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US Patent 6199045 - Method and apparatus for providing position-related information to mobile recipients
US Patent Issued on March 6, 2001
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
August 15, 2016Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
August 15, 2016Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA system for providing position-related information to a mobile user includes a mobile unit and a central site server. The mobile unit includes circuitry for determining present position information from position signals which may emanate from, for example, GPS satellites. The mobile unit further includes circuitry for establishing a wireless bidirectional communications link with the central site server via a terrestrial network, which may be accessed via a cellular telephone network. The central site server includes circuitry for receiving the present position information from the mobile unit. A table stored at the central site server includes different response information in correspondence with possible positions of the mobile unit. The response information may further be in correspondence with user preferences. The central site server uses the received present position information to retrieve corresponding response information from the table, and sends the retrieved response information to the mobile unit via the bidirectional communications link. The mobile unit further includes circuitry, such as a loudspeaker, for supplying the response information to the mobile user. In another aspect of the invention, communications between the mobile unit and the central site server are encrypted. Furthermore, the mobile unit may include components for preventing position information from being supplied to the loudspeaker, thereby eliminating distracting noise from being presented to the user.Other References
| InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 698148 filed on 08/15/1996US Classes:705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT340/990, With map display340/991, Position indication transmitted by vehicle after receipt of information from local station701/200, NAVIGATION701/201Determination of travel data based on the start point and destination pointField of Search342/450, Position indicating (e.g., triangulation)701/213, Using Global Positioning System (GPS)701/214, Means to improve accuracy of position or location701/215, Having multiple GPS antennas or receivers (e.g., differential GPS)701/201, Determination of travel data based on the start point and destination point455/570, Noise suppression or echo cancellation455/466, Auxiliary data signaling (e.g., short message service (SMS))705/1, AUTOMATED ELECTRICAL FINANCIAL OR BUSINESS PRACTICE OR MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT340/990, With map display340/991Position indication transmitted by vehicle after receipt of information from local stationExaminersPrimary: Hayes, Gail O.Assistant: Tucker, Christopher M. Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References4114115, Compandor apparatusIssued on: 09/12/1978 Inventor: Minnis4812843, Telephone accessible information system Issued on: 03/14/1989 Inventor: Champion, III , et al.4972510, Method and apparatus for squelching dependent on detected bond rate to reduce unwanted audible noise on a mixed voice data channel Issued on: 11/20/1990 Inventor: Guizerix, et al.5025261, Mobile object navigation system Issued on: 06/18/1991 Inventor: Ohta, et al.5235633, Cellular telephone system that uses position of a mobile unit to make call management decisions Issued on: 08/10/1993 Inventor: Dennison, et al.5289184, Road map displaying system for automotive vehicle Issued on: 02/22/1994 Inventor: Suzuki5365451, Mobile unit tracking system Issued on: 11/15/1994 Inventor: Wang, et al.5396254, Position recognition system and position-coordinate converting device Issued on: 03/07/1995 Inventor: Toshiyuki5396540, Remote vehicle communications system and method Issued on: 03/07/1995 Inventor: Gooch5406492, Directional voice-type navigation apparatus Issued on: 04/11/1995 Inventor: Suzuki5410486, Navigation system for guiding vehicle by voice Issued on: 04/25/1995 Inventor: Kishi, et al.5543789, Computerized navigation system Issued on: 08/06/1996 Inventor: Behr, et al.5559520, Wireless information system for acquiring location related information Issued on: 09/24/1996 Inventor: Barzegar, et al.5565874, Expandable, multi-level intelligent vehicle highway system Issued on: 10/15/1996 Inventor: Rode5577122, Secure communication of information Issued on: 11/19/1996 Inventor: Schipper, et al.5625668, Position reporting cellular telephone Issued on: 04/29/1997 Inventor: Loomis, et al.5806018, Methods and apparatus for updating navigation information in a motorized vehicle Issued on: 09/08/1998 Inventor: Smith, et al.5850618Navigation device Issued on: 12/15/1998 Inventor: Suetsugu, et al. Foreign Patent References
International ClassH04K 001/00 |
