Technique for effective communications with, and provision of global positioning system (GPS) based advertising information to, automobiles

Abstract

In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc.

1 - 60 . (canceled)  
   
   
       61 . A method of navigation for use in a vehicle, comprising: 
 sensing a current location of the vehicle;    defining a coverage area in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle;    receiving a request for a route to a destination;    planning the route in response to the request;    receiving a selection of a category of point of interest;    showing, on a display, the planned route and one or more indicators indicating locations of one or more points of interest in the category in the coverage area;    receiving a selection of one of the one or more indicators; and    providing, near the selected indicator on the display, information about a point of interest whose location is indicated by the selected indicator.    
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the information includes textual information.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the information identifies the point of interest.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the selection of one of the one or more indicators is achieved by touching the indicator on the display.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the category includes restaurants.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the category includes vehicle service providers.  
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the sensed location of the vehicle is represented by global positioning system (GPS) data.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the one or more indicators incorporate logos associated with the one or more points of interest, respectively.  
   
   
       69 . A method of navigation for use in a vehicle, comprising: 
 sensing a current location of the vehicle;    defining a coverage area in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle;    receiving a selection of a category of point of interest;    showing, on a display, one or more indicators representing one or more points of interest in the category in the coverage area;    receiving a selection of one of the one or more indicators;    providing information concerning a point of interest represented by the selected indicator; and    providing a selectable option to establish a communication connection with the point of interest represented by the selected indicator.    
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the information identifies the point of interest.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the information includes audio information.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the audio information comprises an advertisement.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the point of interest includes a product or service provider.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein the information includes a description of at least one product or service provided by the product or service provider.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 74  wherein the description is presented in the form of a menu.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein a product or service is ordered from the menu through the communication connection after the option is selected.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 76  wherein the product or service provider includes a restaurant, and the ordered product or service concerns food.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 69  further comprising receiving data from the point of interest represented by the selected indicator.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the data comprises video data.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the video data includes one or more images of the point of interest.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the one or more indicators incorporate logos associated with the one or more points of interest, respectively.  
   
   
       82 . A navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising: 
 a detecting device for sensing a current location of the vehicle;    a mechanism for defining a coverage area in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle, a selection of a category of point of interest being received;    an interface for receiving a request for a route to a destination;    a processor configured to plan the route in response to the request;    a display for showing thereon the planned route and one or more indicators indicating locations of one or more points of interest in the category in the coverage area, a selection of one of the one or more indicators being received; and    an output device for providing, near the selected indicator on the display, information about a point of interest whose location is indicated by the selected indicator.    
   
   
       83 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the information includes textual information.  
   
   
       84 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the information identifies the point of interest.  
   
   
       85 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the selection of one of the one or more indicators is achieved by touching the indicator on the display.  
   
   
       86 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the category includes restaurants.  
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the category includes vehicle service providers.  
   
   
       88 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the sensed location of the vehicle is represented by GPS data.  
   
   
       89 . The system of  claim 82  wherein the one or more indicators incorporate logos associated with the one or more points of interest, respectively.  
   
   
       90 . A navigation system for use in a vehicle, comprising: 
 a detecting device for sensing a current location of the vehicle;    a mechanism for defining a coverage area in relation to the sensed location of the vehicle;    an interface for receiving a selection of a category of point of interest;    a display for showing thereon one or more indicators representing one or more points of interest in the category in the coverage area, a selection of one of the one or more indicators being received;    an output device for providing information concerning a point of interest represented by the selected indicator; and    a processor configured to provide a selectable option to establish a communication connection with the point of interest represented by the selected indicator.    
   
   
       91 . The system of  claim 90  wherein the information identifies the point of interest.  
   
   
       92 . The system of  claim 90  wherein the information includes audio information.  
   
   
       93 . The system of  claim 92  wherein the audio information comprises an advertisement.  
   
   
       94 . The system of  claim 90  wherein the point of interest includes a product or service provider.  
   
   
       95 . The system of  claim 94  wherein the information includes a description of at least one product or service provided by the product or service provider.  
   
   
       96 . The system of  claim 95  wherein the description is presented in the form of a menu.  
   
   
       97 . The system of  claim 96  wherein a product or service is ordered from the menu through the communication connection after the option is selected.  
   
   
       98 . The system of  claim 97  wherein the product or service provider includes a restaurant, and the ordered product or service concerns food.  
   
   
       99 . The system of  claim 90  wherein data is received from the point of interest represented by the selected indicator.  
   
   
       100 . The system of  claim 99  wherein the data comprises video data.  
   
   
       101 . The system of  claim 100  wherein the video data includes one or more images of the point of interest.  
   
   
       102 . The system of  claim 90  wherein the one or more indicators incorporate logos associated with the one or more points of interest, respectively