Method and system of providing information to an occupant of a vehicle

Abstract

Providing information to an occupant of a vehicle. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: identifying an occupant of a vehicle, the identifying creates an indicia of occupant identity; determining an identity of the vehicle, the determining creates an indicia of vehicle identity; tracking location of the vehicle when occupied by the occupant; and providing information to the occupant, the information selected based on the indicia of occupant identity, the indicia of vehicle identity, and/or the locations of vehicle when occupied by the occupant.

1 . A method comprising:
 identifying an occupant of a vehicle by way of identifying a portable electronic device carried by the occupant, the identifying creates an indicia of occupant identity;   determining an identity of the vehicle, the determining creates an indicia of vehicle identity;   tracking location of the vehicle when occupied by the occupant; and   providing information to the occupant related to a business at which the vehicle with the occupant has stopped on at least one previous occasion, the information selected based on the indicia of occupant identity, and the indicia of vehicle identity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the occupant is at least one selected from the group consisting of: the driver of the vehicle; and a passenger in the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the portable electronic device further comprises communicating with at least one portable electronic device selected from the group consisting of: a cellular telephone; a smart phone; a computer system; a personal digital assistant; and a device comprising a radio frequency identification tag. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein tracking further comprises reading global positioning system (GPS) signals received by the portable electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein tracking further comprises tracking location by cellular telephone signals. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing information further comprises providing the information to a display device coupled to the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing information further comprises providing the information to a display device of the portable electronic device carried by the occupant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing information further comprises providing information related to a business along an expected path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is occupied by the occupant. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein providing information further comprises providing a coupon for a good or a service provided by the business. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein providing the coupon further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: providing an electronic coupon; and providing a link to website at which the coupon can be downloaded. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor;   the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 create an indication of an identified driver of a vehicle, the creating by way of identifying a portable electronic device carried by the driver; 
 track location of the vehicle as driven by the identified driver; and 
 provide information to the identified driver related to a business along an expected path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is operated by the identified driver, the information selected based on the identity of the identified driver and the locations of vehicle when driven by the identified driver; and 
 disable the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein when the processor provides information the program causes the processor to provide the information to a display device of the portable electronic device carried by the driver. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein when the processor provides information the program further causes the processor to provide information related to a business along an expected path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is operated by the identified driver. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the portable electronic device further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a cellular telephone; a smart phone; a computer system; a personal digital assistant; and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein when the processor provides information the program further causes the processor to provide information related to a business along an expected path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven by the identified driver. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein when the processor provides information, the program further causes the processor to provide a coupon for a good or a service provided by the business. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein when the processor provides the coupon, the program further causes the processor to provide the coupon as at least one selected from the group consisting of: an electronic coupon; and a link to a website at which the coupon can be downloaded.