WO2006058348A1

WO2006058348A1 - Method of communicating data

Info

Publication number: WO2006058348A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2005/000174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Nicholaas Venter; Gerhardus Pieter Van Der Westhuizen
Original assignee: Daniel Nicholaas Venter; Van Der Westhuizen Gerhardus P
Priority date: 2004-11-26
Filing date: 2005-11-24
Publication date: 2006-06-01
Also published as: ZA200609997B

Abstract

A method of communicating wherein data which is dependent on the geographical position of a cellular phone and which relates for example to tourist, motoring, medical, historical and commercial information is transmitted to the phone subject to user selection of a phone menu and against direct or indirect payment of a fee.

Description

METHOD OF COMMUNICATING DATA

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a method of transferring data between a user of a cellular phone and one or more control points or databases.

[0002] Cellular or mobile phones are in widespread use. In many countries it is possible to communicate via one or more cellular networks throughout practically the whole world.

[0003] As used herein "cellular phone" is synonymous with "mobile phone".

[0004] A person travelling through a specific region, e.g. a tourist, can readily make use a cellular phone to contact a tourist office, for example, to obtain information about a given region. Similarly a person can seek accommodation by phoning one or more hotels or motels. Communication of this type is clearly dependent on a number of variable factors including the basic requirement of having the telephone number of the party to be called. This can, in certain conditions, be somewhat problematic.

[0005] Another factor is that a person passing through a given region may not be aware of the amenities which, in fact, are available in that region. For example entertainment locations, sites of interest, game parks, theme parks and the like may

not always be well-advertised or well-known and a traveller can easily ignore or be totally unaware of these facilities unless, in some way, these facilities are brought to the attention of the traveller, particularly at the time at which the traveller is in the relevant region.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0006] The invention is concerned with a method of communicating data which, at least partly, addresses the aforementioned situation.

[0007] The invention provides a method of communicating data between a cellular phone and a control point which includes the steps of transmitting a request via the phone to a control point and, in response to the request, transmitting to the phone data, which relates to a specific area and to at least one of the following: tourist information; accommodation information; information relating to motoring or vehicles; medical information; historical information; commercial information; sites of interest; events; and geographical information.

[0008] "Geographical information" is intended to cover route and road details, map data, and the like.

[0009] The specific area may be an area in which the phone is located.

[0010] The data which is transmitted to the phone is not in any way restricted although, generally, the data will be confined to facilities or services which would be

of interest to a traveller or newcomer to the area concerned. [0011] In one form of the invention the position of the phone is automatically identified and the data which is transmitted to the phone is. determined in accordance with such identification.

[0012] The position of the phone may be identified, in a cellular network, using

techniques which are known and used in the art for example in the making of cellular phone calls and which, for this reason, are not further described herein.

[0013] In a different form of the invention the position of a phone can be determined using a global positioning system (GPS) or the like. Through the use of suitable techniques which are known in the art the information which is transferred to the user is then decided on the basis of such positional determination.

[0014] The method of the invention may be implemented in various ways. In a preferred approach a user is invited, via a menu function on a display of his phone, to select what may be referred to herein as an information service. This may be against payment of a fee. Alternatively the provision of the information service may be funded by means of advertisements which are paid for by parties who stand to benefit directly or indirectly from the provision of such information, for example garages, hotel owners, tourist offices and the like.

[0015] In a different form of the invention the data is provided substantially free of charge to a user but the cost associated therewith is recovered from usage charges levied by the communication network which is used for transferring the data, for example a given cellular network. [0016] In a variation of the invention it is possible for a user in a first area to request data, of the aforementioned type, which relates to a second area which is remote from the first area. This feature enables a user, in advance, to formulate his requirements about a particular remote area.

[0017] The data may be confined to an area in which the phone is located and then, depending on the type of data which is required, the data can be provided on an ongoing basis in a manner in which the provision of the data is directly related to the position of the phone. For example if a user requires information about sites of interest then, as the user passes within a given range of a particular site, the user can be prompted, via the display on the phone, about the existence and nature of the site.

[0018] In one form of the invention which holds particular attraction to a user who is visiting a game park, provided the relevant function is selected, the user can automatically be notified of the whereabouts of an animal, for example a lion, which has been "collared" i.e. tagged with a radio transmitter so that the movements of the animal can be tracked. Further information can then be provided about the tagged animal for example, in the case of a lion, information about a pride with which the lion is associated. This is a specific example which is of particular interest to visitors to game parks but it is merely illustrative and is non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram representation of a communication system used for implementing the method of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a menu and flow chart representation depicting how the method of the invention is interfaced to a user.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrate in block diagram form a system 10 for implementing a method of transferring data in accordance with the method of the invention.

[0021] The system 10 includes a number of control points designated 12A, 12B ... 12N which are connected via suitable communications links to a data server 14.

[0022] Included in Figure 1 is a representation of a cellular phone 16 carried by a user in a conventional manner.

[0023] Each control point represents a cellular mast or communication point. The operation and functioning of a cellular communications network are known in the art and thus are not described herein. For the sake of completeness it is pointed out that a user of the phone 16 is automatically switched by the cellular network to be in communication with at least one cellular mast or control point on an ongoing, seamless and transparent manner.

[0024] The data server 14 can make information available to each of the control points, again using techniques which are known in the art. The data server includes a suitable memory 14A and control equipment 14B and, in accordance with predetermined rules, protocols and financial requirements, data from one or more authorised data input sources 18A, 18B ... 18N can be supplied to the data server. Typically, authorised data could come from a directory of hotels or providers of accommodation, providers of motoring services such as garages, repair shops and the like, data on medical centres, doctors, hospitals and so on, data on places of entertainment such as theatres, cinemas, game parks, historical sites, and

geographical data i.e. information relating to roads, highways, maps etc. The scope of the invention is not limited in this regard and the aforegoing examples are merely illustrative.

[0025] Figure 2 illustrates a typical sequence of menus which can be encountered during use of the system 10. Assume for example, that the user of the phone 16 is travelling through a particular area and wishes to obtain data relating to that area. By subscribing to a function referred to herein for the sake of convenience as a "tourist function" the user will have an option presented on the display of his phone, to which he can navigate, which will present to the user a plurality of choices which are related to the control point which is closest to the user at the time.

[0026] Optionally however it is possible, with slight modifications to what is described herein, for the user to designate a selected area and then to extract information relating to the designated area as opposed to information which relates to the area in which the user finds himself at a particular time.

[0027] Assume that the user selects the tourist function. Referring to Figure 2 the user is then presented with a main menu 24 on the display of the phone 16, which shows certain categories of information which will be made available to the user. These categories can be varied according to requirement, The categories are not described in detail hereinafter save for the first option which is in respect of

accommodation.

[0028] Using prompts on the phone display and keys or push buttons on the phone the user can select the accommodation option and is then presented with a menu 26 which categorise the types of accommodation available in the given area. Assuming that the user selects "hotels", a further menu 28 is presented which allows the user to

select using variables such as location, price, availability, contact number and so on. Clearly the options can be further extended according to requirement.

[0029] In a subsequent menu selection, designated 30, a mode of communication between the user and a selected hotel is chosen. This can be done by a telephone i.e. direct contact or an sms message could be sent from the hotel to the user or vice versa. It is also possible depending on the facilities which are available to make use of e-mail communication, to complete a hotel booking process.

[0030] In a variation of the invention assume that option 5 is selected from the menu

24. The user, in this example, is presented with three choices in a menu 32 namely "local entertainment", "game parks" and "historical sites". Assume that the user selects "game parks". A subsequent menu 34 allows the user to select a particular game park while a further menu 36 allows the user to select from functions such as accommodation within the park, points of interest in the park, information on game sighted in the park and the ability to be notified of collared animals of interest in the park. A collared animal is normally equipped with a transmitter or transponder and at regular intervals a signal is emitted which enables the whereabouts of the animal to be established. A person travelling through the game park can then via this function automatically be contacted when the person is in range.of the- animal's transmitter and this can lead to substantial additional interest during a visit to the game park. An auxiliary function would be to supply the user with further information on the animal, its habits and so on. This information could be transferred to the user directly by a sms message, multi-media message or the like.

[0031] It is possible for a user to subscribe to the system or for the system to be funded by advertisements or payments from service providers. Clearly a measure of control is exerted on the authorised data input sources 18 to enable appropriate charges to be raised.

[0032] The invention has been described thus far with reference to a user of a cellular phone 16. In a variation of the invention a user who has a cellular phone also has a global positioning system (GPS). This type of unit is known in the art and, when activated, the position of the unit and hence of the user are known to within a few metres by means of satellite-based tracking systems. This positional information can be relayed to a GPS control point 40 and, using any appropriate communication links information specific to the location of the user could be transferred to the user from the data server in a manner which is similar to what has been described hereinbefore.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a cellular phone and a control point which includes the steps of transmitting a request via the phone to a control point and, in response to the request, transmitting to the phone data, which relates to a specific area and to at least one of the following: tourist information; accommodation information; information relating to motoring or vehicles; medical information; historical information; commercial information; sites of interest; events; and geographical information. i

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the specific area is an area in which the phone is located.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the position of the phone is automatically identified and the data which is transmitted to the phone is determined in accordance with such identification.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the position of the phone is identified using a cellular network technique or a global positioning system.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein a user in a first area transmits a request to the control point in respect of data which relates to a second area which is remote from the first area.

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a user is invited, via a menu function on a display the phone, to select the data to be transmitted to the phone.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the data transmission is effected against payment of a fee by the user, or .is funded by means of advertisements, or is funded from usage charges, levied by a cellular network used for transmitting the data.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the data transmitted to the phone is confined to an area in which the phone is located and is provided on an ongoing basis in a manner in which the provision of the data is directly related to the position of the phone.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the data transmitted to the phone relates to the whereabouts of an animal which has been tagged with a radio transmitter so that the movements of the animal can be tracked.