Method for distributing location-relevant information using a network

• US 6,552,682 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1999
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At Road Incorporated
• Inventors: Fan, Rodric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/422,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/07 providing data for correcting measured positioning data, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS] or ionosphere corrections
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/074 providing integrity data, e.g. WAAS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0063 of measured values, i.e. measurement on base station and position calculation on mobile
• 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: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

A method for distributing locating-relevant information includes providing a GPS position of a client to a server on a data network, and returning location-relevant information by the server based on the specified GPS position. Such location-relevant information include travel or tourist information (e.g., locations of tourist attractions, hotels, or restaurants). Commercial information such as discount coupons or advertising selected based on the Client'"'"'s GPS position can also be provided. Financial or business transactions can be conducted using the GPS position for authentication or identification.

Claims

1. A method for distributing location-relevant information over a data network to a mobile client, comprising:

at a server, receiving a GPS position of said client over said data network through a gateway bridging said data network and a wireless communication network; and

obtaining said location-relevant information using said GPS position and positional information of selected locations stored at said server; and

returning to said client said location-relevant information over said data network and said wireless communication network through said gateway.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said GPS position is provided to said server by said client in conjunction with a query for information.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said client comprises an Internet browser application program.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said location-relevant information includes advertising of local interest to said client.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said location-relevant information includes a coupon accepted by a business in the local vicinity of said client.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said location-relevant information includes an address of a local point of interest.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said server selects location-relevant information from a non-location specific information database using said GPS position.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said selected locations are selected from an itinerary stored in said server.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein said itinerary comprises a list of street addresses.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein said itinerary is provided to said server from a terminal at a fixed location.

11. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of authenticating the identity of said client prior to granting access to said server by said client.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said authenticating step includes scanning and digitizing a fingerprint.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein said positional information of said selected locations are provided by GPS.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein said selected locations represent locations of real property of interest to a real estate practitioner.

15. A method as in claim 2, wherein said query comprises query of detailed direction for travel from said GPS position of client to one of said selected locations.

16. A method as in claim 1, wherein said positional information of said selected locations comprises codes from a recognized location code system.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein said codes are provided to a second server for translating into GPS positions.

18. A method as in claim 1, wherein said positional information of said selected locations includes telephone numbers.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said telephone numbers are provided to a second server for translating into GPS positions.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein said telephone numbers are provided by a telephone directory assistance service.

21. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

scanning and digitizing a finger print of said client; and

providing said digitized finger print to said server.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said server authenticates said client using said digitized finger print and information stored in said server.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein said server, upon receiving said digitized finger print of said client, provides said digitized finger print to an external agent to authenticate said client.

24. A method as in claim 23, wherein said agent is designated by agreement between said client and said server.

25. A storage medium containing a computer program for carrying out a method for distributing location-relevant information over a data network to a mobile client, said method comprising:

at a server, receiving a GPS position of said client over said data network through a gateway bridging said data network and a wireless communication network; and

obtaining said location-relevant information using said GPS position and positional information of selected locations stored at said server; and

returning to said client said location-relevant information over said data network and said wireless communication network through said gateway.

26. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said GPS position is provided to said server by said client in conjunction with a query for information.

27. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said client comprises an Internet browser application program.

28. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said location-relevant information includes advertising of local interest to said client.

29. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said location-relevant information includes a coupon accepted by a business in the local vicinity of said client.

30. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said location-relevant information includes an address of a local point of interest.

31. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said server selects location-relevant information from a non-location specific information database using said GPS position.

32. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said selected locations are selected from an itinerary stored in said server.

33. A storage medium as in claim 32, wherein said itinerary comprises a list of street addresses.

34. A storage medium as in claim 32, wherein said itinerary is provided to said server from a terminal at a fixed location.

35. A storage medium as in claim 25, further comprising the step of authenticating the identity of said client prior to granting access to said server by said client.

36. A storage medium as in claim 35, wherein said authenticating step includes scanning and digitizing a fingerprint.

37. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said positional information of said selected locations are provided by GPS.

38. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said selected locations represent locations of real property of interest to a real estate practitioner.

39. A storage medium as in claim 26, wherein said query comprises query of detailed direction for travel from said GPS position of client to one of said selected locations.

40. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said positional information of said selected locations comprises codes from a recognized location code system.

41. A storage medium as in claim 40, wherein said codes are provided to a second server for translating into GPS positions.

42. A storage medium as in claim 25, wherein said positional information of said selected locations includes telephone numbers.

43. A storage medium as in claim 42, wherein said telephone numbers are provided to a second server for translating into GPS positions.

44. A storage medium as in claim 42, wherein said telephone numbers are provided by a telephone directory assistance service.

45. A storage medium as in claim 25, said method further comprising:

scanning and digitizing a finger print of said client; and

providing said digitized finger print to said server.

46. A storage medium as in claim 45, wherein said server authenticates said client using said digitized finger print and information stored in said server.

47. A storage medium as in claim 46, wherein said server, upon receiving said digitized finger print of said client, provides said digitized finger print to an external agent to authenticate said client.

48. A storage medium as in claim 47, wherein said agent is designated by agreement between said client and said server.