Dual platform location-relevant service

• US 7,535,416 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Sandhu, Kulbir S., Langley, Julia A., Meczko, Edward D., Fan, Rodric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US11/741,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 342/357.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A location-relevant service system provides location-relevant information to, or performs location-relevant service for, a first mobile unit based on the location of a second mobile unit. In one instance, the first mobile unit is fixed on a vehicle, while the second mobile unit can be provided as a cellular phone. In another instance, the first mobile unit is provided with a display panel, so that authentication can be achieved through providing the display location information to a location-relevant service server using the second mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving position data indicating a position of a first mobile unit, the position data being received from the first mobile unit over a first network;

receiving authentication information from a second mobile unit over a second network;

authenticating the second mobile unit based on the authentication information; and

upon successful authentication, passing from a location-relevant service server to the second mobile device, via the second network, a location-relevant service based on the position data of said first mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received from the second mobile unit comprises requisite rights, and the authentication fails otherwise.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received from the second mobile unit correctly indicates (a) the position of the first mobile unit as specified by the position data, and (b) a time information indicating a time when the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit; and

the authentication fails otherwise.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the time information is an elapsed time since the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the first mobile unit displaying the position data and the time information to make the position data and the time information available to an authorized user, allowing the authorized user to send the position data and the time information via the second mobile unit.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the first mobile unit displaying the position data to make the position data available to an authorized user, allowing the authorized user to send the position data via the second mobile unit.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile unit is a mobile computer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication information comprises a password.

9. A system comprising:

a structure configured to

receive position data indicating a position of a first mobile unit, the position data being received from the first mobile unit over a first network;

receive authentication information from a second mobile unit over a second network;

authenticate the second mobile unit based on the authentication information; and

upon successful authentication, pass from a location-relevant service server to the second mobile device, via the second network, a location-relevant service based on the position data of said first mobile unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received from the second mobile unit comprises requisite rights, and the authentication fails otherwise.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received from the second mobile unit correctly indicates (a) the position of the first mobile unit as specified by the position data, and (b) a time information indicating a time when the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit; and

the authentication fails otherwise.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the time information is an elapsed time since the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising the first mobile unit, wherein the first mobile unit is operable to make the position data and the time information available to an authorized user, allowing the authorized user to send the position data and the time information via the second mobile unit.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising the first mobile unit, wherein the first mobile unit is operable to make the position data available to an authorized user, allowing the authorized user to send the position data via the second mobile unit.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising the second mobile unit which is a mobile computer.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the authentication information comprises a password.

17. A method comprising:

receiving position data over a first network path, the position data indicating a position of a first mobile unit;

receiving authentication information over a second network path from a second mobile unit;

authenticating the second mobile unit based on the authentication information; and

upon successful authentication, passing from a location-relevant service server to the second mobile device, via the second network path, a location-relevant service based on the position data of said first mobile unit.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received over the second network path comprises requisite rights, and the authentication fails otherwise.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received over the second network path correctly indicates (a) the position of the first mobile unit as specified by the position data, and (b) a time information indicating a time when the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit; and

and the authentication fails otherwise.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the time information is an elapsed time since the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the first mobile unit is configured to display the position data and the time information to make the position data and the time information available to an authorized user.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the first mobile unit displaying the position data to make the position data available to an authorized user.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the second network path provides the authentication information from a mobile computer.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the authentication information comprises a password.

25. A system comprising:

a structure configured to

receive position data over a first network path, the position data indicating a position of a first mobile unit;

receive authentication information over a second network path from a second mobile unit; and

authenticate the second mobile unit based on the authentication information; and

upon successful authentication, pass from a location-relevant service server to the second mobile device, via the second network path, a location-relevant service based on the position data of said first mobile unit.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received over the second network path comprises requisite rights, and the authentication fails otherwise.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein:

the authentication succeeds if the authentication information received over the second network path correctly indicates (a) the position of the first mobile unit as specified by the position data, and (b) a time information indicating a time when the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit; and

the authentication fails otherwise.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the time information is an elapsed time since the position data was obtained at the first mobile unit.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the first mobile unit is operable to make the position data and the time information available to an authorized user.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the first mobile unit is operable to make the position data available to an authorized user.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein the second network path provides the authentication information from a mobile computer.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the authentication information comprises a password.