Method for distributing location-relevant information using...

Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a satellite

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C342S357490, C342S357490, C701S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06529159

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method for distributing location-relevant information to a mobile client based upon the position of the client.
2. Description of the Related Art
The global position system (“GPS”) is used for obtaining position information. A GPS receiver receives ranging signals from several GPS satellites, and triangulates these received ranging signals to obtain the measured position of the receiver. A more detailed discussion of a GPS receiver is found in U.S. patent application (“Copending Application”), Ser. No. 08/779,698, entitled “Structure of An Efficient Global Positioning System Receiver,” attorney docket no. M-4578, assigned to the present assignee. The Copending Application is hereby incorporated by reference.
One application of GPS is vehicle location. The Parent Application provides a method for vehicle location using both the GPS system and a data network, such as the Internet. Commercial activities have become an important part of the Internet. Users of the Internet can access information anywhere in the world with equal ease. However, because of the global nature of the Internet, the user of information obtained from the Internet filters out a large amount of that information to get to relevant information of local interest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides methods applicable to commercial activities between a mobile unit with a wireless link with a server on a data network, such as the Internet. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for distributing location-relevant information over a data network to a client includes: (a) providing a GPS position of the client to a server over the data network; (b) obtaining at the server the location-relevant information using the GPS position provided by the server; and (c) returning to the client the location-relevant information. In one embodiment, the client communicates over a wireless link with a gateway of the data network, which then acts as a proxy client for accessing the server. Under this method, the GPS position can be provided to the server by the client in conjunction with a query for information. Based on the supplied GPS position, the server can then select to return only that information relevant to the client from the non-location specific information responsive to the query, thereby relieving the client of the task of filtering for relevant information. In one implementation, the client uses an Internet browser application program. Location-relevant information includes advertising of local interest to said client, discount coupons accepted by businesses in the local vicinity of said client, and addresses of local points of interest.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for conducting a business or financial transaction over a data network. The method includes (a) by a first party, attaching a GPS position of the first party to a digital instrument transmitted over the data network; and (b) by a second party, accepting the digital instrument to complete the transaction. The GPS position can be attached as a code word formed using the GPS position or embedding the GPS position. To ensure security, such a code word can be formed using an encryption process. Under such a method, the second party can use the GPS position received from the first party to authenticate the digital instrument, or to identify the first party first party, or to establish the location at which said transaction is deemed to have taken place, for legal and other purposes. Thus, the present invention allows a simple and efficient authentication, identification or signature scheme for business to be conducted on the Internet.
The present invention is better understood upon consideration of the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5689245 (1997-11-01), Noreen et al.
patent: 5819199 (1998-10-01), Kawai et al.
patent: 5848373 (1998-12-01), DeLorme et al.
patent: 6128501 (2000-10-01), Ffoulkes-Jones
patent: 6154745 (2000-11-01), Kari et al.
patent: 6169515 (2001-01-01), Mannings et al.
patent: 6175740 (2001-01-01), Souissi et al.
patent: 6185427 (2001-02-01), Krasner et al.
patent: 6199045 (2001-03-01), Giniger et al.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Method for distributing location-relevant information using... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method for distributing location-relevant information using..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for distributing location-relevant information using... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3005644

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.