Method and apparatus for providing directional information
First Claim
1. A system for providing geographic information over a cellular telephone network comprising:
- an interface connectable to the cellular telephone network which provides for processing of at least one telephone call from at least one cellular telephone wherein the telephone call includes geographic location information and an entered destination code;
a destination database which includes a plurality of destination codes, where each destination code is associated with a location;
a processing engine in connection with the interface which receives the geographic location information and the destination information and automatically accesses a memory to identify the location associated with the entered destination code;
a mapping module which uses the geographic location information provided in the telephone call and the associated location to calculate an optimal path between the geographic location and the associated location;
a directions generator module which generates directions for the optimal path as a series of instructions in a desired format, where said desired format is presentable on the at least one telephone upon receipt of said directions; and
said interface is further configured to transmit the directions over the cellular telephone network to the cellular telephone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system provides the functionality to provide a wireless telephone user directional information to a desired destination. Incorporated into the wireless telephone is a position determining device such as a global positioning system (GPS) device. When a phone user establishes a connection with a particular switch in the wireless network, this positional information from the GPS device is provided and the location of the wireless phone may be determined. The wireless telephone user also provides information regarding the desired destination. Associated with the destination code for the desired destination is a physical street address. Using the known location of the wireless telephone and the street address for the desired destination, a mapping procedure may be performed to determine a route between the two points. This route may be then converted to audio and/or alphanumeric directions. The directions would then be transmitted to the wireless phone which would either present them in audio form, or via a display incorporated into the telephone.
199 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for providing geographic information over a cellular telephone network comprising:
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an interface connectable to the cellular telephone network which provides for processing of at least one telephone call from at least one cellular telephone wherein the telephone call includes geographic location information and an entered destination code;
a destination database which includes a plurality of destination codes, where each destination code is associated with a location;
a processing engine in connection with the interface which receives the geographic location information and the destination information and automatically accesses a memory to identify the location associated with the entered destination code;
a mapping module which uses the geographic location information provided in the telephone call and the associated location to calculate an optimal path between the geographic location and the associated location;
a directions generator module which generates directions for the optimal path as a series of instructions in a desired format, where said desired format is presentable on the at least one telephone upon receipt of said directions; and
said interface is further configured to transmit the directions over the cellular telephone network to the cellular telephone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeQwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
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Original AssigneeQwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
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InventorsKenyon, Jeffrey D.
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Primary Examiner(s)Urban, Edward F.
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Assistant Examiner(s)LE, LANA N
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Application NumberUS09/276,292Time in Patent Office1,944 DaysField of Search455/456, 455/457, 455/33.1, 455/461, 455/466, 455/422, 455/414, 455/406, 379/58, 379/59, 379/63, 342/357.09, 342/357, 342/350, 342/357.1, 701/201, 701/213, 701/211US Class Current455/457CPC Class CodesG01C 21/20 Instruments for performing ...H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxilia...
