Patent ID: 7049981

Claim:
A navigation information services provider system comprising: a base unit, wherein said base unit comprises: an I/O interface that exchanges data messages, wherein said data messages include query messages sent from a plurality of remote units and a plurality of control units, wherein said plurality of remote units include at least a plurality of mobile units having wireless communication equipment and wherein said plurality of control units are coupled to said base unit through an external interface, and wherein said data messages further include reply messages sent from said base unit; programming logic that provides multiple navigation services, wherein said multiple navigation services include at least: route guidance services wherein first query messages from said plurality of remote units, each of said first query messages identifying an origin and a destination, are responded to with corresponding first reply messages, each corresponding first reply message providing route guidance information for traveling from the respective identified origin to the respective identified destination; surroundings explorer services, wherein second query messages from said plurality of remote units, each second query message requesting identification of points of interest meeting specified parameters, wherein said parameters include a point of interest category, are responded to with corresponding second reply messages, each corresponding second reply message identifying points of interest, if any, meeting the specified parameters in said corresponding first query message; and tracking information services, wherein tracking information from said mobile units that indicate current locations of respective mobile units is obtained from said base unit upon request by said control units, wherein said current location of said mobile unit is evaluated to determine whether said mobile unit has varied from a route from the respective identified origin to the respective identified destination.