Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Brohoff
`
`[54] GEOGRAPHICAL DATABASE FOR RADIO
`SYSTEM
`
`[75] Inventor: H?kan Torgny Broho?', Linképing,
`Sweden
`
`_
`[73] Ass1gnee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
`(publ), Stockholm, Sweden
`
`[21] APPl- N91 08/918,546
`'
`.
`[22] Flled'
`
`Aug‘ 22’ 1997
`
`US006108533A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,108,533
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`5,801,638
`5,862,490
`5,930,699
`5,948,041
`6,035,189
`
`9/1998 OZaki .................................... .. 455/435
`1/1999 Sasuta et a1.
`455/433
`7/1999 Bhatia .... ..
`455/414
`3/2000 Abo et a1. ..... ..
`455/456 X
`3/2000 Ali-Vehmas et al. ................. .. 455/414
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2160278 6/1996 Canada .......................... .. H04Q 7/36
`0767594 4/1997 European Pat. Off.
`H04Q 7/38
`3516357 11/1985 German ........ ..
`H04B 7/26
`6021641 2/1985 Japan
`. H04B 7/26
`1170133 7/1989 121 an
`. H04B 7/26
`4132322 5/1992 Jagan
`H04B 7/26
`
`
`
`[51] Int. Cl.7 ............................. .. H04M 3/42; H04Q 7/20 [52] U..S. Cl. ........ .. 455/414, 455/456 _
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iapan a an 8502023 5/1985 WFIHJO "
`
`6015 11/00
`
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 455/456, 556,
`455/553, 457, 414, 432, 435, 434, 550,
`403, 422, 421, 426, 554, 555, 557, 466;
`340/8253
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,155,689 10/1992 Wortham.
`5,177,685
`1/1993 Davis et a1- -
`5208756 5/1993 Song -
`1g;
`‘lil‘ltftrlllznelt a1‘ """""""""""" " 455/11'1
`3/1995 Zijderhana
`5’4O2’ 117
`4/1995 Lima _
`'
`5’ 406’ 491
`4/1996 Schreder_
`5:5O4:482
`8/1996 Behr et a1_ _
`575437789
`8/1996 Morimoto et a1, _
`5,544,061
`5,579,535 11/1996 Orlen et a1. ................... .. 455/33.1
`5,604,676
`2/ 1997 PeIlZiaS -
`576107821
`3/1997 GaZis ct a1~ -
`5’612’881
`3/1997 Moro“) et a1‘ '
`21215:??? Z1333 iri?iilfififll; .................... .. 455/414
`5,625,668
`4/1997 Loomis et a1. .
`. 455/456
`5,774,803
`6/1998 Kariya ................................... .. 455/414
`
`H04Q 7/38
`9625830 8/1996 WIPO __
`. H04Q 7/36
`9629836 9/1996 WIPO ..
`9636193 11/1996 WIPO ............................ .. H04Q 7/38
`
`Primary Examiner—DWayne D. Bost
`Assistant Examiner—Tracy M. Legree
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jenkens & Gilchrist, PC.
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A geographical database connected to a mobile radio net
`Work contains information about consumer services Within
`IhC'HCIWOI‘k and about a plurality of geographic areas into
`WhlCh the service area of the network is divided. When a
`mobile station seeks to obtain information from the database
`by entering one or more search key Words, the netWork
`determines the current geographic location of the mobile
`station Within the netWork. Both the search keys and the
`mobile station’s current location are used to search the
`database and return to the mobile station information about
`available consumer services in different Zones made up of
`geographic areas near its current location. The input and
`Output from the database may be
`or text
`
`28 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`IZZO House
`
`Cell 5
`
`MacDonalds
`
`Information
`
`Radio Shack
`
`54
`
`Video Palace
`
`55
`
`General Search Word
`l—l
`
`Meal
`Restaurants
`
`Specific Search Word
`l—-—l
`Geographic information
`Burger Queen Y Cell 2
`Specific information
`Geographic information
`Pizza Castle < Cell 2
`Specific information
`Geographic information
`Y Cell 4
`Specific information
`Geographic information
`< Cell 5
`Specific information
`
`Pizza House
`
`Macdonalds
`
`Geographic information
`Burger Queen < Cell 2
`Hamburgers 4‘:
`Specific information
`Geographic information
`MacDonalds < Cell 5
`Specific information
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 0f 8
`
`6,108,533
`
`11
`
`14
`
`W10
`
`12
`
`13
`
`15
`
`19
`17
`
`1
`
`16
`
`17
`
`17
`
`MSC
`
`Adoption
`
`18
`
`Zone
`
`1 1 Geographic ‘34
`1
`t "f
`Area
`=
`5 or 0
`\35l p
`contains 1
`has 1
`110..n
`110..1
`Zone \ 6
`Geographic \
`Relation
`3
`Information
`38
`
`Specific \41
`information
`“1
`
`.
`contoms
`
`contains 1
`"On
`Zone Relation
`Information \-§7
`consists of
`
`contains 1
`111..n
`: Information :39
`Components 1nn
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22,2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f8
`
`6,108,533
`
`Order of presentation
`
`Originating Geographic
`Area
`
`izza House
`
`Cell 5
`
`MacDonalds
`
`Information
`
`Radio Shack
`
`54
`
`Video Palace
`
`55
`
`Specific Search Word
`General Search Word
`l—l l—l
`Burger Queen Y Cell 2—Geographic information
`Specific information
`Pizza Castle < Cell 2———Geographic information
`Specific information
`Pizza House < Cell 4—Geographic information
`Specific information
`Macdonalds Y Cell 5—Geographic information
`Specific information
`
`Meal
`Restaurants
`Food
`
`4
`
`Burger Queen < Cell 2—Geographic information
`Hamburgers —[
`Specific information
`MacDonalds < Cell 5
`Geographic information
`Specific information
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22,2000
`
`Sheet 3 0f8
`
`6,108,533
`
`Cells
`
`Zone B
`
`Zone C 0.4" a
`'14 \Q/
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22,2000
`
`Sheet 4 0f8
`
`6,108,533
`
`E1 Road
`
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`|:|Zone E] Geographic Area
`
`19 34
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22,2000
`
`Sheet 5 0f8
`
`6,108,533
`
`MS
`
`BS
`|nvoke_Service(MSNB)
`
`\ 71
`
`V
`
`Adoption (MSC)
`
`GDB
`
`:
`
`‘
`
`\ 72
`
`=
`
`Present_Services(Services)
`
`Service_Request(Seorch Key, Service)
`\ 73
`
`:
`
`Locote__MS(Locoting Information)
`
`___ _ _____ _ _
`
`K 75
`
`_ _ * _ ._ __ K35. _>
`
`\ 74
`
`MS_Locoted(Resu|t) ‘
`\ 75
`|nquir;(Seorch Key, Geogr. Are )
`
`StopO
`
`\ 77
`
`\ 78
`
`7
`
`r
`
`=
`
`\ 79
`
`=
`
`_
`
`lnquiry_Result(Messoge)
`
`FIG. 7
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22,2000
`
`Sheet 6 0f8
`
`6,108,533
`
`MS CONTACTS MSC AND
`REQUESTS GEOGRAPHICAL
`DATABASE SERVICE
`
`MSC RECEIVES SERVICE
`REQUEST AND SENDS
`MESSAGE TO MS LISTING \82
`TYPES OF SERVICE AVAILABLE
`
`M50 SELECTS A SERvIGE
`FROM LIST AND SENDS INQUIRY
`MESSAGE TO MSC INCLUDING \83
`CHOICE OF SERVICE AND ANY
`APPROPRIATE SEARCH KEYS
`
`FIG. 8
`
`92 /
`SEARCH GEOGRAPHIC DATABASE
`BASED UPON INQUIRY MESSAGE
`FROM MS AND LOCATION AREA(S)
`REQUIRED FOR RENDERING
`DATABASE SERVICE REQUESTED
`
`BR'NG MS’ 9‘
`INTO
`lggTAlyEE
`|
`
`NO
`
`/86
`LOCATE MS WITHIN
`A GROUP OF BASE
`STATIONS IN NETWORK
`+
`87
`SEND MESS/AGE
`CONTAINING MS
`LOCATION T0 :20
`T /
`TRANSLATE MS
`LOCATION INTO
`CORRESPONDING
`GEOGRAPHICAL
`AREA OF DATABASE
`|
`
`/ 94
`
`RESULTS
`TO MS
`
`95
`I /
`ORGANIzE SEARCH
`RESULTS INTO GROUPS
`IN HIERARcHIcAL
`FASHION BY
`GEOGRAPHIC ZONES
`T /96
`RETURN SEARCH
`RESULTS TO MS IN
`SEQUENTIAL GROUPS
`BY PROXIMITY OF
`GEOGRAPHIC ZONES
`TO LOCATION OF MS
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 0f 8
`
`6,108,533
`
`Neighbouring Zones
`
`General
`Search Key
`
`Specific
`_
`7 Search Key 1\'33o
`
`320 J
`
`Specific \_
`Search Key 2
`33b
`
`Specific
`Search Key 3
`
`Zone 1
`
`Zone 2
`
`GM
`
`CA2
`
`MS
`\ CA3
`19
`
`GA4
`
`CA5
`
`FIG. 9
`
`General
`Search Key
`
`_ Specific
`Search Key 1\“ 330
`
`Specific \_
`Search Key 2
`33b
`
`Specific
`Search Key 3
`
`320 J
`
`Zone 2
`
`Zone 1
`
`CA2
`
`Zone 5
`
`CA1
`
`Zone 3
`
`CA5
`
`CA3 MS
`1
`CA4 Zone 4
`
`FIG. 10
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`6,108,533
`
`Message \- 38o
`
`cons' s of com ents
`
`39G -/ Southwest
`
`Route 66 \- 39
`
`voice
`or
`text
`
`Y I
`
`91/
`
`Y A
`
`ii
`of
`
`\ 39b
`
`FIG. 1 1
`
`MS position
`
`19 —/X
`
`Y
`
`x
`
`A
`
`B
`
`/
`C
`
`D
`
`E
`
`92)
`
`F
`
`FIG. 12
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 9
`
`

`
`1
`GEOGRAPHICAL DATABASE FOR RADIO
`SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to radio telecommunication
`systems and, more particularly, to a geographical database
`for providing information to the subscribers of cellular radio
`systems.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In recent years the groWth of mobile radio telephone
`systems, particularly cellular telephone systems has been
`phenomenal. Such systems enable complete telecommuni
`cations facilities to be furnished to a community, city, or
`even an entire country Without the time and expense of
`installing a Wireline infrastructure. Moreover, radio tele
`phone systems provide communication resources to a sub
`scriber regardless of the physical position of the subscriber
`Within the system or Whether the subscriber is moving or
`stationary.
`Each mobile radio telecommunication system operator
`must make a very large investment in infrastructure
`equipment, including mobile sWitching centers and base
`stations, in order to serve the geographic territory for Which
`it has a license. As a result, each operator seeks to: (1)
`provide high quality telecommunication service to its sub
`scribers at reasonable costs; (2) provide as many value
`added adjunctive services as possible to its subscribers in
`order to retain those subscribers and to attract neW ones to
`its netWork; and (3) to increase its revenue from both basic
`telecommunication services and the provision of additional
`adjunctive communication services to its subscribers.
`The subscribers of a mobile radio telecommunications
`system often move frequently and Widely throughout a
`geographic area. This movement may take them into geo
`graphic areas With Which they are personally unfamiliar.
`While some radio netWorks provide value added services to
`their subscribers such as dial up services Which list
`restaurants, movies, emergency services and the like, these
`services are unable to identify the speci?c geographic loca
`tion of the calling mobile station Within the netWork and
`custom con?gure the information provided to it as a function
`of its current geographic location.
`Often, a mobile radio subscriber, for eXample a mobile
`subscriber moving Within a shopping center or even an
`in-door shopping mall, Would be very interested in obtaining
`information With respect to the closest restaurant or coffee
`shop or speciality store of a particular type in their geo
`graphic area. Similarly, a motorist driving in an unfamiliar
`part of toWn Who is running loW on fuel Would very
`interested in knoWing the closest gasoline station to its
`current location. LikeWise, a motorist seeking to get from
`toWn A to toWn B in an unfamiliar geographic area Would
`also be interested in knoWing the proper routes to drive in
`order to reach toWn B, particularly if roadWay construction
`made the use of detours necessary.
`While computeriZed navigation systems and geostation
`ary positioning satellite systems have the capability of
`identifying the speci?c geographic position of a sensor on
`the face of the earth, such systems are generally not inte
`grated With a communication system. Moreover, most com
`munication systems are not adapted for the delivery of
`speci?c information from a database to a person requesting
`information of a particular type. The method and system of
`the present invention provides a geographical database inte
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6,108,533
`
`2
`grated into a radio telecommunications system for providing
`speci?c information to a radio subscriber upon request. The
`speci?c information is based upon a speci?c request by the
`subscriber and may be con?gured to be directly associated
`With the current geographic position of the subscriber Within
`the radio netWork.
`There are numerous techniques for geographically locat
`ing a mobile station Within a cellular radio system. These are
`used primarily for purposes for rendering emergency aid to
`the mobile subscriber or for con?guring system resources,
`such as the characteristics of a directional antenna array for
`the speci?c position of a mobile subscriber. None of these
`systems identify the position of the mobile station With
`respect to other geographic elements for purposes of sup
`plying it With information from a geographic database.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In one aspect, the present invention includes providing
`geographic information from a database Within a radio
`telecommunications netWork. A database is provided and
`connected to the netWork and contains a ?rst set of speci?c
`information about consumer services available Within the
`netWork and a second set of information about a plurality of
`geographic areas Within the netWork and their relationship to
`one another. Each of the items of speci?c information about
`consumer services in the ?rst set is associated With the
`information in the second set Which corresponds to the
`geographic location Within the netWork Where the services
`are available to subscribers of the netWork. Amobile station
`Within the netWork requests information from the database
`and information is returned from the database to the mobile
`station based upon a search thereof in response to the
`request. In one embodiment of this aspect, the type of
`information requested by the mobile station may require that
`the database knoW the current geographic location of the
`mobile station. In such a case, the current geographic
`location of the mobile station is determined and translated
`into a corresponding geographic area contained Within the
`second set of information in the database. The geographic
`area and any search keys furnished by the requesting mobile
`station is used to search the database for the information
`requested.
`In another aspect, the present invention includes a geo
`graphic database for a mobile radio telecommunication
`netWork Which has a plurality of cells served by base stations
`connected to at least one mobile sWitching center and Which
`enables a mobile station moving Within the netWork to
`establish radio communication With the netWork. The geo
`graphic database is connected to the netWork and queriable
`by a mobile station from Within the netWork over the air
`interface thereof The database comprises data de?ning a
`plurality of geographic Zones Within the netWork With each
`Zone comprising a plurality of geographic areas. Each of the
`geographic areas contain geographic information made up of
`a plurality of information components and each Zone is
`de?ned by the information components to have speci?c
`spacial relationships betWeen each other and the geographic
`area. The database also includes data de?ning a plurality of
`elements of speci?c information With at least some of the
`elements de?ning consumer services available to subscrib
`ers of the radio netWork and at least some of the elements
`being directly associated With one or more of the geographic
`areas identifying the location at Which the associated con
`sumer service may be obtained Within the netWork by the
`subscriber.
`In a still further aspect, the present invention includes
`accessing information Within a geographical database asso
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 10
`
`

`
`3
`ciated With a radio telecommunications system serving
`mobile stations moving over a geographic area. A message
`is sent from the mobile station to the netWork seeking to
`invoke the information service and a message acknoWledg
`ing receipt of the information request message is sent by
`netWork. A speci?c query is sent from the mobile station to
`the netWork seeking information from the database. The
`current geographic location Within the netWork of the que
`rying mobile station is determined. The database is searched
`With the speci?c query of the mobile station and the current
`geographic location of the mobile station and information
`located Within the database related to the query of the mobile
`station. The located information is arranged hierarchically
`into groups in accordance With the geographic Zone With
`Which the information has an association and is provided
`from the database to the querying mobile station in sequen
`tial groups in accordance With the proximity of the Zone With
`Which each group is associated to the Zone in Which the
`querying mobile station is currently located.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`For an understanding of the present invention and for
`further objects and advantages thereof, reference can noW be
`had to the folloWing description, taken in conjunction With
`the accompanying draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a
`cellular radio system equipped With a geographic database
`constructed in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating certain elements of
`one aspect of the organiZation of a geographic database
`constructed in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the organiZation of Zones
`Within the geographic database constructed in accordance
`With the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating certain organiZational
`aspects of the geographic database constructed in accor
`dance With the present invention;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a possible relationship
`betWeen different Zones in the geographic database of the
`present invention and to the cells of a cellular radio system
`Within Which said database is integrated;
`FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the use of Zones and
`geographic areas Within a database constructed in accor
`dance With the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a signaling diagram depicting the How of
`messages betWeen a mobile station and the netWork during
`the use of geographic database of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a How chart depicting certain aspects of the use
`of the geographic database of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram depicting one aspect of the
`presentation of information Within the geographic database
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a pictorial diagram depicting another aspect of
`the presentation of information Within the geographic data
`base of the present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of
`an information request message Within the geographic data
`base of the present invention; and
`FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the mapping of mobile
`station position coordinates to geographic areas Within the
`geographic database of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shoWn a block diagram of a
`portion of a cellular radio telecommunications system 10
`
`65
`
`6,108,533
`
`4
`including a plurality of cells 11—13 each being served by
`base stations 14—16, respectively. The base stations 14—16
`are connected via cable or microWave links 17 to a mobile
`sWitching center 18. The mobile sWitching center 18
`includes a geographic database (GDB) constructed in accor
`dance With the present invention together With an interface
`or adaption 22 Which enables the database 21 to be searched
`and accessed by mobile stations 19 moving Within the
`cellular system 10. It should be understood that the GDB 21
`need not be a part of the MSC 18 but could, rather, be a stand
`alone node, if desired.
`The input to the geographic database typically includes
`tWo components: (1) the geographic area from Which the
`inquiry originates, ie the geographic location of a mobile
`station accessing the database; and (2) a possible search key
`designating information a user desires to obtain from Within
`the database. The geographic area from Which the inquiry
`occurs could be the cell from Which the service is invoked
`by a mobile station. HoWever, there eXist many more sophis
`ticated methods to locate the speci?c position of a mobile
`station Within a cellular radio netWork. Several exemplary
`techniques are shoWn and discussed in European Patent No.
`EP-767594, PCT Patent Application WO-9629836, PCT
`Patent Application WO-9625830, Japanese Patent
`JP06326651, Japanese Patent JP04132322, Japanese Patent
`JP04095791, Japanese Patent JP01170133, German Patent
`DE3516357, PCT Application WO8502023 and Japanese
`Patent JP60021641, all of Which are hereby incorporated by
`reference herein.
`One technique Which produces relatively accurate mobile
`station position information is triangulation in Which three
`base stations from three different cell sites are used in the
`location decision procedure. The more accurately the geo
`graphic location of the requesting mobile station is
`determined, the more precise information Which can be
`supplied from the geographic database. A set of geographic
`coordinates de?nes the actual geographic area from Which
`the request has originated.
`A search key Which may be sent from the mobile station
`requesting information from the geographic database to the
`system can be either general or speci?c. A general search
`key is also associated With either one or several speci?c
`search keys. While a speci?c search key is unique, a general
`search key is an abstraction of one or more speci?c search
`keys. For eXample, the general search key “food” is asso
`ciated With the speci?c search keys “PiZZa Hut”,
`“McDonald’s”, and “Burger King.” Each speci?c search key
`may be associated With a speci?c information element.
`The speci?c information stored Within the geographic
`database and tied to a speci?c search key is conveyed back
`to the inquiring party either as teXt or as a voice message in
`response to the inquiry. Each speci?c search key may be
`associated With one geographical area and each geographical
`area may be associated With an information element Within
`the geographical database. For each speci?c service
`requested by the mobile station, the speci?c information that
`is tied to the geographical area is also conveyed back to the
`inquiring party either as teXt or as a voice message in
`response to the inquiry.
`Referring neXt to FIG. 2, there is shoWn a block diagram
`illustrating the organiZation and relative object relations
`Within the structure of the database of the present invention.
`An inquiry 31 from a mobile station operating Within the
`cellular netWork 10 may contain either a general search key
`32 or a speci?c search key 33. Similarly, the general search
`key may also contain one or more speci?c search keys 33.
`
`15
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`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 11
`
`

`
`6,108,533
`
`5
`The inquiry 31 also originates from a geographic area 34
`Which is part of a geographic Zone 35. Each Zone 35 contains
`one or more geographic areas 34. Each Zone 35 also has a
`number of possible Zone relations 36 each of Which contains
`a Zone relation element 37. The Zone relationship object 36
`may contain information on, for example, hoW to get from
`one Zone to the other. Similarly, each geographic area
`contains geographic information 38 each element of Which
`contains geographic information components 39. Each spe
`ci?c search key may also contain speci?c information 41
`Which is made up of speci?c information components 39.
`A geographic area 34 may be part of one and only one
`Zone 35. While a Zone 35 may contain several geographic
`areas 34, each Zone 35 also has certain relationships to other
`Zones 35. The nature of this relationship may be of several
`different types; for example, a neighbor relationship or a
`separation distance relationship. The neighboring Zone con
`cept is used in the database of the present invention in order
`to facilitate the organiZation and presentation of information
`to an inquiring party of the geographic database.
`Referring next to FIG. 3, there is shoWn a pictorial
`diagram illustrating the concept of geographic areas and
`Zones and shoWing one possible interrelationships betWeen
`Zones in the organiZation of the geographic database of the
`present invention. Each of the Zones 35a—35e are related to
`one another, respectively, by concentrically surrounding one
`another. They are shoWn as being generally circular but
`other shapes and con?gurations are possible. The originating
`geographic area 34a is depicted as being at the center of the
`concentrically related Zones 35a—35e. The interrelationship
`of the respective Zones 35a—35e are shoWn along a scale 43
`Which represents relative distance of the respective Zones
`from the originating geographic area 34a and Which may
`also represent the requested order of presentation of infor
`mation to the inquiring party from the database. The infor
`mation from the database associated With the Zone from
`Which the inquiry originated is presented ?rst. That is, since
`the inquiry originated from geographic area 34a Which lies
`Within the ?rst Zone 35a, information Within the database
`that is associated With Zone 35a is ?rst presented. Thereafter,
`information associated With each of the other geographic
`areas 35b—35e are presented in a sequential and orderly
`fashion as belonging to the next most proximately related
`neighboring Zones to the originating Zone 35a. So also, each
`neighboring Zone may also have neighbors and each such
`neighboring Zone is dealt With until the system is satis?ed
`that there are no more Zones left to handle in order to present
`all of the information required to respond to the inquiry
`received by the database.
`The information to be delivered to the inquiring party
`from the database is constructed from a plurality of infor
`mation components. Each information component is a small
`fraction of an information message. Each of the information
`components can be shared among different information
`messages.
`As mentioned above, it is generally of interest to knoW the
`geographic location of the mobile station of the inquiring
`party but it may also be of interest to knoW the position of
`other speci?c mobile subscribers Within the system in order
`to satisfy an inquiry of the geographic database. Such
`geographic position information can be obtained, in certain
`cases, from knoWledge as to the existing location or regis
`tration facilities, i.e., cells or location areas, Which is used
`together With the geographic database to obtain information.
`The geographic database contains geographic information
`about each location area Within the system.
`The geographic database of the present invention may be
`used in a number of different Ways. For example, in FIG. 4
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`there is illustrated examples of different applications Within
`shopping mall. In this particular example, the inquiring party
`is interested in obtaining information from the geographic
`database concerning the entire service area and, thus, the
`neighboring Zone concept is not applied. As shoWn in FIG.
`4, each of the cells 51—55 include a number of different
`geographic elements. For example, cell 51 includes the
`“Cinema 2000,” a “Shamrock” service station and a “Gant”
`clothing store. Since the inquiring party is interested in
`information on the entire service area the geographical
`information input element may be omitted. The entry of a
`general search key Word like “Food” provides four hits in the
`geographic database: “Burger Queen”, “PiZZa Castle”,
`“PiZZa House”, and “McDonald’s”. The speci?c information
`provided by the geographic database With respect to each of
`these hits may include geographical information on hoW to
`get to each of the locations. The speci?c information may
`also include special offers currently being extended by each
`of the establishments identi?ed by the database in response
`to the general Word “Food”. The user might also have
`entered other general search Words, such as “hamburgers”
`and receive tWo hits from the database or might have entered
`a speci?c search Word identifying any one of the food
`establishments and be given speci?c information With
`respect to hoW to reach that particular establishment, i.e. the
`location Within the shopping mall Where the establishment is
`located.
`Referring next to FIG. 5, there is shoWn an illustrative
`macrosystem Within Which the geographic database of the
`present invention is implemented. In this example, the siZe
`of each of the cells 61, 62 and 63 is relatively large and each
`covers multiple geographic Zones de?ned Within the data
`base. Thus, because of the siZe and the application, the
`neighboring Zone concept is applied to the retrieval of
`information from Within the database. The inquiring mobile
`station 19 Within the originating geographic area 34a is
`shoWn as the central point of inquiry and the location about
`Which geographic information is supplied to the database.
`The inquiring mobile station 19 is positioned Within cell 62
`and Within Zone A de?ned by the geographic database and
`depicted by the light color geographic areas 34. A ring of
`additional geographic areas, slightly shaded and de?ned to
`be Zone B encircles Zone A. Finally, darker shaded geo
`graphic areas 34 are de?ned as Zone C Which encircles both
`Zone A and Zone B. A number of service stations, for
`example, those identi?ed by “OK” (Within Zone A) “Q8”
`(Within Zone B) and “BP” and “76” (Within Zone C) are in
`hierarchically organiZed proximate areas to mobile station
`19.
`Each geographic area is de?ned by its coordinates. The
`resolution of each coordinate depends upon the technique
`used to locate the inquiring mobile station 19. In general, it
`is preferred not to have geographic areas Which are too small
`in comparison to the error Which is inherent in locating the
`mobile station itself This results in the obtaining of better
`location information from the database. In FIG. 5, the entry
`of the general search key for the Word “gas” provides several
`hits in the geographic database. The information is conveyed
`to the mobile subscriber 19 in such a Way that hits that are
`closest to the mobile subscriber are presented ?rst, starting
`With Zone A, i.e. the “OK” station. Thereafter, the hits Within
`Zone B are presented and folloWed by the hits presented in
`Zone C.
`A further exemplary diagram depicting the use and orga
`niZation of information Within the geographic database of
`the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. In this example
`the database is used to obtain information about a relatively
`
`Apple Inc. Exhibit 1017 Page 12
`
`

`
`6,108,533
`
`7
`large geographic area in Which the size of the cells and the
`Zones de?ned Within the system are relatively large. Since
`the inquirer is not interested in getting information concern
`ing the entire service area the Zone concept is used in the
`example of FIG. 6. The system is divided into geographic
`areas 34 a plurality of Which are organiZed into Zones 65
`each bearing some relationship to the other. In this example,
`the inquiring mobile station is interested in getting from
`point A to point B and the service provides updated infor
`mation With respect to road construction, routings, etc. In
`this type of request from an inquiring mobile station only the
`Zone relation information is of interest and therefore the only
`information Which is returned in response to the inquiry.
`In FIG. 6, the mobile station 19 is located in B-toWn and
`Would like to go to C-toWn. To place an inquiry the mobile
`station accesses the cellular netWork and through it the
`geographic database. The inquiring mobile station gives the
`appropriate search Word “C-toWn”. The system has from the
`information initially input With the request located the
`inquiring mobile station to be in B-toWn and thus accesses
`the database With respect to the requested search Word. It
`then returns to the inquiring party a message directing it to
`take the route E-2 from B-toWn to C-toWn because there are
`road constructions on route E-4.
`The number of Zone relation information elements needed
`in a geographic database varies in accordance With the
`statistical formula:
`
`Where n is the total number of Zones de?ned in the system.
`Table I gives the number of relation information elements
`for various numbers of Zones.
`
`NUMBER OF ZONE
`
`NUMBER OF RELATION
`INFORMATION ELEMENTS
`
`10
`100
`1,000
`10,000
`
`45
`49, 50
`4,099,500
`49,995,000
`
`From Table I, it is apparent that this model is most suitable
`for smaller systems like metropolitan information systems.
`Search Words tied to metropolitan information such as
`subWay stations can facilitate the life for a tourist visiting a
`city providing this service.
`Referring next to FIG. 7, there is shoWn a signaling
`diagram illustrating the exchange of signaling messages
`Within a cellular system in order to access and obtain
`information from the geographic database constructed in
`accordance With the present invention. As illustrated, an
`inquiring mobile station seeks to invoke the geographic
`information service by an Invoke Service message 71 sent
`from the mobile station to the base station and from the base
`station to the adaption section of the MSC. In response, the
`MSC returns a Present Services message 72 to the mobile
`station indicating the services Which ar