(12) United States Patent
`US 7,376,433 B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
`Hose
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 20, 2008
`
`US007376433B1
`
`(54) SUBSCRIBER DELIVERED
`LOCATION-BASED SERVICES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: David Hose, Boulder, CO (US)
`.
`.
`(73) ASSlgnee‘
`.
`(*) Nome“
`
`(C).peng:V&JSS§Stems Inc" RedWOOd
`“3”
`.
`.
`.
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`31113130110 any dISCIalmersthetenn 0mm
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 14 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 11/016,533
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 17, 2004
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 09/707,079, filed on
`Nov. 6, 2000, now Pat. No. 7,024,205, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/119,493,
`filed on Jul. 20, 1998, now abandoned.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. C1.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`...................... 455/466; 455/403; 455/405;
`340/391; 340/905
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............. 455/456.1,
`455/456.2, 456.3, 517, 67.1, 524, 457, 466,
`455/403, 405; 340/905, 391
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,070,083 A *
`6,088,598 A *
`6,108,533 A *
`
`5/2000 Watters et al.
`.............. 455/517
`7/2000 Marsolais ............. 455/566
`
`8/2000 Brohoff ................... 455/4143
`
`
`9/2000 Ferreira ...................... 455/406
`6,115,601 A *
`..
`.. 455/456.5
`6,157,841 A * 12/2000 Bolduc etal.
`6,208,857 B1*
`3/2001 Agre et al.
`................. 455/428
`6,335,693 131*
`1/2002 Takahashi et a1.
`.......... 340/905
`6,353,743 B1*
`3/2002 Karmel .................... 455/456.5
`6,393,119 B1*
`5/2002 Conley .................. 379/22001
`2006/0252427 A1* 11/2006 Bridges et 31.
`.......... 455/4352
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner7William Trost
`Assistant Examinerilulio Perez
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiTownsend and Townsend
`and Crew LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing sub-
`scriber delivered and personalized location-based services.
`In one embodiment,
`the invention is implemented in an
`intelligent wireless network (100). A subscriber initiates the
`location-based service process by entering a service request
`using a wireless telephone (102). The request is transmitted
`to an intelligent network platform (112) via cell site equip-
`ment (108) and MSC (110). An application implementing
`the process that runs on the platform (112) receives sub-
`scriber profile information (114), location finding equipment
`inputs (116) and service information (118) related to the
`service request. Based on these inputs,
`the application
`selects location-based service data that is transmitted to the
`
`telephone (102) via a data server (120), the MSC (110) and
`the cell site equipment.
`
`6,067,529 A *
`
`5/2000 Ray et al.
`
`..................... 705/26
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`110
`
`/100
`120
`
`
`
`
`Voice/
`
`Service
`Data
`Provider
`Link
`
`124
`
`I
`
`F a
`
`ss """
`
`105
`
`106
`
`116
`
`Service
`Subscriber
`
`
`
`Information
`Profile
`
`
`
`
`LYFT 1039
`
`LYFT 1039
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
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`US 7,376,433 B1
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
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`US 7,376,433 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`May 20, 2008
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`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 7,376,433 B1
`
`300
`
`Receiv
`
`e Service Reque
`
`St
`
`302
`
`Receive LFE Data
`
`and Service Data
`
`304 N
`Identify Candidate
`Providers
`
`Menu
`Complete?
`
`Select Candidate
`
`Provider
`
`Retrieve Profile
`
`Information
`
`Compare Candidate
`to Profile
`
`
`
`
`
`312
`
`Ya
`
`Add to Menu
`
`314
`
`FIG. 3
`
`316
`
`Y
`
`Transmit Menu
`
`to Subscriber
`
`318
`
`320
`
`Receive Subscriber
`
`Selection
`
`322
`
`Transmit Subscriber
`
`Info to Service Provider
`
`324
`
`326
`
`Receive Provider
`
`Confirmation
`
`TransmitReport
`
`to Subscriber
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,376,433 B1
`
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`

`

`1
`SUBSCRIBER DELIVERED
`LOCATION-BASED SERVICES
`
`CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED
`
`
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 09/707,079, filed Nov. 6, 2000 now US. Pat.
`No. 7,024,205, which is a continuation-in-part of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/119,493, filed Jul. 20, 1998, now
`abandoned. The above applications and all the references
`cited in this application are incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates in general to location-based
`services for communications networks and, in particular, to
`subscriber delivered location-based services involving the
`delivery of location-based information to a network sub-
`scriber, and to personalized location-based services involv-
`ing the selection or delivery of location-based services based
`on subscriber profile information. The invention is particu-
`larly advantageous for use in connection with various loca-
`tion-based services for wireless telecommunications net-
`works.
`
`Wireless telecommunications networks generally allow
`for communication between subscriber wireless transceiv-
`
`ers, e.g., wireless telephones (analog or digital cellular and
`PCS), pagers or data, terminals that communicate using RF
`signals. In recent years, a number of location-based service
`systems have been implemented or proposed for wireless
`networks. Such systems generally involve determining loca-
`tion information for a wireless transceiver and processing
`the location information to provide an output desired for a
`particular application.
`Examples of such existing or proposed applications
`include emergency or “911” applications, location depen-
`dent call billing and vehicle tracking. In 911 applications,
`the location of a transceiver is determined when the trans-
`
`ceiver is used to place an emergency call. The location is
`then transmitted to a local emergency dispatcher to assist in
`responding to the call. In typical location dependent call
`billing applications, the location of a transceiver is deter-
`mined, for example, upon placing or receiving a call. This
`location is then transmitted to a billing system that deter-
`mines an appropriate billing value based on the location of
`the transceiver. Vehicle tracking applications are used, for
`example, to track the location of stolen vehicles. In this
`regard, the location of a car phone or the like in a stolen
`vehicle can be transmitted to the appropriate authorities to
`assist in recovering the vehicle.
`While such applications or proposed applications have
`generated considerable excitement in the industry, there is a
`desire to expand the functionality of such applications.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to subscriber delivered
`or personalized location-based services for communications
`networks including wireless telecommunications networks.
`It has been recognized that the functionality of location-
`based services can be significantly expanded by providing
`for interaction between the subscriber equipment and the
`network equipment implementing the location-based ser-
`vices, i.e., by receiving a service request from the subscriber
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`US 7,376,433 B1
`
`2
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`equipment (or otherwise receiving an input indicative of the
`subscriber’s location) and delivering to the subscriber equip-
`ment information based, at least in part, on the location of
`the subscriber equipment. Such interaction allows the sub-
`scriber equipment
`to be used to provide location-based
`information to the subscriber,
`i.e., regarding local traffic,
`construction or weather conditions, or regarding local ser-
`vices, i.e., the location of hotels, stores, food outlets, towing
`services, service stations, etc. Moreover,
`in the case of
`wireless telecommunications networks, such interaction
`allows service providers access to the substantial number of
`wireless network subscribers.
`
`the functionality of
`It has also been recognized that
`location-based services in wireless or other communication
`
`networks can be enhanced by personalizing the services
`provided, that is, by processing a location-based service
`request based, at least in part, on stored information regard-
`ing the subscriber. Such subscriber information may include,
`for example: account numbers, credit card numbers or other
`financial information; lodging information such as smoking
`preference, room requirements, pricing limitations, discount
`programs, etc.;
`favorite restaurants; automobile service
`plans; and/or a wide variety of other subscriber information.
`Such information allows the location based services to be
`tailored for the subscriber. In addition, such information
`allows the subscriber to direct transmission of sensitive
`information via secure channels. Either or both of these
`
`interactive and personalized characteristics can be provided
`in accordance with the present invention.
`According to one aspect of the invention, a method is
`provided for implementing interactive location-based ser-
`vices in a wireless communications network such as a
`
`cellular or PCS telephone network or a data network. The
`method involves receiving a service request transmitted by
`a network subscriber using a wireless transceiver or other-
`wise receiving a subscriber location input. For example, in
`a wireless telephone network, a service request may be
`transmitted using a designated keypad service code (e.g.,
`*TRAFFIC, *HOTEL, *TOW, *PIZZA, *ATM, etc.) or, in
`the case of an enhanced phone, by scrolling through a menu
`or otherwise entering a menu selection. Other ways of
`transmitting a service request include entering a command
`by voice or touchpad. Alternatively, an input may be
`received based on other transceiver/network communica-
`
`tions such as upon registration or periodic polling conducted
`for call routing purposes. The method further involves
`obtaining subscriber location information and selecting ser-
`vice information based on the location information and the
`
`service request.
`The location information may be based on an output from
`any suitable location finding equipment (LFE) or a combi-
`nation thereof. Examples of such LFE’s include network
`based systems that determine transceiver location based on
`analysis of signals communicated between network equip-
`ment and the transceiver, e.g., cell/sector, microcell, angle of
`arrival (AOA), time of arrival (TOA) and/or time delay of
`arrival (TDOA) systems, and external systems that deter-
`mine location based on signals from external sources, e.g.,
`Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Such LFE inputs
`may be used in raw form or, more preferably, may be
`processed in conjunction with other LFE inputs, mapping
`information or the like to provide enhanced location infor-
`mation. The location information can thus be compared to
`stored data relative to the service request to identify service
`information responsive to the service request. For example,
`if the service request was a traffic inquiry, responsive service
`information may include any available traffic information
`
`6
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`

`

`US 7,376,433 B1
`
`3
`for the subscriber’s location, or a menu of available traffic
`information, e.g., indexed by road and travel direction. In the
`case of a lodging request, the service information may relate
`to the nearest hotel or a menu of local hotels satisfying
`certain criteria as will be understood from the description
`below. Alternatively,
`the delivery of service information
`may be initiated by a network administrator or third party.
`For example, in the case of a traffic accident, local evacu-
`ation or other emergency, the appropriate authorities may
`direct an emergency message to all transceivers within a
`specified area.
`The method further involves outputting the selected ser-
`vice information to the subscriber via the wireless trans-
`
`ceiver. In this regard, the selected service information may
`be provided or made available to a network, data server or
`other voice or data network components for transmission to
`the transceiver, e.g., via a mobile switching center (MSC)
`intelligent peripheral, adjunct processor or other Service
`Control Point or data network structure. The service infor-
`
`mation can be provided to the user on a visual display of the
`transceiver, as an audible, recorded message, or through any
`other appropriate means. In cases where the service infor-
`mation is provided as a menu of selections, the method may
`further involve receiving a menu selection entered by the
`user and outputting further service information in response
`to the menu selection. If desired, the subscriber may be
`directly connected to a service provider as a result of the
`service request. By virtue of the interactive nature of such
`service request processing, the functionality of information
`based services can be greatly increased. In addition, service
`providers and advertisers may be allowed access to large
`numbers of wireless network subscribers on a location-
`
`dependent basis, thereby creating or enhancing a market for
`a variety of location based services.
`The service may be further refined by using LFE outputs
`to identify the location of a target service provider. For
`example,
`the subscriber may desire to locate a mobile
`service provider such as a nearby taxi or courier. In other
`cases, a network administrator may allow service providers
`to register in a location-based service provider database
`using a wireless transceiver. In such cases, LFE(s) may be
`used to determine the location of the service provider based
`on the registration communications and the appropriate
`location information can be indexed to the service provider
`in the service provider database. In either case, the delivery
`of location-based service information to the subscriber may
`involve receiving an LFE-based input regarding the service
`provider’s location and providing service information to the
`subscriber based on the LFE based input regarding the
`service provider’s location. Optionally, both the location of
`the subscriber and the location of the service provider may
`be determined based on LFE inputs and the service infor-
`mation may be delivered to the subscriber based on both
`such inputs. In this regard, a network administrator may
`generate revenues based on fees charged to the service
`provider and/or subscriber in connection with accessing the
`location-based services system, for example, on a per-use or
`periodic basis.
`According to another aspect of the present invention, a
`method is provided for implementing personalized location-
`based services in wireless or other communications net-
`
`works. The method involves: receiving a service request
`from a network user requesting access to a location based
`service; obtaining location information for the user based on
`the origination location of the service request, e.g., wireline
`network node or wireless transceiver location; accessing
`stored user profile information for the user based on the
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`service request; using the location information and the
`profile information to determine user service information
`responsive to the service request and providing an output
`including the user service information.
`The profile information may include any of various
`recorded personal data for the user. For example, such
`information may include financial, lodging and other infor-
`mation as described above, or any other information useful
`in personalizing location-based services. Such profile infor-
`mation can be used to identify service information respon-
`sive to a service request (for example, the nearest hotel
`meeting the lodging criteria stored in the user’s profile) or in
`otherwise processing a service request (for example, trans-
`mitting credit card information from the user profile to a
`selected hotel). The output may be provided to the user
`and/or to a third-party. In this manner, the profile informa-
`tion can be used in combination with the location informa-
`
`tion to personalize location-based services. The invention
`further includes location-based service apparatus generally
`corresponding to the interactive and personalized location
`based service methodologies as set forth above.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a more complete understanding of the present inven-
`tion and further advantages thereof, reference is now made
`to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction
`with the drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a wireless telecommunication
`system implementing interactive and personalized location-
`based services in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example of signal communications
`between the various elements of the telecommunication
`
`system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an interactive and per—
`sonalized location-based service process in accordance with
`the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wireless telecommunications
`system implementing interactive and personalized location-
`based services in accordance with an alternative implemen-
`tation of the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`In the following description, the invention is set forth in
`the context of specific interactive and personalized location-
`based service systems implemented in a wireless telecom-
`munications network. However, it will be appreciated that
`certain aspects of the present invention are more broadly
`applicable to other subscriber delivered or personalized
`location-based services and to other types of communica-
`tions networks including wireline communications networks
`such as voice and/or data networks such as voice and/or data
`
`networks. In addition, although certain characteristics of the
`invention will be described in relation to an intelligent
`telecommunications network, it will be appreciated that the
`invention is not limited to such implementations.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless telecommunications net-
`work implementing the interactive and personalized loca-
`tion-based service system of the present invention is gener-
`ally identified by the reference numeral 100. Although not
`shown, the network 100 is divided into a number of service
`areas or cells. Each cell includes cell site equipment 108 for
`receiving RF signals from wireless telephones 102 of net-
`work subscribers and transmitting RF signals to the wireless
`telephones 102. The cell site equipment 108 of multiple cell
`
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`

`US 7,376,433 B1
`
`5
`sites are, in turn, connected to a Mobile Switching Center
`(MSC) 110, typically by wireline connections. Among other
`things, the MSC 110 is used in establishing voice channels
`for communication between the calling and called phones.
`The MSC also provides information for generating call
`detail records or other billing records.
`In connection with the MSC 110, one or more intelligent
`network platforms 112 are generally provided for imple-
`menting a variety of subscriber or network service functions.
`For example,
`the intelligent network platform 112 may
`implement an application for routing call based on sub-
`scriber data. In the illustrated embodiment, the intelligent
`network platform 112 is used to run logic for implementing
`the interactive and personalized location based services as
`will be described in greater detail below.
`In this regard, the illustrated platform 112 includes ports
`for accessing and receiving optional subscriber profile infor-
`mation 114, LFE inputs 116 and service information 118.
`The subscriber profile information 114 includes information
`regarding individual subscribers that is useful in personal-
`izing the location-based services and in processing indi-
`vidual service requests. Some examples of such information
`include: 1) financial
`information for use in executing a
`location-based service transaction such as credit card num-
`
`bers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, or corpo-
`rate account information; 2) service preference information
`such as hotel room requirements,
`information regarding
`discount programs or club memberships, and preferred
`chains or other service providers; 3) information regarding
`the subscriber’s service usage profile such as typical travel
`times and roads, types of services most often requested by
`the subscriber and demographic information; and 4) the
`subscriber’s willingness or desire to receive complementary
`service information and advertisements. Such profile infor-
`mation may be entered by a carrier or other location based
`service administrator upon signing up for the service and
`may be periodically revised or automatically revised based
`on adaptive logic.
`The LFE input(s) 116 may be provided in various forms.
`As noted above, many types of LFEs are available. In most
`cases, such LFEs determine the location of the telephone
`based on analysis of signals transmitted between the tele-
`phone system and one or more cell sites, e.g., cell/sector,
`microcell, AOA, TOA, TDOA, etc. In such cases, the LFE
`may receive information from the wireless telephone 102,
`the cell site equipment 108, and/or the MSC 110. In other
`cases, the telephone location is determined by reference to
`an external system such as GPS and the LFE may receive
`information from a GPS transceiver embodied in the tele-
`
`phone 102. The particular system or systems used deter-
`mines the nature and accuracy of the received data. The
`illustrated platform 112 preferably receives information
`from multiple (two or more) LFEs and implements logic for
`using the multiple inputs to provide enhanced location
`information. In this regard, such logic may select, from
`among the multiple inputs, the best information for a par-
`ticular application (most timely, most reliable, most accurate
`or best availability based on terrain/climate) and/or may
`process multiple inputs to obtain enhanced position infor-
`mation that is more accurate, more reliable or more infor-
`mative (e.g., includes derivative information such as travel
`direction/rate) than single inputs. In addition, such logic may
`process the LFE 116 inputs relative to mapping information
`such as GIS data and/or service zones of a particular service
`provider to yield processed information data. The illustrated
`platform 112 also accesses and receives service information
`118. Various types of service information may be provided
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`for various location-based services. For example, for ser-
`vices such as locating food outlets, hotels, service stations,
`towing services or other service providers in the vicinity of
`the subscriber, the service information may include a data-
`base of service providers indexed to corresponding service
`locations. Such service locations may be stored in the form
`of latitude/longitude data corresponding GIS or street
`address data, zip codes or other regional/service area indi-
`cators, or any other appropriate identifiers. For other types of
`services such as, for example, traffic or road conditions,
`stored information for particular areas or locations may be
`updated on a regular basis or, altematively, the platform may
`be linked to an external source of real-time or near real-time
`
`information. Alternatively, as described in more detail
`below, the service information may involve stored or sub-
`stantially real-time information regarding the location of a
`service provider.
`The subscriber profile information 114, service informa-
`tion 118 and LFE information 116 or enhanced position
`information is used in the illustrated implementation of the
`present invention to provide location-based service infor-
`mation. It will be appreciated that this location-based service
`information can, optionally, be personalized based on the
`subscriber profile information 114. For example, in the case
`of providing local
`food outlet, service station or hotel
`information,
`the location-based service information can
`include not only information regarding service providers in
`the vicinity of the subscriber, but can also identify local
`service providers or services meeting criteria specified by
`the profile information 114. The location-based service
`information may therefore identify a local hotel that has a
`four star rating and conference rooms, and that accepts
`credits cards and participates in a particular corporate dis-
`count plan, or it may identify the closest ATM machine that
`does not charge a transaction fee.
`The illustrated network 100 also includes a data server
`
`120 associated with the platform 112 and the MSC 110. The
`data server 120 provides an interface by which information
`can be communicated between the platform 112 and sub-
`scribers or third parties. The data server 120 may also
`receive signals from the MSC 110 such as call start signals,
`call stop signals and the like that may be transmitted to
`billing systems or other applications. As shown, the data
`server 120 receives an input from the platform 112 that may
`include location-based service information to be transmitted
`
`to the subscriber or third parties. In the case of location-
`based service information (such as the location of a local
`service provider or a menu of service providers) to be
`transmitted to the subscriber, such information is commu-
`nicated to the subscriber via the MSC 110 and cell site
`
`equipment 108. More specifically, upon receiving a service
`request, the MSC transmit service request information to an
`intelligent network application associated with platform 112.
`The application responds, with call routing that prompts the
`MSC 110 to establish a communication channel between the
`
`phone 102 and the data server 120. This channel is then used
`to communicate the location-based service information from
`
`the data server 120 to the phone 102 for audible or visual
`presentation to the subscriber. The data server 120 may also
`or alternatively be used to transmit data to third parties such
`as an identified service provider 124. For example, upon
`identification of the service provider 124 based on the
`subscriber’s service request, the subscriber may request a
`direct voice connection to the service provider 124 or may
`request that financial information or other data be transmit-
`ted to the service provider 124 to process a service trans-
`action. In this regard, an appropriate voice and/or data link
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`US 7,376,433 B1
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`122 may be established between the data server 120 or the
`MSC 110 and the service provider 124 via the network 100
`and/or a further network such as the Internet. It will thus be
`
`appreciated that the interactive location-based service pro-
`cess of the present
`invention may involve a series of
`communications with the phone 102.
`The illustrated phone 102 is an enhanced phone, i.e., a
`phone adapted for voice and data communication with a
`built-in processor. The phone includes a conventional key-
`pad 106, a roller ball, arrow keys, touchpad or other data
`input device 104, and a screen 105 for displaying data. In
`this manner, the subscriber can enter service requests via the
`keypad 106 or data input device 104, and can receive service
`information audibly or via the display 105.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a series of signals that
`may be transmitted between the various elements of the
`network in connection with a particular location-based ser-
`vice process. As shown in FIG. 2, the process is initiated
`with a service request 200 transmitted from the telephone to
`the platform by way of the cell site equipment and MSC. The
`service request may be entered for example, via the tele-
`phone keypad or by using the input device. For example, in
`an intelligent wireless network, particular service requests
`may be associated with a specific keypad entry such as
`*TRAFFIC, *HOTEL, *TOW, *PIZZA, *ATM, etc. Alter-
`natively, a menu of available location-based services may be
`programmed into the telephone for selection using the data
`input device. Certain identification information may also be
`transmitted with the service request. In response to receiving
`the service request, the intelligent network application asso-
`ciated with the platform transmits routing information and
`transmits a validation 204 to the MSC. This routing infor-
`mation prompts the MSC to establish (206) a communica-
`tion channel with the correct data server.
`Once this data channel is established between the MSC
`
`and the data server, the location-based service application of
`the present invention can communicate with the telephone
`via the data server and/or the MSC. In this regard, location-
`based service data 208 is transmitted from the platform to
`the data server. In the illustrated case, this location-based
`service data 208 includes a menu of local service providers
`based on the service request. This service data menu is
`communicated (210) from the data server to the telephone
`via the MSC and cell site. For example, the menu may
`include a selection of hotels in the vicinity of the subscriber.
`This menu is displayed on the telephone such that the user
`can scroll through the menu and make a selection using the
`telephone’s input device. This selection is then transmitted
`from the telephone to the platform via the cell site and MSC.
`The signal flow diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates a case where
`the subscriber directs profile information to be transmitted
`from the platform to the service provider. For example, the
`subscriber may direct the location-based service application
`running on the platform to transmit credit card or other
`subscriber information to a selected hotel or other service
`
`provider in order to consummate a transaction. As shown,
`such subscriber information is transmitted from the platform
`to the service provider by way of the data server. The service
`provider may then transmit a confirmation signal in response
`to the subscriber information. The confirmation signal 216 is
`routed to the platform by way of the data server. The
`application can then notify the subscriber that the transaction
`has been completed. As shown, this is accomplished by
`transmitting a transaction complete signal 218 from the
`platform to the data server and then from the data server to
`the telephone (220) via the MSC and the cell site.
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`FIG. 3 illustrates a process implemented by the location-
`based service system of the present invention. The system
`may be installed, for example, at the platform associated
`with the MSC. The illustrated process is initiated by receiv-
`ing (300) a service request from the subscriber telephone
`indicating that a particular location-based service is desired.
`In response to the received request, the system accesses and
`receives (302) LFE data and service provider data. This
`information provides an indication of the subscriber’s cur-
`rent location as well as the locations of various service
`
`providers. The system compares the received LFE data and
`service information to identify (304) candidate service pro-
`viders based on location. Any suitable technique can be
`employed in this regard. For example,
`the system may
`determine the location of the subscriber telephone, identify
`a service area relative to that location and compare the
`service area to a service provider data base to identify
`service providers (of the type indicated by the service
`request) in that area. The service area may be defined based
`on the subscriber telephone location (e.g., a radius search for
`service providers within a given radius of the 5 telephone
`location) or the service areas may be predefined. In the case
`where the service areas are predefined, the relevant service
`area can be determined, for example, by identifying the
`service area in which the subscriber telephone is located
`(e.g., a point-in-polygon analysis).
`In the illustrated implementation, the subscriber profile is
`used to identify one or more appropriate service providers
`from the candidate service providers. Specifically, the sys-
`tem first selects (306) a candidate provider from the list of
`candidate service providers. The system then retrieves (308)
`the subscriber profile information and compares (310) the
`candidate provider to the profile information. If such com-
`parison indicates a match (312), the candidate service pro-
`vider is added (314) to a menu to be provided to the
`subscriber. This process is repeated until all candidate ser-
`vice providers have been analyzed. Once the menu of
`service providers is complete (316), the menu is transmitted
`(318) to the subscriber telephone where the menu is dis-
`played or otherwise provided to the subscriber. The menu
`may be ordered based on any of various criteria such as the
`preferences expressed in the subscriber profile, nearest to
`farthe