Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Position indicating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2002-07-02
Phan, Dao (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Position indicating
C342S463000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06414635
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a geographic based communications service and, more particularly, is concerned with a system and method for determining the approximate location of mobile users of portable computing devices who are in the vicinity of wireless local area network access points.
2. Description of the Related Art
As technology improvements result in smaller, lighter and more portable computing devices (PCDs), a wide variety of new applications and users will emerge. Mobile users will not only operate such devices in stand alone mode, but will also desire the ability to send and receive information through such devices while at virtually any location. The need to communicate will arise in circumstances where hard-wired links may not be readily available or practical or when the mobile user cannot be reached immediately. Moreover, as a result of the user being mobile, the precise location of the PCD is often variable or not determined. As used herein, “MU” is an abbreviation for “mobile user of a portable computing device”. Similarly, the plural, “MUs” is an abbreviation for “mobile users of portable computing devices”.
Conventional communication systems for computing devices are not equipped to handle such communication scenarios. Commercially available PCDs are generally equipped with industry standard interface ports for driving a peripheral device such as a printer, a plotter, or a modem. While operating in an unknown, remote location not connected to a network, a MU may be unaware of messages waiting for him. In addition, conventionally, the MU may need to wait until reaching an office or other place with appropriate equipment to receive such messages and to transmit or print documents or other information prepared by the MU on his portable computing device.
By way of example and not limitation, one type of MU is the traveler who passes through airports or similar mass transit centers (e.g., subway commuters), uses ground transportation, and stays in a hotel. In a typical scenario, a traveler may use a portable computing device to perform calculations or prepare documents during an airplane flight. Simultaneously, associates may leave messages for the traveler on a network. In conventional systems, the traveler's work product and messages destined for the traveler are not available until the traveler arrives at a location where a wired connection to the traveler's network is available.
A further example of inefficiencies for the traveler concerns travel arrangements themselves. After arriving at an airport, the traveler proceeds to a car rental desk or to some other transportation location. The traveler typically waits in line while the car rental agency inquires about automobile preference, driver's license, method of payment, type of insurance required, etc. Having experienced some delay, the traveler is now on his way to a business location or hotel. Upon arriving at a hotel check-in/registration desk, the traveler often experiences further delay waiting in line and providing the check-in clerk with routine information such as address, length of stay, type of room desired, method of payment, etc. In addition, the traveler may need to call back to his office to check for voice-mail messages, thereby incurring further delays. While accessing databases for information about the traveler, where his preferences and requirements may reduce such delays, a common characteristic is that the pending arrival or presence of the traveler is not known to those who may act in advance. Further, conventional systems cannot generally locate a mobile user of a portable computing device and take advantage of that information to reduce the time required to complete routine activities or to provide the traveler options that may enhance the traveler's productivity.
In another example, when a user dials a telephone number to an automatic teller machine (ATM) locator, the user is prompted to key in his area code and exchange prefix. The locator system then identifies one or more ATMs within the user's area. However, the system requires the user to call in and cannot locate the user any more accurately than the telephone exchange area. Thus, the user may be advised of an ATM quite a physical distance from the user's location.
In addition, it is desirable to be able to provide information, such as advertising or other content, to a MU when the information is based on a location of the PCD within a geographic area. It is also desirable to provide information to a MU based on a geographic location of the PCD in combination with demographic information regarding the MU or past transactions of the MU. Information provided to an MU may also be further tailored to an approximate location of the PCD. For instance, using the ATM example above, a content provider may be able to direct a user of a PCD to the nearest ATM machine based on the precise location of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,061 discloses a geographic-based communication service system which comprises a plurality of access points which are operable to communicate with PCD's of mobile users. The geographic location of the access point is known, and when an access point detects a PCD of a user, the access point can provide its geographic location, thus indicating the approximate location of the user. However, since the known geographic location of the access point is used as an indication of the location of the user, the access point or the communications network system can only detect the location of the user within the granularity of the range of the access point, i.e., the PCD of the user may be anywhere within the range of the access point. This may not provide sufficient granularity to provide certain geographic-based services to the user.
Therefore, a new geographic-based communication service is desired which can more precisely identify the geographic location of users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a geographic based communications service system. The geographic-based communications service system includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network. The access points may be arranged at known locations in a geographic region. One or more service providers or information providers may be connected to the network to provide services or information on the network. As used herein, the term “service provider” is intended to include goods providers, information providers, and/or service providers.
A mobile user (MU) may use a portable computing device (PCD) to connect to the network and access information or services from the network. The PCD of the mobile user may connect to an access point in a wireless fashion. The PCD may optionally be configured to transmit identification information indicating the identity of the mobile user. Each of the plurality of access points may be configured to independently communicate with a PCD and may also be configured to receive the identification information indicating the identity of the user of the PCD.
When a PCD of a user is in proximity to a first access point and communicates with the first access point, the first access point may determine the geographic location of the PCD and transmit information regarding the geographic location of the PCD to one or more providers on the network. Thus, the first access point is operable to transmit the information regarding approximate geographic location of the PCD, not just the known geographic location of the first access point. This allows improved geographic-based services to be provided to the user.
In the preferred embodiment, one or more access points may include location circuitry. The location circuitry may be configured to perform one of various methods used to determine the geographic location of PCDs of users. Each access point having the location circuitry may thus be operable to detect the location of a user, (i.e., the PCD of a user), with a granularity greater than simply th
Stewart Brett B.
Thompson James W.
Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Hood Jeffrey C.
Phan Dao
Wayport, Inc.
LandOfFree
Geographic-based communication service system with more... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Geographic-based communication service system with more..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Geographic-based communication service system with more... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2909540