Technique for communicating information concerning a product or service provider to a vehicle

• US 7,409,221 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L., White, Philip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost; William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ewart; James D
• Application Number:
  US11/448,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 455/99, 455/345, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/569.2, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/211, 701/213, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995.1, 340/995.12, 340/995.14, 340/995.24
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/137 the indicator being in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 : for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system in a vehicle, the vehicle including a display element, the method comprising:

sensing a location of the vehicle;

showing, on the display element, at least one indicator indicating a location of at least one product or service provider in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle;

allowing a user to obtain information concerning products or services offered by the provider indicated by the indicator; and

providing a selectable option to receive, through a communications network, at least one image which concerns the provider, and which is updated periodically.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network includes a wireless communications network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one image is received in a digital format.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one image is shown on the display element.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one image includes a time indication thereon.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one image includes thereon an indication of a location of the provider.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the indication includes global positioning system (GPS) data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes promotional information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the promotional information comprises a sound clip.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the promotional information comprises a video clip.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a user to obtain data concerning the provider.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data includes directions for reaching the location of the provider.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the data includes connection information for communicating with the provider.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the provider includes a restaurant.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the location of the vehicle is sensed using a GPS technique.

17. A system for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a device for sensing a location of the vehicle;

a display element for showing thereon at least one indicator indicating a location of at least one product or service provider in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle;

an interface for allowing a user to obtain information concerning products or services offered by the provider indicated by the indicator; and

a processor configured to provide a selectable option to receive, through a communications network, at least one image which concerns the provider, and which is updated periodically.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the communications network includes a wireless communications network.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one image is received in a digital format.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one image is shown on the display element.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one image includes a time indication thereon.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one image includes thereon an indication of a location of the provider.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the indication includes GPS data.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the information includes promotional information.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the promotional information comprises a sound clip.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the promotional information comprises a video clip.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein a user is also allowed to obtain data concerning the provider.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the data includes directions for reaching the location of the provider.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the data includes connection information for communicating with the provider.

30. The system of claim 17 wherein the provider includes a restaurant.

31. The system of claim 17 wherein the selectable option is provided on the display element.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein the device incorporates GPS technology.