EXHIBIT C 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 1 of 25 PageID #: 76
US007212811B2 

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7.212,811 B2 

Dowling et al. (45) Date of Patent: *May 1, 2007 

(54) GEOGRAPHICAL WEB BROWSER, 5,027,269 A 6, 1991 Grant et al. 

METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS 5,081,707 A 1/1992 Schorman et al. 

(76) Inventors: Eric Morgan Dowling, 5107 5"Ave., 5,126,941 A 6/1992 Gurmu et al. 

Holmes Beach, FL (US) 34217: 5,155,689 A 10/1992 Wortham 

Duncan Leo MacFarlane, 6615 Desco 5,223,844 A 6/1993 Mansell et al. 

Dr. Dallas, TX (US) 75225; Mark 

Nicholas Anastasi, 405 Copperas Trail, 

Highland Village, TX (US) 75077 (Continued) 

(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 

patent is extended or adjusted under 35 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 

U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. WO WO 99/O7125 2, 1999 

This patent is Subject to a terminal dis 

claimer. 

(21) Appl. No.: 11/099,486 (Continued) 

(22) Filed: Apr. 6, 2005 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

O O WAP Architecture Version Apr. 30, 1998 - Wireless Application (65) Prior Publication Data Protocol Architecture Specification (20 pages). 

US 2005/0181807 A1 Aug. 18, 2005 (Continued) 

Related U.S. Application Data Primary Examiner Temica Beamer 

(63) Continuation of application No. 10/937.286, filed on Assistant Examiner Joy Contee 

Sep. 10, 2004, now Pat. No. 6,983.139, which is a (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Eric M. Dowling continuation of application No. 10/294,075, filed on Nov. 14, 2002, now Pat No. 6873.850, which is a (7) ABSTRACT 

continuation of application No. 09/195,171, filed on 

Nov. 17, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,522,875. A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a 

(51) Int. Cl. network application such as the Word Wide Web by physi 

H04M 3/42 (2006.01) cally navigating in geographical coordinates and roaming 

(52) U.S. Cl. 455/414.1:455/4142: through coverage areas of cellular base stations, wireless - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s 709,233 LANs, microcells, and other such broadcast domains. A 

(58) Field of Classification Search 455/414.2 mobile unit receives unsolicited push messages in a local 

455/414.3, 414.4 4221,4563: 370,310. hotspot area. A packet filter filters local hotspot push mes 

707/10: 703 fi 4 37. 70520s 22 6. 340790s sages to see whether they coincide with the user's prefer 

See a lication file for com lete search histo ences. In some embodiments, the push message is used to 

pp p ry. notify the user that information is available for download, 

(56) References Cited and in other embodiments the push message or pushed 

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

4.325,146 A 4, 1982 Lennington 

100 

N. 

0 

se 

40 

s w 

packet sequence provides the content directly to the user. 

75 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets 

-" s 

V 

t 

L 

102 

112 

- |" i 45 Mole -1 

Unit 

- 05 

13 - 

15 N 20 N 22 N 

Air Interface Wirtual 

Switching and H- Session Serve H Internet 

135 130 - 23 

Communication Application Server Program Network Server 

- 

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US 7.212,811 B2 

Page 2 

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US 7.212,811 B2 

Page 3 

6,542.489 

6,546.261 

6,546.425 

6,549,612 

6,556,586 

6,560,239 

6,560,456 

6,571,290 

6,574,239 

6,584,321 

6,594,468 

6,594,692 

6,600,734 

6,639,550 

6,643,684 

6,647.425 

6,654,359 

6,654,615 

6,704,773 

6,708,221 

6,714,536 

4, 2003 

4, 2003 

4, 2003 

4, 2003 

4, 2003 

5/2003 

5/2003 

5/2003 

6, 2003 

6, 2003 

T/2003 

T/2003 

T/2003 

10, 2003 

11/2003 

11/2003 

11/2003 

11/2003 

3, 2004 

3, 2004 

3, 2004 

Kari 

Cummings 

Hanson et al. 

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Sipila 

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2004.0062213 A1 4/2004 Kross 

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 

WO WO 99.13644 3, 1999 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

WAP WSP Version Apr. 30, 1998 - Wireless Application Protocol 

Wireless Session Protocol Specification (95 pages). 

WAP WTA Draft Version Apr. 30, 1998 - Wireless Application Protocol Wireless Telephony Application Specification (31 pages). 

* cited by examiner 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 4 of 25 PageID #: 79
U.S. Patent May 1, 2007 Sheet 1 of 5 US 7.212,811 B2 

Air Interface Virtual 

and Session 

Switching Server 

135 7- 125 

Communication Network Server 

Server 

Application 

Program 

FIG. 1 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 5 of 25 PageID #: 80
U.S. Patent May 1, 2007 Sheet 2 of 5 US 7.212,811 B2 

305 

Access Network 

300 Application Data 

105 

Display Application 

Data 

110 

215 Configuration 

u/ input? 

Configure Packet Filter 

205 

Broadcast 

Reception 

Module 

Packet Filter 

and Control 

Module 

225 

Broadcast 

Input? 

User input / Output Device 

210 

FIG 2 

 

 

 

 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 6 of 25 PageID #: 81
U.S. Patent 

COMMUNICATE 

INTIAL APPLICATION 

DATAWITHCLIENT 

PACKET 

FILTER 

ACCEPT STANDARD 

OR GEOGRAPHICALLY 

GENERATED 

APPLICATION PACKET 

TRANSMT 

APPLICATION 

PACKETS 

FIG 5a 

May 1, 2007 

400 510 

Sheet 3 of 5 

TRANSMT LOW 

POWER PACKET 

FROMBROADCAST 

ENTITY 

509 

DISPLAY MAGE ON 

MOBILE UNITS 

DSPLAY 

US 7.212,811 B2 

515 TRANSMIT USER 

INTERESTPACKET 

FROMMOBILE UNIT 

RECEIVE USER 520 

NERESTPACKETA 

LOCAL BROADCAST 

UNIT 

525 

535 

TRANSMT LOW 

POWER INFORMATION 

PACKET FROM 

BROADCASTENTITY 

DISPLAY MAGE ON 545 

MOBILE UNTS 

DSPLAY 

FIG. 5b 

 

 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 7 of 25 PageID #: 82
U.S. Patent 

605 

May 1, 2007 Sheet 4 of 5 

LOG MOBILE UNIT 

DESTINATION & 

CONFIGURE 

RECEIVE LOCATION 

PACKETAT SERVER 

TRANSMIT DIGITAL 

MAP INFORMATION 

DISPLAY MAP ON 

MOBILE UNT'S 

DISPLAY 

UPDATE TEMER 

CONTROLOR 

RECEIVE USER 

INPUT 

RECEIVE LOCATION 

INFORMATION 

TRANSMIT LOCAON 

PACKET TO SERVER 

FIG. 6 

US 7.212,811 B2 

600 

2 

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U.S. Patent May 1, 2007 Sheet 5 of 5 US 7.212,811 B2 

FIG. 7 

 

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US 7,212,811 B2 

1. 

GEOGRAPHICAL WEB BROWSER, 

METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS 

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent 

application Ser. No. 10/937.286, filed Sep. 10, 2004; now 

U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,139, which is a continuation of U.S. 

patent application Ser. No. 10/294,075, filed Nov. 14, 2002, 

now U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,850, which is a continuation of U.S. 

patent application Ser. No. 09/195,171, filed on Nov. 17, 

1998 entitled “Geographical Web Browser, Methods, Appa 

ratus, and Systems, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,875. Addi 

tionally, this application is related to U.S. patent application 

Ser. No. 09/167,698 filed Oct. 7, 1998, entitled “Virtual 

Connection of a Remote Unit to a Server, now U.S. Pat. No. 

6,574,239. 

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 

1. Field of the Invention 

This invention relates generally to mobile data networks. 

More particularly, the invention relates to a network appli 

cation program Such as a web browser which allows a user 

to navigate a set of network web pages based on a user's 

location and the setting of one or more auxiliary control 

parameters. 

2. Description of the Related Art 

The concept of providing a local broadcast domain 

through which a mobile unit passes is well known. For 

example, when on a cross-country trip, an automobile passes 

through various areas of FM radio coverage. In the art of 

cellular communications it has become common practice to 

reduce the size of a given broadcast domain. This allows 

frequencies to be efficiently reused. In spread spectrum 

communications, it is also recognized that multiple users 

may share frequency within a Small-area broadcast domain 

using differently encoded waveforms for different users. 

Companies Such as Nokia Inc. have proposed systems 

whereby information is broadcast to mobile subscribers 

within a telecommunications cell. In some envisioned meth 

ods, this broadcast information is accessible from a network 

application such as a web browser. A mobile subscriber is 

able to click on an icon and view, for example, restaurants 

located in the vicinity of the telecommunications cell occu 

pied by the mobile subscriber. 

Recently systems have been introduced whereby a mobile 

unit Such as an automobile passes through a series of very 

Small broadcast domains. Each broadcast domain is called a 

“picocell'. For example, as a mobile user in an automobile 

travels along a road, the automobile encounters a sequence 

of network air-interface transceivers that are mounted on 

telephone poles and periodically placed along the roadside. 

The vehicle can maintain a network connection by accessing 

the nearest air interface at any given time. Similar picocell based systems allow a user walking through a building or 

campus environment to stay connected to a wireless local 

area network (LAN). The term “air interface' is used in the 

art to mean a set of physical layer protocols used to 

communicate information via radio and other forms of 

wireless connections. 

Data networks are also available whereby a mobile unit 

maintains a wireless network connection with a central 

server. For example, cellular digital packet data (CDPD), 

Internet packet Data Network (IPDN) and related technolo 

gies exist to allow a mobile unit to interact with an appli cation Such as a database. In other systems, radio frequency 

(RF) modems allow a mobile unit to maintain a network 

connection to stay connected to the Internet or some other 

5 

10 

15 

25 

30 

35 

40 

45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

2 

type of network. For example, Global System Mobile 

(GSM) and Personal Communication Systems (PCS) tech 

nologies also allow wireless data connections to be estab 

lished. Pico-cell based systems also provide wireless net 

works for similar use within buildings and campus 

environments. 

A co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/167,698 by Eric M. 

Dowling and Mark N. Anastasi is incorporated herein by 

reference and is referred to as the “Dowling reference' 

hereinafter. In the Dowling reference, a method is disclosed 

to allow a mobile unit to maintain a virtual session with a 

central server. In a virtual session, an application layer 

program maintains a communication session in the absence 

of a physical communication path. When the session is 

inactive, no communication path exists. When data needs to 

be communicated, a physical connection is automatically 

established. This allows a remote unit to maintain a presence with a central server using, for example, a cellular connec 

tion. The virtual session only establishes the cellular con 

nection when it is actually being used for network commu 

nications. In the context of the present disclosure, the 

“remote unit as defined in the Dowling reference is termed 

a “mobile unit.” In a virtual-session based system, the 

mobile unit uses a cellular connection to maintain a virtual 

session with a network server attached to a network. The 

mobile unit runs an application program Such as a web 

browser to communicate with a web site, an Internet site, an 

intranet site or other application program provided by the 

network server. Only when the user is actively selecting a 

link or downloading information is a physical communica 

tion path established to Support the virtual session. 

Another known technology is the global positioning sys 

tem (GPS). GPS receivers use telemetry information broad 

cast form satellites to calculate a set of grid coordinates to 

provide positional information. A mobile unit equipped with 

a GPS receiver can thereby maintain a fix on its geographical position. 

Systems have been introduced by several automobile 

manufacturers that use a GPS receiver to control the display of digital map information in automobiles. The map data 

includes locations of various types of business establish 

ments. The map and business establishment data for these 

systems is stored in a PROM or EPROM memory. Typically 

these storage devices contain data pertinent to one state. In 

order to update this data the owner of the vehicle must return 

to the dealer once a year to have change the PROM or 

reprogram the EPROM. A traveler wishing to travel between 

states must purchase additional memory modules pro 

grammed with data for the states to be traveled in advance 

of an out-of-state trip. While the aforementioned technolo 

gies provide valuable services and capabilities, these sys 

tems are lacking in various ways. For example, consumer 

radio broadcast technology still uses large broadcast 

domains such as AM and FM radio stations. While next 

generation systems have been proposed that will effectively 

broadcast information Such as local advertisements and 

service announcements to vehicles or pedestrians passing 

through a telecommunications cell. Small locality, no tech 

nology exists to provide local broadcast information to 

automatically control a network application Such as a web 

browser by selectively filtering broadcast information using 

a packet filter. Current approaches require a user to select an 

icon or navigate a browser application via conventional 

means to access information specific to a local area. Also, 

systems do not exist which allow information processed by a GPS receiver to control the flow of information on a 

network connection with a server. For example, no web 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 10 of 25 PageID #: 85
US 7,212,811 B2 

3 

browsers exist which process GPS transmissions to deter 

mine geographical position, and use this geographical posi 

tion information to control what web pages are displayed by 

the browser. Likewise, no systems exist which accept locally 

broadcast transmissions such as from a local telephone pole 

and use this information to control information displayed by 

the web browser. 

It would be desirable to have a system that could provide a user with a means to receive information from a first 

connection to a network based on the user's position. It 

would be desirable to allow an application such as a web 

browser to control a flow of information comprising web 

pages based on a locally received broadcast. It also would be 

desirable to allow an application such as a web browser to 

control the flow of web pages based on processed GPS data. 

It would be desirable to have a mobile unit that could receive 

one or more transmissions via a second connection and then 

generate a request packet on a first connection to navigate an 

application program Such as a web browser. It also would be 

desirable to have a network server that is operative to receive 

request packets that are generated based on information 

received from these transmissions. 

Systems currently envisioned by telecommunication firms 

rely on the knowledge of the user's operating wireless cell. 

As a position or location measurement system, this knowl 

edge is coarse. Further, as a means for regulating pertinent 

information, reliance solely on cell data is limiting. Cell 

coordinates are too coarse to allow data such as direction of 

travel, speed of travel, etc to be used to predict items of 

interest to the user. It would therefore be desirable to base 

broadcast content on detailed user information including, 

but not limited to, past and present GPS location data. 

For certain applications it would be desirable to be able to 

effectively use a relatively small broadcast domain to pro 

duce an “electronic sign.” As defined herein, an “electronic 

sign' involves a system whereby a transmitter broadcasts 

one or more data packets to be received by a mobile unit as 

carried by a vehicle or a pedestrian. For example, instead of 

a passenger looking out of a window to see a billboard, the 

passenger looks at a computer display screen associated with 

a dashboard computer device within the vehicle. Alterna 

tively it would also be desirable to make use of the relatively 

Small broadcast domain to produce an “indirect electronic 

sign.” As is also defined herein, an “indirect electronic sign' involves a system whereby a transmitter broadcasts at least 

one data packet to the mobile unit that then extracts infor 

mation from the packet and uses it to access an associated 

web page. In such a system, it would be desirable to 

download the web pages from the server using the first 

network connection which is preferably a CDPD connection 

or a virtual session connection. Moreover, it would be 

desirable for the mobile unit to be able to supply a filter 

parameter to allow locally received broadcast packets to be 

selectively rejected (e.g. based on content or Subject matter) 

and thereby not alter the web page displayed by the mobile 

unit. 

Currently in cities and on major highways there are 

deployed updateable billboard sized displays that are used to 

inform drivers of upcoming traffic and road conditions. This 

information may potentially add convenience to the drivers 

and allow the roadway to be better utilized more efficiently. 

For example, a large, updateable billboard sized display can 

inform drivers of an accident on the roadway ahead. This 

information is used to prompt lane selection or alternate 

route selection. However, the information contained on 

these displays is limited in amount, and allows no dialogue 

or multilevel queries. It would therefore be desirable to have 

10 

15 

25 

30 

35 

40 

45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

4 

a display system capable of displaying detailed information 

in a structured manner to allow for navigation, route plan ning and advanced traffic management. 

In other applications it would be desirable to update a 

large memory device within the mobile unit with current 

information directly from the network without the need to 

change memory modules or reprogram memory modules. 

These on-board memory devices could then be accessed for 

information without the necessity to access an internet 

connection. It would thus be desirable to be able to update this stored information by downloading information from 

the Internet or some other convenient and accessible net 

work. 

Patent application Ser. No. 09.195,171, filed on Nov. 17, 

1998 entitled “Geographical Web Browser, Methods, Appa 

ratus, and Systems, to including the originally filed claim, 

set, is incorporated herein by reference. 

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 

The present invention solves these and other problems by 

providing systems and methods to enable a mobile unit to 

maintain a first network connection with a central server and 

to control information flow on this connection using infor 

mation received on an auxiliary channel. In one example, a 

mobile unit travels along a road and is exposed to a plurality 

of locally broadcast packets as the mobile unit enters into a 

local broadcast domain. A local broadcast domain includes 

the range of a transmitter that broadcasts data packets to 

mobile units within this range. When a packet of interest is 

received, information is automatically transferred via the 

first network connection and a web page or related applica 

tion information is thereby accessed. Instead of the user 

needing to click upon a hyperlink to access a web site, a 

packet filter is configured to selectively pass packets accord 

ing to a predefined criterion. When a packet passes through 

the packet filter, a web site is automatically accessed. 

Because the received packet is transmitted from within a 

local broadcast domain, this packet carries with it geo graphically related information. For example, if a geographi 

cal web browser according to the present invention is 

currently set to a “movies’ Internet site, when the mobile 

unit passes into an area with several movie theaters, the 

passed packet will include a pointer to the associated movie 

theaters' web pages. In some systems the web pages will be 

automatically downloaded into a buffer within the mobile 

unit, while in other systems a set of hyperlinks to these local 

theaters will appear. 

In another aspect of the present invention, the mobile unit 

also maintains the network connection, but derives geo graphical information from a GPS receiver. The network 

connection preferably is an Internet connection or a con 

nection to a central server such as a database server. GPS 

information is received and processed in the GPS receiver. 

Periodically, processed GPS information may be transmitted 

via the mobile network connection to the network server. 

When this processed GPS information is received, the 

network server is operative to control the flow of informa 

tion to the mobile unit based upon the processed GPS 

information. In some embodiments the mobile unit main 

tains a list of local sites and sends information to the server 

based on a configuration parameter. This information may be 

specific to the requested areas of interest or it may contain 

a complete update to the mobile units database. 

The mobile unit is thereby able to navigate the Internet 

based on the mobile units geographical position in addition 

to prior art methods employing mouse and keyboard inputs. 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 11 of 25 PageID #: 86
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When a virtual connection is being used, GPS information 

need only be transmitted at pre-specified intervals or upon 

the detection of pre-specified events. For example, a filter is 

preferably employed to cause the network connection to 

only be activated when the mobile unit enters a locality associated with a web site of interest. For example, a hungry 

user entering a new city is interested in seeing web pages for 

local restaurants. Based upon the GPS position indication a 

list of restaurants in Surrounding localities is downloaded 

into a memory of the mobile unit. When the GPS receiver 

indicates the mobile unit is in a designated locality, web 

pages for those restaurants in the local area are downloaded 

or retrieved from memory and displayed. 

The present invention provides a means for a user to “surf 

the web' or otherwise navigate a network application pro 

gram based on geographically related information Such as 

locally broadcast packets and GPS information. One or more 

filter parameters are used to screen information of interest to a user. A set of information deemed to be of interest to a user 

is called an “information class.” 

The present invention also enables a road-navigation or 

traffic management system. For example, the user maintains 

a virtual connection to a central server that provides real 

time best-route information through a navigation or traffic 

management web page. A plurality of sensors measures road 

conditions based on vehicle speeds as measured by sensors 

Such as laser or infrared continuity sensors dispersed along 

the roadways. Additionally, special traffic data is monitored, 

or manually entered, including weather advisories, accident 

locations and effects and special event locations and effects. 

The central server thereby keeps track of road conditions 

and is able to display such information and to assign "costs’ 

to route segments. The mobile unit stays virtually connected 

to the navigation web page and is updated with digital maps 

indicating the best current route leading from the mobile 

units current position to a selected destination. 

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 

The various novel features of the present invention are 

illustrated in the figures listed below and described in the 

detailed description that follows. 

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an embodiment of 

a system involving a mobile unit passing through a locality 

and maintaining a network connection. 

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the architecture of 

a mobile unit designed in accordance with the present 

invention. 

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing carried out in a mobile unit to provide a geographically 

controlled client-side application program. 

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing carried out by a network server to provide a geographically 

controlled server-side application program. 

FIG. 5a is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing carried out by a system comprising a mobile unit, a local 

broadcast domain entity and optionally a network server to 

Support a geographically controlled client-side application 

program in the mobile unit. 

FIG. 5b is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing carried out by a system comprising a mobile unit, a local 

broadcast domain entity and optionally a network server to 

provide customized information to the mobile unit. 

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing 

carried out between a mobile unit and a network server to 

provide road navigation and traffic management information 

to the mobile unit. 

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FIG. 7 is a block diagram representing an embodiment of 

the invention applied to traffic management applications. 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an illustrative 

embodiment 100 of a system configuration used to support 

the present invention. A vehicle 102 includes a mobile unit 

105. The mobile unit 105 may be designed similarly to the 

remote unit in the Dowling reference. The architecture of the 

mobile unit 105 is also discussed in more detail in connec 

tion with FIG. 2. 

The mobile unit 105 is connected to a first antenna 110 

which is used to maintain a first network connection 112. 

The first network connection 112 is preferably a wireless 

network connection and may be implemented in several 

ways. For example the wireless network connection may 

employ an air interface and protocol stack to interface with 

an IPDN, a CDPD network, a wideband CDMA data net 

work, or a virtual session oriented network. The antenna 110 

is operatively coupled to an air interface and Switching 

module 115. In many applications, the air interface and 

switching module 115 is provided by a telephone company 

which provides mobile communication services. In the 

illustrative embodiment 100, the air interface and switching 

module 115 is coupled via a communications interface to a 

virtual session server 120. The virtual session server 120 is 

discussed in more detail in the Dowling reference. In other 

embodiments, the virtual session server 120 may be replaced with any available network technology used to provide a 

network connection to a mobile unit via an air interface. The 

virtual session server 120 is preferably coupled to a network 

such as the Internet 122. A network server 125 is coupled to 

the virtual session server 120. The network server 125 may 

be co-located with and directly coupled to the virtual session 

server 120 as an application program 130, or may be coupled across a network Such as the Internet 122 as shown in the 

illustrative embodiment 100. That is, in any of the embodi 

ments as discussed herein, the network server 125 may be 

optionally implemented as the application program 130. 

A communication server 135 may also be coupled to the 

virtual session server 120 to provide the mobile unit 105 

with a virtual communication presence at the virtual session server 120. This allows calls and other communications 

received at the virtual session server 120 to be forwarded to 

the mobile unit 105. The communication server 135 is most 

applicable in systems where the mobile unit 105 and the 

virtual session server 120 are entities within an enterprise, 

and the mobile unit 105 needs to maintain a virtual presence with the enterprise computing and communications 

resources. Details of this type of operation are described in 

the Dowling reference. The communications server 135 is 

optional and may be omitted in some embodiments of the 

invention. 

The mobile unit 105 is also optionally coupled to a 

satellite antenna 140. This antenna, though depicted as a dish 

antenna, may be implemented with other types of antennas. 

The satellite antenna 140 may be used to receive satellite 

communications information. The satellite antenna 140 may also be used to receive GPS transmissions. In some systems, 

the satellite antenna 140 may be used to both receive and 

transmit satellite communications data and receive GPS 

transmissions. 

The mobile unit 105 is also optionally coupled to a local 

broadcast domain antenna 145. The local broadcast domain 

antenna is coupled to receive locally broadcast transmissions 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 12 of 25 PageID #: 87
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from a local broadcast domain entity 150. The transmission 

from the local broadcast domain entity 150 may emanate 

from a building, telephone pole, Street light, store front, and 

the like. In terms of cellular communications technology, the 

local broadcast domain entity 150 is similar to a picocell 

level communication system. The local broadcast domain 

entity 150 may be optionally connected to a network such as 

the Internet 122 via a second connection 113. In a preferred 

embodiment, the broadcast domain of the broadcast domain 

entity 150 is defined by the range of a low-power radio 

frequency channel. Depending on the system configuration, 

the range may vary from as low as 50 feet to as high as a few 

miles. In some embodiments, the low power radio channel 

is defined by a spread spectrum air interface Such as the one 

used by cordless phones or PCS systems. 

The illustrative embodiment 100 shows a mobile unit 105 

with a full set of communication channels. In other embodi 

ments, only a Subset of these communication channels need 

be implemented. For example, in a simplest embodiment, 

only the local broadcast domain antenna 145 is imple mented. This simple embodiment may be used to implement 

methods of processing as discussed in connection with 

FIGS. 3, 5a, and 5b. Some aspects of the present invention 

require the mobile unit 105 to include the network connec 

tion antenna 110 and at least one of the local broadcast 

domain antenna 145 or the satellite antenna 140. In general, 

an "air-interface antenna' generically applies to any antenna 

used to maintain a network connection, receive satellite data, 

transmit local broadcast domain data, receive local broad 

cast domain data, or perform other related air-interface 

functions. 

The illustrative embodiment 100 may also be altered in 

other ways. For example, while three distinctly protruding 

antennas 110, 140,145 are illustrated, these antennas may be 

combined into one and may be built into the body of the 

vehicle so that no actual antennas will be visible as shown. 

Also, while the illustrative embodiment shows the mobile 

unit 105 connected into a vehicle, the mobile unit 105 may equally be implemented as a hand-held unit or in Some other 

form convenient to the particular use desired. The present 

invention may be implemented as a dash-mounted vehicle 

computer or a hand-held unit Such as a palm-pilot, a personal digital assistant or a laptop computer. Also, in Some systems 

the antenna 110 may be used to implement both the network 

connection 112 as well as the connection to the local 

broadcast domain entity 150. In some systems the local 

broadcast domain entity 150 may be implemented as a part 

of the same cell site as used to provide the network con 

nection 112. In this type of embodiment, the cell site 

provides mobile telecommunication services, network Ser 

vices, and local broadcast services within the same cell. 

Layered systems whereby a cell site provides mobile tele 

communication services to a cell coverage and the local 

broadcast domain entity provides broadcast services within 

a picocell are also contemplated by the system 100. FIG. 1 

thus serves as a general background scenario to understand 

the context of the present invention. The operation of the 

illustrative embodiment 100 is discussed in more detail in 

connection with FIGS. 2–6. 

Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the mobile 

unit 105 is shown. This embodiment includes the mobile 

network connection antenna 110 and the local broadcast 

domain antenna 145. A variation of the mobile unit 105 will 

be discussed herein below whereby the local broadcast 

domain antenna 145 is replaced with the satellite antenna 

140. Still another variation of the mobile unit 105 will be 

discussed which only employs the local broadcast domain 

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antenna 145. Yet another variation involves a system where 

the antenna 110 is used for both the network connection 112 

and to communicate with the local broadcast domain entity 

150. In such systems the local broadcast domain entity may 

be embodied by the same equipment used to provide the 

network connection 112. 

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile unit 105 includes the 

network connection antenna 110 which is coupled to a first 

link interface controller 200. The first link interface control 

ler 200 is preferably implemented as a cellular or PCS 

transceiver capable of transferring data traffic. The first link 

interface controller 200 provides a physical layer air inter 

face to support the first network connection 112. 

The first link interface controller 200 is coupled to a 

network interface module 205 which preferably implements 

one or more Software layers within a protocol stack and is 

able to receive and transmit packet data. Protocol stacks are 

well known in the art, as is the construction of network 

interface equipment to implement a network connection. 

The network interface module 205 preferably includes a 

virtual session layer software module. The virtual session 

layer software module directs a physical layer network 

connection to be established only when it is needed as 

discussed in the Dowling reference to reduce air-time costs. 

Other technologies and protocol stacks as implemented in 

CDPD, GSM, PCS and wideband CDMA data networking 

systems may alternatively be employed within the first link 

interface controller 200 and the network interface module 

205. Some of these technologies may be augmented with a 

virtual session server to establish and maintain virtual ses 

sions to achieve the same effect as a constant connection but 

at a greatly reduced cost due to saving on otherwise wasted 

airtime. 

The network interface module 205 is coupled to a user 

input-output device 210. The user input-output device is 

commonly implemented as a display with a mouse and/or 

keyboard input. Some embodiments make use of other 

forms of input and/or output Such as human speech. When 

human speech is used as an input, it is received via a 

microphone, digitized, and processed by a speech recogni 

tion circuit to produce a coded command signal represen 

tative of a user command. 

The local broadcast domain antenna 145 is coupled to a 

second link interface controller 215. The second link con 

troller 215 provides an air interface to receive and possibly 

transmit data packets or other signals within a local broad 

cast domain. The second link interface controller 215 pref erably includes radio frequency circuits used to receive a 

locally broadcast data packet. Some embodiments may 

receive locally broadcast data packets by means other than 

radio frequency. For example data may be locally broadcast 

using microwave or laser signals. In some embodiments, the 

second link controller 215 provides a physical layer radio 

connection to receive the locally broadcast data packet. One 

preferred embodiment implements the second link controller 

215 as a spread spectrum transceiver in the 900 MHz range 

of frequencies. In an alternative embodiment, the second 

link controller 215 is coupled to the antenna 110 and the 

second antenna 145 is not used. In this embodiment, the 

local broadcast domain entity 150 may be co-located with 

the telecommunication cells network equipment. 

The second link controller 215 is coupled to a broadcast 

reception module 220. The broadcast reception module 

preferably receives a baseband data signal from the second 

link controller 215 and performs framing operations to 

extract the broadcast information packet therefrom. The 

process of extracting a packet from a received bit stream is 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 13 of 25 PageID #: 88
US 7,212,811 B2 

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called formatting the data. In some applications the broad 

cast reception module also includes a transmit data path and 

the second link controller 215 is able to transmit data 

packets. In these embodiments, the broadcast reception 

module 220 is more properly termed a “broadcast trans 

ceiver module.’ 

The broadcast reception module 220 is coupled to provide 

the received and reconstructed data packet to the input of a 

packet filter 225. The packet filter 225 is preferably coupled 

to receive a packet-filter parameter from the network inter 

face module 205 and/or the user input-output device 210. 

Coupling to the network interface module 205 allows the use 

of web pages to set the parameters for certain types of filters 

with minimal user intervention. The output of the packet filter 225 is coupled to provide an input to the network 

interface module 205. In embodiments involving a GPS 

receiver, the packet filter 225 operates as a control module 

and performs comparisons of GPS coordinate information 

with pre-specified boundary information. 

A physical processing circuit as used to implement the 

mobile unit 105 may be implemented in a variety of ways. 

The preferred way to implement the mobile unit 105 is using 

a bus-oriented processor architecture whereby a central 

processing unit is coupled to a memory via a bus. Likewise, 

the bus couples the central processing unit to peripheral 

devices such as the user input-output device 210 and the first 

and second link controllers 200 and 215. The modules 205, 

220, and 225 are thereby implemented in software and are 

controlled by a control program (not shown). Using this 

standard computer architectural approach, a timer may be 

used to generate interrupts at timed intervals in order to 

control the sampling of inputs and the processing performed 

by the central processor unit. The mobile unit 105 may also 

be implemented, for example, using custom or semi-custom 

logic blocks configured within an application specific cir 

cuit. 

The mobile unit 105 is operative to maintain the first 

network connection 112 via the network connection antenna 

110. Preferably, the first network connection 112 comprises 

a virtual session or another type of intermittently used data 

network protocol such as the protocol employed by a CDPD 

network. The mobile unit 105 preferably moves about in a 

geographic region, for example carried by the vehicle 102 

moving about in a city. As the mobile unit 105 enters the 

vicinity of the local broadcast domain entity 150, a radio 

frequency signal is coupled onto the local broadcast domain 

antenna 145. The local broadcast domain entity 150 is 

operative to transmit a broadcast-data packet. The second 

link controller 215 is operative to extract an information 

signal from the local broadcast domain antenna 145, and to 

Supply the information signal to the broadcast reception 

module 220. The information signal is preferably supplied as 

a baseband bit stream to the broadcast reception module 220. 

The broadcast reception module 220 is operative to extract 

framing-related data bits from the information signal. The 

framing bits and possibly other bits such as network layer 

packet bits are then used to also extract the broadcast-data 

packet. 

The broadcast-data packet is next routed from the broad 

cast reception module 220 into the input of the packet filter 

225. The packet filter 225 is operative to selectively pass the 

broadcast-data packet if it meets a criterion encoded into one 

or more packet-filter parameters. The packet-filter param 

eters may be derived from information supplied from either 

the network interface module 205 and/or the user input 

output module 210. The packet filter parameter typically 

includes one or more packet-header bit masks. If the header 

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of the broadcast-data packet matches the bit mask, the 

packet is passed through the packet filter. If the header of the 

broadcast-data packet does not match the bit mask of the 

packet-filter parameter, the packet is rejected and no output 

packet is produced at the packet filter output. In this way, the 

packet filter selectively passes the broadcast packet, passing 

it if it matches the mask and rejecting it otherwise. The set 

of information deemed to be of interest to the user that will 

pass through the packet filter is called an “information 

class.” Alternatively, the broadcast-data packet may contain 

keywords. The keywords are compared to a list of keywords 

provided from either the network interface module 205 

and/or the user input-output device 210. If the keyword in 

the keyword list of the broadcast-data packet matches a 

keyword list, the packet is passed through the packet filter. 

If no match is found, the packet is rejected. 

A packet filter parameter is similar to a network address 

in that a particular network entity will receive a packet if 

information contained therein (Such as a network address) 

matches a criterion and reject it otherwise. However, a 

packet filter differs from a network address in that a packet 

may be filtered based on other criteria as well. For example 

a packet filter may be constructed to reject packets sent from 

a particular network address, or to pass packets only marked 

to contain specific types of information. Hence packet filters 

allow information to be selectively received based upon 

other criteria beside network addresses. 

The output of the packet filter is coupled to the network 

interface module 205. The output of the packet filter 

includes any broadcast-data packet that passes through the 

packet filter. The packet filter output is then used to control 

information flow on the first network connection 112. For 

example, the vehicle 102 has recently entered a new city at 

lunchtime and the user input-output module is manipulated 

by a user to navigate to a web page for restaurants. This may be done using standard techniques by entering a network 

address such as a URL, by entering keywords into a search 

engine or by clicking upon a bookmark in a web browser 

display. When the user connects to the web page for restau 

rants, a packet filter mask is downloaded from the web page 

for restaurants and loaded into the packet filter. Next the 

network connection is placed in an inactive state whereby the restaurant page is displayed with no physical network 

connection being needed. The restaurant web page is dis 

played until the vehicle enters the range of the local broad 

cast domain entity 150 which broadcasts possibly a com 

plete packet stream comprising a plurality of different types 

of broadcast-data packets. Only the broadcast-data packets relating to restaurants are allowed to pass through the packet 

filter 225. These data packets are then passed to the network 

interface module 205 which sends one or more application 

request packets to the network server 125. The network 

server 125 then preferably downloads a set of web pages 

containing the menus and other information related to the 

restaurants associated with the received broadcast-data 

packets. This downloading occurs over the network connec 

tion antenna 110. 

Note the above system allows a user to log into a web 

page using known methods. Subsequently the system is 

operative to navigate to selected web sites, such as those 

associated with local restaurants, based on the physical 

location of the mobile unit 105. As the mobile unit 105 

enters a new local broadcast domain, a new set of associated 

web pages will be downloaded. Hence the user need not 

click on links to find an Internet site but rather drive about 

geographically to navigate the Internet. 

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When multiple web pages are downloaded, the browser is 

preferably configured with a “next' button that advances a 

displayed image to the next downloaded web page. The 

“next' button is different from the “forward” button on a 

conventional web browser. When the “forward” button is 

selected, the conventional browser goes to a previously 

viewed web page from which the “back” button was clicked. 

In the present invention, the “next' button navigates to the 

next entry in a list of pages that were downloaded because 

they met the packet-filter criterion but were not yet viewed. 

Alternatively, the browser could be configured to present a 

“pick list menu from which the user can select a hyperlink 

to an associated set of information. 

The foregoing discussion represents a preferred mode of 

operation, but other preferred modes are also contemplated. 

For example, in an enterprise environment, a plurality of 

mobile units carried by vehicles is used by a service pro viding fleet based within a geographical area. An on-going 

problem relates to finding the location of the next customer. 

For example, before setting out for a destination, a user 

enters information via the input-output device 210 to estab 

lish a virtual session with a navigation web page. The user 

also enters information relating to a desired destination into 

the navigation web page. Alternatively, the user may enter 

information to access a scheduling web page from which a 

worklist generated by a scheduling system is presented, in 

which case location information may be downloaded via the 

network interface module 205. The navigation web page then downloads a packet-filter parameter. The packet filter 

parameter includes a packet-header bit mask that is used to 

configure the packet filter 225 to selectively pass navigation 

data. When the navigation system is enabled, the current 

location of the vehicle is logged and a map is displayed on 

the user input-output device 210. The displayed map pref 

erably indicates a currently best available route to the 

destination. The best route is preferably determined by 

calculating a distance which takes into account current 

traffic loads, number of traffic lights, average speed along a 

road and the like. When the user enters the range of a new 

local broadcast domain entity 150, a navigation packet is 

received and is selectively passed through the packet filter 

and a new location is logged. More details regarding how the 

present invention may be used in navigation applications is 

discussed in connection with FIG. 6. 

In another preferred mode of operation, the mobile unit 

105 is modified to include the satellite antenna 140 in lieu of 

the local broadcast domain antenna 145. In this embodiment, 

the second link controller 215 and the broadcast reception device 220 are a part of a GPS receiver system. The GPS 

receiver system provides a set of geographical positional 

information to the packet filter 225. The packet filter 225 

now operates as a control module 225. The control module 

225 is operative to perform a comparison of the mobile 

units geographical position to a control parameter, and 

when the comparison provides an affirmative result, the 

control module is operative to request a signal comprising 

image information Such as web pages to be transmitted. The 

control parameter preferably includes an interest designator 

indicative of an information class. The interest designator, 

like the packet mask indicates the user's current interest, 

Such as restaurants. For example, when the user enters a new 

locality as defined by a grid granularity, information related 

to the mobile unit 105’s location is uploaded via the first 

network connection 112 and the network server 125 down 

loads the set of restaurant web pages registered for the 

current locality. Preferably, the control module 225 is loaded 

with a list of web site designators within the scope of the 

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interest designator. With each web site designator is a 

geographical coordinates mask. When the mobile units 

GPS coordinates are within the range of the web site's 

domain, either a stored web page is displayed or the virtual 

session is activated and the associated web pages are down 

loaded. 

To implement this functionality, a memory module opera 

tive to hold a list is provided within the control module 225. 

This memory module may include a storage unit Such as a 

large memory or a disk in some embodiments. The list 

includes one or more entries. Each entry preferably includes 

a first field indicative of a set of application data available on 

the network server 125 and a second field indicative of a set 

of boundaries. When the mobile units GPS coordinates are 

within the set of boundaries, a geographical packet is sent to 

the network server 125. Hence the same result as the 

previous embodiment is achieved in a different way. 

In yet another embodiment of the current invention, the 

mobile units GPS coordinates are used to designate a 

geographical area of interest. Boundaries of the are set based 

upon a selected algorithm, such as a radius about the mobile 

units current location or political boundaries such as a state, 

county or city. All data for the designated area, including 

map data and business establishment or tourist attraction 

data, for example, would be downloaded without filtering to 

a memory device. As inquiries are made by the user or the 

system using previously described methods, data from this 

stored database would be filtered by the packet filter 225 

based upon the inquiry parameters without the need to 

re-establish a connection to the internet pages. 

An embodiment preferred for low cost systems does not 

involve the first network connection 112, so it does not 

include the network connection antenna 110 nor the first link 

controller 200. In this system, the local broadcast domain 

entity 150 broadcasts a packet stream containing application 

data as opposed to pointers to application data. For example, 

the local broadcast domain entity 150 transmits an HTTP 

(Hypertext Transfer Protocol) packet stream that includes 

the web pages themselves. As in the foregoing systems involving locally broadcast packets, the packet filter is 

configured to selectively pass received packets according to 

a filter criterion as determined by a packet header bit mask. 

When the packet filter 225 selectively passes the received 

packet stream, only the desired web pages are loaded into 

the browser and optionally displayed. The network connec 

tion 112 is not needed and no airtime costs are incurred. Like 

the previous embodiments, if the packet filter 225 passes 

packets relating to more than one web page, the web pages 

are loaded into a buffer that the user preferably navigates 

using the aforementioned “next' button or pick list. 

Note the foregoing low cost system implements a form of 

a selective “electronic sign.” The user selects an area of 

interest and information related to this area of interest is 

allowed to be displayed on the user input-output device 210. 

In some systems of this nature, the second link controller 

215 may also be used to transmit an application-request 

packet Such as an HTTP packet transmitted in response to a 

user clicking a mouse upon a hyperlink. In Such systems, the 

mobile user transmits a request packet indicating its interest 

to the local broadcast domain entity 150. The local broadcast 

domain entity 150 then supplies the desired information 

relating to locally available resources. In other embodiments 

the application-request packet is forwarded to the network server 125 via the second network connection 113. Down 

stream application data is then passed to the mobile unit 105 

from the network server 125 via the second network con 

nection 113. While the above discussion focused on a web 

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browser application, other types of user interfaces and 

applications may be equivalently employed. For example, 

the display of the user input-output device 210 may be made 

of a simple LED array or a text-only LCD display. Other 

display options include projection displays and heads-up 

displays. The displays themselves can be reconfigurable and 

in Some instances. Such as is the case of touch-screen 

displays, would form the whole or a part of the human 

machine interface. In this case the application program is 

operative to simply display a text message instead of a 

Web-page image. 

Another example of an electronic sign is an electronic real 

estate sign. When the vehicle 102 drives up in front of a 

property with a “for sale” sign, a set of data such as multiple 

listing information is transmitted to the mobile unit 105. In 

Some systems a full set of photographs may be displayed 

within the vehicle 102. In one such example, the electronic 

real estate sign transmits information packets containing price and other information. A simple radio frequency trans 

mitter placed within a window of the house may be used as 

the local broadcast domain entity 150. In systems where the 

mobile unit 105 includes the network connection antenna 

110, a low cost transmitter may be used to broadcast an 

HTTP address packet so the full set of graphical data relating 

to the property may be downloaded to the mobile unit via the 

network connection 112. Additional filtering could be 

employed based upon client interests (e.g. price range, size 

of property desired, etc.) compared to data transmitted from 

the web page or from the broadcast domain entity 150. 

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method 300 of processing 105 

is illustrated in flow chart form. The method 300 is carried 

out by an application program such as a geographical web 

browser running on the mobile unit 105. The method 300 is 

designed to control the mobile unit 105 as configured according to FIG. 2. The method 300 represents a client-side 

method used to communicate and interact with a server-side 

method as discussed in connection with FIG. 4. When the 

mobile unit 105 is implemented in alternate embodiments, 

the method 300 is modified as well. These modifications are 

discussed after the following discussion relating to the 

mobile unit 105 as configured according to FIG. 2. 

In a first step 305, a set of network application data is 

accessed. Application data may include, for example, web 

pages or database information. Application data is transmit 

ted as application data packets using an application layer 

protocol such as HTTP. The application data is preferably 

downloaded from the network server 125 into the mobile 

unit 105 and then displayed on the user input-output device 

210. Typically, the network application data involves web 

pages provided in hypertext mark-up language (HTML) but 

other forms of network application data may be equivalently 

used. In many cases, the network application data includes 

a packet-filter parameter. In some embodiments, to limit 

airtime, the first step 305 accesses the set of network 

application data from a memory or other form of storage unit 

accessible to the mobile unit 105. Control next passes to a 

second step 310 whereby information related to the network 

application data is displayed. In a preferred embodiment, the 

second step 310 involves displaying a web page on a web 

browser display screen that is a part of the user input-output device 210. Operational data such as the packet-filter param 

eter need not be displayed in the step. 

Control next passes from the second step 310 based on a 

first decision 315. In the first decision 315, a check is made 

to see whether a new packet-filter configuration parameter 

has been received. The packet-filter parameter either enters 

the system as a part of the network application data, is input 

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via the user input-output device 210, or is loaded from a 

memory within the mobile unit 105. If the packet-filter needs 

to be reconfigured, control next passes to a third step 320. In 

the third step 320 the packet-filter parameter is loaded into 

the packet filter 225. If the network application data was 

accessed from the network connection, the packet filter 

parameter is coupled into the packet filter 225 via the 

coupling from the network interface device 205. If the 

network application data was accessed from the user input 

output device 210, the packet filter parameter is coupled into 

the packet filter 225 via the coupling from the user input 

output device 210. As mentioned above, in some cases the 

parameter may be stored in a memory and loaded into the 

packet filter 225 via a coupling from the memory (not 

shown). 

If the first decision 315 evaluates negatively, or after the 

packet filter has been configured in the third step 320, 

control next passes to set of decisions that implement a 

wait-for-input control flow. In the embodiment shown, con 

trol passes to a second decision 325 where a check is made 

to see whether a user input has been detected. If a user input 

has been detected, control passes back to the first step 305 

where the user information is processed and possibly pack 

etize for transmission via the first network connection 112. 

In the first step 305, new information may be accessed and 

the aforementioned steps are repeated. If the second decision 

325 is negative, control passes to a third decision 330. In the 

third decision 330, a check is made to determine if a 

broadcast packet has been received. If the third decision 330 

evaluates to the affirmative, control next passes to a fourth 

decision 335 whereby the received packets header or other 

associated information is checked against the packet filter's 

bit mask, one or more keywords, or other form of interest 

designator as configured in the third step 320. If the fourth 

decision 335 evaluates to the affirmative, control passes back 

to the first step 305. In the first step 305 information derived 

from the packet filter output is preferably uploaded via the 

first network connection 112 and used to access a new set of 

network application data Such as web pages. If the third 

decision 330 evaluates to the negative, control loops back to 

continue to check for a valid user input or packet filter 

output. If the fourth decision 335 evaluates to the negative, 

control also loops back to continue to check for a valid user 

input or packet filter output. 

In the method 300, the decisions 325, 330 and 335 are 

shown to be implemented as a sequence of binary tests. A 

variety of equivalent control flows may be employed to 

implement these decisions. For example, these three deci 

sions may be implemented Such that a processor enters a 

wait loop and waits for an interrupt from a user I/O device 

or from the packet filter. 

The method 300 implements a geographically controlled 

web browser when implemented by the remote unit 105 

which moves about as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the 

first step 305 is operative to transmit one or more hypertext 

transfer protocol (HTTP) request packets via the first net 

work connection 112. The first step 305 is also operative to 

download web page data so that it can be displayed in the 

second step 310 on the display of the user input-output 

module 210. If the first network connection 112 is coupled 

to the network server 125, and the network server is con 

figured to process inputs from a geographical web browser, 

the server will typically download a packet-filter parameter 

to the geographical web browser. This packet-filter param 

eter tells the geographical web browser which packets to 

send via the first network connection 112 to the network 

server 125. If a packet-filter parameter is sent by the network 

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server 125 or otherwise made locally available, the third step 

320 is operative to configure the packet filter. Now as the 

mobile unit 105 moves from one broadcast domain to the 

next, only selected packets will pass through the packet filter 

and thereby navigate through a set of web pages to be 5 

displayed on the display screen of the mobile unit 105. 

Alternatively, the user may provide navigation commands 

and navigate the web browser using conventional methods 

Such as keyboard entries, voice commands, or mouse clicks. 10 

A geographical web browser has an added advantage of 

providing a new means for advertising locally available 

items such as products and services. The user interested in 

a certain product or service logs into a geographically 

controlled web site and configures the packet filter to display 15 

information related to a user's needs. In one example the 

mobile unit 105 enters a new city and the user is interested 

in finding a mall with a particular clothing store within. As 

the user drives along, a web page comes up and provides directions to the shopping mall and also optionally provides 

an inside map of the mall to include directions to the desired 

store. This form of advertising helps both the consumer and 

the storeowners. Similarly, if the mobile unit 105 is con 

nected to a road-navigation site, new map pages may be 

periodically downloaded based upon the mobile unit 105’s 

current position. If a user is using a hand-held unit, a similar 

type of scenario applies within the shopping mall, for 

example. A geographical web browser practicing the method 

300 may also be used in systems where the local broadcast 

domain 150 is supplied by the same telecommunications cell site as used for the network connection 112. 

The method 300 operates with some modifications in 

systems when the mobile unit 105 uses the satellite antenna 

140 and employs the GPS receiver in the broadcast reception 

module 220. In such systems, the packet filter 225 does not 3s 

filter packets but rather generates packets from a table based 

on a filter parameter and the calculated GPS positioning 

coordinates. The network server 125 or a memory preferably provides a set of potential pointers to web pages based on the 

user's current interest as defined by the web page to which 40 

the mobile unit 105 is connected. When the mobile unit 

crosses a boundary and enters a region within a locality, if 

any web page pointers are loaded for that locality and meet 

the packet-filter criterion, this has the same effect as if the 

decisions 330 and 335 were both affirmative. The compari 

son may be performed by subtracting from a set of reference 

coordinates a set of coordinates representative of the geo 

graphical location of the mobile unit and testing to see 

whether the difference is below a threshold. In some case the 

comparison may be made referenced to a man-made bound 

ary Such as a city limit or a cell coverage boundary. A 

"geographical packet may be thereby generated to send a 

request for web pages or related application data to be 

downloaded. A geographical packet' is a type of request 

packet sent by a geographical web browser to request 

application data Such as web pages to be downloaded based 

on geographically related events. Instead of navigating an 

application by mouse-clicking on an icon or a hyperlink, a 

mobile unit automatically responds to positional and/or 

locally broadcast information packets. In some cases web 

pages may be stored locally and accessed locally using 

caching techniques to minimize the network transactions. 

The method also operates with some modifications in 

situations where the mobile unit 105 does not include a 

network antenna 110 and thereby does not maintain the first 

network connection 112. In this case the difference is the 

packet stream received at the antenna 145 includes the web 

25 

O 

45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

16 

pages themselves. The packet filter operates similarly and 

only accepts web pages that match the packet-filter criterion. 

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method 400 practiced by the 

network server 125 is illustrated in flow chart form. The 

method 400 is a server-side method that interacts with a 

client-side method such as the method 300. Recall the 

network server 125 may also be implemented as the appli cation program 130. The method 400 is designed to provide 

the server side of a client-server application layer commu 

nication protocol. In this system the method 300 represents 

the client side of the connection and is practiced by the 

mobile unit 105. The method 300 communicates client-side 

data packets to the network server 125 that responds with 

server-side data packets as it practices the method 400. 

In a first step 405, initial communications are performed with a client such as the mobile unit 105 practicing the 

method 300. For example, in a web browser application, the 

first step 405 involves receiving one or more HTTP request packets and responding with packets comprising web-page 

data. Next control passes based on a decision 410 that 

checks to see whether one or more packet-filter parameters 

need to be downloaded to the client. If the decision 410 

evaluates affirmatively, control passes to a second step 415 

whereby the one or more packet-filter parameters are trans 

mitted to the client. After the second step 415, control next 

passes to a third step 420. If the decision 410 evaluates 

negatively, control bypasses the second step 415 and passes 

directly to the third step 420. In the third step 420, a 

standardly generated or a geographically generated data 

application packet is received at the network server 125. For 

example, a standardly generated application packet may be 

an HTTP packet transmitted by the method 300 after the user 

has clicked on an Internet link. As used herein, this type of 

packet is also called a 'standard-request packet. A geo graphically generated HTTP request packet references a 

page to which there is not necessarily a link. Instead of 

selecting a link, the HTTP request is generated in the first 

step 305 of the method 300 after the decision 335 indicates 

a packet has passed through the packet filter and thereby web 

pages need to be downloaded. A packet generated as such is 

one type of “geographical packet. Another type of "geo graphical packet' is a request packet generated when a GPS 

receiver identifies the mobile unit 105 has passes into a 

locality and a request needs to be sent to the network server 

125 as previously discussed. 

Control next passes to a fourth step 425 whereby one or 

more application packets are transmitted in response to the 

request received in the third step 420. Typically, the appli 

cation packets transmitted in the fourth step 425 include 

information relating to one or more new web pages being 

downloaded from the network server 125 to the mobile unit 

105 via the first network connection 112. In some systems it 

is desirable to download a plurality of web pages into a 

cache within the mobile unit 105. The user then preferably 

uses the “next' button in the geographical web browser to 

access the plurality of downloaded pages. 

Control next passes out of the fourth step 425 based upon a second decision 430. The second decision 430 checks to 

see whether the user has selected a link directing control 

away from the network server 125. If the second decision 

430 evaluates affirmatively, control passes to a fifth step 435 

whereby the method is exited. If the second decision 430 

evaluates negatively, control passes back to the third step 420 to await more standardly or geographically generated application packets. 

Referring now to FIG. 5a, a method 500 of processing 

within a communication system is illustrated. In a first step 

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505, the local broadcast domain entity 150 is operative to 

transmit a low power broadcast packet that is then received 

by the mobile unit 105. The mobile unit 105 selectively 

passes the received packet according to the packet-filter 

parameter as configured in the third step 320 of the method 

300. Control next passes to a second step 507. In the second 

step 507, a set of application data Such as web pages are 

supplied by the network server 125 via the first network 

connection 112 to the mobile unit 105. Depending on the 

system configuration, this step may also be performed by the 

local broadcast domain entity 150 so that the web pages or 

other application data is received via the local broadcast 

antenna 145. In such systems, the web pages may be stored 

within the local broadcast domain entity 150 itself, or may 

pass through the local broadcast domain entity 150 after 

having been downloaded from the network server 125 via 

the second network connection 113. Control next passes to 

a third step 509 practiced by the remote unit 105 whereby a 

set of application data such as web pages is displayed on the 

user input-output device 210. 

Referring now to FIG. 5b, a method 510 of processing 

practiced by the mobile unit 105, the local broadcast domain 

entity 150 and optionally the network server 125 is illus 

trated in flow chart form. In the method 510, the mobile unit 

105 and the local broadcast domain entity 150 engage in 

cooperative two-way communications. In a first step 515, 

the mobile unit 105 transmits a user-interest packet via the 

local broadcast domain antenna 145 to the local broadcast 

domain entity 150. In this method, the local broadcast 

domain entity 150 includes both a transmitter and a receiver, 

i.e., a transceiver. Also, the second link controller 215 also 

includes a transceiver capable of both transmitting and 

receiving within the local broadcast domain. As discussed 

hereinafter, the user-interest packet may be encrypted using 

a scheme such as public key encryption. If an encrypted 

user-interest packet is used, the system may employ chal 

lenge-and-reply authentication to thereby restrict access to 

information. 

Control next passes to a second step 520. While the first 

step 515 is practiced by the mobile unit 105, the second step 

520 is practiced by the local broadcast domain entity 150. In 

the second step 520, the user-interest packet transmitted by 

the mobile unit 105 in the first step 515 is received by the 

local broadcast domain entity 150. Control next passes to a 

third step 525 practiced by the local broadcast domain entity 

150 in response to the first step 515. In the third step 525, the 

user-information packet received in the second step 520 is 

processed. This step involves extracting the user-informa 

tion packet from a signal transmitted from the antenna 145 

and received by the local broadcast domain entity 150. Once 

received, the third step 525 involves feeding the user 

information packet to a software module for evaluation. The 

software module checks the received user-interest packet to 

determine whether or not the local broadcast domain entity 

150 can supply information related to a service desired by 

the user. The software module checks the user-interest 

packet and makes a decision 530. If the local broadcast 

domain entity 150 cannot supply information related to a 

service desired by the mobile unit 105 as indicated by the 

user-interest packet, control transfers back to the first step 

515. In this case the local broadcast domain entity performs 

no action and awaits another user-interest packet to be 

transmitted. In some systems, the local broadcast domain 

entity 150 may also practice the method 500 while waiting 

for the next user-interest packet. The user-interest packet is a packet identifying a specific 

user interest. For example, the user within the vehicle 102 

10 

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35 

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50 

55 

60 

65 

18 

has a toothache and enters the domain of the local broadcast 

domain entity 150. The user is thereby interested in finding 

a dentist. The user enters information via the user input 

output device 210 either by mouse click, keyboard entry, or 

voice commands indicative of this interest. The mobile unit 

105 then broadcasts this information via the antenna 145 

into the broadcast domain to be received by the local 

broadcast domain entity 150. If a local dentist is registered 

with the local broadcast domain entity 150, the decision 530 

evaluates affirmatively and a packet relating a locally avail 

able dentist will be transmitted back to the mobile unit 150 

as discussed below. 

In another example the mobile unit 105 is implemented as 

a palm-pilot or personal digital assistant computer. A user 

carrying the palm-pilot version of the mobile unit 105 enters 

a shopping mall and is looking for a silver plated picture 

frame under fifty dollars. Information to this effect is entered 

by the user as discussed above and a user-interest packet is 

transmitted according to the first step 515. The local broad 

cast domain entity 150 is preferably controlled by the 

shopping mall authorities or a contracted advertising com 

pany. The steps 520 and 525 then are performed to determine 

which stores carry the item of interest. If any of the stores 

within the shopping mall carry the item of interest, the 

decision 530 evaluates affirmatively and a packet will be 

transmitted back to the mobile unit 150 as discussed below. 

If the decision 530 evaluates affirmatively, control next 

passes to a fourth step 535. In the fourth step 535 a reply 

packet is transmitted back to the mobile unit 105 in response 

to the user-interest packet transmitted in the first step 510. In 

systems employing challenge and password authentication 

procedures, an exchange of packets may be required 

between the mobile unit 105 and the local broadcast domain 

entity 150 before the fourth step 535 is performed. Control 

next passes to a fifth step 540 whereby application data such 

as web pages relating to the topic of the user-interest packet is supplied to the mobile unit 105. Depending on the system configuration, the fifth step 540 may be performed by the 

local broadcast domain entity 150 so that the application 

data is received via the local broadcast antenna 145. In other 

systems, the fifth step 540 is performed by the network 

server 125 which downloads the application data to the 

mobile unit 105 via the first network connection 112. Con 

trol next passes to a sixth step 545 practiced by the remote 

unit 105 whereby information related to the application data 

Such as web pages is displayed on the user input-output 

device 210. 

In restricted access systems, transmissions of the method 

510 may be encrypted and electronic challenge and reply 

authentication may be used. Challenge and reply authenti 

cation involves providing a digital signature so that elec 

tronic eavesdroppers cannot gain access to a password. 

Public key encryption methods are preferably used to allow 

information to be disseminated using the method 510 to 

authorized mobile units only. 

In systems involving multiple users the local broadcast 

domain entity must receive packets possibly from multiple 

different mobile units 105. One way to handle this type of 

situation is to use a method known as carrier sense multiple 

access. The mobile units transmit burst data packets infre 

quently and at random intervals so the channel is clear most 

of the time. If two mobile units attempt to transmit simul 

taneously, a data collision occurs and an error detection 

algorithm involving check-bits is employed to determine the 

validity of a received data packet. If the received data packet includes errors, it is dropped. The two mobile units attempt 

to retransmit their packets at random time delays and in all 

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probability are able to get then through on their second try. 

Other multiple access techniques may also be used but are 

not considered further herein because they are already well 

known in the art. These multiple access techniques include 

frequency division multiple access, time division multiple 

access and code division multiple access. 

Referring now to FIG. 6, a method 600 to assist in road 

navigation is illustrated in flow chart form. The method 600 

may also be practiced in off-road situations such as shopping 

malls when the mobile unit 105 is implemented, for 

example, as a palm-pilot. In a first step 605, the mobile unit 

105 transmits a set of information related to the mobile 

units desired destination to a server such as the network 

server 125. This information may be transmitted via the first 

network connection 112 or may be passed through the local 

broadcast domain entity 150 and to the network server 125 

using the second network connection 113. 

Control next passes to a second step 610 whereby the 

information transmitted in the first step 605 is received at a 

navigation server. The navigation server may be imple 

mented, for example as the application program 130, or the 

network server 125. Within building environments such as a 

shopping mall, a picocell architecture may be employed so 

that the Internet 122 is actually implemented as an intranet. 

For the purposes of description, an embodiment whereby the 

navigation server is implemented within the network server 

125 will be described. Control next passes to a third step 

615. In the third step 615 a set of navigation information 

Such as directions or a digital map is transmitted from the 

navigation server back to the mobile unit 105. Control next 

passes to a fourth step 620 where the information transmit 

ted to the mobile unit 105 in the third step 615 is displayed 

on the user input-output device 210. This step often involves 

displaying an image with a digital map marking the best 

current route to the desired destination as defined in the first 

step 605. 

Control next passes to a fifth step 625. The fifth step 625 

may be executed after a timer has timed out, a local 

broadcast packet has passed through the packet filter 225, or 

a user input has been entered via the user input-output device 

210. Once fifth step 625 indicates new navigational infor 

mation is needed, control passes to a sixth step 630. In the 

sixth step 630 new location information is received at the 

mobile unit 105. This location information may be obtained 

using a GPS receiver, or by packet filtering local broadcast 

domain packets. In the navigation application, the packet 

filter is set to pass navigation packets that indicate the 

mobile unit 105’s geographical location. 

Control next passes to a seventh step 635 where the 

mobile unit 105’s location information is uploaded to the 

navigation server. This step may be performed in a variety 

of ways. For example, the mobile unit 105 may activate a 

virtual session and send the location information via the first 

network connection 112. Alternatively, the mobile unit 105 

may transmit a request packet to the local broadcast entity 

150 which then transmits the packet via the second network 

connection 113. After the seventh step 635, control passes 

back to the second step 610 where the navigation server once 

again receives a current-location packet from the mobile unit 

105 and the foregoing steps are then repeated. 

It should be noted the navigation server preferably selects 

a best route when transmitting route information to the 

mobile unit 105 in the third step 615. The best route 

information is preferably calculated based on traffic condi 

tions and distance. For example, a set of one or more sensors 

is associated with local broadcast domain entity 150. The 

sensors measure traffic conditions using, for example, laser 

10 

15 

25 

30 

35 

40 

45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

20 

continuity sensors to measure vehicle speeds. The sensor 

information is forwarded back to the local broadcast domain 

entity 150 via wireless, wireline, or optical links. The sensor 

information is uploaded via the second network connection 

113 to the network server 125 which acts as the navigation 

server for the system. The navigation server preferably 

collects data from a plurality of local broadcast domains in 

order to keep up-to-date information about road conditions 

and routes over a wide geographical coverage. The naviga 

tion server thereby calculates the best route of travel for the 

mobile unit 105 for its destination and includes this infor 

mation transmitted in the third step 615. 

Referring now to FIG. 7, a block diagram of system for 

navigation and traffic management 700 is illustrated. A 

vehicle 102 includes a mobile unit 105, and is connected to 

a desired destination, 702 through a plurality of roadways, or 

routes 704, 706 and 708. Dispersed along the roadways, is 

a plurality of geographically dispersed sensors, 710. In some 

instances, these geographically dispersed sensors may be 

deployed in a mobile unit such as the helicopter, 712, shown 

in FIG. 7. These sensors are connected to a central server 

714 through wireline links 716 and wireless links 718. In 

Some cases, the sensors are combined in intermediate nodes, 

720. The intermediate nodes 720 are connected to the 

sensors through wireline links 722 and wireless links 724. 

The intermediate nodes 720 are connected to the central 

server 714 through wireline links 726 and wireless links 728. 

A fiber optic link 726 is a special form of a wireline link and 

is illustrated in FIG. 7. The central server 714 is coupled to 

the mobile unit through wireless link 730. 

In FIG. 7, the vehicle 102 is proceeding towards a 

destination, 702. In the case of a commuter, the vehicle may be heading to work, in an office or a factory, or home. The 

vehicle could also be in transit between cities or boroughs. 

In many instances, the operator of the vehicle has a choice 

among routes, 704, 706, or 708. For example and without 

limitation, route 704 may be a busy secondary road, route 

706 may be a highway or freeway with controlled access, 

and route 708 may be a back road. As is well known to most 

drivers, it may be the case where the highway, 706, may be 

the fastest unless there is congestion or an accident has 

occurred. The operator of the vehicle may desire to know the 

navigational route which will allow him to arrive in the 

shortest time, or encounter a minimum of traffic. The con 

trolling authority of the roadways may similarly desire to 

regulate traffic, encouraging travel along alternate routes and 

at alternate times. The controlling authority of the roadways 

is thus motivated to share traffic patterns with the operator 

of the vehicle whose interests are generally aligned. Further 

inducement may be offered through a systems of road usage 

fees or tolls where off peak travel or secondary route travel 

is monetarily less expensive than peak or rush hour traffic, 

and travel along congested roads. It will be recognized that 

traffic congestion fluctuations are often unpredictable due to 

accidents and special events. The routes considered in this 

invention may not necessarily include all routes, and it is 

envisioned that early application of this system will limit 

itself to major highways and interstate freeways most prone 

to rush hour congestion. Heavily trafficked secondary roads 

will be added to the system next. 

The invention disclosed herein teaches the use of sensors, 

710, which are used to measure the road conditions, includ 

ing the amount and speed or traffic flow. By example and 

without limitation, 710 sensors may use infrared beam 

technology, pressure cables strung across the roadway, 

human observers, or electronic cameras Such as CCD arrays. Further, any combination of technologies may be used. The 

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sensors 710 may be statically mounted at an observation 

point, such as an intersection, or an entrance ramp, or the 

sensors 710 may be mounted in a mobile unit such as a traffic 

helicopter or a police car or other vehicle. 

The data measured and collected by the sensors 710 are 

communicated in raw or processed fashion to the central 

server 714. The communication links may generally be 

either wireless or wireline. Examples of wireline links 

include, without limitation, twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, 

plastic and glass fiber optics, and other transmission line 

media. Wireless links include, without limitation, RF, micro 

wave and IR transmission between transmitting antennas 

and receiving antennas, or transmitting Sources and receiv 

ing sources. The data collected by sensors 710 may be 

directly transmitted to the central server 714, or the data may 

be relayed to the intermediate nodes 720 for simple multi 

plexing, packetizing, preprocessing and/or filtering before 

retransmission to the central server 714. 

At the central server 714, the data is collected and 

analyzed. In a simple embodiment, information about traffic 

density and flow along different roadways may be organized 

and broadcast to the mobile unit 105, to serve an announce 

ment function similar to the existing traffic reports heard on 

metropolitan radio shows during rush hours. Alternatively, 

the analysis may entail calculating a preferred route for a 

vehicle 102 optimizing for distance weighted by road con 

ditions. In yet a third embodiment, the data collected on 

traffic flow and road conditions may be used to set adaptive 

road tolls in order to use market forces to regulate the 

operator's choice of route. The concept of adaptive road tolls 

are tolls, tariffs or fees on a segment of a road or highway 

that change or adapt to demand. As road space becomes 

more in demand, the tolls preferably adjust to regulate the 

use of a given segment of road. The adaptive road tolls 

enable the use of an efficient free market mechanism to 

allocate the increasingly scarce resource of road space. The 

adaptive road tolls represent a usage fee and provide an 

improvement to fixed vehicle tariffs paid, for example, by 

county per year. The invention may be used to record and 

assess the adaptive road tolls through link 730 and central 

server 714. Alternatively, payment may be made through existing technology such as the TollTag TM marketed by 

AmTech Corp. 

The information collected and calculated by the central 

server, and in Some cases, the intermediate nodes is relayed 

to the mobile unit 105 through a wireless link 730. The 

wireless link 730 may be direct or through a plurality of 

local broadcast domain entities as disclosed above. 

The discussion of FIG. 7 may be used to develop an 

alternative embodiment of the method 600. This alternative 

embodiment provides a method for traffic management. Traffic management is a process whereby a controlling 

authority provides an incentive system to alter and control 

traffic flows. The alternate version of the method 600 oper 

ates as follows. The first 605 is the same as previously discussed. The second step 610 is augmented with the 

process of receiving information indicative of traffic condi 

tions related to a plurality of roads and adaptively assigning 

a road usage toll to at least one of these roads based upon the 

received information. The step 615 is augmented by also 

electronically providing information relating to the adaptive 

road usage tolls to the mobile unit. The step 620 is aug 

mented by also showing cost information relating to one or 

more routes. The digital map may show several routes, 

estimated travel times on each route, and a monetary cost for 

traveling on each route. In some systems, with or without 

adaptive tolls, the step 620 may also display information 

10 

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35 

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45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

22 

indicative of the estimated travel time associated with each 

route. By displaying estimated travel times and adaptive 

tolls, drivers can make an educated decision as to which 

route to select. 

The steps 625 and 630 are optional in this alternative 

method and the step 635 may be practiced using a reflective 

means such as the TollTag TM marketed by AmTech Corp. That is, the step 635 may involve the controlling authority 

probing to determine the mobile units location instead of 

the mobile unit transmitting this information. Alternatively, 

the step 635 may involve the mobile unit automatically sending information related to its geographical position to 

continue to accept updated route information and to be 

charged accordingly. As such, the step 610 is also modified 

to identify electronically (to include optically, with or with 

out probing) the mobile unit's choice of roadways and 

automatically charge the mobile units associated vehicle 

based upon the adaptive road usage toll. Instead of charging 

the vehicle for taking the best route, a credit can alterna 

tively be applied against a taxation if the vehicle selects a 

less desirable route and thereby lessens a traffic loading on 

a congested roadway. 

Although the present invention has been described with 

reference to specific embodiments, other embodiments may 

occur to those skilled in the art without deviating from the 

intended scope. It should be noted while the foregoing examples make use of a web browser application whereby application data involves HTTP packets representative of 

web pages, this is not required. Rather the present invention 

encompasses any application layer program that may send 

application layer packets to Support other types of applica 

tions. Also, while the preferred embodiments employ vari 

ous antennas such as the antennas 110, 140, and 145, other 

types of transducers including ultrasonic and laser sensors 

may equivalently be used in some systems. Also, while the 

present disclosure focused on a mobile unit, geographically based web browsing may be used by stationary systems as 

well. For example a central movies site may automatically 

provide links to movies in a local area based on the access 

number used to connect to the network. Various modules 

have been described as being implemented in software but 

could equivalently be implemented in dedicated hardware. 

Also, while an embodiment where separate telecommuni 

cation cell and local broadcast domain entities exist, these 

may be merged. Likewise, packet filters may be set up to 

filter packets based on a bit mask to be compared to a packet header, or packet filters may compare keywords or other 

information to information contained within the data field of 

the packet itself. In any of the traffic management tech 

niques, adaptive toll charges may be replaced with an 

adaptive credit system. Therefore, it is to be understood that 

the invention herein encompasses all Such embodiments that 

do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as 

defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is: 

1. For use in a mobile data network environment com 

prising a packet Switched data network, one or more network 

servers, a plurality of mobile units, and a plurality of 

wireless packet access stations coupled to the packet 

Switched data network, wherein each wireless packet access 

station provides wireless access services, wherein a particu lar one of the mobile units comprises a processor, a memory, 

a user interface, and at least one wireless air interface 

comprising a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a 

protocol stack adapted to process wireless packet data 

transactions using a wireless packet data network protocol, wherein a particular user operates the particular mobile unit, 

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and the particular mobile unit is in communication with at 

least a particular wireless packet access station when the 

particular mobile unit is located in a coverage area of the 

particular wireless packet access station, a method compris ing: 

receiving a user interest indication associated with the 

particular user, wherein the user interest indication 

identifies one or more user preferences used to identify 

information that comports with the user interest indi 

cation; 

receiving via the packet Switched data network a location 

indication, wherein the location indication identifies at 

least an approximate geographical location of the par 

ticular mobile unit; 

identifying an information item that comports with the user interest indication and is associated with the 

location identified in the location indication; and 

causing information relating to the information item to be 

coupled from a network server of the one or more 

network servers via the packet switched data network 

to the particular wireless packet access station so that 

the particular wireless packet access station can wire 

lessly transmit the information relating to the informa 

tion item via one or more data packets without the need 

to continuously maintain an active user-interactive cli 

ent-server application layer session between the net 

work server and the particular mobile unit between a 

first time when the user interest indication is received 

to a second time when the particular mobile unit 

receives the one or more data packets; wherein the one or more data packets are coupled at least 

partially via a virtual communication session imple mented at one or more layers below the application 

layer, wherein the virtual communication session is 

configured to be transitioned from an initial active state 

to an inactive state, and later to be transitioned from the 

inactive state back to the active state, wherein when the 

virtual communication session is in the active state, 

data related to the active user-interactive client-server 

application layer session and the one or more data 

packets can be coupled to the mobile unit via the virtual 

communication session. 

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data 

packets contain an address field to address the data packet to 

the particular mobile unit. 

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data 

packets comprise at least one broadcast packet that can be 

received and processed by any of the plurality of mobile 

units. 

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular wireless 

packet access station is a member of the group consisting of a wireless local area network Station and a cellular base 

station configured to support wireless packet data traffic. 

5. For use in a mobile data network environment com 

prising a packet Switched data network, one or more network 

servers, a plurality of mobile units including a particular 

mobile unit operated by a user, and a plurality of wireless 

packet access stations coupled to the packet Switched data 

network, wherein each wireless packet access station pro 

vides wireless access services, wherein the particular mobile 

unit comprises a processor, a memory, a graphical user 

interface, and at least one wireless air interface comprising 

a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a protocol stack adapted to process wireless packet data transactions 

using a wireless packet data network protocol, the particular mobile unit is configured to wirelessly receive an incoming 

communication from a remote application server of the one 

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or more network servers, read an application-program iden 

tifying field contained within the incoming communication 

to identify a particular application program resident on the 

particular mobile unit, and to present to the user via the 

graphical user interface a selectable indication, Such that 

when the selectable indication is selected by a user selection, further content related to the particular application program 

will be downloaded to the particular mobile unit, and the 

particular mobile unit is in communication with at least a 

particular wireless packet access station of the plurality of 

wireless packet access stations when the particular mobile 

unit is located in a coverage area of the particular wireless 

packet access station, a method comprising: causing the incoming communication to be wirelessly 

transmitted to the particular mobile unit, wherein the 

incoming communication includes the application-pro 

gram identifying field that identifies the particular 

application program and contains information related 

to the further content available for downloading in 

response to the user selection, the incoming commu 

nication is not a server response message sent in 

response to a client request message coupled from the 

particular mobile unit substantially just prior to the 

incoming communication being transmitted, the 

incoming communication is coupled at least partially 

via a virtual communication session implemented at 

one or more layers below the application layer, the 

virtual communication session is configured to be tran 

sitioned from an initial active state to an inactive state, 

and later to be transitioned from the inactive state back 

to the active state, and when the virtual communication 

session is in the active state, the incoming communi 

cation can be coupled to the mobile unit via the virtual 

communication session; 

receiving a client-request packet wirelessly coupled from 

the particular mobile unit in response to the user 

Selection, the client-request packet indicating a request 

to download the further content; and 

sending the further content to the mobile unit in response 

to the client-request packet; 

wherein the incoming communication acts as a notifica 

tion to allow the user to selectively download the 

further content only if the user is interested in receiving 

the further content. 

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular wireless 

packet access station is a member of the group consisting of a wireless local area network Station and a cellular base 

station configured to support wireless packet data traffic. 

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: 

receiving a user interest indication associated with the 

user, wherein the user interest indication identifies one 

or more user preferences used to identify information 

of potential personal interest to the user. 

8. For use with a mobile communication system, a method 

comprising: 

receiving from a mobile unit a user preference associated 

with a user of the mobile unit; 

identifying a downloadable information content that com 

ports with the user preference; 

causing an application layer communication to be wire 

lessly transmitted to the mobile unit via an Internet and 

via a wireless packet access station, wherein the appli 

cation layer communication contains an indication of 

the content; 

receiving a client-request packet wirelessly coupled from 

the mobile unit, the client-request packet indicating a 

request to download the content; and 

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sending the content to the mobile unit in response to the 

client-request packet; 

wherein the application layer communication carries 

information to be presented to the user to allow the user 

to selectively download the content only if the user is 

interested in receiving the content, and the client 

request packet is wirelessly coupled from the mobile 

unit in response to a selection of at least a portion of the 

information presented to the user; 

wherein the application layer communication is coupled 

at least partially via a virtual communication session 

implemented at one or more layers below the applica 

tion layer, wherein the virtual communication session is 

configured to be transitioned from an initial active state 

to an inactive state, and later to be transitioned from the 

inactive state back to the active state, and when the 

virtual communication session is in the active state, the 

application layer communication can be coupled to the 

mobile unit via the virtual communication session; and 

wherein the mobile communication system is configured 

to support a mode of operation in which the user 

preference is received while the virtual communication 

session is in the active state, and the application layer 

communication is wirelessly transmitted after the Vir 

tual communication session has transitioned to the 

inactive state and back again to the active state. 

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is a member of the group consisting of a 

wireless local area network Station and a cellular base station 

configured to Support wireless packet data traffic. 

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the Internet comprises 

at least a portion of the ubiquitous Global Internet. 

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the application layer communication is sent as a server response to a request 

message which contains a user interest indication which 

indicates the user preference, and the request message is sent 

by the mobile unit. 

12. For use in a mobile communication system, a method comprising: 

establishing a packet Switched wireless network connec 

tion between a mobile communications device and a 

wireless packet access station that provides an Internet 

connection; 

establishing a virtual communication session between the 

mobile communications device and a remote server, via 

the Internet and the wireless packet access station, 

wherein the virtual communication session is config 

ured to be transitioned between an active state and an 

inactive state; 

establishing a user-interactive virtual application layer 

session between a client application running on the 

mobile communications device and a server application running on the remote server; 

the mobile communications device transmitting user data 

packets to the remote server, via the wireless packet 

access station, during a first portion of the virtual 

application layer session when the virtual communica 

tion session is in an active state, wherein the user data 

packets identify information of interest to a user of the 

mobile communications device; 

the virtual communication session transitioning to an 

inactive state to Suspend the user-interactive virtual 

application layer session; 

the virtual communication session transitioning back into 

the active state to resume the user-interactive virtual 

application layer session; and 

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the mobile communications device receiving content data 

packets from the remote server, via the wireless packet 

access station, during a second portion of the virtual 

application layer session, after the virtual application 

layer session has been resumed, wherein the content 

data packets contain information related to the infor 

mation of interest to the user. 

13. The method of claim 12, further including processing 

GPS information indicative of at least an approximate 

geographical location of the mobile communications device 

in order to determine the at least approximate geographical 

location of the mobile communications device; and 

wherein the information contained in the content data 

packets related to the information of interest is tailored 

to the at least approximate geographical location of the 

mobile communications device. 

14. The method of claim 12, further including: 

the mobile communications device transmitting, during the second portion of the virtual application layer 

session, a location indication to the remote server, via 

the wireless packet access station, the location indica 

tion providing an indication of at least the approximate 

geographical location of the mobile communications 

device; 

wherein the information contained in the content data 

packets related to the information of interest is tailored 

to the at least approximate geographical location of the 

mobile communications device. 

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the establishing the 

user-interactive virtual application layer session includes the 

user logging into the remote server and after being Sus 

pended, the user-interactive virtual application layer session 

is resumed without the user having to log in a second time. 

16. The method of claim 12, wherein 

the establishing the virtual communication session 

includes establishing a first physical layer connection 

between the mobile communications device and the 

remote server, via the wireless packet access station, to 

thereby facilitate the first portion of the virtual appli 

cation layer session; 

the virtual communication session transitioning to an the 

inactive state includes terminating the first physical 

layer connection; and 

the virtual communication session transitioning to the 

active state includes establishing a second physical 

layer connection between the mobile communications 

device and the remote server, via the wireless packet 

access station, to thereby facilitate the second portion of the virtual application layer session. 

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the establishing a 

second physical layer connection between the mobile com 

munications device and the remote server is accomplished 

using the saved session data, and wherein further, the 

resuming the virtual application layer session is accom 

plished using the saved session data. 

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the virtual commu 

nication session is implemented at one or more layers below 

the application layer. 

19. The method of claim 12, further including saving session data required to maintain the virtual application 

layer session and the virtual communication session. 

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is a member of the group consisting of 

broadcast domain entity, a wireless local area network 

station that uses a low power wireless local area network air 

interface protocol, and a cellular base station configured to 

Support wireless packet data traffic. 

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21. The method of claim 12, wherein the virtual commu 

nication session is established via the wireless packet access 

station, the wireless packet access station is a cellular base 

station configured to Support wireless packet data traffic, and 

the virtual communication session is resumed via a public access wireless local area network Station that uses a low 

power wireless local area network air interface protocol. 

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a low power wireless packet access 

station. 

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a public access wireless packet access station. 

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a low power, public access wireless 

packet access station. 

25. For use in a mobile communication system, a method 

comprising: 

establishing a packet Switched wireless network connec 

tion between a mobile communications device and a 

wireless packet access station that provides an Internet 

connection; 

establishing a virtual communication session between the 

mobile communications device and a remote server, via 

the Internet and the wireless packet access station, 

wherein the virtual communication session is config 

ured to be transitioned between an active state and an 

inactive state; 

establishing a user-interactive virtual application layer 

session between a client application running on the 

mobile communications device and a server application running on the remote server: 

the mobile communications device transmitting user data 

packets to the remote server, via the wireless packet 

access station, during a first portion of the virtual 

application layer session when the virtual communica 

tion session is in an active state, wherein the user data 

packets identify user preferences of a user of the mobile 

communications device; 

the virtual communication session transitioning to an 

inactive state to Suspend the user-interactive virtual 

application layer session; 

the virtual communication session transitioning back into 

the active state to resume the user-interactive virtual 

application layer session; and 

the mobile communications device receiving content data 

packets from the remote server, via the wireless packet 

access station, during a second portion of the virtual 

application layer session, after the virtual application 

layer session has been resumed, wherein the content 

data packets are transmitted by the remote server 

without having been solicited by the mobile commu 

nications device. 

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a low power wireless packet access 

station. 

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a public access wireless packet access station. 

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the wireless packet 

access station comprises a low power, public access wireless 

packet access station. 

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the establishing the 

user-interactive virtual application layer session includes the 

user logging into the remote server and after being Sus 

pended, the user-interactive virtual application layer session 

is resumed without the user having to log in a second time. 

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30. The method of claim 25, wherein the wireless packet access station is a wireless local area network station that 

uses a bi-directional low power radio frequency channel that 

provides a coverage area that has a radius of less than half 

of a mile, and the content data packets provide information 

about a member of the group consisting of a point of 

presence in the locality of the wireless access station, a 

product offered at the point of presence, and a service offered 

at the point of presence. 

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a shopping mall and the 

point of presence corresponds to a business establishment 

located in the shopping mall. 

32. The method of claim 25, further comprising: wirelessly transmitting from the mobile communications 

device the user data packets the first portion of the 

virtual communication session; 

transitioning the virtual communication session to the 

inactive state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session back to 

the active state; and 

downloading the content data packets after the virtual 

communication session has transitioned back to the 

active state; 

wherein the content data packets comport with the user 

preference indicated by the user data packets. 

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a cellular base station, and 

the content data packets provide information about a mem 

ber of the group consisting of a point of presence in the 

locality of the cellular base station, a product offered at the 

point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the mobile com 

munications device periodically provides information 

related to a geographic location derived from a global 

positioning system receiver located in the mobile commu 

nications device, and the content provides information about 

a member of the group consisting of a point of presence in 

the locality of the geographic location, a product offered at 

the point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

35. The method of claim 25, further comprising: Supplying a geographically controlled web site that down 

loads one or more configuration parameters to a client 

Software located in the mobile communications device 

to configure the client software to cooperate with the 

geographically controlled web site to display geo 

graphically sensitive information that comports with 

the user preference indicated by the user data packets. 

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular wireless 

packet access station is a wireless local area network Station 

that uses a bi-directional low power radio frequency chan 

nel, the coverage area has a radius of less than half of a mile, 

and the one or more data packets provide information about 

a member of the group consisting of a point of presence in 

the locality of the particular wireless access station, a 

product offered at the point of presence, and a service offered 

at the point of presence. 

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the particular wireless packet access station is associated with a shopping mall and the point of presence corresponds to a business 

establishment located in the shopping mall. 

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the location indi 

cation is derived at least partially from knowledge of a 

geographical location where the particular wireless packet 

access station is known to be physically located. 

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39. The method of claim 1, wherein the location indica 

tion is derived from information generated using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the particular mobile 

unit. 

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the location indi 

cation is coupled wirelessly from the particular mobile unit 

a plurality of times based upon different sets of GPS 

information without user interaction. 

41. The method of claim 1, further comprising: wirelessly transmitting from the particular mobile unit the user interest indication. 

42. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one server of 

the one or more network servers Supplies a geographically 

controlled web site that downloads one or more configura tion parameters to a client Software located in the particular mobile unit to configure the client Software to cooperate with the geographically controlled web site to display geo 

graphically sensitive information that comports with the user 

interest indication. 

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data 

packets comprises directions to navigate to a point of 

presence. 

44. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular wireless 

packet access station is a wireless local area network station 

that uses a bi-directional low power radio frequency chan 

nel, the coverage area has a radius of less than half of a mile, 

and the further content provides information about a mem 

ber of the group consisting of a point of presence in the 

locality of the particular wireless access station, a product 

offered at the point of presence, and a service offered at the 

point of presence. 

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the particular wireless packet access station is associated with a shopping mall and the point of presence corresponds to a business 

establishment located in the shopping mall. 

46. The method of claim 5, further comprising: wirelessly transmitting from the particular mobile unit a user interest indication while the virtual communica 

tion session is in the initial active state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session to the 

inactive state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session back to 

the active state; and 

downloading the further content after the virtual commu 

nication session has transitioned back to the active 

State; 

wherein the further content comports with the user inter 

est indication. 

47. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular wireless 

packet access station is associated with a cellular base 

station, and the further content provides information about a 

member of the group consisting of a point of presence in the 

locality of the cellular base station, a product offered at the 

point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

48. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular mobile 

unit periodically provides information related to a geo graphic location derived from a global positioning system 

receiver located in the particular mobile unit, and the further 

content provides information about a member of the group consisting of a point of presence in the locality of the 

geographic location, a product offered at the point of pres 

ence, and a service offered at the point of presence. 

49. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one server of 

the one or more network servers Supplies a geographically 

controlled web site that downloads one or more configura tion parameters to a client Software located in the particular 

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mobile unit to configure the client Software to cooperate with the geographically controlled web site to display geo 

graphically sensitive information that comports with the 

interest indication. 

50. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular appli cation program further establishes a virtual application ses 

sion with a server-side application program that executes on 

a particular one of the one or more network servers. 

51. The method of claim 5, wherein the application 

program identifying field further identifies the virtual appli 

cation session. 

52. The method of claim 5, wherein the incoming com 

munication comprises an unsolicited push message. 

53. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular appli cation program comprises a web browser application pro 

gram and the further content comprises advertising content. 

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the graphical user 

interface comprises a web browser user interface that is 

configured to display information related to the advertising 

content in response to the particular mobile unit receiving 

the incoming communication. 

55. The method of claim 5, wherein the particular mobile 

unit further comprises a second application program, and, 

based upon an evaluation of the application-program iden 

tifying field, the particular mobile unit selects whether to 

pass information contained in the incoming communication 

to the particular application program or to the second 

application layer program. 

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the particular mobile 

unit, based upon the evaluation of the application-program 

identifying field, selects whether to launch the particular application program or to launch the second application layer program. 

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the particular application program corresponds to an email program and 

the second application layer program corresponds to a 

location-based web browser program. 

58. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless packet access station is a wireless local area network station that 

uses a bi-directional low power radio frequency channel that 

provides a coverage area that has a radius of less than half 

of a mile, and the content provides information about a 

member of the group consisting of a point of presence in the 

locality of the wireless access station, a product offered at 

the point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a shopping mall and the 

point of presence corresponds to a business establishment 

located in the shopping mall. 

60. The method of claim 8, further comprising: wirelessly transmitting from the mobile unit the user 

preference while the virtual communication session is 

in the initial active state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session to the 

inactive state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session back to 

the active state; and 

receiving at the mobile unit the content after the virtual 

communication session has transitioned back to the 

active state; 

wherein the content comports with the user preference. 

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising: 

uploading a set of GPS data indicative of the mobile units 

current location; 

wherein the user preference comprises a desired destina 

tion, the content comprises navigational directions 

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indicative of a best route from the mobile units current 

location to the desired destination, and the best route 

accounts for current traffic conditions. 

62. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a cellular base station, and 

the content provides information about a member of the 

group consisting of a point of presence in the locality of the 

cellular base station, a product offered at the point of 

presence, and a service offered at the point of presence. 

63. The method of claim 8, wherein the mobile unit 

provides information related to a geographic location 

derived from a global positioning system receiver located in 

the mobile unit, and the content provides information about 

a member of the group consisting of a point of presence in 

the locality of the geographic location, a product offered at 

the point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

64. The method of claim 8, further comprising: Supplying a geographically controlled web site that down 

loads one or more configuration parameters to a client 

software located in the mobile unit to configure the 

client software to cooperate with the geographically 

controlled web site to display geographically sensitive 

information that comports with the user preference. 

65. The method of claim 8, wherein the application layer communication includes an application-program identifying 

field that identifies a particular application program that runs on the mobile unit. 

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the application layer 

communication is an unsolicited incoming communication 

that is not sent in response to a client-request packet received 

substantially right before the application layer communica 

tion is transmitted. 

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the mobile unit 

further comprises a second application program, and, based 

upon an evaluation of the application-program identifying 

field, the mobile unit selects whether to pass information 

contained in the application layer communication to the 

particular application program or to the second application layer program. 

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the particular mobile 

unit, based upon the evaluation of the application-program 

identifying field, selects whether to launch the particular application program or to launch the second application layer program. 

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the particular application program corresponds to an email program and 

the second application layer program corresponds to a 

location-based web browser program. 

70. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet access station is a wireless local area network station that 

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uses a bi-directional low power radio frequency channel that 

provides a coverage area that has a radius of less than half 

of a mile, and the content data packets provide information 

about a member of the group consisting of a point of 

presence in the locality of the wireless access station, a 

product offered at the point of presence, and a service offered 

at the point of presence. 

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a shopping mall and the 

point of presence corresponds to a business establishment 

located in the shopping mall. 

72. The method of claim 12, further comprising: 

wirelessly transmitting from the mobile communications 

device the user data packets during the first portion of 

the virtual communication session; 

transitioning the virtual communication session to the 

inactive state; 

transitioning the virtual communication session back to 

the active state; and 

downloading the content data packets to the mobile unit 

after the virtual communication session has transi 

tioned back to the active state; 

wherein the content data packets comport with the infor 

mation of interest indicated by the user data packets. 

73. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless packet 

access station is associated with a cellular base station, and 

the content data packets provide information about a mem 

ber of the group consisting of a point of presence in the 

locality of the cellular base station, a product offered at the 

point of presence, and a service offered at the point of 

presence. 

74. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile com 

munications device provides information related to a geo graphic location derived from a global positioning system 

receiver located in the mobile communications device, and 

the content provides information about a member of the 

group consisting of a point of presence in the locality of the 

geographic location, a product offered at the point of pres 

ence, and a service offered at the point of presence. 

75. The method of claim 12, further comprising: 

Supplying a geographically controlled web site that down 

loads one or more configuration parameters to a client 

Software located in the mobile communications device 

to configure the client software to cooperate with the 

geographically controlled web site to display geo 

graphically sensitive information that comports with 

the information of interest indicated by the user data 

packets. 

Case 4:23-cv-01123-ALM Document 1-3 Filed 12/20/23 Page 25 of 25 PageID #: 100