`
`5
`
`1
`
`METHOD TO PROVIDE AD HOC AND
`
`PASSWORD PROTECTED DIGITAL
`
`AND
`VOICE NETWORKS
`
`METHOD OF ESTABLISHING A CELL PHONE NETWORK OF PARTICIPANTS
`WITH A COMMON INTEREST
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/308,648
`filed April 17, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
`10/711,490 now U.S. Patent No. 7,031,728.
`
`11/615,472 filed on December 22, 2006 entitled "METHOD OF ESTABLISHING A
`CELL
`
`PHONE NETWORK OF PARTICIPANTS WITH A COMMON INTEREST".
`
`1 0
`
`1.
`
`
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`10
`
`A communications method and system using a plurality of cellular phones each
`having an
`
`integrated PDA and GPS receiver for the management of two or more people through the
`use
`
`an integrated Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and Global Positioning System (GPS)
`receiver
`
`for the management of two or more people through the use of a communications
`network.
`
`1 5 T h e m e t h o d a n d s y s t e m p r o v i d e e a c h u s e r w i t h a n i n t e g r a t e d h a n d h e l d
`
`handheld cellular/PDA/GPS/phone that has advanced communication softwareAdvanced
`Communication Software application programs
`
`programs (hereinafter referred to as ACS) and databases used in conjunction with a remote
`Server that
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`20
`and
`
`quickly establish a cell
`server that enable a user to
` 15
`phonecommunication network of cell phone participants having a
`
`2
`
`common interest or relationship.
`
`common temporary ad hoc network using mobile wireless communication devices.
`
`The invention includes a method and communication system to quickly set up
`
`provide ad hoc, password protected, digital and voice networks to allow a group of people
`to
`
`be able to set up a network easily and rapidly, especially in an emergency situation.
`
`2.
`
`Description of Related Art
`
`

`

`
`
`3
`
`The purpose of a communications
`digital
`
`system is to transmit info! _ 'alien bearing
`
` messages from a source, located at one point, to a user destinationdestination(s),
`
`located at another pointother point(s) 20 some distance away. A communications system is
`
`generally comprised of three basic elements: transmitter, information channel and receiver. One
`
`form of communication in recent years is cellular
`
`phone telephony. A network of cellular communication systems set up around an area such as
` 5
`the United States allows multiple users to talk to each other, either on individual calls or on group calls.
`25
`Some cellular phone services enable a cellular phone to
` engage in conference calls with a small number of users. Furthermore, cellular conference
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`4
`calls can be established through 800 number services. Cellular telephony also now includes systems
`
`that include Global Positioning System (GPS)
`
` 10 navigation that utilizes satellite navigation. These devices thus unite cellular phone technology
`
`with navigation information, computer information transmission and receipt of data.
`
`
`
`5
`
`The method and operation of communication devices used herein are
`
`described in U.S.
`
` Patent 7,031,728 which is hereby incorporated by reference and pending U.S. Patent
`
`Application Serial No. 11/308,648.No. 7,630,724. Military, first responder, and other
`
`public and private emergency groups need to be 15 able to set up ad hoc digital and
`
`voice networks easily and rapidly. These private networks may be temporary or
`
`longer lasting in nature. The users need to be able to rapidly coordinate their
`
`activities eliminating the need for pre-entry of data into a web and or identifying
`
`others by name, phone numbers or email addresses so that all intended participants
`
`that enter the agreed ad hoc network name and password are both digitally and voice
`
`interconnected. When 20 a user or users leave the network, no data concerning the
`
`network participants need be retained.
`
`It would be advantageous to provide a communication network with a plurality of cell
`
`phones wherein polling could be performed by one or more users to find other remote cell
`
`10 phone participants that share a common interest or common relationship for
`
`interactive communication.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`5
`
`Coordinating different organizations at the scene of a disaster presents several
`
`problems as there are voice and digital data (text messages) communications that need to
`
`be constantly occurring up and down the chain of command. As an example,
`
`communications are required from a police chief to a police captain to a police lieutenant
`
`to a police sergeant to a
`
` 5 policeman and then back up the same chain of command. Digital data exchange of GPS data
`
`or other means provides the location component of the units. Digital chat, text messages,
`
`white boards and photo video exchange provide extensive collaboration. However, during a
`
`disaster, other first responders such as fire departments must become engaged. While the
`
`fire department users may have voice and digital data (text messages) communications up
`
`and
`
`10 down their chain of command, these individuals do not have the ability to cross communicate
`
`necessarily with police units without a substantial degree of immediate coordination. The
`
`method and system in accordance with the present invention described herein discloses how
`
`digital communications along with Personal Computer (PC) and PDA devices can be used to
`
`quickly establish user specific password protected private ad hoc voice and data networks to
`
`15 enable both data and voice communications up and down their chain of command and
`
`simultaneously with different, not pre-known, organizations responding to a disaster. The
`
`invention defines a method of accomplishing this by providing all personnel that need to
`
`communicate with each other with a PC or PDA which are interconnected to a Server using
`
`cellular or other communications.
`
`
`
`

`

`6
`
`2 0
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`15
`
`7
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Applicant's communication system and method described herein is embodied in the
` Advanced Communication Software advanced communication software (ACS)
`
`application programs developed by applicant and installed in the integrated PDA/GPS cell phones
`
`used herein and remote Servers.
`
` 5 A plurality of cellular phone/Internet Protocol (IP) capable PDA/GPS devices each having ACS
`
`application programs and databases provides a communication network in conjunction with a
`
`remote Server that provides 20
`
`server with the ability to: a) establish an ad hoc network
`
`of devices so that the devices can either broadcast to a group or selectively polltransmit to
`
`each of the other; each PDA / GPS phone devices withstarts by requesting access to the Server
`
`and identifying a mutually agreed to
`
`each participant to start reporting its position and status information to all or selected users
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`- 3
`10 network name and password and once granted, reports its GPS position and status; the
`
`Server
`
`equipped with the same cellular phone/PDA software devices in the communications
`
`netthen routes the data to all signed on network participants so that each of the devices
`
`exchange location, status and other information,; (b) force the received information to the
`
`recipient's display and enable the recipient to acquire additional information by touching the
`
`display screen at a remote phone's location on the PDA display,; (c) make calls to or send data
`
`to
`
`15 remote phones by touching their display symbolsymbols and selecting the5 appropriate soft
`
`switch; (d)
`
`layer a sufficient number of soft switches or buttons on the PDA display to perform the above
`
`functions without overlaying the map; and (e) to allow a polling mode in each cell phone that
`
`allowspermits a user to contact other cell phone users that have a common interest or relationship
`
`with a password and identifier for communication. and to establish quickly a temporary ad
`
`hoc
`
`20 network especially in an emergency.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`9
`
`A communication serverServer acts as a forwarder for lPIP communications
`between any
`
` 10
`
`combination of cell phone/PDA users and/or PC based users. Network participant
`
`location, identity and status messages are sent to the serverServer by each user. Network
`
`participant entered tracks are also sent to the serverServer. Because this network participant
`
`location and track data is of 5 interest to all the network participants, the serverServer
`
`forwards the data received from one participant to all other participants, causing their
`
`displays automatically, without any operator action, to display the received information,
`
`thus providing the information necessary for all network participants to know the identity,
`
`location15
`
` and status of all other network participants. The serverServer also acts as a
`
`forwarder of data addressed from one participant to one or 10 more addressed participants,
`
`thus permitting the transmission of free text, prefotinattedpreformatted messages,
`
`photographs, video, E-mailEmail and Uniform Resource Locator (URL) data from one
`
`network participant to other selected network participants.
`
`20 The above functions can also be accomplished using peer to peer WiFi, WiMax or other
`
`peer to peer communications. However, for use with cellular communications and to
`
` 15
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`assure the level of security that cell phone
`
`10
`
`companies require, a centralized static
`
`IP routable serverServer is used.
`
`The IP serverServer also fills another role of being a database from which data can be
`
`requested by network participants (i.e. maps, satellite images, etc.and the like) or can be pushed
`
`to
`
` 5
`
`network participants (i.e. symbology and soft switch changes, etc.and the like).
`
`The Server is
`
`It is an object of this invention is to enable each participant in the
`communications net
`
`to poll the other net participants to find other cell phone users having a common
`interest or
`
`relationship.
`
`Another object of this invention is to enable each participant in the
`communications
`10 net to be able to easily transmit an entity of interest to the other participants of the net by
`
`touching the display screen at the entity's location on the map, selecting the soft switch
`
`representative of the entity's identity, causing the symbol's location and identity to be
`
`transmitted on the network.
`
`20 used to establish an ad hoc network within certain groups using an ad hoc event name and
`
`password.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`11
`
`This invention provides a method
`
`and a system establishing an ad hoc
`
`password protected digital and voice network that can be temporarily set up or longer
`
`lasting in nature. The invention described herein allows users to rapidly coordinate their
`
`activities without having to pre-enter data into a web or identify others by name, E mail
`
`addresses or phone
`
`5 numbers. Essentially the users that establish the ad hoc and password protected digital and
`
`voice networks are required to enter the Server's IP address and an ad hoc event name
`
`and a password. In the case of military and first responders, the name of the user's unit
`
`may also be used. This action causes the specific PDA or PC of the user to commence
`
`reporting directly to the Server's IP address. Once the Server receives the initial IP
`
`message from the user's
`
`10 PDA or PC, the server can commence to exchange data with the user's PDA or PC. The initial
`
`IP message may also contain additional data such as a license number and, if desired, a phone
`
`number manually entered or automatically acquired by the ACS. The IP address of the PDA
`
`and PC unit sending the initial IP message is stored by the Server. The Server then responds
`
`with a message notifying the user that his PC / PDA is connected to the Server. The user
`
`15 PDA/PC then reports its GPS location and other status information directly to the Server. This
`
`information is retained by the Server even when there are no other devices initially
`
`communicating with the Server. When the other user's devices sign on to the Server with the
`
`same ad hoc event name and password, the Server software then recognizes all the users and
`
`stores their IP addresses in the Server. Thus the Server has all the users IP addresses stored
`
`20 and can pass location and status information among the ad hoc network participants even
`
`though the network participants have not entered other network participants' names, phone
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`numbers or email addresses. Thus one of
`
`12
`
`the purposes of the invention is to allow an
`
`ad hoc network to be formed on a temporary basis in a rapid manner.
`
`When using the PTT feature, the ACS can enable the network participant to: 1.
`
`PTT with all that are in the ad hoc digital network, or 2. PTT with select specific
`
`network
`
`5 participants, by touching their symbol(s) and then selecting PTT soft switch or 3. Specify a group
`
`of the network participants by assigning their symbols or unit names to a list of network
`
`participants and then associating the list with a soft switch whose function is to enable the
`
`operator to have PTT communications with all in the list.
`
`Since only one person is transmitting on a PTT voice network at any given time,
`
`the
`10 receiving network participant's ACS can relate the PTT IP address to the IP address of the
`
`unit transmitting his identification on the digital ad hoc network. This information can then
`
`be used by the other PTT networked participant's ACS to: 1. flash the transmitting unit's
`
`name on their PDA / PC screens or 2. if a photograph has been attached to the ad hoc digital
`
`network symbol of the PTT transmitting person, to flash that photograph on the receiving
`
`unit's PDA /
`
`15 PC display.
`It is an object of this invention to enable each participant in the communication network
`
`to join other ad hoc network participants to form an ad hoc digital and voice network with
`
`other cell phone users rapidly for coordinating member activities.
`
`In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the
`
`1520 instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying
`
`drawings.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`13
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
` 20
`screen.
`
`Figure 1 shows a front plan view of a cellular phone/PDA/GPS having a touch
`
`Figure 2 shows the screen IP address entry menu.
`
` 5 Figure 3 shows ad hoc net names and password screen entry name.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`14
`
`Figure 2a shows a flow chart of a
`
`method for providing a polling network
`
`among the network's identification, location and status reporting participants.
`
`Figure 2b4 shows a flow chart of a method that provides an all report network
`among the network's identification, location and status reporting participantsscreen
`entry identifying user.
`
`Figure 5 Figure 2c shows a flow chart of a method that provides a common
`interestthe network as users sign on to the network.
`
`among the network's identification, location and status reporting participants.
`
`Figure 2d6 shows a flow chart of a method that provides a friends and family
`networkthat depicts how a group commander can command
`
`among the network's identification, location and status reporting participants.
`
` 10
`
`networked PDAs / PCS and radios to load a Push To Talk (PTT) channel.
`Figure 3a7 shows the first segment of a flow chart that allows interested parties
`
`todepicts how networked radio units respond to receipt
`
`of the Push-to-Talk (PTT) Commanded Channel.
`
`Figure 8 shows a PDA screen geographical display that represents the area covered
`
`by the network.
`
`1 5
`
`10 contact other people for dating or social interaction purposes using the present invention.
`
`Figure 3b is a continuation of the flow chart begun in Figure 3a.
`
`Figure 3c is the termination portion of the flow chart begun in Figures 3a and 3b.
`
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`
`
`
`

`

`
`15
`
`15
`
`A method and communication system that joins a communications network of
`
`participants using handheld cell phones having integrated PDA and GPS circuitry with ACS
`
`application programs that allow a participant having an Advanced Communications Software
`(ACS) equipped cell phone to activate and control other participants' remote cellprovide
`
` 20 phones/PDAs that contain ACSan ad hoc and password protected digital and voice
`network.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`A communication serverServer acts as a forwarder for IP communications between
`
`1
`
`any combination of cell phone/PDA users and/or PC based user. Network participant
`
`location, identity and status messages are sent to the serverServer by each user. Network
`
`participant entered tracks are also sent to the serverServer. Because this data is of interest
`
`to all the network participants,
`
`5 participants, the serverServer forwards the data received from one participant to all other
`
`participants, thus providing the information necessary for all network participants to know
`
`the identity, location and status of all other network participants.
`
`The Server allows the set up of the ad hoc network with an ad hoc event name and a
`
`password.
`
`10
`
` The serverServer also acts as a forwarder of data addressed from one participant to one or
`
`more addressed participants, thus permitting the transmission of free text, preformatted 10
`
`messages, photographs, video, E-mailemail and URL data from one network participant to other
`
`selected network participants.
`
`Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, to Figure 1, a small handheld cellular
`15 phone 10 is shown that includes a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a global positioning
`
`system receiver (GPS) communications device integrated in housing 12 that includes an
`
`on/off15
`
` power switch 19, a microphone 38, and ana Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
`
`display 16 that is also a touch screen system. The small area 16a is the navigation bar that
`
`depicts the telephone, GPS and other status data and the active software. Each cell phone
`
`includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and databases that store
`
`20
`
` information useful in the communication network. The CPU also includes a symbol generator
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`1
`for creating touch screen display symbols discussed herein. With the touch screen 16, the screen
`
`
`symbols
`
`

`

`- 18 -
`
`20screen symbols are entered through GPS inputs or by the operator using a stylus 14 (or operator finger)
`
`by manipulatively directing the stylus 14 to literally touch display 16. The soft switches 16d
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`19
`
`displayed on the display 16 are likewise activated by using a stylus 14 and physically and
`
`manipulatively directing the stylus to literally touch display 16. The display x, y
`
`5 coordinates of the touched point are known by a CPU in the PDA section of the communication
`
`system in housing 12 that can coordinate various information contained in the PDA relative to
`
`the x, y 5
`
` coordinate position on the display 16. Inside housing 12 is contained the
`
`conventional cellular phone elements including a modem, a CPU for use with a PDA and
`
`associated circuitry connected to speaker 24 and microphone 38. A GPS navigational receiver
`
`10
`
`
`
`that receives signals from satellites that can determine the latitude and longitude of the cellular
`
`phone housing 12 can be internal or external to the housing 12. Conventional PDA/cellular phones
`
`are currently10 on sale and sold as a unit (or with an external connected GPS) that can be used for
`
`cellular telephone calls and sending cellular Short Message Service (SMS) and Transmission
`
`Control Protocol (TCP) TCP/IP or other messages using the PDA's display 16
`
`15 and computer (CPU). The GPS system including a receiver in housing 12 is capable of
`
`determining the latitude and longitude and through SMS, TCP/IP, WiFi or other digital
`
`messaging software, to also transmit this latitude and longitude information of housing
`
` 15
`
` 12
`
`to other cellular phones
`
`in
`
`the communication network via cellular
`
`communications, WiFi or radio. The device 10 includes a pair of cellular phone hardware
`
`activating buttons 20 to turn
`
`20 the cellular phone on and 22 to turn the cellular phone off. Navigation pad actuator 18 is similar to
`
`a joy or force stick in that the actuator 18 manually provides movement commands
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`- 20 -
`
`that can be used by the PDA's software to move a cursor on display 16. Switches 26 and 28 20
`designed to quickly select an operator specified network software program. Speaker 24 and
`
`
` are
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`microphone 38 are used for audio messages.
`
`21
`
`Switch 19 at the top left of device 10 is the
`
`power on and power off switch for the entire device.
`
` 5 The heart of the invention lies in the applicant's ACS application programs provided in
`
`the device. The ACS programs are activated by clicking on an icon on the display to turn the 5
`
`
`
` ACS programs on or off. Mounted within housing 12 as part of the PDA is the display 16
`
`and the CPU. The internal CPU includes databases and software application programs that provide
`
`for a geographical map and georeferenced entities that are shown as display portion 16b that
`
`
`
`10
`
`includes as part of the display various areas of interest in the particular local map section.
`
`When looking at display 16, the software switches (soft switches) which appear at the 10 very bottom of the
`
`display 16d are used to control by touch many of the software driven functions of the cellular phone and PDA. The
`
`soft switches are activated through the operator's use of the navigation pad 18, or a small track ball, force stick or
`
`similar hardware
`
`15 display cursor pointing device. Alternatively, the operator may choose to activate the software
`
`switches by touching the screen with a stylus 14 (or finger) at the switches' 16d locations.
`
` 15
`
` When some of the software switches are activated, different software switches appear.
`
`The bar display 16d shows the software switches "ZM IN (zoom in)," "ZM OT (zoom out),"
`
`"CENT (center)" and "GRAB (pan/grab)" at the bottom of the screen. These software switches
`
`enable
`
`20 the operator to perform these functions. The "SWITH (switch)" software switch at the lower right
`
`causes a matrix of layered software switches (soft switches) to appear above the bottom
`
`
`
`

`

`
`20
`
`- 22 -
`row of switches. Through use of the software switches, the operator can also manipulate the
`
` geographical map 16b or chart display. When looking at Figure 1, display symbols depict
`
`depicting
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`23
`
`permanent geographical locations and buildings
`
`are shown. For example, the police station is
`
`shown and, when the symbol is touched by the stylus or finger, the latitude and longitude of
`
`5
`
`
`
`the symbol's location, as shown in display section 16c, is displayed at the bottom left of the
`
`screen. The bottom right side of display 16c is a multifunction inset area that can contain a
`
`5
`
`
`
` variety of information including: a) a list of the communication link participants; b) a list of
`
`received messages; c) a map, aerial photograph or satellite image with an indication of the zoom
`
`and offset location of the main map display, which is indicated by a square that depicts
`
`10 the area actually displayed in the main geographical screen 16b; d) applicable status information;
`
`and e) a list of the communication net participants. Each participant user would 10
`
` have
`
`a
`
`device 10 shown in Figure 1.
`
`Also shown on the display screen 16, specifically the geographical display 16b, is a pair
`
`of different looking symbols 30 and 34, a small triangle and a small square, which are not
`
`15 labeled. These symbols 30 and 34 can represent communication net participants having cellular
`
`phones in the displayed geographical area that are part of the overall cellular phone15
`
`communications net, each participant having the same device 10 used. The latitude and longitude
`
`of symbol 30 is associated within a database with a specific cell phone number and, if available,
`
`its lPIP address and email address. The screen display 16b, which is a touch screen,
`
`20 provides x and y coordinates of the screen 16b to the CPU's software from a map in a geographical
`
`database. The software has an algorithm that relates the x and y coordinates to
`
`20
`
`latitude and longitude and can access a communications net participant's symbol or a
`
`fixed or
`
`movable entity's symbol as being the one closest to that point.
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`- 24 -
`
`latitude and longitude and can access a communications net participant's symbol or a fixed
`
`or movable entity's symbol as being the one closest to that point.
`
`In order to initiate a telephone call to the cellular phone user (communication net participant)
`
`represented by symbol (triangle) 30 at a specific latitude and longitude display on
`
`5 chart 16b, the operator touches the triangle 30 symbol with the stylus 14. The operatoruser then
`
`touches a "call" software switch from a matrix of displayed soft switches that would overlay
`
` 5
`
` the display area 16ec. Immediately, the cellular phone will initiate a cellular
`
`telephone call to the cellular phone user at the geographical location shown that represents
`
`symbol 30. A second cellular phone user (communication net participant) is represented by
`
`symbol 34 which
`
`10 is a small square (but could be any shape or icon) to represent an individual cellular phone device
`
`in the display area. The ring 32 around symbol 30 indicates that the symbol 30 has10 been touched
`
`and that a telephone call can be initiated by touching the soft switch that says "call." When this is
`
`done, the telephone call is initiated. Other types of symbolic elements on the display 16 can
`
`indicate that a cellular phone call is in effect. Additionally, the operator can
`
`15 touch both symbol 34 and symbol 30 and can activate a conference call between the two cellular
`
`phones and users represented by symbols 30 and 34. Again, a symbolic ring around
`
`15
`
`
`
`symbol 34 indicates that a call has been initiated.
`
`Equally important, a user can call the police station, or any other specific geographical facility
`
`displayed on the map, including: buildings, locations of people, vehicles, facilities, 20
`
`restaurants, etc.or the like, whose cellular phone numbers and, if available, E-mailEmail
`
`addresses, IP addresses and their URLs (previously stored in the database) by touching a
`
`specific facility
`
`
`
`

`

`- 25 -
`
`20 location on the map display using the stylus 14 and then touching the cellular phone call switch. As
`
`an example, the operator can touch and point to call a restaurant using a soft
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`- 26 -
`
`switch by touching the restaurant location with a stylus and then touching the call soft switch.
`
`The cellular phone will then call the restaurant. Thus, using the present invention, each
`
`5 participant can touch and point to call to one or more other net participants symbolically displayed
`
`on the map, each of whom has a device as shown in Figure 1, and can also point to5 call
`
`facilities that had been previously stored in the phone's database. Furthermore, this symbol
`
`hooking and soft switch technique can be used to go to a fixed facility's website or to
`
`automatically enter the fixed facility's E—mailemail address in an e-mailemail.
`
`10
`
` Each cellular phone/PDA/GPS user device is identified on the map display of the other
`
`network participant useruser's phone devices by a display symbol that is generated on each user
`
`phone10 display to indicate each user's own location and identity. Each symbol is placed at the
`
`correct geographical location on the user display and is correlated with the map on the display and
`
`is transmitted and automatically displayed on the other network participant's PC and PDA
`
`15 devices. The operator of each cellular phone/PDA/GPS device may also enter one or more other
`
`fixed entities (buildings, facilities, restaurants, police stations, etc.) and geo-referenced events
`
`such as fires, accidents, etc., into its database. This information can be likewise transmitted to
`
`all the etherother 15 participants on the communications net and automatically
`
`displayed.
`
`The map, fixed entities, events and cellular phone/PDA/GPS device
`
`20 communication net participants' latitude and longitude information is related to the "x" and "y"
`
`location on the touch screen display map by a mathematical correlation algorithm.
`
`When the cellular phone/PDA/GPS device user uses a stylus or finger to touch one or
`
` 20 _ more of the symbols or a location displayed on the cellular phone map display, the system's
`software causes the status and latitude and longitude infoti _ nationinformation concerning that
`symbol or
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`Apple Inc.
`Exhibit 1012
`Page 027
`
`

`

`
`
`- 28 -
`
`location to be displayed. In order to hook a symbol or "track" such as another net
`
`participant
`
`5 which represents an entity on the geo-referenced map display, or a fixed geographical entity such
`
`as a restaurant, police station or a new entity observed by a cell phone user which is discussed
`
`below, the operator pointstouches at or near the location of a geo-referenced symbol5
`
`appearing on the cellular phone/PDA display that represents a specific track or specific
`
`participant or other entity. The hook application software determines that the stylus (or finger)
`
`10
`
` is pointed close to or at the location of the symbol and puts a circle, square or other indication
`
`around the symbol indicating that amplification information concerning the symbol is to be
`
`displayed and indicating that additional. The operator can hook entered tracks or his own
`
`track symbol and add data or change in data can be made toassociated with the indicated
`
`symbol. The10
`
` hook application code then sends a message to the displaydatabase application
`
`code to displaystore the net participant, facility or entity's amplifyingupdated data. The
`
`15 display application code retrieves the primary data and amplification data concerning the symbol
`
`or entity from the database and displays the information at the correct screen location. The
`
`operator can then read the amplification data that relates to that specific symbol at the specific
`
`location. The cell phone15
`
` operator can also select soft switches on the touch screen
`
`display to change the primary data and amplification data. Furthermore, the operator can use a
`
`20 similar method of hooking and selecting to activate particular soft switches to take other actions
`
`which could include: making cellular phone calls, conference calls, 800 number calls;
`
`sending a free text message, operator selected preformatted messages, photographs or videos to
`
`
`
`

`

`the hooked symbol; or to drop aan 20 entered symbol.
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`Each known net participant has a
`
`- 30 -
`
`cellular phone number, IP address and, if
`
`available, E-mailEmail address that is stored in each participant's device database.
`
` 5 To use the communication system, a user starts the PDA/cellular phone device system
`
`by turning on the cell phone power and selecting the cell phone and network software
`
`which
`
` 5
`
` causes: a) the cellular phone to be activated (if it has not already been activated); b) the GPS
`
`interface receiver to be established; c) a map of the geographic area where the operator is located
`
`and operator's own unit symbol to appear at the correct latitude and longitude on the
`
`10 map on the display; d) the locations of fixed facilities such as restaurants, hotels, fire departments,
`
`police stations, and military barracks, that are part of the database to appear as10 symbols on
`
`the map; e) the device selected item read out area which provides amplification information for
`
`the communications net participants or the entity that has been hooked (on the display screen)
`
`to appear on the display; f)0 an insert area that contains various data including:
`
`15
`
`the list of net participants, a list of messages to be read, an indication of what portion of the
`
`map is being displayed in major map area and other information to appear on the display;
`
`and
`
`15 g) a row of primary software created "soft switches" that are always present on the display to
`
`appear.
`
`For point to call network units and fixed facilities, the application code detects the x, y
`20 display screen location of the symbol that is designated by the user's stylus and translates the
`
`x, y coordinates to latitude and longitude and then: (1) searches the database to find the
`
`20 symbol at that location, (2) places a "hook" indicator (a circle, square or other shape) around the