US6522889B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing precise location information through a communications network
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
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Filing: 1999-12-23
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Granted: 2003-02-18
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Expires: 2019-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for obtaining information about an object through interaction between a mobile station (MS) and a computer network such as the Internet, and communicating the information to the MS. A digital camera obtains an image of an object, such as a geographic region proximate the MS, which is then transmitted through the mobile communications system to the computer network. A converter server such as an Optical Character Reader (OCR) server interfaced with the global computer network converts the digital image to a text format which is then compared, along with a general location identifier of the MS to geographic data stored in a location database connected to the global computer network. Based on a comparison of the converted text data and the general location identifier of the MS to the geographic data stored in the location server, a precise location of the MS is determined and transmitted to the MS.
Inventors
- 👤 Ari Aarnio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W64/00; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/953; G06F16/9537; G06F40/00; G06F40/40; G06F40/58; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/04; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/52; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72448; H04M1/72457; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00244; G01; G01S; G01S5/00; G01S5/0009; G01S5/0045; G01S5/0054; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00307; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of obtaining a geographic location of a mobile station, comprising the steps of: obtaining a digital image of a geographic location proximate the mobile station; wirelessly transmitting said digital image from said mobile station to a mobile communications network; contacting a computer network through said mobile communications network; obtaining a general location identifier of the mobile station from said mobile communications network; and comparing the general location identifier and information corresponding to said digital image to pre-stored data accessible through said computer network to determine the geographic location of the mobile station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of obtaining a geographic location of a mobile station, comprising the steps of: obtaining a digital image of a geographic location proximate the mobile station; wirelessly transmitting said digital image from said mobile station to a mobile communications network; contacting a computer network through said mobile communications network; obtaining a general location identifier of the mobile station from said mobile communications network; and comparing the general location identifier and information corresponding to said digital image to pre-stored data accessible through said computer network to determine the geographic location of the mobile station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting the digital image to a binary text format and wherein said information corresponding to said digital image comprises said binary text format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said pre-stored data comprises area maps contained within the general location and wherein said comparing step further comprises comparing the binary text format and general location identifier to the area maps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the converting of the image from digital format to binary text format is performed using an optical character reader (OCR) in communication with the computer network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said mobile communications network comprises a GSM network and said step of obtaining a general location identifier of the mobile station comprises obtaining a Location Area Identity (LAI) associated with the mobile station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of obtaining a digital image further comprises the step of utilizing a digital camera capable of communicating with the mobile station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital camera is integrally formed with the mobile station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile station comprises a mobile telephone and wherein said computer network comprises a global computer network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said mobile communications network comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting the identified geographic location to the mobile station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of identfying the location of service providers utilizing the identified geographic location in response to a query transmitted by the mobile communications system to the computer network and transmitting identified service provider location information to the mobile station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said service provider location information corresponds to service providers that are participants in a rewards program so that a user of the mobile station who is a member of the rewards program can solicit the service providers to acquire rewards points and to redeem rewards points.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for obtaining a geographic location of a mobile station comprising: a digital camera capable of interfacing with the mobile station for obtaining a digital image of a geographic area proximate the mobile station and for conveying the digital image to the mobile station; a mobile communications network for receiving the digital image from the mobile station, said network having means for determining a general location identifier of the mobile station; a computer network in communication with said mobile communications network for receiving the digital image and the general location identifier of the mobile station from said mobile communications network; a location server having access to a library of stored geographic location data; and means for comparing the means for comparing information corresponding to the digital image and the general location identifier to the stored geographic location data to identify the geographic location of the mobile station.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for obtaining a geographic location of a mobile station comprising: a digital camera capable of interfacing with the mobile station for obtaining a digital image of a geographic area proximate the mobile station and for conveying the digital image to the mobile station; a mobile communications network for receiving the digital image from the mobile station, said network having means for determining a general location identifier of the mobile station; a computer network in communication with said mobile communications network for receiving the digital image and the general location identifier of the mobile station from said mobile communications network; a location server having access to a library of stored geographic location data; and means for comparing the means for comparing information corresponding to the digital image and the general location identifier to the stored geographic location data to identify the geographic location of the mobile station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a converter in communication with said computer network for converting the digital image into text data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the mobile station is a mobile phone integrally formed with said digital camera.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said mobile communications network comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said global communications network comprises a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the general location identifier comprises a Location Area Identity (LAI) of a base station in communication with the mobile station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a service provider database in communication with said computer network for identifying service provider locations based on the identified geographic location of the mobile station.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising means for transmitting the identified geographic location and the identified service provider locations to the mobile station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising means for transmitting the identified geographic location to the mobile station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , further comprising means for identfying locations of service providers corresponding to service providers that are participants in a rewards program so that a user of the mobile station who is a member of the rewards program can solicit the service providers to acquire rewards points and to redeem rewards points.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said digital camera includes means for wirelessly communicating the digital image to the mobile station.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |