WO2002035766A2

WO2002035766A2 - Wireless telecommunications system that provides location-based services

Info

Publication number: WO2002035766A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/031200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brett B. Stewart; James W. Thompson
Original assignee: Wayport, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-10-23
Filing date: 2001-10-04
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Also published as: US6414635B1; WO2002035766A3

Abstract

A geographic based communications service system that includes a network and a plurality of access points connected to the network and 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. Content provided by the service providers may be based on the known geographic location of the user of a portable computing device (PCD). The known geographic location may be determined with a high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one of several different techniques. In one embodiment, the geographic location of the PCD may be determined within a radius of ten feet. Access points may be configured to determine the bearing of a signal received from a PCD, as well as the strength of the signal transmitted by the PCD. Access points may also be configured to send and receive signals with time stamps. These time stamps may be used to calculate signal travel time, thereby allowing a determination of the distance between an access point and a PCD. Each access point may include location circuitry. The location circuitry may include both analog and digital circuitry configured to perform the various methods used to determine the precise geographic location.

Description

TITLE: GEOGRAPHIC-BASED COMMUNICATION SERVICE SYSTEM WITH MORE PRECISE DETERMINATION OF A USER'S KNOWN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to a geographic based communications service and, moie particularly, is concerned with a system and method for determining the approximate location of mobile users of portable computing devices who aie in the vicinity of wiieless local area network access points.

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 piactical 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 aie 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 ML' on his poitable computing device.

By way of example and not limitation, one type of MU is the traveler who passes through airports oi 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 ainves at a location wheie a wired connection to the travelers network is av ailable. A fuither example of inefficiencies for the tiavelei concerns travel aπangements themselves. Aftei arriving at an airport, the traveler proceeds to a car rental desk or to some other transpoitation location. The travelei typically waits in line hile the car rental agency inquires about automobile prefeiencc, dπvei's license, method of payment, type of insurance required, etc. Having e peπenced some delay, the traveler is now on his way to a business location or hotel. Upon arriving at a hotel cheek-in/registration desk, the travelei often expeiϊences further delay waiting in line and providing the check-in cleik with routine information such as addiess, length of stay, type of loom desned, method of payment, etc. In addition, the trav eler may need to call back to his office to check oi voice-mail messages, thereby mcuiπng fuithei delays. While accessing databases foi lnfoimation about the haveler, where his prefeiences 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. Fuither, 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 tiaveler options that may enhance the traveler's productivity.

In another example, when a user dials a telephone numbei to an automatic tellei 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 lequires the user to call in and cannot locate the user any more accurately than the telephone exchange aiea. 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 ML* 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. Patent 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 piovider" 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 the known geographic location of the access points with which the PCD is communicating. In one embodiment, an access point may communicate with the PCD in a wireless manner in a first geographic area of the access point, wherein the first geographic area is the range of the access point, and the access point may determine a geographic location of the PCD in a second smaller geographic area within the first geographic area. In other words, the access point may determine the geographic location of the PCD with more granularity than the range of the access point. An access point may use one of several different methods to determine the geographic location of the

PCD. The geographic location of the PCD may be determined with a fairly high degree of precision, using one or more access points and one or more of several different techniques.

In one embodiment, the location circuitry may perform signal strength measurements of signals transmitted to the access point by the PCD. The received signal strength may then be compared to the transmitted signal strength, allowing for a determination of the approximate distance between the access point and the PCD. This approximate distance may be used to determine an approximate region in which the user may be located, e.g., a concentric ring region centered around the access point.

The location circuitry may instead or also allow an access point to determine the bearing of an incoming signal (i.e. the direction from which the transmitted signal originated). An approximate location of a PCD may then be determined by using the bearing information, or by combining the bearing and distance information.

In another embodiment, two or more access points may be used in conjunction with each other to determine the bearing of an incoming signal using triangulation techniques. In this embodiment, each access point involved in the triangulation may individually determine a distance to the PCD. Since the access points involved are located at a fixed distance from each other, the location of the PCD may be determined using standard triangulation techniques.

Distance from an access point may also be determined via the use of data packets including time stamps. When a mobile user carrying a PCD enters a geographic region for a given access point, it's presence may be detected by the access point. After synchronizing clocks with the PCD, the access point may then transmit a first data packet which includes a time stamp. After receiving the data packet, the PCD may respond by transmitting a second data packet back to the access point. The second data packet may include the original time stamp, and may also include a second time stamp indicating the time at which the first data packet was received. The access point may then calculate the distance to the PCD based on the round trip time of the signal, or based on the one-way transit time of the signal.

In some situations, particularly if the PCD has a heavy processing workload, there may be a delay in responding to the first data packet from the access point. In such cases, the second data packet transmitted by the PCD may include a third time stamp which may indicate the time of transmission of the second data packet. Upon leceiving the second data packet, the access point may then assign a fourth time stamp, and calculate the distance based on the difference between the third and fourth time stamps.

Thus, in one embodiment, a lespective access point detei mines a relative geographic location of the PCD lelative to the access point. The access point, or a service provider, may then deteimine the geographic location of the PCD using the known geographic location of the access point and the relative geographic location of the PCD relative to the access point. This may be accomplished using map information that is based on the known geographic location of the access point.

The access point may provide geographic-based services to a user of the PCD based on the information regarding the geographic location of the PCD. Alternatively, the access point may provide infoπnation regarding the geographic location of the PCD to a service provider, and the service provider may then provide geographic- based services to a user of the PCD based on this information.

As noted above, the access point may determine information regarding the geographic location of the PCD.

The information regarding geographic location of the PCD may involve information regarding one or more vendois or vendor locations that the PCD is located in or proximate to. In one embodiment, a memory coupled to the network, such as in the access point, stores map information including the first geographic area of the access point.

The system, e.g., a network device or the access point, may then determine the proximity of the PCD to a vendor using the map information and the geographic location of the PCD. Thus, the access point may use the geographic location of the PCD to determine a proximity of the PCD to one or more vendors. Stated another way, the access point may determine a vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the PCD is located or proximate to. The information regarding the geographic location of the PCD thus may include information regarding the PCD's proximity to vendors or vendor locations The geographic information provided to a PCD may include graphical information to illustrate to its user the approximate location of a PCD within a mall, airport, or other facility. In some embodiments, geogiaphic information may be presented to a PCD as a floor plan of a mall, airport, or other facility, or as a map of a city or region.

Geographic-based services may be provided to a user of the PCD based on the information regarding the geographic location of the PCD. For example, where the user of the PCD is determined to be physically located proximate to a first vendor, then advertising information corresponding to the first vendor may be provided to the PCD. The geographic-based information provided to the PCD may originate from a service provider or from the access point itself. The information provided to the PCD may be any of various types. The access point may tiansmit various information to the PCD, wherein the infoimation is dependent upon the geographic location of the PCD and may also be dependent upon demographic information of the user of the PCD.

Other types of geographic-based services may be provided to the user. For example, the access point may transmit the geographic location of the PCD to a memory of the PCD, theieby advising the PCD of its location, Also, the access point may provide directions to a specified location responsive to a query from the PCD, wheiein the directions may be based at least in part upon the geographic location of the PCD. Further, the access point may determine a direction of motion of the PCD based on two or more determinations of the geographic location of the PCD over a period of time

1 hus the geogiaphic location information may be useful to both the mobile user and service prov iders, e.g. content and infoimation pioviders, coupled to the netwoik. For example, if an access point locates a PCD near a bookstore in an airport, the network may respond by informing the user of a promotion by the bookstore. Similaily, a user of a PCD may query the network for directions to a specific location, such as a food court, a restroom or an ATM machine, The network may then determine directions based on the current location of the PCD. One or more access points may also be used to determine a direction of motion of the user of the PCD, and thus provide feedback to the user while moving to the target location of the query,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descnption and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 A is a block diagram of one embodiment of a geographic based wireless communication system;

Figure 2 A is a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless Access Point (AP);

Figure 3 is a flowchart diagram illustrating the operation of allowing access to a network and determining a precise location of the mobile unit for one embodiment of the geographic based wireless communication system;

Figure 4 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for providing a message exchange service for a MU through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 5 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for completing a print job through a service provider that offers printing services through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 6A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for reserving a rental car through a geographic based communication system; Figure 6B is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for reserving a rental car through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 7A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for placing hotel reservations through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 7B is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for placing hotel reservations through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 8A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for reserving travel services through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 8B is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for reserving travel services through a geographic based communication system; Figure 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for locating the nearest service provider through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 10A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for providing targeted advertising through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 1 OB is a flowchart of an alternative embodiment of a method for providing targeted advertising through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 1 1 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for providing geographic based billing through a geographic based communication system;

Figure 12 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for automatically adjusting a PCD to the cunent time zone tluough a geographic based communication system; Figure 13A illustrates a plurality of access points with their respective regions of detection, where an AP can identify a location of an MU located within a second, smaller geographic region using bearing and distance information of the MU;

Figure 13B illustrates a plurality of access points with their respective regions of detection, wheie an AP can identify a location of an MU located within a second, smallei geographic legion (a concentric ring region) using distance information of the MU;

Figure 14A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of one embodiment of an access point configured to determine the location of an MU based on a bearing determination and a signal strength measurement;

Figure 14B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of one embodiment of an access point configured to determine the location of an MU based on a bearing determination and a measurement of signal travel time;

Figure 15A is a diagram illustrating the use of two access points of one embodiment to determine the location of an MU using triangulation techniques; and

Figure 15B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of two access points of one embodiment to determine the location of an MU using triangulation techniques. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

Incorporation by Reference

The following documents are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein:

U.S. Patent No. 5,835,061 entitled "Method and Apparatus for Geographic-Based Communications Service", whose inventor is Brett B, Stewart, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.

U.S. Patent No. 5,969,678 entitled "System for Hybrid Wired and Wireless Geographic-Based Communications Service", whose inventor is Brett B. Stewart, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.

U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/433,817 entitled "Geographic Based Communications Service", w hose inventois are Biett B. Stewart and James Thompson, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/433,818 entitled " A Network Communication Service with an

Improved Subscriber Model Using Digital Certificates", whose inventors are Brett B. Stewart and James Thompson, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein. Figure 1 : Geographic based wireless communication svstem

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a geographic based wireless communication system or network 100A The wireless communications system is prefeiably similar in many lespects to the system described in U.S. Patent 5,835,061. The wiieless communication system 100A may include a plurality of wireless access points 120, a plurality of service providers 140, and or MIBs 150. Access points (APs) 120 for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, shopping malls, and other businesses, such as coffee shops or restaurants at an airport. When in sufficiently close range to an access point, the PCD 1 10 may access the network through, foi example, a network card. In one embodiment, the APs 120 may be aπanged at known geographic locations and may provide geographic location information regarding the geographic location of the mobile user (MU) or the PCD 1 10. Thus, according to one embodiment of the geogiaphic-based communications service, one or more access points may be configuied to provide an approximate determination of the location of PCD 1 10. In another embodiment, the PCD 110 may provide geographic location information of the PCD 1 10 through the AP 120 to the network 130. For example, the PCD 110 may include GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment to enable the PCD 1 10 to provide its geographic location through the AP 120 to the network 130, e.g., service provider 140 located on the network 130.

Figure IA illustrates a simplified and exemplary embodiment of a portion of the wireless communications system 100A. As shown, the wireless communication system 100A may include PCD 1 10 with a wireless connection 1 1 1 (e.g., an antenna) in communication with wireless access point (AP) 120 having a wireless connection 121 (e.g., an antenna). The AP 120 may be coupled to a service provider 140 and a management information base (MIB) 150 through a centralized netwoik 130. The network 130 may comprise a wired network, a wireless network or a combination of wired and wireless networks.

The service provider 140 and MIBs 150 each may comprise a computer system coupled to the network 130. The network 130 may comprise one or more wired or wireless local area networks and/ or one or more wide area networks (e.g., the Internet). Each service provider 140 may include one or more computers or compute! systems configured to provide goods, information, and/or services as appropriate for the service provider. One or more service providers 140 may be coupled to network 130. The one or more service providers 140 may also connect to network 1 0 in a wireless fashion. The one or more MIBs 150 may be comprised in one or more service providers 140. The wireless communication may be accomplished in a number of ways. In a preferred embodiment, PCD

1 10 and wireless AP 120 are both equipped with an appropriate transmitter and receiver compatible in power and fiequency range (e.g., 2.4GHz) to establish a wireless communication link (e.g., wireless connection 1 1 1 and wireless connection 121 , lespectively). For example, PCD 1 10 may include a wireless Ethernet card for communicating with APs 120. Wireless communication may also be accomplished through cellular, digital, or infrared communication technologies, among others.

To provide user identification and or ensure security, the PCD 1 10 may also be equipped with a certificate or other identification information that may be transmitted to and recognized by the wireless AP 120. This identification information may then be relayed to different service providers 140 and or MIB 150 that are coupled to w ireless AP 120 via centralized network 130. This identification information may utilize recognition of a MU before providing access to system seivices, thereby providing a measuie of security and a service billing mechanism The identification information may also identify the user to enable a service provider to use known information regarding the user or use demographic information in conjunction with the known geographic location of the PCD 1 10 to provide specific information (e g advertising) to the user

Tιguιe 2 Wneless Access Point

Figuie 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless access point (AP) 120 The wireless AP 120 may comprise a network interface subsystem 220 coupled to radio transceiver 210A and ladio transceiver 210B Both radio transceiver 210A and ladio transceiver 210B are coupled to antennas 121A and 12 IB, respectively One oi more oi the radio transceivers 210A and 210B may also include location circuihy 21 1 A transceiver may be defined as an electrical component that comprises one or both of a transmitter and a leceiver In one embodiment of the present invention, ladio transceiver 210A receives communications from PCD 1 10 and radio transceiver 210B transmits communications to PCD 1 10 In another embodiment, radio transceiver 210A receives and transmits from to a PCD 1 10 while radio transceiver 210B receives and transmits from/to a different PCD 1 10 In either embodiment the transmitted information may contain security data or encoding that prevents others trom receiving and decoding the transmitted data

The network interface subsystem 220 may be configured to receive information from both service providers 140 and MIB 150 via centralized network 130 The network interface subsystem 220 may provide signals to the centralized network 130 over a wired connection or wireless connection The network interface subsystem 220 may determine the proper radio transceiver (such as 210A or 210B), and may use a multiple access scheme to differentiate among users for transmitted and received data For example, each PCD 110 may communicate with wireless AP 120 using a selected multiple access scheme such as Wireless Ethernet (CSMA/CD) CDMA, FDMA or TDMA When a wireless connection is initially made between a PCD 1 10 and wireless AP 120 parameters such as frequency, time slot and/or code of the wireless connection may be determined This determination may be used to ensure that only a particular PCD 1 10 receives the transmitted data intended tor that particular PCD 1 10 and that wireless AP 120 knows, when it receives data from a PCD 1 10, which PCD 1 10 the received data is from This may be important when there are multiple MUs concurrently communicating with one wireless AP 120

The network interface subsystem 220 may also contain a memory This memory may be used to store information specific to a particular wireless AP 120, such as geographic location of the wireless AP 120, a map of the local area, and an index of local services, e g local restaurants, hotels, etc This memorv allows an AP 120 to respond to many requests for information by a MU using PCD 1 10, without requiring access to a service providei 140 or a MIB 150 The memoiy the AP 120 may also store a software program for determining the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 T he memory in the AP 120 may also store map information useable in determining a proximity of the PCD 1 10 to v endors or vendor locations

The antennas 121 A and 12 I B may be any of a number of different antenna types The type of antenna used mav be specific to the type of ireless communication used For example, if a particular wireless communication is accomplished through a high Irequency radio wave, the antenna may be, among others a vagi cardiod colhnear parabolic or radome antenna If the w ireless communication is accomplished through mfiared the antenna may be a sensor panel that is sensitive to infrared light T he antenna that is used may have an impact on the area that a particular wireless AP 120 mav service For example, a small antenna may be able to communicate only with a MU using PCD 1 10 within a radius of five feet, while a larger and/or more powerful antenna may be able to communicate with MUs using PCD 1 10 throughout an entire building.

Location circuitry (LC) 21 1 may include analog and or digital circuitry configured for determining the approximate location of a user of a PCD 1 10. The location circuitry may also be implemented by a soft aie program executed by a processor comprised m the AP, or by programmable logic, such as an FPGA, or by other means. In general, LC 21 1 may include any type of software and/or hardware implementation that may be used to deteπnine the approximate location of a PCD 1 10. The LC 21 1 is preferably able to determine the location of the PCD 1 10 of the user with a greater granularity than simply the known geographic location of the access point 120. For example, in various embodiments the access point 120 may be able to determine the approximate location of the PCD 1 10 within 50 feet, 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet, or 1 foot of the actual location of the PCD 1 10.

LC 21 1 may use any of various technologies in deteimining the approximate location of the user. For example, LC 21 1 may include circuitry for measuring the signal strength of a signal received from a PCD 1 10 and deteπnining the bearing of an incoming signal from a PCD 1 10. Timing circuitry may also be included, and may be used for setting and reading time stamps of data packets transmitted by both AP 120 and PCD 1 10. The location circuitry 211 in 2 or more different APs 120 may act together to perform triangulation techniques.

Network 130

The network 130 is preferably a portion of the Internet. For example, network 130 may be a local area network (LAN) that is coupled to the Internet. Network 130 may include or be connected to other types of communications networks, (e.g., other than the Internet) such as the public switched telephone netwoik (PSTN). Thus a MU using PCD 1 10 may send and receive information from/to the PSTN or other communication network through a service provider. The network 130 may also include or be coupled to another wide area network 130, such as a proprietary WAN.

Portable Computing Device

The portable computing device 1 10 (referred to generally as PCD 1 10) may be any of various types of devices, including a computer system, such as a portable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) (e.g., a Palm Pilot), an Internet appliance, a communications device, such as a cellular phone, digital wireless telephone, or other wired or wireless device. The PCD 1 10 is designed to communicate with an access point 120, (referred to generally as AP 120). The PCD 1 10 may include a memory which stores information regarding desired information or services. The memory may also store demographic information of the user.

In the present disclosure, the teim "demographic information" of a user is intended to include, but is not limited to, information such as: full name, address, contact information such as telephone number and email address, daily schedule, family members, hobbies, past purchases, spending habits, buying preferences, hotel preferences, restauiant preferences, rental car preferences, banking habits, memberships such as airline incentive programs (e.g., American Airlines (AA) Advantage Program), rental car incentive programs (e.g.. Hertz Number One Club Gold), or hotel frequent stay incentive programs associations, and other information. The tei "past activities" may be used synonymously with the term "demographic information". Figure 3 - Network Access

Figure 3 is a flowchart diagram illustrating one embodiment of operation of allowing access to a netwoik and determining an approximate (or precise) location of PCD 1 10. It is noted that various steps may be omitted or pei formed in different orders. In one embodiment, the PCD 1 10 may include a digital certificate stored in the memory of the PCD. The digital certificate may store information needed for user authentication and security on the netwoik. The digital certificate may also store various infoimation, such as demographic or sponsorship information of the user. The sponsorship infoimation may comprise references to more detailed sponsorship information stored on a separate server database as described above. The digital certificate may also store references to other information, such as demographic infoimation of the user, charging infoimation of the user, or other information to the user. In one embodiment, the digital certificate may be configuied to store information useful in enabling an AP 120 to determine the approximate location of the PCD 1 10, such as time stamp infoπnation.

In one embodiment, the system and method may use geographic location information of the mobile user and other information, such as information stored in the digital certificate or user demographic information or other information stored on the network, to provide various targeted services or information to the user or an improved network access model.

As shown, in step 202 the user connects to an access point 120 of the network. For example, the user may be walking in an airport with a PCD 1 10 and may connect in a wireless fashion to an access point 120 located at the airport. In another scenario, the user may be walking in a shopping mall with a PCD 1 10 (e.g., a PDA, such as a Palm Pilot) and may comiect in a wireless fashion to an AP 120 m the mall. In general, the user may connect to the network or an access point 120 of the network in a wired or wireless fashion.

In step 204 the personal computing device (PCD) of the user may optionally transmit identification information (ID information) to the network or to the access point (AP) of the network. The identification information may take any of various forms. For example, the identification information may comprise a MAC (media access controller) ID or System ID which is comprised on a wired or wireless Ethernet card of the personal computing device used by the user. The identification information may comprise other types of more secure identification as desired. T he identification information may be used to determine if the user is a subscriber to the network and/or to provide demographic -based services. Alternatively, the PCD 1 10 may not transmit any identification information to the AP 120. In this embodiment, geographic -based services may be provided to the user regardless of the user's identity, and a subscription may not be necessary to access the network.

In Step 205, the AP 120 may determine the approximate location of the PCD 1 10. The approximate location information may include the known location of the AP 120 itself, as well as infoπnation concerning the location of the PCD 1 10 (e.g., bearing and or distance) relative to the AP 120. In one embodiment the approximate location of the PCD 1 10 relative to the access point 120 may be determined, and this infoπnation may be combined with the known geogiaphic location of the access point 120 itself to determine the approximate geographic location of the PCD 1 10. This may be accomplished using map information that is based on the known geographic location of the access point. Thus, the approximate location of the PCD 1 10 may be determined using the determined location of PCD 1 10 relative to the access point 120 and the map infoimation of the geographic area stoied by the access point 120. In one embodiment, an access point 120 may communicate with the PCD 1 10 in a wneless manner m a first geographic area of the access point 120, wherein the first geographic area is the range of the access point 120, and the access point 120 may determine a geographic location of the PCD 1 10 in a second smallei geogiaphic aiea within the first geographic area. In other words, the access point 120 may determine the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 with a granularity finer than the range of the access point 120 (i.e. within a smaller area than the range of the access point).

The approximate location of the PCD 1 10 may be determined using one or more of several different techniques. These techniques include, but are not limited to, performing one or more of signal strength measurements and transmission/receipt of time stamped data packets. Where the AP 120 determines the approximate location of the PCD 110 using signal shength measurements or transmission/receipt of time stamped data packets, the AP 120 may only determine an approximate distance of the AP 120 relative to the AP 120. This approximate distance may be used to determine a concentric ring region in which the PCD may be located, as shown in Figure 13B. Other information may then be used regarding the geography of the area to further determine an approximate location of the PCD 110. For example, the AP 120 can presume that the user is not located on the airport tarmac or in a "forbidden area" of the airport, and hence the AP 120 can further "narrow down" the locations where the user of the PCD 1 10 might be. Thus the AP 120 can use the approximate distance information in conjunction with map information of the area to determine possible locations of the PCD 1 10.

In some embodiments, multiple AP's may work in conjunction to determine an approximate location of the PCD using triangulation techniques. This may involve determining both bearing and distance information to determine the second region, as shown in Figure 13 A.

The various techniques used to determine the approximate location of the PCD may be implemented using location circuitry, such as LC 21 1 described in reference to Figure 2. T hese location techniques are discussed in greater detail with respect to Figures 1 -15.

In step 205 the AP 120 may also generate information regarding the geographic location of the PCD 1 10. This information may comprise information regarding one or more vendois or vendor locations that the PCD is located in or proximate to. As used herein, the term "vendor" or "vendor location" is intended to include any of various types of provider, location or business that offers products, such as goods or services, including, but not limited to, stores or shops (e.g., book stores, newsstands, clothing stores, electronics stores, etc.), restauiants, ATM machines, rental car counters, airport counters, etc. In one embodiment, a memory is coupled to the network, such as in the access point, which stores map information including the first geographic area of the access point. For example, if the access point 120 is located at a gate in an airport, the map information may indicate the locations of various airline gates, shops, restaurants, etc., within the range of the access point 120. If the access point 120 is located in a shopping mall, the map information may indicate the locations of various stores in the mall. The system, e.g., a network management device which couples to APs 120, or the access point 120, may then determine the proximity of the PCD 1 10 to a vendor or vendor location, using the map information and the geogiaphic location of the PCD 1 10. Thus, the access point may use the geogiaphic location of the PCD 1 10 to determine a proximity of the PCD 1 10 to one or more vendors. Stated another way, the access point 120 may correlate the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10 with the map information to determine a vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the PCD 1 10 is located or proximate to. The information regarding the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 thus may include information regarding the PCD's proximity to vendors or vendor locations.

For example, the information regarding the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 may indicate that "the usei is at American Airlines terminal 32" or the "user is in (or just outside of) the Barnes & Noble bookstore" or "the user is in (or just outside of) ABC restaurant". This information can then be used by a seivice provider to provide taigeted infoimation (e.g., advertising) or targeted services to the user.

In step 206 the access point to which the user has connected may transmit the determined geographic location information to the network (e.g., an information provider on the network). The geographic location information may indicate the location of the PCD 1 10, which may be based on the relative geographic location of the PCD 1 10 relative to the AP 120, possibly as well as the known location of the AP 120, e.g. map information of the geographic area serviced by the AP 120. In one embodiment, the access point 120 may provide information regarding the geographic location of the PCD to a service provider, and the service provider may then provide geographic-based services to a user of the PCD based on this information. In an alternate embodiment, the access point 120 may provide geographic-based services to a user of the PCD 1 10 based on the information regarding the geographic location of the PCD 110, possibly without transmitting the geographic location information to the network. As discussed further below, this known geographic location information of the PCD 1 10 may be used to provide services to the user which are dependent upon the geographic location of the PCD 110 or user.

In step 208 the network provider may examine the received identification information, e.g., the user ID or other identification information. In step 212 the method determines if the identification information (e.g., the user ID) is valid. If the identification information is determined to not be a known user ID by the network provider, then in step 222 the method may perform processing to account for the unknown user ID. Step 222 may also involve performing processing for an unknown or incorrect digital certificate, as discussed further below. As noted above, steps 204, 208, 212 and 222 are optional and may be omitted in some embodiments. If, on the other hand, the user ID is determined to be valid, demographic information for the user ID may be obtained from a service provider (Step 235). Such demographic infoπnation may include any of the various types of information described above. If the ID is valid, or if no identification information is required, then operation proceeds to step 236.

In step 236, the method allows the personal computing device of the user access to the network. Once the user gains access to the network, various service provideis may provide services (Step 238) or information based on the above information, e.g., based on one or more of known geographic location infoimation sponsorship information, demographic information, or charging information. Examples include targeted advertising and promotions for goods or services, various types of information such as directions to desired locations, games, etc.

Thus, geographic-based services may be provided to a user of the PCD 1 10 based on the information legarding the geographic location of the PCD. For example, where the user of the PCD 1 10 is physically located proximate to a first vendor (e.g., in or close to a certain store), and this proximity is determined, such as by the access point 120, then advertising information coπesponding to the first vendor may be provided to the PCD 1 10. The information provided to the PCD 1 10 may originate from a service provider or from the access point itself. T he information provided to the PCD 1 10 may be any of various types, such as advertising of the first vendor, e.g., promotions or offers. The access point 120 may transmit various information to the PCD 1 10, wherein the information is dependent upon the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 and may also be dependent upon demographic infoπnation of the user of the PCD 1 10. For example, the service provider may determine that the user is in a book store, and the service provider may access demographic information of the user and deteimine that the user enjoys certain types of books or books by certain authors. The service providei may then generate and provide certain targeted advertising through the access point 120 to the PCD 1 10 of the user based on this knowledge, e.g., an advertisement or promotion (discount) on the respective book(s). As another example, the service provider may determine that the user is at or close to a rental car counter of a first rental car agency, and the seivice provider may accordingly generate and provide certain targeted advertising for another competing rental car agency to attempt to lure the customer to the other rental car agency. Various other examples are envisioned.

Other types of geographic-based services may be provided to the user. For example, the access point 120 may transmit the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 to a memory of the PCD 1 10, thereby advising the PCD 1 10 of its location. Also, the access point 120 may provide directions to a specified location responsive to a query from the PCD 1 10, wherein the directions may be based at least in part upon the geographic location of the PCD 1 10. Further, the access point may deteπnine a direction of motion of the PCD 1 10 based on two or more determinations of the geographic location of the PCD 110 over a period of time.

Thus the geographic location information may be useful to both the mobile user and service providers, e.g. content and information providers, coupled to the network. For example, if an access point 120 locates a PCD 1 10 near a bookstore in an airport, the network may respond by informing the user of a promotion by the bookstore. Similarly, a user of a PCD 110 may query the network for directions to a specific location, such as a food court, a restroom or an ATM machine, The network may then determine directions based on the current location of the PCD 1 10. One or more access points 120 may also be used to determine a direction of motion of the user of the PCD 1 10, and thus provide feedback to the user while moving to the target location of the query,

For more information on the use of geographic location infoπnation for providing geographic based services, please see U.S. Patent No. 5,835,061 and U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/433,817, as well as the other patents and patent applications referenced above.

Figures 4-12: Embodiments of Geographic Based Communication Svstem L^fsage

Figures 4 through 12 illustrate examples of embodiments of usage of the geographic based communication system. Geographic based communication systems may include systems similar to those shown above with respect to Figure 1.

For some service providers, access to a service provider generally may be first granted to a MC before the methods descnbed in these figures may be used. Once access is granted (e.g., the MU is registered), the various goods, information, and or services provided by the various service provideis are available to the MU through the use of their PCD 1 10 and an access point 120. For other service provideis, access may be provided to any MU regardless of or without any registration or identification process. For example, geographic -based advertising services may be provided to all MUs regardless of any authentification or registration.

Service providers 140 may include providers of a wide variety of goods, information, and'or services

Examples of seivice providers 140 include, but are not limited to, car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants, an line leservation centers, banks, stores, malls, taxi services, bus and train reservation offices, printing serv ices, on-line database services, message services, E-mail providers, advertising providers, and other content providers. In addition, service providers may be designed to track, record, and predict demographic information, e.g , eating, buying, spending, and other habits of a ML'.

For example, upon learning that a MU is scheduling a trip to Austin, Texas, a service provider 140 may consider the previous trips by the MU, develop a suggested ltineraiy, and book travel, hotel, car and restaurant reservations. Service providers 140 thus may acquire knowledge about the habits of the MU over a period of time, store the information in a memoiy (such as in an MIB), and extrapolate information from past habits to predict future actions.

Service providers 140 may also provide information to other information and/or service providers. For example, an information provider may be designed to store information on eating habits of MUs. This data may be stored and analyzed in order to predict the choices each MU will make in the future. T his information may be valuable to restaurants frequented by the MU, such as for targeted advertising. This information may also be valuable m areas that a MU visits infrequently or has never been to before. The restaurant may also receive general demographic information about the MU (e.g., age, sex, address, etc.) from the MIB 150. Specialized information may only be available through a specialized information provider. Similarly, a service provider 140 may gather information on the demographics of all the MUs registered in one or more of the MIBs 150. This information may instantly be gathered and charted to give an overall view of MUs according to geographic proximity to one or more access points 120. This infoπnation may comprise only the basic demographic data stored in one or more of the MIBs 150, or the information provider may query the respective MUs for additional information. In a prefened embodiment, as mentioned above, each access point 120 in the network may be associated with a unique geographic location. The geographic location of each access point 120 may be stored in each respective access point 120 or in an MIB 150. For example, the MIB 150 or the AP 120 may store the latitude, longitude, altitude, and other geographic information such as a local map of the area served by each access point 120. This map information may be used as described above. This determined geographic location of a PCD 1 10 may be useful for service providers 140 (e.g., retail businesses) within the geographic proximity of the access point 120 in order to send receive information, such as advertising, or provide a service, to/from the MU's PCD 1 10, wherein the information may be selected and transmitted, or the service provided, based on the known geographic location of the MU.

In one embodiment, each AP 120 may receive the same data from a respective network interface subsystem 220 and broadcast this data to all MUs. For example, if a particular AP 120 is designed to provide MUs using PCDs 1 10 with a map of the local aiea, the respective network interface subsystem 220 may repeatedly send the local map to each data port 230 regardless of the identities of the attached PCDs 1 10. In one embodiment the AP may be configured to only provide this geographic-based information, and is not capable of providing MU- specilic information. Alternatively, the AP 120 may also be configured to provide this geographic infoimation to all MUs as well as MU-specifϊc or ML'-dependent information.

An approximate location of the PCD 1 10 may be determined by one or more access points 120 upon detection of the PCD 1 10. Access points 120 may deteimme an approximate location of a PCD 110 within a radius of 50 feet, 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet or 1 foot of the exact location of the PCD 1 10 for various embodiments. Determination of the approximate location may be accomplished using one or more of various techniques, which may include signal strength measuiements, bearing detennination, signal travel time (which may be deteimined with time-stamped data packets) and or triangulation. Such various techniques may allow an access point 120 to determine the location of a PCD 1 10 relative to the access point 120. This infoimation may then be combined with the known geographic location of the access point 120 to determine the known geographic location of the PCD 1 10. Since the geographic location of each access point 120 is defined and known, such as by each respective MIB 150, detection of the presence of a PCD 1 10 by an access point allows a MIB 150 to know the approximate location of the mobile usei of PCD 1 10 at any given time.

In one embodiment of the piesent invention, the system may determine the location of the PCD 1 10, and in some cases may even provide continual tracking of the PCD's whereabouts. Continual tracking of the PCD's whereabouts may be performed by multiple determinations of a PCD's location relative to one or more access points 120. Upon establishing a connection with an access point 120, the PCD 1 10 may transmit a message inquiring "Where am I?". Alternatively, an access point 120, upon detection of a PCD 110 in its detection range, may transmit a request for a locator signal to the PCD 1 10. The PCD 110 may respond by transmitting the locatoi signal to the access point 120. Multiple signal transmissions by both the PCD 1 10 and the access point 120 may be used depending on the technique used to deteπnine the location of the PCD lative to the access point 120. After determining the location of the PCD 110 relative to the access point 120, the access point 120 may transmit the location information of the PCD 1 10 to PCD 1 10, and also transmit the presence and location of the PCD 1 10 (e.g., which vendor location the user is in or close to) to one or more service providers. These service providers may then transmit information, such as advertising, or services, to the PCD 1 10 (for use by the mobile user of the PCD 110), based on the location information. The PCD 1 10 may also initiate actions based on this location information.

In an alternative embodiment, one or more selected access points 120 may be programmed to watch for the aπival of a particular PCD (target PCD). Upon detecting the presence of the target PCD, the access point 120 establishing the link with the target PCD sends a message directly to a service provider, such as a rental car agency, hotel, etc., to arrange for the appropriate services to be ready for use by the MU upon the MU's aπival. Since the message has been sent, other access points 120 then be directed to cease watching for the target PCD.

The MU in this embodiment may choose to signal the access point 120 that the PCD 1 10 is to be kept in contact with the closest access point 120 at all times. The access point 120 in this embodiment actively and preferably regularly "pmgs" the PCD 1 10 to determine if the PCD 1 10 is still in range of the access point 120. The access point 120 in this embodiment also transfers the ID of the PCD 1 10 to the closest access point 120 if the PCD 1 10 moves outside the geogiaphic area served by the access point 120.

Since the geographic location of the PCD 110 may be determined fairly precisely, service providers 140 are able to provide only the information that is pertinent to the MU based on the PCD's geographic location and may hack the MU's last reported location. For example, since updated information may be sent to the PCD 1 10 based on the location of the PCD 1 10, information that is pertinent only to the fact that the MU is, for example, in the hotel lobby need be sent back to the PCD 1 10 via the communication path between the access point 120 and the PCD 1 10,

Using this identification and location data, network 130 provides desired services (or aπanges to provide desired services by accessing appropriate service providers) and information to the PCD 1 10. Based on the type of information required, network 130 may access one or more service providers 140 to provide the goods, information and/or services to the user based at least partially on the user's geographic location. One embodiment of a system according to the present invention also has processing and memory access to operate in an interactive or adaptable mode. For example, when a MU aπives at the airport, his identity, as well as the fact that he is at the airport, is detected by an AP 120. The AP 120 may then determine the approximate location of the PCD 1 10 and provide the approximate geographic location of the PCD 1 10 to a service provider. One or more seivice providers with access to tiansportation schedules, flight status infoimation, hotel or automobile rental information, weather information, ground maps or other information desired by the MU employs network 130 to send the user updated information about whether a connecting flight has been delayed, alternative routings, vvheie to go to pick up a pre-specified rental car, directions to a prefened hotel and other types of information.

Figure 4: Message Exchange Service Provider

The flowchart of Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a method of exchanging messages through a service provider that offers a message exchange service for a MU, using a geographic based communication system. Here it is presumed that the PCD 1 10 of the MU has contacted or communicated with an AP 120.

In step 610 the PCD 1 10 retrieves messages through the AP 120. For example, a MU may instruct a message exchange service provider to retrieve E-mail from an existing account. The PCD 1 10 of the MU may provide various account information such as network address, login, password, etc. through the AP to the message exchange service provider. In response, the message exchange service provider may retrieve e-mail from the MU's account and forward this e-mail over the network 130 through the AP 120 to the PCD 110 of the MU. The e-mail account information may be stored on the message exchange service provider so the MU does not need to re-enter the information on a subsequent connection, but rather the MLf or PCD may provide an ID code. A message exchange service provider may also be capable of checking voice-mail messages and forwarding them to a PCD for perusal by the MU. This may be accomplished by the message exchange service provider converting voice-mail messages from analog to digital format and then transmitting the digital data to the PCD 110 through the AP. In another embodiment, the message exchange service provider only transmits the number of voice-mail messages to the PCD 1 10.

In step 620 the PCD 1 10 transmits messages through an AP to the message exchange service provider. Message formats may include, but are not limited to, e-mail, facsimile, telephone, and video messages. Facsimile messages may be transmitted, for example, from a software application on the PCD 1 10.

For example, a document may be created using Microsoft WORD and transmitted through a message exchange service provider to a remote fax machine or PCD. A real-time video message may be sent, for example, to a remote PCD, or to any computing device connected to an attached network, such as the Internet, using software such as CUSeeMe or Microsoft NetMeeting. Alternatively, a video message may be recorded by a MU on their PCD 1 10 and sent to a remote PCD for future lerrieval.

Figure 5: Printing Service Provider

The flowchart of Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of a method of completing a print job through a service provider that offers printing services through a geographic based communication system.

In step 710 the PCD transfers a print job through the AP to the service provider. The print job may be sent in numerous different file formats. In one embodiment, the service provider printing service is set-up as a pπntei on the PCD. For example, a laptop computer usei may receive information or drivers from a serv ice provider that offers a printing service. This information or drivers enable the MU to add the printing service to the control panel of the PCD. Once installed, the drivers allow the MU to print any documents, figures, graphs, etc. to the service provider's printer, much like a local printer, simply by selecting the service provider's printing seivice as the output device. In another embodiment, the file to be printed (e.g., Microsoft WORD document, Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheet, Adobe PHOTOSHOP drawing, etc.) is sent to the printing service as an e-mail attachment. The file to be printed is then processed by the seivice provider to provide the proper data format to the punting device.

In step 720, the PCD optionally transfeis print job destination information to the service piovidei Alternatively, or in addition, the AP transfers geographic information of the PCD 1 10 to the service provider. In one embodiment, the AP 120 (the AP that the PCD is communicating with) sends geographic information to the service provider. The service provider may have several printing devices (e.g., laser printers, color printers, plotters, etc.) at multiple locations. The service provider may use the geographic information provided by the AP to select the printing device that is the closest to the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 received by the service provider that is capable of completing the received print job. For example, consider a MU who enters a hotel for a convention and needs several color documents printed from his PCD (e.g., a laptop computer) for a presentation. The MU connects his PCD 1 10 to an AP 120, with which he is registered, and establishes a connection with a seivice provider that offers printing services. The MO sends the print job from his PCD to the service providei tlirough the AP. The AP determines the geographic location of the PCD 110 and sends this geographic information to the seivice provider, in addition to the print job. The service provider determines which printing device that offers the requested services is closest to the MU. In this example, because the MU is requesting poster color prints, the service provider may not be able to use the nearest printing device for this print job, but may need to access an oversized printing device that is further away.

In step 730, the service provider transfers the print job to the selected printing device. The service provider may determine the "best" printing device according to the geographic information of the PCD 1 10 received and the requirements of the requested print job. In one embodiment, a ML^r may instruct the seivice provider of a planned future geographic location at which the MU would prefer to pick up the print job. For example, a MU that is communicating with a wireless AP may not want the print job to be performed at the cunent neaiest printing device to the AP. The MU may desire that the print job be sent to his final destination. For example, a MU who is on his way to the airport may desire a document to be printed foi retrieval at the airport before boarding a plane. The MU may contact a service provider tlirough his PCD through a connection to a w ireless AP on the way to the airport. The MU may then send infoimation from his PCD regarding the desired punt location for the print job. The print job may then be sent to the airport. In addition, a MU may send time information from his PCD to a service provider offering printing services. For example, the MU traveling to the airport may not want the print job printed until immediately before he aπives. The service provider may store the print job and transmit the print job to the appropriate printer at the time desired by the MU.

In step 740, the service provider, tlirough the AP, optionally notifies the MU of the print job destination (e g., the selected printing device) and'or confirmation of the completion of the print job. In one embodiment, a confirmation of completion of the print job is sent to the PCD 1 10 from the seivice provider. If the PCD 1 10 is no longer connected to the AP 120, the AP 120 may store the printing confirmation for a period of time before deleting it. If the MU did not specify a print location, the service prov ider may send detailed information describing the location of the printing device. In addition, the service provider may send information regarding the fees that are due upon pickup or, alternatively, the fees that were charged to the MU account.

Figure 6A: Method for placing rental car reseivations The flowchart of Figure 8 A illustrates one embodiment of a method of reserving and or processing a rental car tlirough a seivice provider (e.g., a rental car agency) tlirough a geographic based communication system.

In step 820 the PCD 1 10 transmits rental car information to the AP 120. In a prefened embodiment the M f has a preferred rental company, car type, and insurance preferences stored in the database of user information 325B and/or the seivice provider (the rental car agency). This may allow the MU to simply transmit (using the PCD) the identification of the MU as well as location and duration of the rental period to the AP 120. For example, the information stored in the service provider's memory for a particular MU may indicate that the MU typically requests a four-door intermediate-size car. Referencing this information, the service provider may automatically reserve a similar vehicle, unless otherwise instructed by the MU.

In step 830 the AP 120 or a service provider transmits the rental car information to the designated rental car agency. T he AP 120 may also determine the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 and provide this geographic location to the service provider or the rental car agency. In one embodiment, demographic data of the MU is also transmitted to the rental car agency. For example, the name, address, phone number, etc. may not have to be re- entered by the MU. Instead, this information may be read from the database of user information 325 and transmitted to the rental car agency either by the AP 120 or by another service provider connected to the network 130. In addition, if an appropriate rental car is found at the desired agency, the PCD 110 may be operable to transmit credit card information to the rental car agency through the AP 120.

In step 840 the designated rental car agency receives the information from the AP 120 and prepares for the arrival of the MU. If a MU did not specify a time to pick up the rental car, but the geographic information received from the AP 120 indicated that he was on the way to or at the airport, the service provider may be operable to compute an expected time of anival as a function of the MU's cunent geographic location, the location of the rental car, cunent traffic conditions, etc. After the reservation is complete and the rental car is ready for pick-up the rental car agency may transmit a message to the MU's PCD indicating the state of preparedness. The rental car agency may also transmit data to the AP and or the MU's PCD indicating the total cost, amount charged to credit card, scheduled return date/time, and any other information that is customary to provide. In another embodiment, the MU has previously made the rental car reservation. ^'I hus, in step 820 the PCD

1 10 of the mobile user transmits the previously made rental car reservation information to the access point. This may involve the PCD 1 10 transmitting the reservation ID number or other information which identifies the particular leservation of the mobile user. In step 830 the AP 120 transmits the rental car information to the designated rental cai agency. The AP 120 also pieferably transmits geographic information indicating the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10. In step 840 the rental car agency receives the transmitted information from the AP 120, including the reservation identification and the known geographic location. Based on the known geographic location of the mobile user as provided by the AP, the rental car agency can optionally begin processing the rental car reservation based on the estimated time of aπival of the mobile user. For example, if the known geographic location information indicates that the mobile user has arrived in the destination airport, then the lental car agency can piesume the user will be at the rental car counter within 20 minutes, and thus can begin processing the reservation to ensure that the reservation processing has been completed by the time the mobile user actually aπives at the rental car counter.

Figure 6B: Alternative method for placing rental car reservations The flowchart of Figuie 6B lllustiates an alternative embodiment of a method of reserving or processing a lental car through a service provider (e.g., a rental car agency) tlirough a geographic based communication system.

In step 805 one or more access points may be programmed to detect the aπival of a taiget MU's PCD in a geographic area serviced by each AP 120. In other words, certain MUs may generally require a rental car (or generally have previously made rental car reservations) when in the geographic proximity of a particular AP 120. For example, the San Diego, California airport may have an AP 120 inside the airport near the arrival gate of one or more incoming flights. The AP 120 may be configured to recognize certain MUs (e.g., target PCDs being used by the MUs) that require a rental car on each visit to San Diego.

In step 815 the AP 120 detects a MU's PCD 110 that is on the list of target PCDs that require a rental car when in the geographic vicinity of the AP. In step 825, the AP 120 transmits identification of the detected PCD 120 to the appropriate service provider or rental car agency. For example, the MU visiting San Diego may be using a PDA operable to establish a wireless communication with a wireless AP. As the MU walks in to the geographic proximity of the AP 120, a connection is made and the AP 120 determines that the MU requires a rental car. This may all be done without the MU removing the PDA from his suitcase. The AP may transmit information to the rental car agency indicating the current geographic location of the PCD 1 10 or MU and/or expected time of arrival at the rental car agency. The PCD 1 10 may also subsequently send information through the AP to the rental car agency regarding the rental car preferences and demographic data of the MU. Alternatively, the MU has previously made rental car reservations, and the PCD of the MU transmits a reservation ID to the AP 120, which may then be transmitted to the designated rental car agency along with geographic location information of the MU. In step 835, the designated rental car agency receives the information from the AP and prepares the appropriate rental car. The rental car agency may charge a credit card on file for the MU or may receive credit card information from the database of user information 325B, The service provider may also calculate an expected time of aπival from the geographic location information provided by the AP 120.

In one embodiment, a service provider receives the identification of the PCDs and also may receive preference information from the PCDs. The service provider may then select rental car agencies for registered MUs based on this preference information. heie the MU has previously made rental car reseivations, the rental car agency receives the reservation information and begins processing the reservation, possibly based on an ETA calculated from the known geogiaphic location of the MLϊ, so that the rental car is ready when the MU aπives.

Figure 7A: Method for placing hotel reservations

The flowchart of Figure 7A illustrates one embodiment of a method of placing or processing hotel reservations through a service provider (e.g., a hotel) in a geographic based communication system.

In step 920 the MU's PCD 110 tiansmits desired hotel reservation information tlirough the AP 120. In one embodiment the MU has a preferred hotel company, room type, and amenities stored in the database of user information 325 and/or the service provider l lius, in this embodiment, a MU's PCD 1 10 may only be required to transmit the location and duration of the desired hotel reservation to the AP 120

In step 930 the AP 120 may transmit the desired hotel leservation information to the designated hotel In one embodiment, the AP 120 may transmit the desired hotel reseivation information to a service provider, where the seiv ice provider pei forms the function of selecting the designated hotel For example, a ML? is able to designate a specific hotel but if a specific hotel is not designated the service providei may be operable to select the hotel that most closely matches the preferences of the MU and/or the geographic proximity of the MU The AP 120 may also determine the geogiaphic location of the PCD 1 10 and provide this geographic location to the designated hotel or a serv ice provider In one embodiment the MU may also be operable to transmit the MU's demographic data through the AP to the designated hotel or service prov ider Thus, for example, the name, address, phone number, etc may not have to be re-entered by the M ! when the MU anives at the hotel Alternatively, the hotel or service provider may read this information from the database of user information 325 tlirough the network 130 In addition, if appropriate accommodations are found at the designated hotel, the MU may be operable to transmit credit card information to the hotel The hotel or service provider may also be able to access this credit card information from a secure server in the network 130

In step 940 the designated hotel receives the desned hotel reser ation information from the AP 120 or from the service provider, makes the reservation, and prepares for the anival of the MU As noted above, the designated hotel may also receive the geographic location information to determine an approximate estimated time of anival (ETA) of the MU After the reservation is complete, the hotel may hansmit a message to the MU's PCD 1 10 indicating the state of preparedness The hotel may also transmit data to the AP 120 and/or the MLϊ's PCD 1 10 indicating the total cost, amount charged to credit card, scheduled checkout date/time, and any other information that is customary to provide

In another embodiment, the MU has previously made the hotel reservation Thus, in step 920 the PCD 1 10 transmits the hotel reservation identification number or other lodging information hich signifies the reservation to the AP 120 In step 930 the AP 120 transmits the lodging reser ation information to the designated hotel where the reservation has been made 1 he access point also transmits known geographic location infoπnation indicating the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10 of the mobile user In step 940 the designated hotel receives the reservation information from the AP 120 as well as the geographic location information This allows the designated hotel to determine the estimated time of anival of the mobile user based on this geographic information, and optionally begin processing the hotel reservation so this processing is complete by the time the mobile user aπives at the hotel counter T he hotel may also access other information from the network 130 such as user s demographic information or preference and habit information, such as whether the user prelers a smoking or nonsmoking room as well as credit card lnlormation to complete the transaction bv the time the user arrives

Figure 7B Alternative method for placing hotel reservations

The flowchart of Figure 7B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a method of placing or processing hotel leservations through a service provider that ofϊeis rooms for rent through a geographic based communication svstem In step 905 one or more access points 120 are programmed to detect the aπival of a target MU"s PCD in a geographic area serviced by each AP 120 In other words, certain MUs may generally require a hotel reservation when in the geographic proximity of a particular AP 120 For example, the San Diego, California airport mav have an AP 120 inside the airport near the aπival gate of one or more incoming flights The AP 120 may be configured to lecognize certain MUs (e g., target PCDs being used by the MUs) that require (or may have pieviously placed) hotel reservations on each visit to San Diego

In step 915 the AP detects a MU's PCD 1 10 that is on the list of target PCDs that require a hotel room when in the geographic vicinity of the AP 120

In step 925 the AP mav transmit the desired hotel reservation information to the appropriate hotel In one embodiment, the AP 120 transmits the identification information of each respective ML^T to a service provider, wherein the service provider performs the function of selection and completing hotel reservations for each MU Each MU may have a prefened hotel company, room type, and amenities stored in the database of user information 325B and/or at the service provider Thus, in this embodiment, a MU may only be required to transmit the location and duration of the desired hotel reservation tlirough the AP 120 to the service provider 140 Alternatively, the MU has previously made hotel reseπ'ations, and the PCD 1 10 of the MU transmits a reservation ID to the AP 120, which may then be transmitted to the designated hotel along with geographic location information of the MU

In step 935, the designated hotel receives the information from the AP and prepares (or confirms) the appropriate hotel reservations T he hotel may charge a credit card on file for the MU or may receive credit card information from the database of user information 325B 1 he hotel may perform other processing based on the leceived geographic location of the PCD 1 10 to ensure that the hotel is ready upon the user's anival

Figure 8A Method for placing travel service reservations

The flowchart of Figure 8A illustrates one embodiment of a method of placing travel service reservations through a service provider 140 that offers travel services (e g , airline, bus, tram, taxi) m a geographic based communication system The flowchart of Figure 10A also illustrates a method for receiving updated travel information in a geographic based communication system

In step 1010 the MU's PCD 1 10 transmits cunent or desired travel information to the AP 120 Where the MU desires reservations, the PCD 1 10 may transmit a reservation request to the AP 120 In one embodiment, the MU has a prefened airline seat type, and amenities stored in the database of user information 325B and/or the service provider Thus, in this embodiment, a MU's PCD 1 10 is required only to hansmit the departure location, the aπival location, and the date/time of travel of the airline reservation to the AP Where the MU already has reservations, the PCD 1 10 mav transmit cunent travel information to the AP 120

In step 1020 the AP 120 transmits the cunent or desired travel information to the designated travel serv ice provider Where the MU desires reservations, the MU is able to designate a specific airline, but if a specific an line is not designated, the service prov ider may be operable to select the airline that most closely matches the preferences of the MU and the geographic proximity of the MU

In step 1030 the aP 120 may determine the geographic location of the PCD 1 10 and tiansmit the geographic location to the travel service pro ider In step 1030 the AP 120 may also be opei ble to transmit demographic data of the MU to the designated airline For example, the name address, phone number, etc may not have to be re-enteied b\ the ML' Instead, this information is leceived orn the AP 120 or read from the database of user information 325 and transmitted to the designated airline. In addition, if appropriate accommodations are found at the designated airline, the AP may be operable to transmit credit card information to the airline.

In step 1040 the designated airline receives the current or desired travel information from the AP 120, including the geographic information of the PCD 1 10 and possibly the demographic data of the user.

In step 1045 the designated airline prepares for the arrival of the MIL Where the MU desires reservations, the designated airline may make the appropriate reservation. This may include retrieving information from a database based on the target PCD's ID. Where the MU already has reservations, the designated airline or anothei seivice provider may obtain updated travel information relevant to the user, based on the user's cunent itineraiy and or the known geographic location of the MU.

In step 1050 the airline may transmit a message to the AP and/or the MU's PCD indicating the details of the reservation. The airline may also hansmit data to the AP and or the MU's PCD indicating the total cost, amount charged to credit card, scheduled flight dates/times, and any other information that is customary to provide. Where the MU already has reservations, the designated airline or another service provider may provide the updated travel information relevant to the user.

Figure 8B: Alternative method for placing travel service reservations

The flowchart of Figure 8B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a method of placing travel service reservations tlirough a service provider that offers travel services (e.g., airline, bus, train, taxi) through a geographic based communication system. The flowchart of Figure 10B also illustrates a method for receiving updated tiavel information in a geographic based communication system.

In step 1005 one or more access points 120 are programmed to detect the aπival of a target MU's PCD in a geographic area serviced by each AP. In other words, certain MUs may generally require a taxi when in the geographic proximity of a particular AP. For example, the San Diego, California airport may have an AP inside the airport near the anival gate of an incoming flight from Austin, Texas. T he AP 120 may be configured to recognize certain MUs (e.g., target PCDs being used by the MUs) that require a taxi to transport the MU from the airport to their hotel on each visit to San Diego.

In step 1015 the AP 120 detects a MU's PCD that is on the list of target PCDs that require a taxi when in the geographic vicinity of the AP.

In step 1025 the AP 120 transmits information to the appropriate taxi service, possibly including the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10. In one embodiment the MU has a preferred taxi service and amenities stored in the database of user information 325 and/or at the service provider. Thus, in this embodiment, the AP 120 may only transmit the determined location of the ML^T (for pickup by the taxi service) and the requested destination to the taxi service provider.

In step 1035 the designated taxi service receives the information from the AP. In step 1045, the designated taxi service retrieves cunent travel infoimation based on the PCD's ID, and dispatches a taxi to the location of the MU.

In step 1055 the designated taxi service may send a message to the MU's PCD indicating the estimated time of anival of the taxi at the location of the MU, and identifying information about the taxi (e.g., color, license number). The above method in flowchart of Figure 10B may also be used for receiving updated travel information in a geographic based communication system as described above.

Figuie 9: Method for locating the nearest seivice providei The flowchart of Figure 9 illustrates one embodiment of a method for locating the nearest seivice provider that offers a particular service (e.g., car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants, airline reservation centers, banks, department stores, malls, specialty shops, gift shops, convenience stores, taxi services, bus and train reservation offices, printing services, on-line database services, message services, E-mail services) through a geographic based communication system. In step 1 1 10 the MU's PCD 1 10 submits a request to locate a service provider, e.g., restaurants, in the immediate vicinity of the MU to the AP 120. In one embodiment the MU has certain preferences, e.g., a prefened food style (e.g., barbecue), restaurant style (e.g., fast food or table service), and amenities stored in the database of user information 325B and/or the service provider. Thus, in this embodiment, a MU's PCD 1 10 is required only to transmit the request to locate restaurants to the AP. As another example, the MU's PCD 1 10 may direct an inquiry through the access point 12 over the network 130 connected to the user's bank to locate the nearest ATM in the immediate vicinity of the MU. Since the MU's location is established with relative precision by the location of the access point 120, the service provider may respond with a message such as "Straight ahead to exit 3, turn right and proceed two blocks."

In step 1 120, the AP 120 transfers the request to locate a nearby service provider, e.g., restaurants offering the food style and restaurant style prefened by the ML?, to a location service provider, along with the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10. The location service provider may be the AP 120 or a separate service provider 140 connected to the network 130. If the desired service provider is not available in the immediate vicinity, the location service provider may suggest alternates based on the known geographic location which most closely match the user's preferences. For example, if a food style and/or restaurant style prefened by the MO is not available in the immediate vicinity of the PCD 1 10, the location service provider may be operable to select alternative restaurants that most closely match the preferences of the MU and the geographic proximity of the MU.

In step 1 130 the location service provider determines the location of any nearby providers, e.g., any restaurants offering the food style and restaurant style prefened by the MU, and/or alternative service providers that most closely match the preferences of the MU and the geographic proximity of the MU. For example a mobile user of PCD 1 10 who connects to an access point 120 in a hotel lobby (e.g., tlirough an fra-red port) may quickly receive information regarding restaurants, shops, services, etc. available in the immediate area. This information may include, for example, hotel room prices, shuttle service schedules, restauiant locations, menus, specials of the day, area event schedules, availability, and prices.

In step 1140 the location service provider may transmit a message to the AP 120 and/or the MU's PCD indicating the locations of the providers, e.g., restaurants, found in step 1 130, along with their names, food styles, lestaurant styles, and any information available on the restaurants (e g., specials, menus, credit cards accepted).

Because each access point 120 contains a specific geographic location and is able to determine the approximate location of the PCD 1 10, the PCD 1 10 may receive information that is different based on the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10. In a hotel that includes several fast food restaurants, the nearest fast food restaurant may be different depending on the location of the PCD 1 10 and APs ithin the hotel The specific geographic pinpointing feature also allo s competitors to produce real-time competitive advertising

For example, if a mobile user of PCD 1 10 is looking for a restaurant and is 10 yards from restauiant A and 100 yards from lestaurant B, restaurant B may transmit an advertisement to PCD 1 10 that gives the mobile user of PCD 1 10 a discount for walking a few minutes to come to restauiant B In a similar manner, a department stoie mav transmit a "digital coupon" offering a discount to the next 5 customers who mention the digital ad The digital coupon may be transmitted to all MUs in the geographic proximity, or may be transmitted only to MUs who have spent a certain amount of money m the respective store The digital coupon may be transmitted to only MUs who aie inside or immediately outside the respective store or alternatively, the digital coupon may be sent to MUs that aie m the geometric proximity of all APs in the mall or near the mall enhances

In addition, a digital coupon that is limited to a certain quantity of buyers (e g , the first five customers that show the digital coupon) may be reserved or used immediately by a MU transmitting a signal back to the serv ice provider indicating they would like to purchase the product and sending demographic and payment information For example, a mobile user of PCD 1 10 has just entered a mall and received a digital coupon from Toys 'R' Us that states, "Next 3 customers to purchase a Nintendo 64 entertainment system pay only $29 99 ' If Toys 'R Us is on the opposite side of the mall, and if the mobile user of PCD 1 10 wants to take advantage of this limited ad, the mobile user of PCD 1 10 may be able to instantly respond with credit card information to complete the discounted sale

Figure 10A Method for providing targeted advertising

The flowchart of Figure 10A illustrates one embodiment of a method for providing targeted advertising through a service provider that offers ad ertising tlirough a geographic based communication system The targeted advertising may be based at least partly on the known geographic location of the MU as determined by an AP 120

(or as pro ided by GPS infoπnation by the PCD of the MU), and also possibly based on demographic information of the user

In step 1210 the access point 120 detects a PCD 1 10 of a MU and transmits the PCD's ID and determined geographic information of the PCD 1 10 to an advertising pro ider

In step 1220 the ad ertising provider may access a database, such as the advertising prov ider's proprietary databases, to deteπnine appropnate advertising to be sent to the MU's PCD 1 10, based on the determined geographic location of the PCD 1 10 I hus the advertising may be selected based on the known geographic location of the user The advertising mav also be selected based on the known geographic location of the user as well as demographic information of the user such as past purchases spending habits, etc

In step 1230 the targeted advertising that is chosen for the ML^T by the advertising provider is transmitted to the MU s PCD 1 10 through the AP 120 This targeted advertising may be time-sensitive or quantity-sensitiv e, oi unrestricted An example of a time-sensitive ad ertisement is "For the next 15 minutes all watches are 25% off at ABC Watch Company which is located in the A concourse, between gates 14 and 16 " An example of a quantity- sensitive advertisement is "The next 50 customers who request a submarine sandwich at DEF Restaurant w ill receive a free drink The DEF Restaurant is located m the C concourse, between gates 23 and 25 "

As a further example a McDonalds franchise mav be looking tor a new store location in a city or a new store location within an airport or hotel The McDonalds fianchisc may be inteiested in demographic data foi different areas of the region of interest. This data may include demographic charts taken every hour, for example, w nch show the number, sex, ages, etc. of MUs at each access point at the different times. T his demographic data may be compiled and presented in a variety of graphic formats. The information provider may also query the MUs that communicate with a specific access point (or all access points), asking each MU, "would you buy a BIG MAC light now if McDonalds was less than 3 blocks away?" This information may be compiled by the information provider and sold to McDonalds to aid in the determination of the best store location. MUs that answer such surveys may be rewarded with a digital coupon that allows them to buy BIG MACs for $.99 for the next six months. MUs may also have the option to configure their PCDs to not accept unsolicited surveys.

Figure 10B: Alternative method for providing taigeted advertising

The flowchart of Figure 10B illustrates an alternative embodiment of a method for providing targeted advertising tlirough a service provider that offers advertising tlirough a geographic based communication system. As with the method in Figure 12A, the targeted advertising may be based at least partly on the known geographic location of the MU as determined by an AP 120 (or as provided by GPS information by the PCD of the MU), and also possibly based on demographic information of the user.

In step 1210 the AP the access point 120 detects a PCD 110 of a MU and transmits the PCD's ID and determined geographic information of the PCD 1 10 to an advertising provider. In one embodiment, demographic information on the MU's past purchases from the clients of the advertising provider may be stored in the database of user information 325 and/or the advertising provider. Certain demographic information may also be provided by the PCD 1 10 of the MU. Thus, in this embodiment, even if the MU has not visited any of the specific clients of the advertising provider near the location of the AP 120, the advertising provider may be able to provide suggestions of service providers in the area based on the past purchases of the MU as well as the geographic location information. The advertising provider may then send advertisements from seivice providers to which the MU is likely to respond (e.g., targeted advertising). In step 1220 the advertising provider accesses the advertising provider's own proprietary databases to determine appropriate advertising to be sent to the MU's PCD, based on the geographic location of the AP.

In step 1225 the advertising provider additionally accesses the database of user demographic information 325 and/or the advertising provider's own proprietary databases to determine appropriate advertising to be sent to the MU's PCD, based on the location of the AP along with the preferences, habits or other demographic information of the MO. For example, using the known restaurant pieferences of the ML', the advertising provider may extrapolate desired food styles (e.g., oriental) and/or restaurant styles (e.g., cafeteria) that may be of interest to the MU.

In step 1230 the targeted advertising may be selected based on one or more of the known geographic location of the ML' and the demographic information of the ML'. The targeted advertising that is chosen for the MU by the advertising provider is transmitted to the MU's PCD tlirough the AP. This targeted advertising may be time- sensitive, or quantity-sensitive, or unrestricted. An example of a time-sensitive advertisement is: "For the next 15 minutes, all watches are 25% off at ABC Watch Company, w nch is located in the A concouise, between gates 14 and 16." An example of a quantity-sensitive advertisement is. "T he next 50 customers who request a submarine sandw ich at DEF Restaurant will receive a free drink. The DEF Restaurant is located m the C concourse, betw een gates 2i and 25." As a further example, a service provider 140 (e.g., an arcade in a mall) may request infoπnation about visitors (MUs) that is canying a PDA (PCD 1 10) operable to communicate with an AP 120 in the mall entrance. As the visitor enters the mall, his PDA automatically connects to the AP 120. The aicade, along with other information and service provideis coupled to netwoik 130, is notified that the visitor is in the mall and is given the position of the visitor (the location of the PCD 1 10). The approximate geographic location of the visitor is determined by the access point 120 as described above.

In addition, there may be several different access points throughout the mall that track the visitor's movement through the mall. The service provider may desire to know certain demographic information, e.g., the age and sex, of each visitor that enters the mall in order to deteπnine if a particular advertisement should be sent. The service provider may not desire to send advertisements to each visitor because royalties may be paid to the AP provider for each advertisement sent. The request for information about the visitor may be sent to processor 310 via network 130 and network interface 340. The processor 310 may then deteimine the desired demographic information, e.g., the age and sex of the visitor, stored in the database of user information 325 and read the appropriate information from memory 320 according to the database of user information 325. This information is then made available to the service provider tlirough network interface 340 and network 130.

Alternatively, if the information requested from the service provider is not stored locally in the MIB 150, the processor 310 may send out a request to a specific information provider 140 requesting the specific information. Processor 310 may also store in memory billing information conesponding to each information and service provider 140 that requests information. In a similar example, if the seivice provider is requesting specific details about the visitor, such as purchase habits for shoe apparel, the database of user information 325B may not contain information that specific. The processor 310 may determine, though, that there is an information provider 140 that stores this type of specific data, e.g., the purchase habits for shoe apparel. Processor 310 may then send a message to the service provider indicating that an information provider 140 is available that contains the specific information requested, along with the price of that information. The service provider may then agree to pay the fee to access the specialized information provider.

Figure 1 1 : Method for geogiaphic based billing

The flowchart of Figure 1 1 illustrates one embodiment of a method for providing geographic based billing tlirough a geographic based communication system.

In step 1310, the MU (using their PCD) accesses one or more service providers 140 and uses one or more services over a given period of time (e.g., daily, monthly, quarterly, yearly). Here it presumed that the PCD of the MU has previously connected to an AP 120 and accesses one or more service providers 140 on the network 130.

In step 1320 the billing information from all service providers 140 may be stored, such as in the database of user information 325. The ML' may pay only one bill over a given period of time (e.g. a month) to the network system operator and the system operator owner may pay the charges to individual seivice providers 140.

Alternatively, each service provider may be directly paid by the MU, either tlirough a credit card or any other method of payment, at the time services are rendered.

The billing rate for a particular service may be different according to the geographic location of the MU. For example, a MU that receives a fax in a hotel conference room may pay a higher rate than if the fax were received in a print shop. This allows fluctuations in market costs of information and services according to geographic location. For example, the cost of living may be much higher in San Francisco than it is in Austin. Most products and seivices cost moie if they are purchased in San Francisco, in comparison to Austin prices. The present invention allows a goods, information, and/or seivice provider, who provides the same service in both San Francisco and Austin, to charge different amounts for the goods, information, and/or services dependent upon the location where the seivice is provided.

Figuie 12: Method for automatically adjusting to cunent time zone

The flowchart of Figure 12 illustrates one embodiment of a method for automatically adjusting a PCD to the cunent time zone tlirough a geographic based communication system.

In step 1410 a MU anives m a new time zone and connects to the network via an access point. For example, the ML' may have just arrived at an airport, or driven into a new time zone in an automobile.

In step 1420 the access point compares its stored local time zone with the local time zone of the MU's PCD. The local time zone for each access point 120 may be stored either in the MIB 150 or directly in the access point 120.

In step 1430 the access point sends a message to the MU's PCD 110 indicating that the local time zone is different from the time zone cunently being used on the MU's PCD 1 10 and may await a reply before changing the time zone.

In step 1440, the MU has indicated (by replying to the message sent in step 1430) that he would like the time zone updated. The access point 120 then may update the time zone on the PCD 1 10 to the local time zone.

Step 1450 is reached by either the MU not replying to the message sent in step 1430 within a usei- specified time-out period (e.g., 60 minutes), or the MU replying to that message, and the access point completing the time zone update on the PCD.

Service Provider as an Infomediary

In one embodiment, the network provider or a seivice provider acts as an infomediary for the mobile users or subscribers. In other words, the network provider may maintain information regarding the mobile user from a database, or received from the mobile user, and selectively provide this information to information or service providers on the network. The network provider or service provider may selectively provide this information at the direction of the mobile user, possibly for the financial benefit of the mobile user.

Figures 13A and 13B: Access points and Geographic Regions

Figures 13A and 13B each illustrate a plurality of w ireless access points 120 and their respective geographic detection regions 500. Wneless access points 120 may be similar to those described in reference to Figure 1. Each wireless access point 120 may include a transmitter and a leceiver for sending and receiving wireless signals, thus enabling a PCD 1 10 to establish a connection to a network. A wireless access point may have a geographic detection region 500 within which it may communicate with a PCD 1 10. The radius of detection legion 500 may vary based upon seveial factors. One such factor may be the sensitivity of receiver circuitry in both PCD 1 10 and wireless access point 120. A second factor may be the available power for transmitting signals and'or data packets by both PCD 1 10 and wireless access point 120. Wireless access points 120 may be configured to determine the location of a PCD 1 10 within a second geographic region 501, i.e., with a granularity as indicated by region 501. The smaller second geographic region 501 where the PCD 1 10 is determined to be located represents a more precise location of PCD 110.

Figure 13A illustrates an embodiment where the PCD 1 1 determines an approximate location of the PCD 1 10 using both distance and bearing information. Thus, in Figure 13A, second geographic region 501 may be a smaller region at a certain bearing and distance lelative to the AP 120, Second geographic legion 501 may have a significantly smaller radius (e.g. approximately 10 feet) than geographic detection region 500.

Figure 13B illustrates an embodiment where the PCD 1 10 determines an approximate location of the PCD 1 10 using only distance information. Thus, in Figuie 13B, second geographic region 501 may be a concentric nng region centered around the AP 120.

Wireless access points 120 may employ various techniques to determine the location of PCD 110. These techniques may include, but are not limited to, one or more of signal strength measurement, signal travel time measurement, bearing determination, and triangulation. Location circuitry 21 1 (such as that illustrated in Figure 2) within each wireless access point 120 may be configured to perform one or more of these techniques. As discussed above, other infoπnation may then be used regarding the geography of the area to further deteπnine an approximate location of the PCD 1 10. For example, the AP 120 can presume that the user is not located on the airport tarmac or in a "forbidden area" of the airport, and hence the AP 120 can further "naπovv down" the locations where the user of the PCD 1 10 might be. Thus the AP 120 can use the approximate distance and/or bearing information in conjunction with map information of the area to determine or refine possible locations of the PCD 110.

After determining an approximate location, wireless access point 120 may transmit a data packet including the location information to PCD 1 10, thereby informing a user of his approximate or exact location. The location information determined by wireless access points may be useful for both a user of PCD 1 10 and a network service provider. For example, a user of PCD 1 10 may be able to query a network service provider for directions to the nearest automatic teller machine (ATM), a restroom facility, or a specific business. Furthermore, wireless access points 120 may be configured to make multiple readings of the location of PCD 1 10 in order to determine a direction of motion. This may be useful in providing feedback to a user of PCD 1 10 making a transit based on the directions provided due to the query.

Various network service providers and associated sponsors may also use the location information, along with demographic information of the user of PCD 1 10, to tailor the content provided to the PCD 1 10. In one example, a user of PCD 1 10 is located m an airport terminal, near a specific restaurant in which he has eaten on previous layoveis in the same terminal. T he restaurant is a sponsor for a netwoik service provider. A nearby wireless access point 120 detei mines that the user of PCD 1 10 is located near the restaurant. After w ireless access point 120 transmits the location information to the network, a network service provider may determine that the user of PCD 1 10 has patronized the specific restaurant from previously gathered demogiaphic information. In response, the network service provider may hansmit information about a promotion by the restaurant. Many other similar scenarios are possible, and thus, the above scenario is provided by way of example and is not limiting. Figure 14A: Flowchart of a Method for Determining Location using Signal Strength

Figure 14A is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method of determining the location of a PCD 1 10 using a wireless access point 120 configured to determine the bearing and signal shength of an incoming signal. The method begins when a mobile user caπies a PCD 1 10 into a geographic region neai an access point (AP) and establishes a wireless connection with the AP (Step 2002). In some embodiments, a PCD 1 10 may periodically hansmit an "alert" signal in order to indicate its presence to any nearby AP's. In other embodiments, a user of a PCD might submit a request to establish communications with any nearby AP by transmitting an alert signal.

Following the establishment of communications between the AP 120 and the PCD 1 10, the AP 120 may then transmit a request for a locator signal to the PCD (Step 2004). In response, the PCD 1 10 may transmit a locator signal to the AP (Step 2006). In some embodiments, the locator signal may include a data packet. The data packet may include pertinent information, such as the time of transmission of the locator signal, as well as the power level of the signal at the source.

In Step 2008, the AP 120 receives the locatoi signal. Upon receiving the locator signal, the AP 120 may be configured to make an immediate determination of the bearing from which the signal originated. Location c cuitry within the AP 120 (as previously discussed) may include a memory which stores the bearing information. The location circuitry may also perform a signal strength measurement of the received signal. Using the transmit power information included in the data packet, the location circuitry may then determine the attenuation of the locator signal by calculating the difference between the signal strength at the source and receiver.

With the attenuation of the signal calculated, the location circuitry may then determine the distance between the AP 120 and the PCD 1 10 (Step 2010). Having determined the bearing (relative to the AP 120) and the distance to the PCD, the AP 120 has the necessary information for an approximate or precise location determination. After determining the precise location, the AP 1 0 may transmit the location information to both the

PCD and to the network (Step 2012).

Figure 14B: Flowchart of a Method of Determining PCD Location using Time Stamps

Figure 14B is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for determining the precise location of a PCD 1 10 using time stamps. Using this method, an AP 120 may determine the distance to a PCD 1 10 base on the amount of time it takes for a signal to travel between the AP 120 and the PCD 1 10. The method begins when a mobile user caπies a PCD 1 10 into a geographic region covered by an AP (Step 2002). The PCD 1 10 may establish a wireless connection to the AP in a manner similar to that of the method in Figure 14A. After a connection has been established, the AP and the PCD may then synchronize clocks (Step 2020), which may be performed to ensuie that signal travel time may be accurately determined.

Following the synchronization of clocks, the AP 120 may then transmit a first data packet to the PCD 1 10 (Step 2022). The first data packet may include a firs time stamp indicating the exact time of the transmission. Upon receiving the data packet, the PCD may assign a second time stamp indicating the exact time of receiving the data packet.

In Step 2026, a determination is made as to whether the PCD may respond immediately to receiving the fust data packet by transmitting a second data packet. In some cases, the PCD 1 10 may be performing multiple tasks, and have a heavy processing load. Similaily, in times of heav y network traffic, an AP may not be able to accept an immediate response. Since a delay of even a fraction of a second can have a profound effect on a distance calculation based on signal travel time, it is important that the measured signal travel time be as accurate as possible. In such cases, a PCD may enter a wait state (Step 2040) until a response can be made. If responding after entering a wait state, the PCD 1 10 may transmit a second data packet with a third time stamp, which indicates the time of transmission of the packet (Step 2042). If no wait state is required, the PCD 1 10 may respond immediately to the receipt of the first data packet by tiansmitting a second data packet (Step 2028). The second data packet may also include a time stamp indicating the time of receiving the first data packet.

Once the second data packet is received by the AP 120, the AP 120 may determine the bearing from which it was transmitted (Step 2030). Following the bearing determination the AP may then calculate the distance between the AP and the PCD based on the signal travel time (Step 2032). The signal travel time may be the time elapsed between the first time stamp and the second time stamp, or the time elapsed between the second and third time stamps. In some embodiments, a PCD may also calculate the distance to the AP upon receiving the first data packet based on the time elapsed between the first time stamp and the second time stamp.

Following the calculation of the distance between the PCD and the AP, the AP may then hansmit the precise location information to both the netwoik and the PCD (Step 2034).

Figures 15A and 15B: Determining Precise Location using Triangulation

In some cases, it may not be possible for an AP to determine the bearing of an incoming signal. However, AP's may be configured to determine a precise location using triangulation techniques. Figure 15A illustrates a scenario in which two AP's 120 may work m conjunction to deteπnine the precise location of PCD 1 10. As shown in the drawing, the geographic regions 500 covered by AP I and AP2 overlap with each other. PCD 1 10 is located in between the overlapping regions, and thus may communicate with either of the AP's 120. The distance between AP 1 and AP2 is fixed, and is represented by side S₃ of the triangle shown. In order to determine the length of the other two sides of the triangle, Sj and S;, each AP 120 may independently determine a distance to PCD 1 10. The distance between an AP 120 and PCD 1 10 may be determined using either the signal strength or the time stamp techniques as discussed above. T he distance determinations from each AP yield a triangle with sides Si, Si, and S₃. Having determined the length of each side of the triangle, the law of cosines may then be used to determine the angle between sides Sj and S₂. After determining the angle between Si and S;, the other two angles, and hence the bearing relative to each AP, may be easily calculated using the law of cosines. Figure 15B is a flowchart of^" one embodiment of a method for determining bearing using triangulation.

The method may begin when a mobile user canies a PCD into a geographic region covered by multiple AP's (Step 2050), such as that shown in Figure 15 A. The PCD may then establish a wireless connection with both AP's. API and AP2 may then each independently determine the distance to the PCD (Steps 2052 and 2054). The method used to determine the distance to the PCD by each AP may involve either signal strength measurements or signal travel time calculations, as explained above with reference to Figures 14A and 14B. The distance deteriiunations may be used to perform standard triangulation techniques. More specifically, the distance determinations may yield two sides of a triangle, with the third side of the triangle being the distance between the two AP's. With the three sides of the triangle determined, either of the (or both) AP's may determine the angles of the triangle (Step 2056). In one embodiment, an AP may use the law of cosines to make an initial angle determination, and then solve for the other two angles of the triangle. Determination of each angle 111 the triangle may yield bearing information, and thus precise location information. With the precise location determined, one or both AP's may transmit the precise location information to the network and the PCD (Step 2058).

While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood that the embodiments are illustrative and that the invention scope is not so limited. Any variations, modifications, additions, and improvements to the embodiments described aie possible. These variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventions as detailed within the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A geogiaplnc-based communications service system, comprising: a portable computing device, wheiein said portable computing device is configured to communicate in a wireless manner; a network; a plurality of wireless access points coupled to said network and aπanged at known geographic locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless manner, wherein the at least one access point is opeiable to communicate with the portable computing device in a first geographic area of the first access point, wherein the at least one access point is further configured to determine a geographic location of the portable computing device in a second smaller geographic area within the first geographic aiea.

2. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a relative geographic location of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point; wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine the geographic location of the portable computing device using the known geographic location of the at least one access point and the lelative geographic location of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

3. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one access point is opeiable to determine an approximate distance of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

4. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine an approximate bearing of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

5. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine an approximate bearing and distance of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

6. The geogiaphic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendois using the geographic location of the portable computing device.

7. The geographic-based communications service system as iecitεd in claim 1, herein the at least one access point is operable to determine a vendor location of a pluiahty of possible vendoi locations in which the portable computing device is located or proximate to.

8. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is operable to provide information regaiding the geographic location of the portable computing device to a service provider; wherein the service providei is operable to provide geographic-based services to a user of the portable computing device based on the information legarding the geographic location of the portable computing device.

9. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 8, where the at least one access point is operable to determine a proximity of the portable computing device to one oi more vendors using the geographic location of the portable computing device; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information regarding the one or more vendors.

10. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a first vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located or proximate to; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information regarding the first vendor location.

1 1. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 8, wherein the user of the portable computing device is physically located proximate to a fust vendor; wherein the service provider is operable to provide information to the portable computing device, wheiein the information corresponds to the first vendor.

12. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 1 , where the information comprises advertising of the first vendor.

13. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 8, wherein the user of the portable computing device is physically located at or proximate to a first vendor location of a first vendor; wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine the first vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located; wherein the service provider is operable to provide information to the portable computing device, wherein the information corresponds to the first vendor.

14. The geogiaphic-based communications serv ice system as recited in claim 1 , wheiein the at least one access point is operable to provide information regarding the geogiaphic location of the portable computing dev ice to a service provider; wherein the service provider is operable to determine a proximity of the at least one access point to one or moie vendors using the geogiaphic location of the portable computing device; wherein the service provider is operable to provide geogiaphic-based seivices to a user of the portable computing device based on said determined proximity.

15. T he geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geographic location of the portable computing device includes a latitude and longitude of the location of the portable computing device.

16. The geographic -based communications seivice system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory which stores map infoπnation of the first geographic area of the at least one access point; wherein a proximity of the portable computing device to a vendor is determined using the map infoimation and the geographic location of the portable computing device.

17. The geographic-based communications seivice system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point includes location circuitry; wherein the location circuitry is operable to deteπnine the geographic location of the portable computing device in the second smaller geographic area within the first geographic area.

18. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine the geographic location of the portable computing device using at least one of: signal strength of a signal from the portable computing device, time stamps of data packets transmitted between the portable computing device and the at least one access point, and triangulation techniques.

19. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherem the at least one access point is configured to measure the signal strength of a signal received from said portable computing device, wherein said signal strength is useable in determining a distance from the at least one access point to the portable computing device, wherein said signal strength is used in determining the geographic location of the portable computing device.

20. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least one access point and the portable computing device is configured to transnut and receive data packets, wherein each of said data packets includes a time stamp; wherein one or more of the at least one access point and the portable computing device is configured to determine a distance between the at least one access point and the portable computing device based on at least a first time stamp and a second time stamp, wherein said first time stamp is included in a data packet transmitted by the at least one access point and said second time stamp is included in a data packet transmitted by the portable computing device.

21. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said pluiahty of access points includes a first access point and a second access point, wherein said first access point and said access point are configured to deteπnine the geographic location of said portable computing device using triangulation techniques.

22. The geographic-based communications service system as lecited in claim 1, wheiein each of said plurality of access points is configured for detecting said portable computing device responsive to said portable computing device entering said first geographic area.

23. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one access point is configured to transmit the geographic location of said portable computing device to a memory associated with said portable computing device, theieby advising said portable computing device of its location.

24. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one access point is configured to provide directions to a specified location responsive to a query from said portable computing device, said directions to said specified location based at least in part upon the geographic location of said portable computing device,

25. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one access point is configured to determine a direction of motion of said portable computing device based on two or more determinations of the geographic location of said portable computing device.

26. ^"I he geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is configured to hansmit information to said portable computing device, wherein said information is dependent upon the geographic location of said portable computing device.

27. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one access point is configured to hansmit information to said portable computing device, wherein said information is dependent upon the geographic location of said portable computing device and demographic information of the user of said portable computing device.

28. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 1, wherein a perimeter of said second smaller geographic area is within 10 feet of said portable computing device.

29. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 1 , wherein a perimetei of said second smaller geographic area is within 5 feet of said portable computing device.

30, The geogiaphic -based communications seivice system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said second smaller geographic area comprises a concentric ring region centered around the at least one access point.

31. The geographic-based communications seivice system as recited in claim 1, wherein the geographic location of the portable computing device is useable to deteπnine a proximity of the portable computing device to a vendor; wheiein targeted advertising of the vendor is provided to the portable computing device in response to the proximity of the portable computing device to the vendor.

32. A geographic -based communications seivice system, comprising: a portable computing device, wherein said portable computing device is configured to communicate in a wireless manner; a network; a plurality of wireless access points coupled to said network and arranged at known geographic locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless manner, wherein the at least one access point is further configured to determine a relative geographic location of the portable computing device relative to the known geographic location of the at least one access point.

33. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine the geographic location of the portable computing device using the known geographic location of the at least one access point and the relative geographic location of the portable computing device relative to the known geographic location of the at least one access point.

34. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device in a wireless manner in a first geographic area of the at least one access point, wherein the at least one access point is further configured to determine the geographic location of the portable computing device in a second smaller geographic area within the first geographic area.

35. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 34, wherem the at least one access point is operable to deteπnine an approximate distance of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

36. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 34, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine an approximate bearing of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

37. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 34, wheiein the at least one access point is operable to determine an approximate bearing and distance of the portable computing device relative to the at least one access point.

38. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendors using the geographic location of the portable computing device.

39. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wheiein the at least one access point is operable to determine a vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located or proximate to.

40. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least one access point is operable to provide information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device to a service provider; wherein the service provider is operable to provide geographic-based services to a user of the portable computing device based on the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device.

41, The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 40, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendors using the geographic location of the portable computing device; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information regarding the one or more vendors.

42. The geographic -based communications service system as recited in claim 40, wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine a first vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located or proximate to; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information regarding the first vendor location.

43. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 40, wherein the user of the portable computing device is physically located proximate to a first vendor; wherein the service provider is operable to provide information to the portable computing device, wherein the information conesponds to the first vendor.

44. The geographic-based communications seivice system as recited in claim 43, wherein the information comprises advertising of the fust vendor.

45. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 40, wherein the user of the portable computing dev ice is physically located at or proximate to a first vendor location of a first vendor; wherein the at least one access point is opeiable to determine the first vendor location of a pluiahty of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located; wherein the service provider is operable to provide information to the portable computing device, wherein the information corresponds to the first vendor.

46. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least s one access point stores map information of the first geographic aiea of the at least one access point. wherein the at least one access point is operable to determine the proximity of the portable computing device to a vendor using the map infoimation and the geographic location of the portable computing device.

47. The geographic-based communications service system as recited in claim 32, wherein the at least 0 one access point is operable to deteπnine the geographic location of the portable computing device using at least one of: signal shength of a signal from the portable computing device, time stamps of data packets transmitted between the portable computing device and the at least one access point, and triangulation techniques.

48. A method for providing a geographic-based communications service in a network system, 5 wherein the network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network and arranged at known geogiaphic locations, the method comprising: a portable computing device communicating in a wireless manner with a first access point, wherein the first access point is operable to communicate with the portable computing device in a first geographic area of the first access point; and determining a geographic location of the portable computing device in a second smaller geographic area within the first geographic area.

49. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the first access point determines the geographic location of the portable computing device.

50. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein said determining includes determining an approximate distance of the portable computing device relative to the first access point.

51. The method as lecited in claim 48, wherein said determining includes determining an approximate beanng of the portable computing device relative to the first access point.

52. The method as recited in claim 48, wheiein said determining includes deteπnining an approximate bearing and distance of the portable computing device relative to the first access point.

53. The method as recited in claim 48, wheiein said determining includes: determining a relative geographic location of the portable computing device lelative to the fiist access point; and determining the geographic location of the portable computing device using the known geographic location of the fiist access point and the relative geogiaphic location of the portable computing device lelative to the first access point.

54. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising: providing geographic-based seivices to a user of the portable computing device based on information legarding the geographic location of the portable computing device.

55. The method as recited m claim 54, further comprising: determining a proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendors using the geographic location of the portable computing device; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information legarding the one or more vendors.

56. The method as recited in claim 54, further comprising: determining a first vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations in which the portable computing device is located or proximate to; wherein the information regarding the geographic location of the portable computing device includes information regarding the first vendor location.

57. The method as recited in claim 54, wherein the user of the portable computing device is physically located proximate to a first vendor; wherein said providing provides infoimation to the portable computing device, wherein the infoimation conesponds to the first vendor.

58. The method as recited m claim 57, wherein the information comprises advertising of the fust vendor.

59. The method as recited in claim 54, wherein the user of the portable computing device is physically located at or proximate to a first vendoi location of a first vendor; the method further comprising: determining the first vendor location of a plurality of possible vendor locations m which the portable computing device is located; wherem said providing geographic-based seivices compnses providing information to the portable computing device, wherein the information corresponds to the fiist vendoi.

60. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein the geographic location of the portable computing device includes a latitude and longitude of the location of the portable computing device.

61. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising: determining a proximity of the portable computing device to one or moie vendors, wheiein said determining a proximity uses the geogiaphic location of the portable computing device.

62. The method as recited in claim 61, wherem the first access point determines the proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendors.

63. The method as recited in claim 61 , wherem said determining the proximity of the portable computing device to one or more vendors includes using map information of the first geographic area of the at least one access point and the geographic location of the portable computing device.

64. The method as recited in claim 48, wherein said determining a geographic location of the portable computing device includes using at least one of: signal strength of a signal from the portable computing device, time stamps of data packets transmitted between the portable computing device and the at least one access point, and triangulation techniques.

65. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising: transmitting the geographic location of the portable computing device to a memory associated with said portable computing device, thereby advising the portable computing device of its location.

66. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising: receiving a query from the portable computing device regarding directions to a specified location; and providing the directions to the specified location, wherein the directions to the specified location are based at least in part upon the geographic location of the portable computing device.

67. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising: performing two or more determinations of the geographic location of the portable computing device; and determining a direction of motion of the portable computing device based on the two or moie deteimuiations of the geographic location of the portable computing device.

68. The method as recited in claim 48, further comprising. prov iding information to the portable computing device, wherem said information is dependent upon the geographic location of said portable computing device.

69. The method as recited in claim 48, further compπsing: providing information to the portable computing device, wherem said information is dependent upon the geographic location of said portable computing device and demographic infoimation of the usei of said portable computing device.

70 The method as lecited in claim 48, wherein a perimeter of said second smaller geogiaphic aiea is ithm 10 feet of said portable computing device

71. The method as recited in claim 48, wherem a perimeter of said second smaller geographic area is within 5 feet of said portable computing device.

72. The method as recited m claim 48, wherein said second smaller geographic area comprises a concentric ring legion centered around the first access point.

73. The method as recited m claim 48, further comprising: determining a proximity of the portable computing device to a vendor using the geographic location of the portable computing device; providing targeted advertising of the vendor to the portable computing device in lesponse to determining the proxinuty of the portable computing device to the vendor.