GPS data management module for use in location-based service systems
First Claim
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1. A Location-Based Service (LBS) system comprising:
- a mobile communication system comprising;
a fixed part comprising a first coverage area and a second coverage area outside of said first area;
a mobile part comprising at least one mobile device, each of said at least one mobile device comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) device for establishing a GPS position of said mobile device and a management module for determining when said mobile device is within said first coverage area or said second coverage area; and
a data communication link between said fixed part and said mobile part; and
an LBS server for maintaining a current position of said at least one mobile device;
wherein said current position of said at least one mobile device is available within said fixed part when said at least one mobile device is within said first coverage area and wherein said current position is unavailable within said fixed part when said at least one mobile device is within said second coverage area;
wherein when said mobile device is within said first coverage area, said current position of said at least one mobile device is received at said LBS server from said fixed part and wherein when said management module determines that said mobile device is within said second coverage area, said GPS position of said at least one mobile device is transmitted periodically to said LBS server from said mobile device via a TCP/IP data connection established between said mobile device and said LBS server using said data communication link.
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Abstract
A system and method are presented to provide radio and GPS coverage versatility in a location-based service (LBS) system, such as an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system. A mobile client in communication with one or more servers of an LBS system includes one or more mobile communication devices and one or more GPS devices for establishing a position of the client. The client is configured to determine whether none of the one or more GPS devices provide the server access to the position through a wireless protocol implemented therewith, or whether the position should be communicated to the server using the one or more communication devices.
49 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A Location-Based Service (LBS) system comprising:
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a mobile communication system comprising; a fixed part comprising a first coverage area and a second coverage area outside of said first area; a mobile part comprising at least one mobile device, each of said at least one mobile device comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) device for establishing a GPS position of said mobile device and a management module for determining when said mobile device is within said first coverage area or said second coverage area; and a data communication link between said fixed part and said mobile part; and an LBS server for maintaining a current position of said at least one mobile device; wherein said current position of said at least one mobile device is available within said fixed part when said at least one mobile device is within said first coverage area and wherein said current position is unavailable within said fixed part when said at least one mobile device is within said second coverage area; wherein when said mobile device is within said first coverage area, said current position of said at least one mobile device is received at said LBS server from said fixed part and wherein when said management module determines that said mobile device is within said second coverage area, said GPS position of said at least one mobile device is transmitted periodically to said LBS server from said mobile device via a TCP/IP data connection established between said mobile device and said LBS server using said data communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a current position of a mobile device comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) device to a Location-Based Service (LBS) server, the mobile device moving within a fixed network comprising a first coverage area where the current position is transmitted periodically from the mobile device to the fixed network as part of normal operation of a communication system between the mobile device and the fixed network such that the current position of the mobile device is available within the fixed network when the mobile device is within the first coverage area and a second coverage area outside of said first coverage area where the current position is not transmitted from the mobile device to the fixed network as part of normal operation of the communication system such that the current position is not available within the fixed network when the mobile device is within the second coverage area, the method comprising:
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establishing the current position using the GPS device; determining if the mobile device is within the first coverage area or the second coverage area; if the current position is within the first coverage area, communicating the current position to the LBS server using a data connection established between the fixed network and the LBS server; and if the current position is within the second coverage area, communicating the current position periodically to the LBS server directly using a TCP/IP data connection established between the mobile device and the LBS server using the communication system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A mobile device for use in a wireless communication system, the system including at least one server adapted for communication over a fixed network and for providing a Location-Based Service (LBS) wherein a current position of the mobile device is available within the fixed network when the mobile device is within a first coverage area and wherein the current position is unavailable within the fixed network when the mobile device is within a second coverage area, the device comprising:
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a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for establishing the current position of the mobile device; a transceiver for providing a communication link with the fixed network, and a management module for determining whether the mobile device is within one of the first coverage and the second coverage area, wherein if the management module determines that the mobile device is within the second coverage area, said device establishes a TCP/IP data connection with the server using said communication link and transmits said current position periodically to the server using said TCP/IP data connection. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A computer program product embodied on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium within a mobile device, the mobile device in communication through a mobile communication system and a fixed network with a Location-Based Service (LBS) system, the device comprising a transceiver and a GPS receiver for establishing a position of the client, the computer program product comprising:
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computer code for obtaining the current position from the GPS device; computer code for determining if the current position is within one of a first coverage area where the current position is transmitted periodically from the mobile device to the fixed network and therefore is available within the fixed network as part of normal operation of the mobile communication system between the mobile device and the fixed network when the mobile device is within said first coverage area and a second coverage area outside of said first coverage area where the current position is not transmitted between the mobile device and the fixed network and therefore the current position is not available within the fixed network when the mobile device is within said second coverage area as part of normal operation of the mobile communication system; and computer code for establishing a TCP/IP data connection between the mobile device and the LBS server using the communication link and periodically communicating the current position to the LBS server via said TCP/IP data connection if the current position is not transmitted periodically to the fixed network as part of normal operation of the mobile communication system.
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Specification