Point of interest spatial rating search method and system

• US 7,082,365 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Networks In Motion Incorporated (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie, Petilli, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/222,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036848A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701/208, 701/211, 701/209, 701/213, 701/214, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/557.13, 342/357.08, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/990
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096894 where input is assisted by the navigation device, i.e. the user does not type the complete name of the destination, e.g. using zip codes, telephone numbers, progressively selecting from initial letters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for searching and retrieving location information associated with one or more points of interests, whereby the search criteria can be dependent upon the location of a point of interest with respect to the the real-time position of the user, and any preferences or search restrictions selected by the user, such as rating information about the point of interest. Upon selecting a point of interest from the search result, the user is then given further information regarding the selected point of interest, including but not limited to directions for traveling to the point of interest. Additionally, preferred embodiments of the present invention can provide to the user a proximity notification once the user is within a certain distance from the point interest. Finally, while at a point of interest, the user can provide to the system information regarding the point of interest, such as rating of the food of a restaurant, without having to specifically identify the point of interest as the system can self-identify the point of interest by using the position information of the user.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium containing executable programming instructions for causing a processor of a mobile device to perform a method of retrieving information associated to a point of interest, said mobile device having a user input and a display, said method comprising the step of:

retrieving, via a global positioning system, a real-time position information of the mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

receiving a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area;

retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified in accordance with the search criteria;

determining a distance between the real-time position and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

displaying on said display the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest and the determined distance between the real-time position of the mobile device and the location of the at least one point of interest.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said search criteria is received from the user input of the mobile device.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving a category search criteria, said category search criteria specifying a category of points of interests to be searched.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 3, wherein said at least one point of interest is pre-associated with the category specified.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said retrieved location information includes at least one of the address and the phone number of the at least one point of interest.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of authorizing the retrieval of the real-time position information.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of providing directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of automatically making a telephone call to the at least one point of interest.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of storing said location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of recording evaluation information associated with the at least one point of interest.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

receiving a destination information, said destination information including a location of a destination; and

retrieving a route of travel from the real-time position to the destination,

wherein said search criteria includes distance of points of interest from the route of travel.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

determining a direction of travel of the mobile device; and

determining whether the location of the at least point of interest is ahead or behind the real-time position along the route of travel.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said database is located remotely from the mobile device and is accessed by said processor using a wireless network.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of storing the search criteria.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of retrieving additional information associated with the at least one point of interest.

48. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said real-time position information indicates the real-time location of the mobile device in GPS coordinates.

16. A system for searching and retrieving information associated with a point of interest, said system comprising:

means for retrieving, from a GPS satellite, a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

means for receiving a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area;

means for retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified in accordance with the search criteria;

means for determining a distance between the real-time position and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

means for transmitting to said mobile device at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest and the determined distance between the real-time position and the location of the at least one point of interest.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said search criteria is received from said mobile device.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for receiving a category search criteria, said category search criteria specifying a category of points of interests to be searched.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one point of interest is pre-associated with the category specified.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said retrieved location information includes at least one of the address and the phone number of the at least one point of interest.

21. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for authorizing the retrieval of the real-time position information.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for providing directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for automatically making a telephone call to the at least one point of interest.

24. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for storing said location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

25. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for entering evaluation information associated with the at least one point of interest.

26. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving a destination information, said destination information including a location of a destination; and

means for retrieving a route of travel from the real-time position to the destination, wherein said search criteria includes distance of points of interest from the route of travel.

27. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for determining a direction of travel of said mobile device and determining whether the location of the at least point of interest is ahead or behind the real-time position along the route of travel.

28. The system of claim 16, wherein said database is accessed using a wireless network.

29. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for storing the search criteria.

30. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for retrieving additional information associated with the at least one point of interest.

49. The system of claim 16, wherein said real-time position information indicates the real-time location of the mobile device in GPS coordinates.

31. A method for providing information associated with a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving, via a global positioning system, a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time position of the mobile device;

receiving a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area;

retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified in accordance with the search criteria;

determining a real-time distance between the location of said at least one point of interest and the position of the mobile device;

comparing the real-time distance with a predetermined proximity alert distance; and

generating a proximity notification if the real-time distance is equal or less than the predetermined proximity alert distance.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said real-time position information indicates the real-time location of the mobile device in GPS coordinates.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing direction information for traveling between the real-time position of the user and the location of said at least one point of interest.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said direction information includes turn-by-turn driving directions.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing parking information for parking a vehicle in close proximity to the location of said at least one point of interest.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of providing advertisement information associated with said at least one point of interest.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of authenticating the identification of the user.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein said search criteria is received from the mobile device.

38. A GPS-enabled mobile device comprising:

means for retrieving, from a GPS satellite, a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

means for receiving a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area;

means for retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified in accordance with the search criteria;

means for determining a distance between the real-time position and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

means for displaying at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest and the determined distance between the real-time position of the mobile device and the location of the at least one point of interest.

39. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, wherein said at least one point of interest is a restaurant.

40. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, further comprising means for receiving a category search criteria, said category search criteria specifying a category of points of interests to be searched.

41. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 40, wherein said at least one point of interest is pre-associated with the category specified.

42. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, wherein said retrieved location information includes at least one of the address and the phone number of the at least one point of interest.

43. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, further comprising means for receiving directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

44. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, further comprising means for determining directions for traveling between the real-time position to the location of the at least one point of interest.

45. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, further comprising means for entering evaluation information associated with the at least one point of interest.

46. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, further comprising means for determining a direction of travel of said mobile device and determining whether the location of the at least point of interest is ahead or behind the real-time position along the route of travel.

47. The GPS-enabled mobile device of claim 38, wherein said real-time position information indicates the real-time location of the mobile device in GPS coordinates.

51. A method for searching and retrieving information associated with a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving, from a GPS satellite, a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

receiving a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area;

retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified in accordance with the search criteria;

determining a distance between the real-time position and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

transmitting to said mobile device at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest and the determined distance between the real-time position and the location of the at least one point of interest.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said search criteria is received from the mobile device.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein said search criteria is received from a server operatively coupled to a wireless communication network.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein said geographical area is one of a street, a metropolitan area, a city, a county, a state, and a region.

55. A method for searching and retrieving information associated with a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

generating a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area, wherein said search criteria is generated as a function of the real-time position information retrieved;

retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified by said search criteria;

transmitting to said mobile device at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising the steps of:

determining one of a speed of travel and direction of travel of the mobile device;

determining one of a travel time and a travel distance between a real-time position of the mobile device and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

transmitting to said mobile device the determined travel time or the determined travel distance between the real-time position and the location of the at least one point of interest.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said real-time position information of the mobile device is retrieved from a GPS satellite.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein said geographical area is one of a street, a metropolitan area, a city, a county, a state, and a region.

59. A machine-readable medium containing executable programming instructions for causing a processor of a computer to perform a method for searching and retrieving information associated with a point of interest, said method comprising the steps of:

retrieving a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

generating a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area, wherein said search criteria is generated as a function of the real-time position information retrieved;

retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified by said search criteria;

transmitting to said mobile device at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

60. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining one of a speed of travel and direction of travel of the mobile device;

determining one of a travel time and a travel distance between a real-time position of the mobile device and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

transmitting to said mobile device the determined travel time or the determined travel distance between the real-time position and the location of the at least one point of interest.

61. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, wherein said real-time position information of the mobile device is retrieved from a GPS satellite.

62. The machine-readable medium of claim 59, wherein said geographical area is one of a street, a metropolitan area, a city, a county, a state, and a region.

63. A system for searching and retrieving information associated with a point of interest, said system comprising:

means for retrieving a real-time position information of a mobile device, said real-time position information indicating a real-time location of the mobile device;

means for generating a search criteria, said search criteria specifying one of a spatial distance from the real-time position of the mobile device and a pre-defined geographical area, wherein said search criteria is generated as a function of the real-time position information retrieved;

means for retrieving, from a database, location information associated with at least one point of interest, said at least one point of interest being located within the spatial distance or geographical area specified by said search criteria;

means for transmitting to said mobile device at least a part of the retrieved location information associated with the at least one point of interest.

64. The system of claim 63, further comprising:

means for determining one of a speed of travel and direction of travel of the mobile device;

means for determining one of a travel time and a travel distance between a real-time position of the mobile device and a location of the at least one point of interest; and

means for transmitting to said mobile device the determined travel time or the determined travel distance between the real-time position and the location of the at least one point of interest.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein said real-time position information of the mobile device is retrieved from a GPS satellite.

66. The system of claim 63, wherein said geographical area is one of a street, a metropolitan area, a city, a county, a state, and a region.