been driven.

14. The method of claim 12 further including the step of using the vehicle usage data in a pay-as-you drive vehicle insurance arrangement.

15. A system for transferring information comprising:

a first computer at a first location;

a plurality of nodes at a plurality of locations, the plurality of nodes connected to the first computer via a network; and

each node including a wireless transfer device for transferring information wirelessly between the node and one of a plurality of portable devices, each node capable of detecting and identifying each of the plurality of portable devices and transferring information including email and vehicle usage data between the node and the plurality of portable devices based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices, the node transferring the information between the node and the first computer based upon the detection and identification of the portable devices.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of locations is a gas station.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the wireless transfer device is a Bluetooth transceiver.

18. The system of claim 15 further including a second computer on the network, the second computer capable of selecting the information on the first computer to be transferred to an associated one of the plurality of portable devices.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first computer stores a plurality of accounts, each associated with at least one of the plurality of portable devices, the second computer accessing an associated one of the plurality of accounts, selecting the information and initiating the transfer of the information to the associated one of the plurality of portable devices via the network and the plurality of nodes.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first computer tallies a cost for the information selected at the second computer and associates the cost with the associated one of the plurality of accounts in response to the initiation of the transfer of information to the associated one of the portable devices.