PCT
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`WO 00/49530
`
`(11) International Publiclltion Number:
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 7 :
`G06F 17 /30, GOSG 1/0967
`
`Al
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`24 August 2000 (24.08.00)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/SE00/00306
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`15 February 2000 (15.02.00)
`
`(81) Designated States: EE, LT, LV, NO, US, European patent
`(AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT,
`LU, MC, NL, PT, SE).
`
`Published
`With international search report.
`Before the expiration of the time limit for amending the
`claims and to be republished in the event of the receipt of
`amendments.
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`900531-6
`
`17 February 1999 (17.02.99)
`
`SE
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): TELIA AB
`[SE/SE]; Milrbackagatan 11, S-123 86 Farsta (SE).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): PARASNIS, Amalendu
`[SE/SE]; Krongatan 10, S-972 53 Lule:1 (SE). ISAKSSON,
`Lars-Ake [SE/SE]; 6vagen 28, S-954 35 Gammelstad (SE).
`CHRISTIANSSON, Jonas [SE/SE]; Lingongstigen 185,
`S-973 33 Lule:1 (SE). OKVIST, Goran [SE/SE]; Hagaplan
`7, S-974 41 Lule:1 (SE).
`
`(74) Agent: PRAGSTEN, Rolf; Telia Research AB, Vitsandsgatan
`9, S-123 86 Farsta (SE).
`
`(54) Title: MOBILE INFORMATION SERVICE
`
`- ,,.
`' GPS-receiver (10)
`'
`
`GCB (5) I
`
`.... /
`
`SB-GCB (8)
`
`' " GPS-recelver (3)
`
`/SB-TEB (7)
`
`I
`
`......---'-----.
`
`)
`1 ____ _..I TEB(1) I
`I SB (4)
`I ~l SB-MOB (9)
`
`MOB (6)
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`The invention describes a mobile information service that gives a user access to tailored and position adapted information. The
`information is adapted both to the user's position and according to special wishes regarding content of information. This is achieved by
`means of a www-technology, especially developed software for service logic, and software to distribute position information over Internet.
`The information is shown on one into two parts divided window on an ordinary portable computer, which is equipped with a GPS-receiver.
`The accuracy of the position information is improved by means of differential GPS, DGPS. One of the windows shows a map over the area
`where the user is. On the map are shown icons that indicate places of interest, cash dispensers, restaurants and traffic interchanges etc. If
`one clicks on one icon, there is in the other window shown information about the place, for instance menu for a near located restaurant.
`There also is possible to make personal adaptations, so that information is shown automatically when one is approaching a certain point.
`Warning information, such as traffic warnings, can automatically be shown when one is approaching an area.
`
`Starbucks Corporation, et al. – Ex. 1015
`U.S. Patent No. 9,454,748
`
`

`

`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`AL
`AM
`AT
`AU
`AZ
`BA
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`cu
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`
`Albania
`Annenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Gennany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`GE
`GH
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People's
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`NE
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`sz
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`us
`uz
`VN
`YU
`zw
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
`
`

`

`W000/49530
`
`PCT /SE00/00306
`
`1
`
`MOBILE INFORMATION SERVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
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`5
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`The in the present invention described personal information
`service combines Internet technology, mobile communication,
`and an ordinary portable computer, with a GPS-receiver to a
`personal mobile information guide.
`
`The information is shown on a window divided into two parts
`on the screen of the computer. One of the windows shows a
`map of the area where the user is. On the map are shown
`icons, which indicate places of interest, cash dispensers,
`restaurants, traffic interchanges etc. If one clicks on an
`icon, there is in the other window shown information about
`the place, for instance the menu of the day for a nearby
`restaurant. There also will be possibilities to make
`personal adaptations so that information is shown
`automatically when one is approaching a certain point.
`
`Warning information such as traffic warnings can
`automatically be shown when one is approaching an area
`where, for instance, the roads are in a bad state, or there
`is a risk of game.
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`30 At a performed patent state investigation, the following
`documents have been found:
`
`01. US,A
`02. US,A
`03.
`JP,A
`04.
`JP,A
`
`35
`
`5 802 492
`5 559 520
`10-185599
`09-311177
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`

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`WO 00/49530
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`PCT /SE00/00306
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`2
`
`It is well known to utilise systems for geographical
`positioning, in the first place by utilisation of GPS. Such
`systems are i.a. included in the inventions according to
`the above indicated documents.
`
`From document Dl there is known a system for planning of a
`car journey by means of a computer. The user makes choice
`of roads in order to visit interesting places along the
`road. The map is loaded from a CD. During the journey the
`user can see his/her position on the map, which is shown on
`the screen, at which places of interest are marked on the
`map and information is given about these places. A variant
`of the invention describes that one via a wireless
`interface can update the map during the journey.
`
`It is also known how geographical information is
`transmitted to mobile users via radio (Document D2), or via
`e-mail (Document D3).
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`5
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`20 Document D4 describes a system where one is using Internet
`to transmit correction data from reference stations in
`order to improve the accuracy at positioning by means of
`GPS.
`
`25
`
`TECHNICAL PROBLEM
`
`At journeys, information about the position is needed. Such
`position information can be obtained in different ways with
`30 different manual of automatic methods. It is, however,
`difficult to, on demand, get information about where one
`is, and at the same time get the information shown on a
`map. By utilising modern communication methods one can,
`according to this invention, get such information also
`during the journey, for instance shown on a portable
`computer that one carries with one at a car journey.
`
`35
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`

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`W000/49530
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`PCT /SE00/00306
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`3
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`It also can be difficult, with the available support
`functions of today, to get sufficient accuracy of the
`position indication. Today existing solutions are using
`DGPS for correction of the position. To make these work,
`however, is required that a special receiver for correction
`data is utilised. The in the present invention described
`method can give a position indication with an error of less
`than 20 m.
`
`To reach the destination of the journey, the user also need
`guiding about the further route. How to go to reach the
`destination can be uncertain, especially in a big city,
`where information about traffic flows, one-way streets etc
`can be important parameters to find a smart route. Also in
`other areas, support is needed to find the most suitable
`route.
`
`When a traveller is in a place which is not well known,
`he/she needs to be informed about establishments that
`he/she needs to visit, such as department stores, shopping
`centres, restaurants, public authorities and organisations.
`He/she also needs information about these establishments in
`order to get answer to questions of the type:
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`*
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`where is a do-it-yourself store that is selling goods
`of a certain make?;
`
`30
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`*
`
`*
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`*
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`which are the opening hours of the municipal executive
`office?;
`
`where is the closest opened petrol station?;
`
`etc
`
`35
`
`An activity based on business, need to market its services.
`To many activities, such as restaurants, hotels and places
`
`

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`W000/49530
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`PCT /SE00/00306
`
`4
`
`of entertainment, travellers are an important target group.
`It is today difficult to distribute information about one's
`offerings to persons that just are arriving into a city.
`Advertisements in newpapers and telephone directory, or
`advertising pillars and display advertising, give a limited
`possibility to inform recently arrived travellers.
`
`Advertising with fixed texts that will reach a large group
`of persons, for instance by advertisements, leaflets,
`signboards etc is a blunt way of distributing information.
`The same information is distributed to everybody,
`irrespective of needs and wishes. This is cumbersome both
`to those who want to distribute information, and to those
`who have to acquaint themselves with it. By directing the
`information, less amounts of information can be
`distributed, which results in that the receiver need not
`have to acquaint themselves with large amounts of
`uninteresting information. It will be much easier to get
`just that information one is needing. At the same time the
`cost to distribute the information will be limited by the
`amount of information to be exposed being smaller, but
`above all the "advertiser" will experience that the
`advertising will be considerably more efficient and in a
`better way lead the customers and clients right.
`
`TECHNICAL SOLUTION
`
`The invention that is described in this patent application,
`relates to a user-adapted, position-dependent, mobile
`information service, where the information is uniquely
`adapted to both the user's position and according to
`specific wishes regarding content of information. This is
`achieved by a combination of www-technology, especially
`developed client software in Java, especially developed
`software for service logic and software and technical
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`15
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`

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`W000/49530
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`PCT /SE00/00306
`
`5
`
`solution to distribute DGPS-data via the IP-protocol over
`Internet.
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`5
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`15
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`The user starts up the client program in his/her terminal,
`at which a map over the local surrounding is loaded down to
`the client. On the map is shown the user's position,
`corrected by means of a position correction function, for
`instance DGPS, which is also transmitted to the client over
`the data network. To this there is an information base
`connected with geographically coded (geo coded) information
`objects, which are shown as icons on the map. These
`information objects are shown by means of a browser, either
`automatically or after clicking with the mouse on the icon.
`The way of displaying can for instance be dependent on how
`far from these virtual objects the user is. Examples of
`information objects can be restaurants, road works,
`navigation information, cash dispensers, department stores,
`things worth seeing, and traffic interchanges etc.
`
`The user sees the information in a window divided into two
`parts on the screen. One of the windows shows a map over
`the area where he/she is. On the map are shown icons, which
`indicate the information objects. If one clicks on an icon,
`information about the corresponding object is shown on the
`other window, for instance the menu of the day for a nearby
`restaurant. Alternatively, the information can be shown
`automatically when the user (actually the terminal) is
`approaching the restaurant.
`
`30 A technical embodiment of a system for the invention
`includes terminal/client, service node in the capacity of a
`server, correction server for defining exactly the position
`indication, reference station, map database and database
`over information objects. The terminal contains positioning
`system (for instance GPS) and data communication (possibly
`mobile), and processor capacity to handle a browser. The
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`35
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`

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`PCT /SE00/00306
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`6
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`database over information objects consists of a database
`with position coded information.
`
`5
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`ADVANTAGES
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`10
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`20
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`The invention describes a mobile information service that
`gives a user access to tailored and position-adapted
`information, irrespective of where he/she is. The only
`things needed are an ordinary personal computer, a mobile
`telephone and a GPS-receiver of standard type.
`
`The user sets up a personal profile where he/she selects
`which information that shall be shown, so that it is
`adapted according to need and wishes. It can be anything
`from position adapted advertisement to traffic information
`(warning for elk trails, traffic accidents, roads in a bad
`state etc).
`
`The invention gives possibility to manufacturers, public
`authorities and organisations to distribute advertisements
`and other information. The advertisement can be adapted to
`the user's special profile.
`
`25 Users can get access to the information service by
`subscription, and as an extension subscription the user can
`obtain possibility to get access to specific information.
`Alternatively, access to certain parts of the service can
`be obtained by separate order, or be given directly without
`order.
`
`30
`
`A solution according to the invention will be of great
`advantage to both the person utilising the information, and
`the one who has information to be distributed:
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`35
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`PCT/SE00/00306
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`7
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`•
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`•
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`•
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`•
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`•
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`•
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`5
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`•
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`35
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`Only standard components are needed for the user
`equipment (telephone (for instance mobile telephone),
`GPS-receiver, ordinary (for instance portable)
`computer, and access to Internet or a corresponding
`data network) .
`
`The service is very easy to use -
`the service is accessible.
`
`load a program and
`
`All included parts communicate with TCP/IP, which
`makes it easy to distribute the system. It also makes
`it easy to rescale as market and needs are changing.
`
`The system is fully "non-autonomous", which means that
`the user need not have map data or other information
`or program stored in his/her terminal. All necessary
`data are transmitted over the network to the user, and
`by that the user will always have access to current
`information and current maps etc.
`
`Operation, the maintenance and further development of
`the service are facilitated by upgrading/updating and
`other changes being necessary to make in one place
`only.
`
`With the information service, data from differential
`GPS
`(DGPS) can be distributed over Internet and there
`is no extra receiver necessary for this.
`
`There is a possibility to utilise only the function
`differential GPS (correction of GPS-data, DGPS), which
`gives users who have map programs and digital maps a
`possibility to, in an easy way, get corrected position
`indication.
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`

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`WO 00/49530
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`PCT/SE00/00306
`
`8
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`•
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`The client function is developed in Java, which makes
`it platform independent, and that it therefore
`(possibly with certain adaptation) can be run on
`mobile terminals that support Java.
`
`5
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`LIST OF FIGURES
`
`Figure 1 shows an overview of functional blocks and
`interfaces.
`
`10
`
`Figure 2 shows an overview of the parts of the system.
`
`Figure 3 shows how map and information are displayed to the
`user.
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`15
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`EXPLANATION OF TERMS
`
`20 API
`
`Application Program Interface. Interface in an
`application to access underlying network
`services. Acts as a "glue" between different
`programs.
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`25
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`GCB
`
`GPS Correction Block. Block for GPS-correction.
`
`GPS
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`GSM
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`HTML
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`30
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`35
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`Global Positioning System.
`
`Global System for Mobile Communication. Cellular
`mobile telephone system.
`
`Hypertext Mark-up Language. The page description
`language for documents in World Wide Web.
`Comprises directions for handling of typefaces,
`pictures and links to other documents. It is HTML
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`

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`WO 00/49530
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`_PCT/SE00/00306
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`9
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`that makes it possible to click in documents in
`www and be "moved" to another document.
`
`HTTP
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`5
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`Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Program language on
`Internet. The protocol that constitutes the base
`for transmission of documents in World Wide Web.
`
`IDB
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`Database over information objects.
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`10
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`IP
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`Internet Protocol. Protocol that is used in
`Internet.
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`ISP
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`Internet Service Provider. Internet provider.
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`15
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`MOB
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`Map Database Block. Map database.
`
`RS
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`Reference station for position correction in
`DGPS.
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`20
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`SB
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`Server Block. Block for server functions.
`
`TCP
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`TEB
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`25
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`Transport Communication Protocol.
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`Terminal Equipment Block. Block for user
`equipment, terminal unit.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`30
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`The description below refers to the figures in the enclosed
`appendix of drawings.
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`W000/49530
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`rcT /SE00/00306
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`10
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`GPS and DGPS
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`5
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`GPS is a system for position finding, and is functioning
`all over the world. By a GPS-receiver, anyone can receive
`satellite signals that give information about the
`user's position and speed.
`
`By GPS (Global Positioning System) the users will have
`information about the position on land, at sea or in the
`air. Satellites that are circulating round the earth
`transmit radio signals that are received by GPS-receivers.
`The GPS-receiver then utilises the information to calculate
`position and speed.
`
`15
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`GPS is built up of three main parts: Satellite part,
`control part and user part.
`
`24 GPS-satellites are circulating round the earth of which
`21 are used and three are reserve satellites that are at
`disposal if any of the regular satellites should fail. The
`satellites are in different orbits at an altitude of about
`20 000 km, which is a remarkable altitude for satellites.
`By that, there are always at least four visible satellites,
`at any place on the earth. On board the satellites there
`are also, in addition to control and radio equipment,
`atomic clocks, which attend to that the time information
`that is transmitted is as accurate as possible.
`
`The control part includes six control stations on the
`earth. These are utilised to detect errors, disturbances
`and above all to give basic data for correction of
`transmitted time information.
`
`The user part consists of a GPS-receiver, which can be
`compared to an ordinary radio receiver with a computer and
`a clock.
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`11
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`The GPS-satellites transmit radio signals that contain
`information about
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`identity of the satellite (satellite ID),
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`the condition of the satellite (undamaged/damaged)
`
`the accurate position of the satellite
`
`the point of time when the signal has been transmitted
`
`The signals are received by the user's receiver, which, by
`means of information from a multiple of different
`satellites, can calculate the distance to the satellites.
`15 With three satellites one will have two possible positions,
`only one of which being on the surface of the earth.
`Normally, there consequently are needed three satellites to
`make it possible for the receiver to give an unambiguous
`position indication. A fourth satellite is used to make it
`possible for the receiver to calculate the error in its
`built in clock and compensate for it. This is of outmost
`importance since even small errors can have fatal
`consequences for the position indication by the fact that
`the transmission time of the signals from the satellite is
`included in the calculation of the position.
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`DGPS, or differential GPS, has been developed in order to
`improve the accuracy at position indication. This can be
`achieved by utilising reference stations with accurately
`defined positions. The reference stations compare its known
`position with the position that is indicated by GPS(cid:173)
`receiver at the station in order to calculate the error in
`the satellite signals. If the error exceeds a certain
`tolerance level, a correction signal is transmitted that is
`utilised by the DGPS-recei vers in the area.
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`12
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The in the present invention described personal information
`service is built up as a client/server solution in a
`5 multiple of layers. To each server (20), a multiple of
`clients (21) can be connected, which results in that the
`system will be scalable. To the server the clients connect
`themselves, and all communication is going through this
`server.
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`30
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`The server in its turn is connected to a map database (22)
`and a database (23) containing current correction data.
`These correction data are updated continuously by the
`reference stations (24) that are connected. Further, there
`is an information database (26) with information that shall
`be shown about the different objects which have been
`indicated on the map. No information from the information
`service is stored in the client, but all information that
`is shown is taken from the server via Internet (25). This
`applies to maps as well as to the information objects that
`are shown on the maps. Also correction data are transmitted
`to the client via Internet. This results in that it always
`is current information that is transmitted to the user, and
`that the user can have varying information at different
`points of time.
`
`The information is shown in a two-section window (30,31) on
`the screen of the client computer, at which one of the
`windows shows a map (30) over the area where the user is.
`Information that is connected to objects on the map is
`shown on the other window (31). These information pages are
`shown as ordinary html-pages. This makes it easy to create
`information pages and that no special programs are needed.
`
`35 When a client is started up, it connects itself to a server
`that handles all communication with the client.
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`13
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`The position of the client is obtained by means of a GPS(cid:173)
`receiver (26). By an ordinary GPS, one will have one's
`position indicated with an error of up to 100 m. This means
`that one in a city cannot be sure of in which block one is.
`By means of a correction system, such as differential GPS,
`DGPS, one can achieve a better accuracy.
`
`By building a network of reference stations one collects
`reference data. These correction data are transmitted to
`the clients that forward them the GPS-receiver. In the GPS(cid:173)
`receiver, the information then is utilised to create a more
`accurate position indication. According to the invention,
`correction data are transmitted via Internet, which results
`in that not extra equipment need to be connected, and no
`special subscription is needed for the correction.
`
`Correction data are normally transmitted in a special
`format, RTCM, which is a standard protocol that is used for
`communication with GPS-receivers.
`
`The functions of the information service are implemented in
`Java. It is for that reason very easy to change operating
`system and hardware for the different parts of the system.
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`IO
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`20
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`25 All communication is executed by means of TCP/IP, which is
`used on Internet. This means that the parts need not be at
`the same physical place, and that it is easy to connect to
`the server.
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`30 Method of application
`
`The user is equipped with a terminal (client computer, 1)
`with functionality for data communication (for instance
`GSM), positioning system (for instance GPS), operating
`system with support for WWW-browser (for instance an
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`ordinary portable computer) and access to Internet via a
`telephone, preferably mobile telephone, for instance GSM.
`
`Necessary software for the positioning system shall be in
`operation at the client computer. The software can easily
`be taken into operation for instance by loading via
`Internet from the service provider's web-site and
`subsequent installation.
`
`The user sets up a fixed or mobile connection to Internet
`by his/her Internet-provider (2). The client software reads
`the position from the GPS-receiver (3), transmits the
`position to the server block (SB, 4), which forwards the
`position to position correction, GCB(5). GCB decides which
`reference station (RS) that shall be used to correct the
`user's position. About seven RS' are necessary to cover
`Sweden. Each RS handles client within a radius of 600 km.
`
`SB registers for each user which RS that is best for the
`user just now. If the user moves so that another RS is more
`suited, the stored information about best RS is updated.
`
`Correction data, which consist of propagation time error
`for the satellite reception for each reference station, are
`transmitted every 10th second to the client. The client
`software transmits this to the GPS-receiver via a
`standardised protocol (RTCM). The GPS-receiver calculates
`itself its exact position by means of correction data from
`RS, which gives an accuracy of about 15 m. Under favourable
`conditions and with optimal location of reference stations,
`the accuracy may be as good as 2 m.
`
`The client software (TEB, 1) transmits the position
`information to SB (4), which from the map database (6)
`fetches right map picture in suitable picture coding
`format, for instance GIF-format, and transmits it to the
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`client. The client software continuously indicates the
`user's position on the map (once/second). Correction of the
`position is normally made every 10th second, but the
`interval can, when necessary, be adjusted to shorter or
`longer value. If GCB functions, and succeeds in
`transmitting correct correction information, the indication
`is green. If the correction cannot be made, the position is
`only indicated by means of the interpretation of position
`of the GPS-receiver (± 100 m), at which the indication
`becomes yellow. If reception of GPS-data is lacking
`completely, the indication will be red.
`
`When the user reaches the edge of the picture of the map,
`the client transmits a new corrected position to SB, which
`the
`arranges to transmit next picture of the map, on which
`user , s position then is indicated.
`
`To SB there also is a database over information objects
`(IDB) connected. In the database there are information
`objects that are geographically encoded. Each time the
`client software requests a new map, SB checks the content
`in IDB and encloses information about which objects that
`shall be presented, and where on the picture of the map
`they shall be shown. The client software presents the icons
`for these objects on the picture of the map. The icons are
`in HTML-format and are collected by means of the http(cid:173)
`protocol. This means that they can be anywhere in the
`network, and can be owned by anyone (for instance a
`restaurant, cash dispensers or the like). The icons can "be
`clicked" and refer to a web page on Internet. The content
`of the page, which is in HTML-format, is fetched by the
`httl-protocol. The web page, which the icon refers to, is
`shown on a window beside the map.
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`The client software also can be set to automatically fetch
`a certain web page when one is corning within a certain
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`distance from the object on the map. This means, for
`instance, that if one is driving a car and has set the
`client software to automatically show certain objects, one
`will automatically have information when one is approaching
`a place. In that way one will in good time be informed
`about when one is approaching a fork in the road, or a
`place one intends to visit.
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`s
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`TECHNICAL STRUCTURE
`
`The invention can be described in four processes. The
`processes are realised by four functional blocks and three
`software interfaces (APis) between these functional blocks.
`
`Processes
`
`The first process receives and corrects the position from
`the GPR of the terminal unit, and shows the position
`information on the terminal unit. This is performed in a
`continuous process.
`
`In the second process, a new map is transferred to TEB. The
`process is activated when the map in TEB is of no interest
`any longer, or in another way unusable.
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`In the third process a position is received from the GPS of
`the reference station. Based on this received position
`information, a calculation is made of necessary correction,
`30 which is transferred to GCB. This is performed in a
`continuous process.
`
`The fourth process includes transmission of the position
`correction to TEB. The interval for transmission is
`specified by TEB. This is performed in a continuous
`process.
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`Functional blocks
`
`The server block (SB, 4) is the central unit from which the
`terminal units (TEB, 1) update their information. All
`communication between the functional blocks is going via SB
`routed through SB. The traffic is going via the following
`interfaces:
`
`•
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`•
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`•
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`API SB-TEB-
`
`for communication with TEB
`
`API SB-GCB-
`
`for communication with GCB
`
`API SB-MDB-
`
`for communication with MDB
`
`The block for the terminal units (TEB) constitutes the
`user's man/machine system. Input and output data are
`transmitted to/from the user via the block. Connection to
`SB is made by the TCP/IP-protocol over GSM via the
`interface SB-TEB. A GPS-receiver (3) is connected to TEB to
`receive the position of the terminal unit.
`
`The block for GPS-correction (GCB, 5) collects and provides
`the system with information about position correction from
`external units. GCB can handle a plurality of external
`units. Each unit receives the position information from a
`GPS-receiver (10) and calculates the position correction by
`knowledge of the real position. The block communicates with
`SB over the interface SB-GCB.
`
`The block with map database (MDB, 6) contains the database.
`The maps are transmitted to SB based on information about
`position, scale and size. The communication with SB is made
`over the interface SB-MDB (9).
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`SCENARIOS
`
`The traveller
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`10
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`5 As traveller in foreign places one often needs to use a map
`to find one's way. One also needs further information to
`find certain types of stores and places, for instance,
`restaurants, bus stops and things worth seeing. The
`traveller will have a current map over the area where
`he/she is, and information especially adapted according to
`the needs, for instance menu of the nearest restaurant, or
`the opening times for things worth seeing. The traveller
`also can have a description of roads to places to which
`he/she doesn't know the route. On the web-page there may
`also be links to further information such as description of
`the things worth seeing and references to other objects.
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`15
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`The seafarer
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`25
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`20 At sea it gives safety to have a good and current nautical
`chart over the area where one is sailing. A local sea
`weather forecast may also be important to have access to.
`This information can be received directly in the boat.
`Since the information is not stored in the client, but is
`fetched from Internet, it is always current. The seafarer
`never need to bother himself/herself about whether the
`nautical chart is obsolete or not. In addition to all
`ordinary information that is shown on the nautical chart,
`there also is information about where one can buy
`provisions. The ports even can receive an order for
`provisions before one arrives there.
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`Firm of haulage
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`A firm of haulage can get an order to deliver goods to
`different places that can be difficult to find even for
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`persons who know the district/locality well. It may be
`worth a lot to, in an easy way, indicate the customer's
`address and then receive a description of the route. For
`the firm of haulage it is important to deliver the goods
`fast, and then it is important to avoid traffic problems.
`Together with the des