Message delivery system and method therefor
First Claim
1. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route;
b) determining, in response to said location, a message identity;
c) detecting a beginning of message code;
d) activating a message delivery system in response to said beginning of message code;
e) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity;
f) detecting an end of message code; and
g) deactivating said message delivery system in response to said end of message code.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A message delivery system (12) automatically delivers messages (44) through mobile units (20) as the mobile units (20) travel within a predetermined area (10). Each message (44) is delivered only when the mobile unit (20) is near a point of interest (16) which is the subject of the message'"'"'s content. Each message (44) is delivered in its entirety, from beginning to end, without repetition. Que points (24) are defined to reside before corresponding points of interest (16) when mobile units (20) travel in particular directions. Based upon these particular directions of travel, message content may be configured to describe points of interest (16) using left or right relative directional references. Messages (44) are delivered in real time, and their content may change quickly and frequently. A control station (18) controls the programming of the mobile units (20) and sends programming communications (48) over the air to change mobile unit programming as needed.
120 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; b) determining, in response to said location, a message identity; c) detecting a beginning of message code; d) activating a message delivery system in response to said beginning of message code; e) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity; f) detecting an end of message code; and g) deactivating said message delivery system in response to said end of message code.
-
-
2. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; b) determining, in response to said location, a message identity; c) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity; d) determining if said location corresponds to a que point; and e) refraining from performing said steps b) and c) when said location does not correspond to a que point.
-
-
3. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) associating message identities with que points; b) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; c) determining if said location corresponds to one of said que points; d) when said location corresponds to one of said que points, obtaining the one of said message identities associated with said one of said que points; and e) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity.
-
-
4. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; b) determining, in response to said location, a message identity; c) recording data corresponding to a previously delivered message; d) evaluating said data corresponding to said previously delivered message to verify that delivery of a current message is allowed; and e) delivering said current message, said current message corresponding to said message identity.
-
-
5. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; b) identifying a radio communication channel in response to said location; c) tuning a radio receiver to said communication channel; d) determining, in response to said location, a message identity; and e) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity.
-
-
6. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route; b) determining, in response to said location, a message identity; c) receiving a communication through a radio receiver, said communication conveying a message identity code; d) evaluating said received message identity code in comparison to said message identity determined in said step b); and e) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
-
8. A method for distributing messages through a mobile unit, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) receiving, a radio programming communication which conveys a given location in association with a message identity; b) recording said message identity in association with said given location; c) obtaining a current location for said mobile unit, said mobile unit being capable of traveling within an area along a substantially unspecified route, and said current location substantially matching said given location; b) determining, in response to said current location, said message identity; and c) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity.
-
-
9. A method for distributing messages through mobile units, said method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving, within a local area, a radio communication at one of said mobile units that conveys a message describing a point of interest within said local area, said mobile unit being proximate said point of interest during said receiving step; detecting a beginning of said message; activating, in response to said beginning of said message, a delivery system to deliver said message; detecting an end of said message; and deactivating, in response to said end of said message, said delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for delivering messages having geographic contexts through mobile units as said mobile units pass geographic points to which said messages relate, said method comprising the steps of:
-
a) identifying geographic que points; b) associating messages with said que points; c) determining when one of said mobile units passes one of said que points, said one mobile unit being capable of substantially free movement about said que points; d) identifying the passed one of said que points; e) determining, in response to said step d), a message identity; and f) delivering a message corresponding to said message identity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A system for distributing messages through a mobile unit capable of substantially free movement within a local area, said system comprising:
-
a location receiver for generating data describing a location for said mobile unit; a mobile controller coupled to said location receiver, said mobile controller being configured to determine a message identity in response to said location; and a delivery device coupled to said mobile controller, said delivery device being configured to annunciate a message corresponding to said message identity, said message being configured to describe a point of interest within said local area, wherein said message is annunciated by said delivery device when said mobile unit is proximate said point of interest. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
Specification