Method and system to transfer and to display location information

• US 8,374,627 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CompassCom Software Corp.
• Original Assignee: Compass Holdings Incorporated (Compass Group PLC)
• Inventors: Howard, William Brant, Main, James David II
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US12/707,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system to display information about an object. The system includes a mobile device to relay information about an object to a location content provider. The location content provider formats the information into a visual representation and transmits the information to, one or more digital television provides. One or more of the digital television provides can forward the information to a recipient to display on the recipient'"'"'s television.

Claims

1. A tracking platform to provide location information about a mobile device, comprising:

an input module for receiving, from a location source, a first transmission regarding said mobile device, said first transmission comprising an identification of said mobile device and location information associated with said mobile device, wherein said first transmission is in a first format;

storage structure for storing service provider information, wherein said service provider information includes an identification of a plurality of service providers and instructions for transmitting information to each said service provider;

an output module for transmitting a second transmission to a target service provider according to said instructions, wherein said target service provider is associated with said mobile device, and wherein said second transmission is in a second format that is compatible with a system of said target service provider; and

a processor operatively associated with said input module, said storage structure, and said output module, said processor for;

referring to said identification of said mobile device and said service provider information and determining an identity of a customer associated with said mobile device and an identity of said target service provider;

constructing said second transmission, wherein said second transmission includes said location information and identifies at least one of said customer and said target service provider; and

transferring said second transmission to said output module for said transmitting to said target service provider, wherein said output module configures said second transmission to said second format prior to said transmitting.

2. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said target service provider is one of a satellite television service, a cable television service, a telephone service, an internet service provider (ISP), and a content provider.

3. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said location source is said mobile device.

4. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said location information includes GPS coordinates, directions, speed, LORAN position, an RFID position, or a street address.

5. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mobile device is attached to a vehicle.

6. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mobile device is carried by a person.

7. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one of a cellular device or an RFID unit.

8. A tracking platform as set forth in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a message switch, and wherein said output module comprises a plurality of parsers operatively coupled to said message switch.

9. A method for use in providing information regarding a mobile device, comprising:

providing a storage for service provider information including an identification of a plurality of service providers and instructions for transmitting information to each said service provider;

receiving, from a location source, a first transmission regarding said mobile device, said first transmission having a first format and comprising an identification of said mobile device and location information associated with said mobile device;

using a processor to;

refer to said identification of said mobile device from said first transmission and said service provider information and determine an identity of a customer associated with said mobile device and an identity of a target service provider associated with said mobile device;

construct a second transmission, wherein said second transmission includes said location information and identifies at least one of said customer and said target service provider; and

transfer, to an output module, said second transmission; and

using said output module to;

configure said second transmission to a second format that is compatible with a system of said target service provider; and

transmit, to said target service provider, said second transmission according to said instructions.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said target service provider is one of a satellite television service, a cable television service, a telephone service, an internet service provider (ISP), and a content provider.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said location source is said mobile device.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said location information includes GPS coordinates, directions, speed, LORAN position, an RFID position, or a street address.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mobile device is attached to a vehicle.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mobile device is carried by a person.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the mobile device is one of a cellular device or an RFID unit.

16. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said processor comprises a message switch.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said output module comprises a plurality of parsers operatively coupled to said message switch.