Patent ID: 6701249
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
A navigation system that uses geographic data to provide navigation-related functions to an end user, the navigation system comprising:a local computing platform comprising: a user interface located on the local computing platform and into which the end user can input requests for navigation-related functions and from which the end user is provided responses to the requests; a geographic database located with the local computing platform with the user interface; navigation programming located in the local computing platform with the geographic database, wherein the navigation programming processes the requests input by the end user into the user interface and uses the geographic database to determine said responses; a wireless communication system associated with the local computing platform with the geographic database and the navigation programming; and an authorization program that uses the wireless communications system to report usage of the local computing platform to provide navigation-related functions to a remotely located billing services facility and that prevents the end user from obtaining the navigation-related functions without authorization.