Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems

• US 8,190,170 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Push Data LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eo Communication Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, MacFarlane, Duncan Leo, Anastasi, Mark Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/714,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/426, 455/456.1, 340/995.12, 709/232
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates and roaming through coverage areas of cellular base stations, wireless LANs, microcells, and other such broadcast domains. A mobile unit communicates with a network server via an air interface that supports wireless packet data. Information is transmitted from the network server to the mobile unit based upon the mobile unit'"'"'s current location. In some embodiments, the information is used to notify the user that further information is available for download.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a mobile unit in a first geographic region establishing a wireless physical layer connection to a network;

the mobile unit receiving an indication of a user interest;

the mobile unit automatically downloading, via the wireless physical layer connection, a first set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the first geographical region;

the mobile unit terminating the wireless physical layer connection to the network in response to determining that the requested first set of information has been downloaded;

the mobile unit continuing display of the downloaded first set of information subsequent to the terminating the wireless physical layer connection;

the mobile unit receiving data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within a second geographical region, wherein the data is received at a time when the wireless physical layer connection to the network is terminated; and

in response to the receiving the data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region;

the mobile unit re-establishing the wireless physical layer connection to the network;

the mobile unit automatically downloading, via the re-established wireless physical layer connection, a second set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the second geographical region; and

the mobile unit continuing display of the downloaded second set of information subsequent to terminating the re-established wireless physical layer connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the establishing the wireless physical layer connection comprises establishing one or both of a cellular network connection and a local area wireless access network connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit comprises a wireless handheld device configured to place and receive voice telephony calls.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information each include a plurality of hyperlinks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically downloading the second set of information comprises downloading a plurality of web pages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region includes receiving GPS information via a second physical layer connection that is different from the wireless physical layer connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region includes receiving a cellular transmission via a second physical layer connection that is different from the wireless physical layer connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the indication of the user interest includes receiving an indication selected from the group consisting of a destination, traffic, and weather.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

establishing a virtual communication session between the mobile unit and a virtual session server;

wherein the virtual communication session is configured to be transitioned between an active state and an inactive state; and

wherein the virtual communication session is in the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is connected, is transitioned to the inactive state when the wireless physical layer connection is terminated, and is transitioned back to the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is re-established.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is part of a car.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

an antenna;

a central processing unit; and

memory having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform operations comprising;

establishing a wireless physical layer connection via the antenna to a network;

receiving an indication of a user interest;

automatically downloading, via the wireless physical layer connection, a first set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to a first geographical region that is occupied by or proximate to the apparatus;

disconnecting the wireless physical layer connection in response to determining that the requested first set of information has been downloaded;

continuing display of the downloaded first set of information subsequent to the disconnecting the wireless physical layer connection;

receiving data indicating that the apparatus is proximate to or within a second geographical region, wherein the data is received at a time when the wireless physical layer connection to the network is disconnected; and

in response to the receiving the data indicating that the apparatus is proximate to or within the second region;

re-establishing the wireless physical layer connection to the network;

automatically downloading, via the re-established wireless physical layer connection, a second set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the second geographical region; and

continuing display of the downloaded second set of information subsequent to disconnecting the re-established wireless physical layer connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a virtual communication session between the apparatus and a virtual session server;

wherein the virtual communication session is configured to be transitioned between an active state and an inactive state; and

wherein the virtual communication session is in the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is connected, is transitioned to the inactive state when the wireless physical layer connection is disconnected, and is transitioned back to the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is re-established.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the automatically downloading the second set of information comprises downloading a plurality of web pages.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the physical layer connection is established via a cellular network.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the physical layer connection is established via a local area wireless access point network.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first set of information and the second set of information each include a plurality of hyperlinks.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region includes receiving GPS information via a second physical layer connection that is different from the wireless physical layer connection.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region includes receiving a cellular transmission via a second physical layer connection that is different from the wireless physical layer connection.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving the indication of the user interest includes receiving an indication selected from the group consisting of a destination, traffic, and weather.

20. An automobile comprising the apparatus of claim 11.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

first means for receiving wireless transmission of data;

second means for receiving an indication of a user interest;

third means establishing and terminating wireless physical layer connections;

wherein the apparatus is configured to;

establish a wireless physical layer connection with a network via the antenna;

receive an indication of a user interest;

automatically download, via the wireless physical layer connection, a first set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to a first geographical region that is occupied by or proximate to the apparatus;

terminate the wireless physical layer connection in response to determining that the requested first set of information has been downloaded;

maintaining display of the downloaded first set of information subsequent to the terminating the wireless physical layer connection;

receive data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within a second geographical region, wherein the data is received at a time when the wireless physical layer connection to the network is terminated; and

in response to the receiving the data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within the second geographical region;

re-establish the wireless physical layer connection to the network;

automatically download, via the re-established wireless physical layer connection, a second set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the second geographical region; and

maintaining display of the downloaded second set of information subsequent to terminating the re-established wireless physical layer connection.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

fourth means for receiving the data indicating that the mobile unit is proximate to or within a second geographical region;

wherein the apparatus is further configured to establish a virtual communication session between the apparatus and a virtual session server;

wherein the virtual communication session is configured to be transitioned between an active state and an inactive state; and

wherein the virtual communication session is in the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is connected, is transitioned to the inactive state when the wireless physical layer connection is disconnected, and is transitioned back to the active state when the wireless physical layer connection is re-established.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

establishing a wireless physical layer connection via the antenna to a network;

establishing a virtual communication session with a virtual session server using the wireless physical layer connection;

receiving an indication of a user interest;

automatically requesting, via the wireless physical layer connection, a first set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the first geographical region;

terminating the wireless physical layer connection to the network in response to determining that the requested first set of information has been downloaded, wherein said terminating the wireless physical layer connection causes the virtual communication session to be transitioned from an active state to an inactive state;

displaying the downloaded first set of information subsequent to the terminating the wireless physical layer connection;

receiving data indicating that the computing device is proximate to or within a second geographical region, wherein the data is received at a time when the wireless physical layer connection to the network is terminated; and

in response to the receiving the data indicating that the computing device is proximate to or within the second geographical region;

re-establishing the wireless physical layer connection to the network, wherein the re-establishing the wireless physical layer connection causes the virtual communication session to be transitioned from the inactive state to the active state;

automatically requesting, via the re-established wireless physical layer connection, a second set of information corresponding to the received indication of the user interest and to the second geographical region; and

displaying the requested second set of information.