Geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems

• US 20050032528A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Push Data LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Eric M. Dowling, Mark Nicholas Anastasi
• Inventors: Dowling, Eric Morgan, Anastasi, Mark Nicholas, MacFarlane, Duncan Leo
• Granted Patent: US 6,983,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• 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. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area. The geographical web browser, methods, apparatus and systems disclosed herein enable improved road-navigation and traffic management, advertisement, and related services.

Claims

1. For use in a mobile data network environment comprising a packet switched data network, one or more network servers, a plurality of broadcast domain entities that are respectively coupled via respective network connections to the packet switched data network, and a plurality of mobile units, wherein each broadcast domain entity provides low power bi-directional local area wireless network access connectivity in a restricted local coverage area to service local users who carry respective ones of the mobile units, wherein the mobile units are characterized in that at least some of the mobile units comprise a processor, a memory, a user interface, and an air interface comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a protocol stack adapted to process wireless local area packet data transactions, wherein a particular user operates a particular mobile unit that is in communication with a particular broadcast domain entity when the particular mobile unit is located in local coverage area of the particular broadcast domain entity, a network server side method comprising:

accessing a user interest indication associated with the particular user, wherein the user interest indication identifies one or more user specified information classes to indicate one or more user preferences for one or more types of content the user desires to receive via unsolicited pushed messages at the particular mobile unit;

receiving via the packet switched data network information associated with a wireless communication interaction between the particular mobile unit and the particular broadcast domain entity, and based upon the information, associating the location of the particular user with a geographical location associated with the particular local broadcast domain;

causing a search to be performed over a plurality of sets of content to identify, if present, a resulting set of content that is both categorized into at least one information class corresponding to the user interest indication and a point of presence located physically near the particular local broadcast domain; and

causing at least information relating to the resulting set of content to be coupled via the packet switched data network to the particular local broadcast domain entity so that the particular local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly transmit one or more unsolicited broadcast packets with packet headers addressed to the particular mobile unit to automatically notify the particular mobile unit about the resulting set of content without the need to maintain an active client-server session between the network server and the particular mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the search is performed over a plurality of sets of content, each said set of content relates to a respective item, each said respective item is selected as a member from the group consisting of a product and a service, each said set of content is categorized in accordance with at least one respective information class associated with the respective item, each said respective item is associated with at least one respective supplier of the respective item, and the respective supplier is associated with a set of one or more geographical locations of points of presence where the respective item is available.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download requested content comprising at least some of the resulting set of content; and

causing the requested content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the requested content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about a merchant who supplies the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the further content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the further content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of directions to indicate how to get to the local point of presence; and

causing the set of directions to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the set of directions to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of graphical content that provides a map indicating the physical location of the local point of presence; and

causing the set of graphical content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the set of graphical content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an audio interface and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via an audio signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes an interactive GUI (graphical user interface) and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via the interactive GUI.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a particular style of food and the supplier is a restaurant who supplies the particular style of food.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a product sold in a retail store, and the supplier is the retail store.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a real estate property, and the supplier is a real estate agent business entity, the local point of presence is the physical location of the real estate property.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a professional service and the supplier is a business entity that provides the professional service.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the professional service is a medical service.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises a pointer to where the content may be downloaded from the network server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises at least a portion of the resulting set of content.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the local point of presence is located within a proximity defined by a radius of a specified distance around the particular broadcast domain entity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet switched data network comprises at least a portion of the global Internet.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the local users comprise pedestrians.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the local users comprise vehicles and the at least some mobile units are carried in vehicles.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical location associated with the particular local broadcast domain is determined by a member of the group consisting of:

a network-server side data structure that stores geographical location information corresponding to a plurality of local broadcast domain entities; and

a packet received from the particular local broadcast domain entity that identifies the geographical location of the particular local broadcast domain entity.

22. For use in a mobile data network environment comprising a packet switched data network, one or more network servers, a plurality of broadcast domain entities that are respectively coupled via respective network connections to the packet switched data network, and a plurality of mobile units, wherein each broadcast domain entity provides low power bi-directional local area wireless network access connectivity in a restricted local coverage area to service local users who carry respective ones of the mobile units, wherein the mobile units are characterized in that at least some of the mobile units comprise a processor, a memory, a user interface, and an air interface comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a protocol stack adapted to process wireless local area packet data transactions, wherein a particular user operates a particular mobile unit that is in communication with a particular broadcast domain entity when the particular mobile unit is located in local coverage area of the particular broadcast domain entity, a network server side method comprising:

accessing a user interest indication associated with the particular user, wherein the user interest indication identifies one or more user specified information classes to indicate one or more user preferences for one or more types of content the user desires to receive via unsolicited pushed messages at the particular mobile unit;

receiving via the packet switched data network a location identification indication that was wirelessly coupled by the particular mobile unit to the particular local broadcast domain;

causing a search to be performed over a plurality of sets of content to identify, if present, a resulting set of content that is both categorized into at least one information class identified by the user interest indication and is associated with a local point of presence located physically near the location identified in the location identification indication; and

causing at least information relating to the resulting set of content to be coupled via the packet switched data network to the particular local broadcast domain entity so that the particular local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly transmit one or more unsolicited broadcast packets with packet headers addressed to the particular mobile unit to automatically notify the particular mobile unit about the resulting set of content without the need to maintain an active client-server session between the network server and the particular mobile unit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the search is performed over a plurality of sets of content, each said set of content relates to a respective item, each said respective item is selected as a member of the group consisting of a product and a service, each said set of content is categorized in accordance with at least one respective information class associated with the respective item, each said respective item is associated with at least one respective supplier of the respective item, and the respective supplier is associated with a set of one or more geographical locations of points of presence where the respective item is available.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download requested content comprising at least some of the resulting set of content; and

causing the requested content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the requested content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about a merchant who supplies the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the further content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the further content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of directions to indicate how to get to the local point of presence; and

causing the set of directions to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the set of directions to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of graphical content that provides a map indicating the physical location of the local point of presence; and

causing the set of graphical content to be coupled via the data network to the particular broadcast domain entity so the local broadcast domain entity can wirelessly couple the set of graphical content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the user interface includes an audio interface and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via an audio signal.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the user interface includes an interactive GUI (graphical user interface) and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via the interactive GUI.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a particular style of food and the supplier is a restaurant who supplies the particular style of food.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a product sold in a retail store, and the supplier is the retail store.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a real estate property, and the supplier is a real estate agent business entity, the local point of presence is the physical location of the real estate property.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the item is a professional service and the supplier is a business entity that provides the professional service.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the professional service is a medical service.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises a pointer to where the content may be downloaded from the network server.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises at least a portion of the resulting set of content.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein the local point of presence is located within a proximity defined by a radius of a specified distance around the location identified by the location identification indication.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein the packet switched data network comprises at least a portion of the global Internet.

40. The method of claim 22, wherein the local users are members of the group consisting of pedestrians and user vehicles.

41. The method of claim 22, wherein location identification indication is generated by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the particular mobile unit.

42. The method of claim 22, wherein location identification indication is generated by a GPS receiver in the particular mobile unit when processor in the particular mobile unit deduces that the particular mobile unit'"'"'s GPS coordinates have crossed a computer-represented geographical boundary so that the particular mobile unit is therefore identified to be in a new area as defined by a specified grid granularity, wherein the crossing of a grid line triggers the GPS coordinates to be uploaded so the network server can cause new messages to be pushed to the particular mobile unit based on the particular user'"'"'s location and the user interest identification.

43. For use in a mobile data network environment comprising a packet switched data network, one or more network servers, a plurality of mobile units, and a cellular communication network coupled to the packet switched data network and comprising a plurality of cellular base stations, wherein each cellular base station provides cellular radio access services to service mobile unit users who carry respective ones of the mobile units, wherein the mobile units are characterized in that at least some of the mobile units comprise a processor, a memory, a user interface, and at least one cellular radio air interface comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a protocol stack adapted to process wireless packet data transactions using a cellular communication network packet data service protocol, wherein a particular user operates a particular mobile unit that is in communication with at least a particular cellular base station when the particular mobile unit is located in coverage area of a set of one or more cellular base stations that includes the particular cellular base station, a network server side method comprising:

accessing a user interest indication associated with the particular user, wherein the user interest indication identifies one or more user specified information classes to indicate one or more user preferences for one or more types of content the user desires to receive via unsolicited pushed messages at the particular mobile unit;

receiving via the packet switched data network a location identification indication that was coupled from the cellular communication network, wherein the location identification indication identifies at least an approximate geographical location of the particular mobile unit;

causing a search to be performed over a plurality of sets of content to identify, if present, a resulting set of content that is both categorized into at least one information class corresponding to the user interest indication and is associated with a point of presence located physically near the location identified in the location identification indication; and

causing at least information relating to the resulting set of content to be coupled via the packet switched data network to the cellular communication network so that the particular cellular base station can wirelessly transmit one or more unsolicited broadcast packets with packet headers addressed to the particular mobile unit to automatically notify the particular mobile unit about the resulting set of content without the need to maintain an active client-server session between the network server and the particular mobile unit.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the search is performed over a plurality of sets of content, each said set of content relates to a respective item, each said respective item is selected as a member from the group consisting of a product and a service, each said set of content is categorized in accordance with at least one respective information class associated with the respective item, each said respective item is associated with at least one respective supplier of the respective item, and the respective supplier is associated with a set of one or more geographical locations of points of presence where the respective item is available.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download requested content comprising at least some of the resulting set of content; and

causing the requested content to be coupled via the data network and via the cellular communication network so the cellular communication network can wirelessly couple the requested content to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about a merchant who supplies the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network and via the cellular communication network to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download further content related to further information about the item; and

causing the further content to be coupled via the data network and via the cellular communication network to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

48. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of directions to indicate how to get to the local point of presence; and

causing the set of directions to be coupled via the data network and via the cellular communication network to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

49. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving a request that originated with the particular user, the request indicating a desire to download a set of graphical content that provides a map indicating the physical location of the local point of presence; and

causing the set of graphical content to be coupled via the data network and via the cellular communication network to the particular mobile unit for interaction with the user via the user interface.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the user interface includes an audio interface and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via an audio signal.

51. The method of claim 43, wherein the user interface includes an interactive GUI (graphical user interface) and at least some of the content is coupled to the user via the interactive GUI.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the item is a particular style of food and the supplier is a restaurant who supplies the particular style of food.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the item is a product sold in a retail store, and the supplier is the retail store.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein the item is a real estate property, and the supplier is a real estate agent business entity, the local point of presence is the physical location of the real estate property.

55. The method of claim 43, wherein the item is a professional service and the supplier is a business entity that provides the professional service.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the professional service is a medical service.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises a pointer to where the content may be downloaded from the network server.

58. The method of claim 43, wherein the information relating to the resulting set of content comprises at least a portion of the resulting set of content.

59. The method of claim 43, wherein the local point of presence is located within a proximity defined by a radius of a specified distance around the location identified by the location identification indication.

60. The method of claim 43, wherein the packet switched data network comprises at least a portion of the global Internet.

61. The method of claim 43, wherein the local users are members of the group consisting of pedestrians and user vehicles.

62. The method of claim 43, wherein location identification indication is generated by a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the particular mobile unit and coupled wirelessly from the particular mobile unit to at least one of the cellular base stations in the cellular communication network.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein location identification indication is generated by a GPS receiver in the particular mobile unit when processor in the particular mobile unit deduces that the particular mobile unit'"'"'s GPS coordinates have crossed a computer-represented geographical boundary so that the particular mobile unit is therefore identified to be in a new area as defined by a specified grid granularity, wherein the crossing of a grid line triggers the GPS coordinates to be uploaded so the network server can cause new messages to be pushed to the particular mobile unit based on the particular user'"'"'s location and the user interest identification.