US 20020103892A1
`
`as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication (0) Pub. No.: US 2002/0103892 Al
`(43) Pub. Date: Aug. 1, 2002
`
`Rieger, II
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
`
`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING
`THROUGH MAPS
`
`Inventor: Charles J. Rieger III, Potomac, MD
`(US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX
`PLLC
`1100 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 600
`WASHINGTON,DC 20005-3934 (US)
`
`Appl. No.:
`
`10/025,880
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 26, 2001
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/524,888,
`filed on Mar. 14, 2000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`
`
`Int. CL”...
`(51)
`(52) US.CL ...
`
`. GO6F 15/173
`peseeseeeees 709/223
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`A communications system to post arbitrary information to
`any geographical region simplyby outlining the region on a
`map in the system’s user interface and allaching the infor-
`mation to the outlined region is provided, The outlined
`region can beofany size, ¢.g., a city block, a neighborhood,
`a county, and defines the information’s “region of rel-
`evance”. Any userof the system can also browse and receive
`these geographically relevant postings simplyby identifying
`a point or region of interest on one of the system's maps.
`Uses of the system range from personal communication of
`questions and announcementsto a geographically identified
`group,
`to governmental
`and commercial
`news
`and
`announcements aimedat a particular population, to “virtual
`billboards” for advertising.
`
`7
`
`109
`es
`
`HTTP Processor
`
`
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`195 —
`100 ~\
`
`|notClient
`
`UI Tools
`
`Client
`Client
`
`Ul Tools
`
`
`
`UserInterface Manager
`f tt i
`
`
`
`
`Email
`Notifications
`Transient
`
`
`Manager
`Manager
`Accounts
`134
`4
`Manager
`azz
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`jt
`Ty
`
`Intersection Engine
`
`
`Map
`Manager
`424
`
`i
`Postings
`Manager
`423
`123
`
`User
`
`Accounts
`Manager
`os
`
`Database
`
`119
`
`IBM EX. 1009
`IBM EX. 1009
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Aug. 1, 2002 Sheet 1 of 16
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`405
` 0
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` Mobile Client
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`414
`TheInternet
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`=
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`
` HTTP Processor
`
`
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`127,
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`103
`
`Ul Tools
`q
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`User Interface Manager
`
`
`
`Postings
`Manager
`123
`
`User
`Accounts
`Manager
`128
`
`
`Transient
`Notifications
`Email
`Accounts
`Manager
`Manager
`129
`131
`Manager
`
`
`
`
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`Database
`
`119
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` 133
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`Intersection Engine
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`FIG. 1
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`200
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`205
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`205
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`205
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`aa
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`The Internet
`
`213
`
`Firewall
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`211
`
`MASTER/HTTP.
`=
`USER/HTTP USER/HTTP|215ae
`
`Database
`Server
`Server
`Saupe|OU Database
`Server
`Server
`
`High bandwidth LAN
`
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`
`
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`Server
`
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`ANTENNA
`Server
`Database
`Server
`
`ROAM
`Server
`Database
`Server
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`225B
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`aye
`
`225D
`
`219
`
`225F
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`DIALOG|241
`Server
`Database
`Server
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`225H
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`223
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`MAP
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`FIG. 2
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`4
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`Looking for a tennis partner? I play at .
`level 4 {on good days'!}
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`303
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`305
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`FIG. 5
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`601
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`Account Information
`
`User: Mary Smith
`
`Email:
`Address {optional}:
`
`mary-smith@entcom
`1234 Main St.
`Bethesda, ED 23456
`
`_ EA Update 607
`_
`Name: Home Lat N38.23.04 Lon: 120.16.42 Change ————~*
`Base.antenna:
`ther antennas:
`
`[ ||Latinde ‘Longitude |Marne
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`iyOffice
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`(Harker St. Palo Alto [37.25.33122.05.17(CheneeDelete
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`[Dogwood Dr. McLean|N38.47.22/77.42.01 Change|Delete
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`[Reston Town Center hae47.26/77 55.26 [Change[Delete|
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`FIG. 6
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`Fig 7A
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Fig 7B
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`Sweep out view area withleft mouse button. Hit Enter for full views
`jaw
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`Sheet 9 of 16
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`Identify broadcast channel
`
`Identify broadcast region
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`behavioral options
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`Enter message components
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`Select behavioral options
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`Transmit message and
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`FIG. 7D
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Aug. 1,2002 Sheet 11 of 16
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`Receive posting request and
`verify integrity
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`Create reception object
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`Create Posting object
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`Create hit fist
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`FIG. 8
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`Ctr-ctick on icons and phota makers to open them
`ennis partner 905
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`saagcener [ADMIN ADMIN ADMIN ADMIN
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`Receive ping request and identify
`candidate antennas
`
`Send hit list summary
`
`is
`candidate antenna
`within ping region
`object?
`
`Createhit list
`
`FIG. 10
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Aug. 1,2002 Sheet 14 0f16
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`
`
`Browse for Postings
`
`Please identify the point or region of interest:
`
`LO M PeAINer ag
`ableyeos
`(er Reg ae
`ApeelSesnis5“seus
`leeis
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`[Personal
`Category:
`Return this many hits:
`
`. |
`‘
`
`[5
`
`semumemeneceneeeneeineneenaiveee|
`
`
`Found:5 most recent postings:
`
`From
`[
`Email
`[ Date
`” {Category[ Subject
`‘Mary Smith
`[mary.smith@aolcom Feb 26,2000 at 4.05pm Personal Looking for a snow blower
`:Andy Jones
`[dcewsteri@comlinkcom]Feb 26, 2000at &23Po (Personal
`|Garage sale next Saturday
`
`
`iJeffParker |rovelfPsrowlfi@aclcom \Feb226, 2000 at 1230 pm|Personal |‘Tennisthis aftemoon anyone?
`J
`[Linda JJensen |‘jensen@hotmailcom | Feb 26, 2000at 10;49 atam|Personal Anyone seen ourgraycat?
`[Cimicke0"Heichacke@netowc«com (Feb26, 2000at937 am [Personal
`|House swap this summer?
`|
`JH
`
`
`
`p
`
`FIG. 11
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`Identify initial candidate postings
`in response to roam check-in
`
`Identify final candidate postings
`
`summary
`
`Generate reception object and
`create hit list
`
`Generate and transmithit list
`
`FIG. 12
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Aug. 1,2002 Sheet 16 of 16
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`FIG. 13
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`US 2002/0103892 Al
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`Aug. 1, 2002
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`SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING THROUGH
`MAPS
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/524,888, entitled “System for
`Communicating Through Maps”, filed Mar. 14, 2000, and
`incorporated herein by reference in ils entirety.
`
`STATEMENT REGARDING
`FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
`DEVELOPMENT
`
`[0002] Not applicable.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003] This invention relates to the two-way communica-
`tion of information, a “posting”, from a source agent to a
`target user community via a computer server connected to a
`wide-area network such as the Internet. In particular, the
`targct uscr community for a posting is defincd in terms of
`geographical coordinates, e.g., by a bounded region on a
`map. Targeted users,i.e., those whose geographicallocation
`falls within the bounded region of a posting, receive noli-
`fication of the posting either automatically via email, or by
`logging on to the server and browsing for gcographically
`relevant notifications via a user interface.
`
`[0004] The system described herein is intended to service
`mobile users as well as stationary users. Mobile users who
`pass through the targeted area of various postings can
`automatically receive thase postings via their wireless con-
`nection asthey travel, resulting in information automatically
`flowing to them at the posted information’s point of rel-
`evance.
`
`[0005] Related Art
`[0006] At Icast three arcas of technology are relevant to
`the present invention:
`[0007]
`gcographical product and services databases; onc-
`way communication of information to its “point of rel-
`evance”; aod communicationof informationvia the Internet.
`However,
`the invention’s overall purpose, methods, and
`implementation differ substantially from all known disclo-
`sures. Specifically, there is no knownliterature describing a
`communication system that targets unsolicited information
`to an anonymous user community identified only by a
`bounded region on a map.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is a first feature of the invention to provide a
`[0008]
`method for associating arbitrary information with a geo-
`graphical region of relevance, as defined, e.g., by a closed
`outline on a map. Information so associated with a geo-
`graphical region of relevance shall be termed a “posting”.
`[0009]
`It is a second feature of the invention to provide a
`method for communicating the information contcnt of a
`posting to individuals who are situated in, or who pass
`through, the posting’s geographical region of relevance.
`[0010]
`It is a third feature of the invention to provide a
`system that
`implements these methods and makes them
`
`accessible to a user community via a user interface designed
`to run in the context of a wide area network such as the
`Internet.
`
`[0011] This invention empowers people to communicate
`with one-another through geography, rather than by indi-
`vidual identity. In a typical scenario, a user selects a target
`audience by drawing a closed outline around the target
`community on a map. The user then “posts” the desired
`information to the region thus identified on the map. Poten-
`tial recipients of the information, ie.,
`those within the
`designated region, reccivenotification of the posting and can
`act on its information content in any appropriate way.
`[0012] Example societal uses of this invention are:
`[0013]
`To
`ask questions of a local population. For
`example,if the target region is a neighborhood, a user could
`find a tennis partner, locate a desired item for sale, askif any
`homes werc on or about to come onto the market for salc, or
`ask a community-related question by “posting to the neigh-
`borhood”.
`
`To ask questions of a larger population. For
`[0014]
`example, if the target region is a cily, one family could look
`for another family wishing to house-swap by posting a
`request to the region.
`[0015]
`‘To initiate contact with individuals.If, for instance,
`the target is a particular home within a community, ie., a
`very small geographical region, a user could communicate
`directly with the residents of the home without having any
`prior knowledge about them.
`[0016]
`To post community or regional announcements.
`State, county, and local organizations could post news about
`topical events to residents in relevant regions.
`[0017]
`‘To post traffic and road construction news. Mobile
`users could automatically receive news about
`traffic and
`road conditions relevant to a city block, an interchange, or
`a commuting corridor as they passed through.
`[0018]
`‘To advertise. The system can be used to implement
`“virtual billboards”.
`
`[0019] Businesses wishing to get their message out could
`post advertisements to specific regions, ¢.g., several city
`blocks,or a long narrowregion covering a particular section
`of an interstate highway. Mobile users passing through such
`regions would automatically receive the information.
`[0020]
`‘To educate and inform. The National Park Service
`could, for example, post information about sites of historical
`interest. Vacationers, connected Lo the Internet via wireless,
`would reccive such information whenvisiting the site, or
`prior to visiting by browsing the system’s maps.
`[0021] Further features and advantages of the present
`invention, as well as the structure and operation of various
`embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below
`with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the draw-
`ings,
`like reference numbers generally indicate identical,
`functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements.
`The drawing in which an element first appears is generally
`indicated bythe leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding ref-
`erence number.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications
`system according to an embodimentof the present inven-
`tion.
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`3.3.1 Representing Antennas
`3.4 Ping ‘lopics and Ping
`
`3.4.1 Representing Ping Topics
`3.5 Attaching Photos Directly to the Maps
`3.5.1 Representing and Managing Photos
`3.6 Channels and Tuning-In
`3.6.1 Representing and Managing Channels
`
`3.7 Representing Regions
`3.8 Managing Dialogs
`3.9 Managing Users and the Log-on Process
`
`3.9.1 User Account Types
`
`3.9.2 User Account Information
`
`4.0 Representing Postings
`
`4.1 Representing Posting Proxies
`4.2 Representing, Receptions
`
`[0044]
`[0045]
`
`[0046]
`[0047]
`[0048]
`[0049]
`[0050]
`
`[0051]
`[0052]
`[0053]
`
`[0054]
`
`[0055]
`
` [0056]
`
`[0057]
`[0058]
`
`[0059]
`
`[0060]
`
`[0061]
`
`[0062]
`
`[0063]
`
`5.0 Exemplary System Usage
`
`5.1 The Posting Pracess
`
`5.2 The Ping Process
`
`5.3 The Roam Check-In Process
`
`5.4 The Dialog Process
`
`[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communications
`system according to another embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG.3 is an illustration depicting a ping topic user
`[0024]
`interface screen according to an embodimentof the present
`invention.
`
`[0025] FIG. 4 is an illustration depicting a visible icon
`representing a user’s home antenna on a map, as well as a
`marker denoting the presence of a photograph that has been
`attached to the map in accordance with an embodiment of
`the present invention.
`[0026]
`FIG. 5 is an illustration depicting a receive channel
`user interface screen in accordance with an embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`[0027] FIG. 6 is an illustration depicting an account
`information user interface screen in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIGS. 7A-7C depict a new messageentry via a user
`[0028]
`Interface screen in accordance with an embodiment ofthe
`present invention.
`
`[0029] FIG. 7D is a flow chart diagram of a message
`posting routine according to an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 8 is a flowchart diagram of a message posting
`[0030]
`routine according to an embodimentof the present inven-
`tion.
`
`[0031] FIG. 9 is an illustration depicting a ping entry user
`interface screen in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`[0032] FIG. 10 isa flow chart diagramof a ping execution
`rouline according to an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion.
`
`[0033] FIG. 11 is an illustration depicting a browsing
`entry user interface screen in accordance with an embodi-
`mentof the present invention.
`[0034] FIG. 12 is a flow chart diagram of a browsing
`execution routine according to an embodimentofthe present
`invention.
`
`[0035] FIG. 13 is an illustration depicting a dialog
`between two users according to an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Table of Contents
`
`[0036]
`
`1.0 Overview of the Invention
`
`[0037]
`
`2.0 Exemplary System Characteristics
`
`[0038]
`
`2.1 Computer System Embodiment
`
`[0039]
`
`2.2 Datla Representation
`
`[0040]
`
`3.0 Exemplary System Operation
`
`[0041]
`
`[0042]
`
`3.1 Map Servers
`3.2 Personal Icons
`
`[0043]
`
`3.3 Visible Antennas and URL Links
`
`[0064]
`
`6.0 Conclusion
`
`1.0 Overview of the Invention
`[0065]
`[0066] Thc present invention provides a communications
`system to post arbitrary information to one or more geo-
`graphical regions. The informationis posted byoutlining or
`otherwise identifying the region(s) on a map in Lhe system’s
`user interface and attaching the information to the outlined
`region. The outlined region can be of any size, c.g., a city
`block, a neighborhood, a county, and defines the informa-
`tion’s “region of relevance”. Any user of the system can also
`browse and receive these geographically relevant postings
`simply by identifying a point or region of intercst on onc of
`the system’s maps. The system is useful for facilitating
`personal communication of questions and announcements to
`a geographicallyidentified group, to providing governmen-
`tal and commercial news and announcements aimed at a
`particular population, and for presenting virtual billboards
`for advertising.
`[0067]
`2.0 Exemplary System Characteristics
`[0068]
`2.1 Computer System Embodiment
`[0069]
`‘The present invention provides a communications
`system to enable anonymous communication between one or
`more users.
`
`in an embodiment of the
`[0070] Referring to FIG. 1,
`present invention, a communications system 100 is com-
`prised of a communications server 111, one or more mobile
`clients 109, and one or morestationary clients 105 and 107.
`In accordance with this embodiment, the communications
`server 111 is implemented as a World Wide Web server,
`although in practice, server 111 could be part of any type of
`communications network. Stationary clients 105 and 107
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`to the communications
`and mobile clients 109 connect
`server 111 over a network (such as a local area network, a
`wide area network, point-to-pointlinks, the Internet, etc., or
`combinations thereof). Where the Internet is used, stationary
`clients 105 and 107 and mobile chents 109 communicate to
`the communications server 111 via Hypertext Transfer Pro-
`tocol (HTTP) using standard Web browscrs. Stationary
`clients 105 and 107 can be for example, general purpose
`computers. Mobile clicots 109 can be for example handheld
`personal computers, Personal Data Assistants, or the like.
`
`server 111 is organized
`[0071] The communications
`amonga scrics of geographical mapsthat cover the intended
`service area, ¢.g., county, metropolitan area, state, country,
`or world, to a sufficient level of visual detail. These maps
`serve as the basis of much of the communications sysiem’s
`100 user interface (UI).
`
`[0072] Thc communications server 111 is further com-
`prised of a ITTP processor 115 and a map manager121. The
`HTTPprocessor 115 provides for communication between
`the communications server 111, the mobile clients 109, and
`the stationary clients 107 to communicate via HTTP. The
`map manager 121 manages the maps covering the commu-
`nications system’s 100 intended service area.
`
`[0073] A user interface 117 is also included with the
`communication server 111. The user interface 117 processes
`user
`transactions,
`and dynamically composes HTML
`responses containing maps and other graphical elements
`(such as icons, photos, and the like), drawing in part upon
`the communications servers’s 111 map manager 121. The
`user interface 117 permits users to interact with the com-
`munications system’s maps via zoom, pan, and drawing
`primitives, which are implemented partially on the commu-
`nications server 111 side and partially on the client 105 or
`107 side, e.g., through Java classes 106 and 108 that are
`automatically made available when the user connects from
`a stationary client. Mobile users would interact with the
`communication system 100 via an interface appropriate to
`the particular technologyof the mobile clients 109 commu-
`nication devices.
`
`[0074] The communications server 111 is further com-
`prised of a database 119. The database 119 stores informa-
`tion about postings, permanent and transient user accounts,
`notifications, email addresses, etc., and is the storage back-
`bone of the communications system 100.
`
`[0075] A postings manager 123 is further included with
`communications server 111.
`
`[0076] Postings manager 123 stores and retrieves infor-
`mation about postings on demand [rom the user interface
`117.
`
`ordinary email, this componentcould be just a simple textual
`message, or it could include a reference to one or more Web
`pages containing graphics, audio, links, etc.
`
`[0079] Each posting is also provided with a “broadcast”
`descriptor, which identifies the posting’s geographical target
`region(s). In an embodiment, this descriptor would be rep-
`resented bya closed geometrical object such as a polygon or
`circle in a 2-dimensional geographical coordinate spacc,
`although it could also include 3-D elevation information as
`well. Users would typically define such a region by using the
`communications system’s 100 user interface 117 to outline
`it on onc of the communications system’s maps. The system
`would also support compoundregions,i.e., regions identi-
`fied by more than one bounded object on the system’s maps.
`
`[0080] The system can also manage an optional password
`on anyposting. For any posting with a password, the system
`would require any uscr wishing to vicw or reccive the
`posting’s information content to present the correct pass-
`word before allowing the user access to the posting’s
`content. This feature would be most useful for communica-
`tions among a group of closely-knit users, such as the
`residents of a neighborhood or community.
`
`[0081] Administrators of the communications system 100
`can restrict the nature of postings created by any particular
`user by defining geographic regions into which the user is
`either authorized or unauthorized to post. Authorized
`regions can be assigned optional passwords and posting
`category restrictions that further narrow the user’s posting
`privileges in those regions. These controls would,
`for
`example, permit system adminisirators to grant specific
`privileges to a
`regional authority to create postings of
`particular categorics, ¢.g., Governmental/Traffic, Govern-
`mental/Weather, to particular regions, while excluding all
`other users from posting those categories to the regions.
`
`‘The communications server 111 is also comprised
`[0082]
`of a user accounts manager 125. The user accounts manager
`125 stores and retrieves user account information on demand
`from the user interface 117.
`
`In an embodiment, user account information is
`[0083]
`maintained in a database. Each user account is comprised of
`a user identification component, which describes the uscr’s
`identity, e.g., name, email, address, etc., as well as opera-
`tional preferences and settings, such as whether or not
`automatic email notification of relevant postings is desired.
`
`is further comprised of an
`[0084] The user account
`“antenna” descriptor, which describes the user’s “base”
`location, e.g., the location of the user’s residence, in geo-
`graphical coordinate space. A user would typically define
`this antenna descriptor by drawing an outline or cross hair on
`one of the system’s maps. In addition to the antenna descrip-
`tor for the base location, each user account would be capable
`of maintaining a list of additional antenna descriptors,
`permitting the user to intercept postings relevant to multiple
`locations of interest.
`
`[0077] The system maintains a postings information data-
`base for storing postings. Each posting is comprised of an
`identification tag thal describes who has posted it, when it
`was posted, what
`its posting category is, and other such
`factual information about its origin. Examples of posting
`categories are “Personal”, “Neighborhood”, “Community”,
`[0085] Each user accountalso includesanotificationlist,
`“Governmental”, “Commercial”, “Educational”, and so
`which records postings whose broadcast descriptor has
`forth. Each such category might be further refined by
`intersected with one or more of the user’s antenna descrip-
`tors.
`subcategories, e.g., Governmental/Road_Construction.
`
`[0078] Postings are further defined by an information
`component, which is the content of the posting. As with
`
`[0086] This list makes the connection between the user
`and postings that are determined to be relevant to that user.
`
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`[0087] Still further, each user account can also maintain a
`user-defined list of named regions. The user can add new
`regions to this list by drawing an outline on the system’s
`map, then giving the outlined region a name. Once defined,
`a named region can then be used either in conjunction with
`reception filters (described below), or as the broadcast
`descriptor for a newposting.
`
`[0088] A transient accounts manager 127 tracks users who
`have connected to the communications server 111 but who
`have no registered accounts, and is responsible for creating
`a transicnt account when such a user connects forthefirst
`time, and for garbage collecting the transient account after
`a suitable period of inactivity.
`
`[0089] Through transient accounts manager 127, the com-
`munications server 111 is capable of managing a transient
`antenna descriptor for any user account, ie., an antenna
`descriptor that would correspondto the continually changing
`location of a mobile user. In typical use, the mobile user’s
`PC or cell phone would have access to Global Positioning
`System (GPS) technology, and would knowits location at
`any given moment. A mobile client 109 would periodically
`connect to the communications server 111 via ils wireless
`channel to the Internet, e.g., every several minutes, and
`would idcntify itsclf as a mobile client 109, give its user
`accountID,if any, and indicate its current GPS coordinates.
`The communications server 111 would record and track this
`continually changing location via the transient antenna
`descriptor, and would send any non-redundant postings
`relevant to the current location at each check-in time. The
`communications server 111 would also be capable of deduc-
`ing the user’s approximate route in-between check-in points,
`and would automatically find and send any postings deemed
`to have been appropriate in the missed intervals.
`
`[0090] Transient accounts manager 127 is further used for
`servicing, anonymous users, Le., those with no registered
`account. Such users could place themselves at arbitrary
`points on the communications system’s maps and browse
`the relevant postings at
`those points. Tor unregistered
`mobile users, the communications server LL1 would set up
`and maintain a temporary account, including a transient
`antenna descriptor,
`that would time out and be garbage
`collected after some predefined period of inactivity.
`
`[0091] The communications server 111 is further com-
`prised of an intersection engine 133. Intersection engine 133
`is a pattern-matching engine that constantly runs as a
`background process. This engine is capable of finding inter-
`sections between broadcast descriptors and antenna descrip-
`tors, system-wide. Upon finding an intersectionfor the first
`time, the engine adds the posting to the notification list ofthe
`relevant user account, noting which of the user’s antenna
`descriptors “reecived” the posting.
`
`[0092] Each user account can accept and store “reception
`filters”, which describe the content type and/or broadcast
`descriptor constraints that any posting must satisfy in order
`for the pattern matching cngine 133 to add it to the user
`account’s notification list.
`
`[0093] Broadcast descriptor filters would, for example, be
`capableoffiltering out postings whose target region was too
`broad, by requiring that the posting’s target area be under a
`specified size in square miles in order to qualify for recep-
`tion. Another type of filter would require that the broadcast
`
`region have a minimal overlap, e.g., 75%, with some user-
`specified region such as the user’s neighborhood.
`[0094] A notifications manager 129 is capable of present-
`ing notificationsto users on demandfrom the UI 117 as uscrs
`browse for relevant notifications.
`
`[0095] Thc communications server 111 is also provided
`with an email manager 131.
`[0096] Lmail manager 131 detects the presence of any
`newly generated notifications that, based upon user prefer-
`ences, should trigger email, and is responsible for sending,
`email to relevant users.
`
`[0097] The communications server 111 permits any user
`account to accept and stare preferences governing the dis-
`position of accumulated notifications. Onc such preference,
`for example, would direct the server 111 to forward some or
`all notifications to the user as ordinary email. In this case, the
`end elfect would be that the user receives direct email from
`other users whose postings have intersected one or more of
`the uscr’s antenna descriptors. Regardless of whether or not
`such automatic email has been enabled, the server would
`always permit a user to log on and manually browse noti-
`fications, or to browsearbitrary regions of the systems maps
`for postings relevant to those regions. Further description of
`the features of the communications system will now be
`described with reference to FIG. 2.
`
`In another embodiment a communications system
`[0098]
`200 is implemented in a 3-tier architecture. As shown in
`FIG. 2, a 3-tier architecture embodiment of the present
`invention is comprised of: one or more thin clients 205, a
`middlc-ticr HTTP server 211 that respondsto thin client 205
`requests and implements the communications system’s 200
`businesslogic, and a distributed, scaleable SOL database tier
`213.
`
`In the disclosed embodiment, the thin client 205
`[0099]
`runs inside a standard Web browscr such as Microsoft’s
`Internet Explorer, and relies on HTML,JavaScript, and Java
`applet technologies. The middle-tier HTTP server 211 is
`implemented using such technology as Java servlets or
`Active Server Pages. The distributed SQL database 213 is
`implemented using such technology as Microsoft or Oracle
`SQLservers.
`
`In the disclosed embodiment, there are additional
`[0100]
`muddle-tier servers that are capable of performing specific
`system functions, such as managing user subsets and their
`resources, composing map vicws, and so forth. Each such
`server can be requested to perform one or more of six
`logically distinct server roles: USER, ANTENNA, DIA-
`LOG, ROAM, MAP, and MASTER,as described in sections
`following. Accordingly, FIG. 2 depicts a plurality of USER
`servers 215, ANTENNAservers 217, ROAM scrvers 219,
`DIALOGservers 221, and MAP servers 223. USER servers
`215 and the MASTERserver 211, will typically also serve
`as the middle tier’s HTTP servers. The middle-tier servers
`communicate with one another over a high bandwidth
`network 210. An exemplary network 210 is a local area
`network. The goal of distributing functionality across many
`servers in this way is to maintain good performance and
`reliability as the system grows. Based on average anticipated
`usage levels, it is estimated that one server employing a 1
`GHz PC with 40 GB disk storage can adequately support
`20,000-40,000 users. Thus, if the system grew to 20 million
`
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`users, there would perhaps be 500-1000 such servers, each
`performing one or more of the indicated serverroles, andall
`interconnected via a high bandwidth LAN backboneat the
`system’s physical site.
`
`[0101] As embodied in FIG.2, clients 205 connected via
`the Internet, contact
`the communications system’s 200
`IITTPservers 211 and 215 through a firewall 213.
`
`[0102] MASTER server 211 supervises user log-ons.‘lhe
`MASTERserver’s 211 database contains global system
`information, such as the identitics and addresses of the other
`servers, the masterlist of user names, passwords, and email
`addresses, and so forth. Once a user is logged on,
`the
`MASTERserver 211 redirects the client 205 to an appro-
`priate USERserver 215, which controls the remainder of the
`session until
`the user logs off or times out because of
`inactivity. During the course of a user session, various other
`servers (217, 219, 221, and 223) will be called upon to
`perform database searches and other specialized computa-
`tions in support of user actions and requests. Many of the
`physical servers (211, 215, 217, 219, 221, and 223) also
`house database servers 213 and 225 (denoted individually as
`225A-225H). Each of these database servers 225 contains
`the subset of the communications system’s 200 overall
`databasc that is relevant to the specialized functions the
`physical server performs. All database servers 225 are
`accessible on the LAN, so that system functions requiring
`information from several distinct database servers can have
`seamless access to that information.
`
`[0103] Computer programs or computer control logic is
`stored in memory (not shown). When executed, these com-
`puter programs enable the communications system 200 to
`perfor