Abstract:
A location services game engine (LSGE) that is concerned with the geographic location of the wireless devices used to play in the game. The operations performed by players on wireless devices inside the location services game engine have location proximity requirements on the wireless devices being played in the game, and other wireless devices they interact with. A common game experience provides a virtual game instance including a plurality of geographically remote playing wireless devices virtually gathered together within the virtual game to physically interact with one another, and traveling relative to one another within the virtual game. A location update of each of the plurality of playing wireless devices active within the virtual game is obtained, with any movement from a last reported position applied against a virtual origin point within the virtual reality game.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus to facilitate the secure storage of multimedia content (i.e. video with optional audio) on an internet cloud, and to grant the release of stored multimedia content to pre-authorized users and pre-authorized emergency dispatch personnel, only. A subscriber entity uses a secure user interface component to store a multimedia package containing important/relevant navigation and/or location information on a cloud database. In addition, the subscriber entity specifies whether or not emergency personnel are authorized to access the multimedia package during an emergency event, and whether or not a predefined highly trusted network of users may access the multimedia package following a conventional authorization procedure. The inventive multimedia geospatial routing engine releases the multimedia package to members of a subscriber's highly trusted network of users, by pre-authorization only, and to emergency dispatch personnel subscribed to the subscriber multimedia content database, in the case of an emergency event only.
Abstract:
Automatic Location Information (ALI) data that is representative of a landline address is digitally retrieved, and automatically transferred to an emergency call taker over a wireless system emergency network. Importantly, the ALI information is determined based on association to a proximate location. Before an emergency call is initiated, additional environmental information, such as a RFID tag, location beacon, WiFi access point, Bluetooth device, or other communication signal with a known location, is included in the wireless session data exchange, used to match one or more location inputs to a fixed civic location (street address) which is used to dispatch emergency responders. Alternatively, the mechanism matches to a precise geodetic location (e.g., where no civic location is available).
Abstract:
A prank call server that performs 911 prank call filtering over a 911 emergency call system, prior to routing a 911 call to a PSAP. The inventive prank call server identifies prank calling devices, regardless of current service subscription, by retrieving and analyzing emergency call data pertaining to detected prank 911 calls. The prank call server assigns a unique global identifier to each 911 call detected on the 911 emergency call system. Unique global identifiers enable a PSAP to uniquely identify prank 911 calls that are identified thereon. A PSAP transmits a prank call signal and a relevant unique global identifier to the prank call server, for each prank 911 call that is detected. A prank call signal/unique global identifier combination triggers the prank call server to store all available call data for a referenced prank 911 call in to a prank call database, for subsequent prank call filtering analysis.
Abstract:
A vehicle includes a telematics controller and at least three short range, low power interior transceivers, one of which is focused on a vehicle's driver's seat only. At least two additional individual short range, low power interior transceivers are focused on a front passenger seat, and a rear seat. A fourth or more short range, low power interior transceiver may be included in a larger vehicle. Synergistic interaction is provided between a vehicle's telematics controller and wireless devices (e.g. cell phones, smart phones, PDAs, wireless laptops, etc.) to parametrically control at least one wireless service or other operation of a wireless device presumed operated by the driver of the vehicle. Example wireless services blocked or forced into a safe mode (such as hands- free operation) include SMS, Email, and Voice services.
Abstract:
A text messaging caller is enabled to communicate with a called party situated at on voice network, such as a PSTN or emergency 911 service center. The method comprises providing a service center, pre-registering a caller with the service center, receiving a text message from the caller through the service center, converting the text message to a voice message, ascertaining the address of the caller according to pre-registration information, and sending the voice message to the called party on the voice network together with the caller's identification and location information.
Abstract:
Point of interest (POI) navigation uses search results displayed based both on the current time of day, as well as matching business hours of operation of the displayed POI. In this way, as desired by appropriate menu selection, only businesses that are currently open (or open at an estimated time of arrival (TOA)) are displayed as relevant POIs. The mobile device navigation system considers an approximate time of arrival (TOA) to each relevant POI, and determines whether each POI is open or otherwise usable by the user of the device. The mobile device navigation system may display a POI result identifying the farthest POI meeting given criteria that would be open at the estimated time of arrival, along a preplanned route, or within range of the onboard fuel.
Abstract:
A navigation device includes a route determiner module to formulate a first route from a first geographic location to a second geographic location. A route presentation module presents the first route to a user of the navigation device. A side trip presentation module presents a point-of-interest to the user of said navigation device and formulates a second route to said point-of- interest. An options module presents an option, during presentation of the first route, to recalculate the first route to the second geographic location to comprise the second route.
Abstract:
The accuracy of a reverse geocode for a GPS fix in a mobile phone navigation device is improved significantly by considering together the user's last known location on an original route, the elapsed time between the last known location on the original route and the latest GPS fix, and the likelihood that the user could have travelled from the last known location on the original route to one of numerous candidate locations (generated from the reverse geocode) in the elapsed time. The navigation server relies only on a GPS fix, timestamps, and a back-end routing database to provide improved or superior accuracy of reverse geocoding a GPS fix (selection of a point on a road) when a relevant user has deviated from the intended route. The reverse geocoding allows for accurate and functional re-routing capabilities.
Abstract:
A software LBS trigger is initiated by a wireless device to request a set of proximate location information points relating to, e.g., points of interest, location tagged blogs, etc., based on the user's current location. The LBS trigger may be initiated when the user moves, and may include speed of the user to define a proximate area within which the user's device will be presented with relevant location information upon reaching. The size of the proximate area may be based on available memory in the wireless device, and/or on network bandwidth limitations. If walking, a smaller proximate area is defined, or if moving fast, the area of close proximity is larger. The location-based information points are stored locally on the user's device, and presentation to the user when the user gets closely proximate to the relevant information point.