Method of identifying geographical location using hierarchical grid address that includes a predefined alpha code

• US 6,295,502 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WGRS Licensing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Peter H. Dana, Scott D. Morrison, S. Lee. Hancock
• Inventors: Morrison, Scott D., Dana, Peter H., Hancock, S. Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/645,814
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/208, 701/300, 340/988
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for automatically providing services over a computer network, such as the Internet, for users in a mobile environment based on their geographic location. A client computer system is equipped with a local storage device, a wireless transceiver, an input device, in output device and an automatic location identifying (ALI) device. An application program is installed on the client computer system that prompts the user to input information. The application program builds a data packet comprising location information and user information and stores the data packet on the local client storage device. The client computer system connects with a server coupled to a computer network, such as the Internet. Upon connection, the client automatically transmits the electronic data packet to the server. The primary server maintains a database that contains a list of enhanced services. The information in the data packet is used to formulate a database query. The result of the database query is an address of a particular enhanced server that matches the client'"'"'s request. A specific universal resource locator (URL) that contains the address of the enhanced server is transmitted to the client. The client computer system launches a web browser and connects to the enhanced server. Upon connection relevant data customized for the client'"'"'s location is automatically displayed without additional input from the user.

Claims

1. A method of using a grid address as a geographical location identifier, comprising:

providing a hierarchical grid address including a specific locational address appended to general position information, the general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each of the grids corresponding to a geographical area and having a plurality of cells and sub-cells corresponding to smaller geographical areas within the grid, the specific locational address includes a predefined alpha code representing a specific object associated with said hierarchical grid address to further identify a specific characteristic of said hierarchical grid address; and

using the hierarchical grid address as a geographic location identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined alpha code represents a specific object in a third dimension.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third dimension relates to a vertical or height dimension.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined alpha code includes one or more of the following said specific characteristics:

aisle, apartment, address, box, bin, bay, column, case, door, depth, day, elevator, entry, elevation, escalator, floor, field, garage, gate, height above ellipsoid, height above geoid, height orthometric, height above sea level, height above topographical surface, house, locker, level, number, P.O. box, phone, room, row, road, street, suite, security code, section, seat, time, tram, train, track, unit, intersection and zip code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific locational address includes a plurality of hierarchical codes representative of a specific cell, sub-cell, and any further levels of cell subdivision.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the grids corresponds to a geographical area and has:

a plurality of cells;

a reference location;

global coordinates of said reference location; and

at least one parameter defining(, cell size and orientation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific locational address is a proprietary name.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the general position information includes top, second, and third level hierarchical codes for identifying countries, states/provinces, and cities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the general position information includes a country code as a top level hierarchical code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the general position information includes a state/province code as a second level hierarchical code.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the general position information includes a city code as a third level hierarchical code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

15. A method of using a grid address as a geographical location identifier, comprising:

providing a hierarchical grid address including at least a top level code, a second level code, a third level code, and a predefined alpha code, the top level code representing a country, the second level code representing a state/province, the third level code representing a city, and the predefined alpha code representing a specific object associated with said hierarchical grid address to further identify a specific characteristic of said hierarchical grid address; and

using the hierarchical grid address as a geographic location identifier.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined alpha code represents a specific object in a third dimension.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third dimension relates to a vertical or height dimension.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined alpha code includes one or more of the following said specific characteristics:

aisle, apartment, address, box, bin, bay, column, case, door, depth, day, elevator, entry, elevation, escalator, floor, field, garage, gate, height above ellipsoid, height above geoid, height orthometric, height above sea level, height above topographical surface, house, locker, level, number, P.O. box, phone, room, row, road, street, suite, security code, section, seat, time, tram, train, track, unit, intersection and zip code.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the country code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the state/province code is a two alpha character mnemonic.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the city code is a two or three alpha character mnemonic.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the hierarchical grid address includes a fourth level code representing a proprietary name.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the proprietary name includes at least one of alpha and numeric characters.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the hierarchical grid address further includes a plurality of hierarchical codes representative of a specific cell, sub-cell, and any further levels of cell subdivision of a grid.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the hierarchical grid address includes general position information representing at least one of a plurality of pre-defined grids, each grid corresponds to a geographical area and has:

a plurality of cells;

a reference location;

global coordinates of said reference location; and

at least one parameter defining cell size and orientation.

26. A method of using a grid address as a geographical location identifier, comprising:

providing a hierarchical grid address including a predefined alpha code representing a specific object associated with said hierarchical arid address to further identify a specific characteristic of said hierarchical grid address; and

using the hierarchical grid address as a geographic location identifier.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the predefined alpha code represents a specific object in a third dimension.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the third dimension relates to a vertical or height dimension.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the predefined alpha code includes one or more of the following said specific characteristics:

aisle, apartment, address, box, bin, bay, column, case, door, depth, day, elevator, entry, elevation, escalator, floor, field, garage, gate, height above ellipsoid, height above geoid, height orthometric, height above sea level, height above topographical surface, house, locker, level, number, P.O. box, phone, room, row, road, street, suite, security code, section, seat, time, tram, train, track, unit, intersection and zip code.