Method and system for updating directed user-based dynamic advertising

• US 6,553,313 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Froeberg, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/912,645
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 701/200, 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213, 342/357, 342/357.08, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

A method and system for dynamically communicating content to an occupant of a moving vehicle according to the location and direction of travel of the vehicle. Position information (such as Global Positioning System information) is used to determine the location and the direction of travel of the vehicle. The vehicle provides its location and direction of travel to a central source (e.g., a server computer system). The central source provides to the vehicle content as a function of the vehicle'"'"'s location and direction of travel as well as other factors such as time of day. The central source can also provide instructions prescribing when and where content is to be displayed. Using the vehicle'"'"'s position and direction of travel as well as other factors such as the time of day, a particular item of content can be selected and communicated to an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a mobile vehicle, an apparatus for dynamically communicating content according to location-based information, said apparatus comprising:

a position determination system adapted to determine a position of said vehicle and a direction of travel of said vehicle;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said position determination system; and

a user interface coupled to said wireless transceiver, said user interface adapted to communicate content to an occupant of said vehicle;

wherein said wireless transceiver transmits said position and said direction of travel of said vehicle to a central source and receives information transmitted from said central source, said information for selecting an item of content as a function of vehicle position and direction of travel; and

wherein said item of content is communicated to said occupant using said user interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

a receiver coupled to said position determination system and adapted to receive transmitted position information used by said position determination system to determine said position and said direction of travel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said position information is Global Positioning System (GPS) information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said position determination system comprises:

a digital compass adapted to determine said direction of travel using said GPS information; and

a satellite positioning system adapted to determine said position using said GPS information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information from said central source is also for selecting said item of content as a function of time of day.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said position and direction of travel are correlated to geographical information in a database, wherein said information from said central source is also for selecting said item of content according to said geographical information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information from said central source comprises items of content for later display and instructions prescribing conditions for displaying said items of content, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said information from said central source comprises instructions prescribing conditions for displaying items of content previously stored in a storage unit of said vehicle, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises a display unit operable to visually communicate said item of content.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises an audio unit operable to audibly communicate said item of content.

11. In a mobile vehicle, a method of dynamically communicating content according to location-based information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) determining a position and a direction of travel of a mobile vehicle, said mobile vehicle having a user interface for communicating an item of content to an occupant of said mobile vehicle;

b) providing said position and said direction of travel to a central source;

c) receiving information from said central source, said information for selecting an item of content as a function of position and direction of travel of said mobile vehicle; and

d) communicating said item of content to said occupant using said user interface.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step a) comprises the step of:

receiving position information at said mobile vehicle, said position information for determining said position and said direction of travel of said mobile vehicle.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said position information is Global Positioning System (GPS) information.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said mobile vehicle comprises a position determination system comprising a digital compass adapted to determine said direction of travel using said GPS information and a satellite positioning system adapted to determine said position using said GPS information.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said information received in said step c) is also for selecting said item of content as a function of time of day.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step b) further comprises the step of:

correlating said position and said direction of travel to geographical information in a database, wherein said information received in said step c) is also for selecting said item of content as a function of said geographical information.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said information from said central source comprises items of content for later display and instructions prescribing conditions for displaying said items of content, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said information from said central source comprises instructions prescribing conditions for displaying items of content previously stored in a storage unit of said vehicle, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:

communicating said item of content visually using a display unit.

20. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:

communicating said item of content audibly using an audio unit.

21. A method of dynamically communicating content according to location-based information, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving information indicating a position and direction of travel of a mobile vehicle; and

b) transmitting information to said mobile vehicle, said information for selecting an item of content as a function of position and direction of travel of said mobile vehicle, wherein said item of content is communicated to an occupant of said mobile vehicle using a user interface.

22. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said information transmitted in said step b) comprises items of content for immediate display according to said position and direction of travel of said vehicle.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said information transmitted in said step b) comprises items of content for later display and instructions prescribing conditions for displaying said items of content, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said information transmitted in said step b) comprises instructions prescribing conditions for displaying items of content previously stored in a storage unit of said mobile vehicle, wherein said conditions comprise a vehicle position and direction of travel for displaying a respective item of content.

25. The method as recited in claim 21 wherein said information transmitted in said step b) is also for displaying said item of content as a function of time of day.

26. The method as recited in claim 21 comprising the steps of:

receiving a request to display a particular item of content; and

transmitting said particular item of content to said vehicle.