Method and apparatus for device and carrier independent location systems for mobile devices

Abstract

A method and system for a device and carrier independent geographic location protocol. Specifically, the present invention provides location information of a mobile device to third parties in a communication network through a protocol that is device and network carrier independent. Position information of any first format is sent to a proxy server. An identifier that identifies the type and format of the position information is also sent. The proxy server then locates and accesses an executable plug-in module associated with the identifier to convert the position information of the first format into one of a plurality of standard location formats. The executable plug-in module converts the position information into a second standard format as required by the third party. After the position information is converted to the second format, the proxy server sends the position information to the third party.

1 . A system for providing information from a content server to an electronic device through a remote computer system comprising:
 a content server comprising information;   an electronic device comprising a processor and a memory, the processor executing a web platform application, the web platform application comprising a request form wherein a user of the electronic device inputs data into the request form when the electronic device is not online and the request form including the data inputted by the user is stored in the electronic device memory;   a computer system comprising a processor, the computer system remote to the electronic device, the computer system processor executing an application implementing the steps of:   receiving the request form stored in the electronic device memory from the electronic device when the electronic device becomes connected online;   transferring the request form to the content server; and   retrieving information from the content server based on the request form.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web platform application comprises user interface elements that retrieve, update or display the information from the content server on the electronic device. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the request form comprises position information of the electronic device. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application on the computer system further implements the step of creating a complete query based on the request form from the electronic device according to the content server specifications and sending the complete query to the content server. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web platform application is supported by one or more corresponding applications on the computer system remote to the electronic device. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the corresponding applications are dynamic link libraries. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the corresponding applications are executable plug-in modules. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transferring the request form step comprises synchronizing with host computer system. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises a connection hardware device comprising a software driver, the software driver creating position information of the electronic device. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the connection hardware device is selected from the group comprising: internal radio, wireless modem, wireline modem, a cradle, a global positioning satellite receiver. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the position information is determined using one of the methods selected from the group comprising:
 zip code and postal code;   global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates;   city name or code;   country name or code;   state name or code;   county name or code;   closest major airport name or code;   phone area code;   train station name or code;   time zone;   daylight saving time;   mobile network ID;   mobile network name;   mobile network cellular ID;   IP address;   local time;   street name;   street address; and   user ID.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the position information determination is device and carrier independent. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.