Technique for effective communications with, and provision of global positioning system (GPS) based advertising information to, automobiles

• US 20060206577A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L., White, Philip E.
• Application Number:
  US11/432,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/137 the indicator being in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc.

Claims

1-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the vehicle including a display element, the method comprising:

receiving a message delivered over a communications network outside the vehicle based on a destination address associated with the vehicle, the message including information concerning a faulty condition of the vehicle;

indicating a receipt of the message;

allowing a user to view, on the display element, the information concerning the faulty condition of the vehicle in the message; and

providing a selectable option pertaining to the message.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the communications network comprises a wireless communications network.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the information comprises a recall notice.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein the destination address is identified based on data concerning the vehicle.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the data comprises a vehicle model.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein the data comprises a vehicle year.

67. The method of claim 64 wherein the data comprises at least part of a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle.

68. The method of claim 61 wherein the receipt of the message is indicated by an indicator shown on the display element.

69. The method of claim 61 further comprising allowing a user to postpone viewing the information.

70. The method of claim 61 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

71. The method of claim 61 wherein the selectable option comprises an option to delete the message.

72. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the vehicle including a display element, the method comprising:

receiving a message delivered over a communications network outside the vehicle based on a destination address, the destination address being searchable using data concerning the vehicle, the message including information concerning a campaign initiated by a manufacturer of the vehicle;

allowing a user to view, on the display element, the information concerning the campaign in the message; and

providing a selectable option pertaining to the message.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the communications network includes a wireless communications network.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the campaign concerns a service of the vehicle.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein the campaign comprises a recall.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein the data comprises a vehicle model.

77. The method of claim 72 wherein the data comprises a vehicle year.

78. The method of claim 72 wherein the data comprises at least part of a VIN of the vehicle.

79. The method of claim 72 wherein a receipt of the message is indicated by an indicator shown on the display element.

80. The method of claim 72 further comprising allowing a user to postpone viewing the information.

81. The method of claim 72 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

82. The method of claim 72 wherein the selectable option includes an option to delete the message.

83. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interface for receiving a message delivered over a communications network outside the vehicle based on a destination address associated with the vehicle, the message including information concerning a faulty condition of the vehicle, an indication of a receipt of the message being provided;

a display element for showing thereon the information concerning the faulty condition of the vehicle in the message; and

a processor configured to provide a selectable option pertaining to the message.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the communications network comprises a wireless communications network.

85. The system of claim 83 wherein the information comprises a recall notice.

86. The system of claim 83 wherein the destination address is identified based on data concerning the vehicle.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the data comprises a vehicle model.

88. The system of claim 86 wherein the data comprises a vehicle year.

89. The system of claim 86 wherein the data comprises at least part of a VIN of the vehicle.

90. The system of claim 83 wherein the indication comprises an indicator shown on the display element.

91. The system of claim 83 wherein a second selectable option is provided to postpone viewing the information.

92. The system of claim 83 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

93. The system of claim 83 wherein the selectable option comprises an option to delete the message.

94. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

an interface for receiving a message delivered over a communications network outside the vehicle based on a destination address, the destination address being searchable using data concerning the vehicle, the message including information concerning a campaign initiated by a manufacturer of the vehicle;

a display element for showing thereon the information concerning the campaign in the message; and

a processor configured to provide a selectable option pertaining to the message.

95. The system of claim 94 wherein the communications network includes a wireless communications network.

96. The system of claim 94 wherein the campaign concerns a service of the vehicle.

97. The system of claim 96 wherein the campaign comprises a recall.

98. The system of claim 94 wherein the data comprises a vehicle model.

99. The system of claim 94 wherein the data comprises a vehicle year.

100. The system of claim 94 wherein the data comprises at least part of a VIN of the vehicle.

101. The system of claim 94 wherein a receipt of the message is indicated by an indicator shown on the display element.

102. The system of claim 94 wherein a second selectable option is provided to postpone viewing the information.

103. The system of claim 94 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

104. The system of claim 94 wherein the selectable option includes an option to delete the message.