Methods and systems for delivering travel-related information

• US 8,340,648 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Benjamin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US13/174,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.3, 455/414.2, 455/456.3, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for delivering travel related information with an intelligent network. One method embodiment includes establishing a communication with the intelligent network through an access device, determining a location of the access device, and obtaining the travel-related information with the access device through the intelligent network, wherein the travel-related information includes data related to a location of the access device. Additional system and computer-readable media embodiments of the present methods and systems are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for providing travel-related information, comprising:

a database configured to store subscriber information associated with at least one access device; and

a control device configured to;

receive a communication from the access device, the communication including;

a request for travel-related information, the travel-related information being associated with the location of the access device at the time the communication was initiated;

a code to identify the communication as a request for access to the database containing the travel-related information; and

information that identifies the access device;

determine whether the access device is entitled to receive the travel-related information based on the subscriber information stored in the database;

if the access device is entitled to receive the travel-related information;

prompt the access device for selection of a method to determine the location of the access device, wherein the location of the access device is determined according to the selected method, over a range of times, and wherein a direction of travel of the access device is determined by extrapolating the location of the access device over the range of times; and

send the travel-related information, including data related to the determined location of the access device and the determined direction of travel of the access device, to the access device, wherein the travel-related information comprises content including weather related to the determined location of the access device and weather related to the determined direction of travel of the access device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information further includes traffic information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information is sent to the access device in a format selected from the group consisting of text and speech, wherein the format is specified by user preferences.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control device is further configured to receive a selection of the format for delivering the travel-related information from the access device during normal operation and store the selection as a user preference for future delivery of travel-related information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information comprises photographs of traffic in proximity to the location of the access device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the travel-related information is obtained using at least one of aerial reconnaissance vehicles, remote terrestrial sensors and manual observation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the information that identifies the access device includes at least one of a phone number, a serial number, and a wireless system identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the location of the access device is determined based on the access device'"'"'s phone number.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the access device is determined based on triangulation of a communication signal to the access device.