Claims
- 1. An in-vehicle information system comprising:(a) a local controller, including a wireless communication interface for communication with a central controller; (b) a geo-location device located in said vehicle for providing current geo-location information of said vehicle to said local controller; (c) an output device associated with said local controller for presenting said user with a selection of information and merchant services received from said central controller, said selection being based on said current geo-location obtained from said local controller; and (d) a point of sale (POS) terminal located in said vehicle and coupled to said local controller for allowing a user to select and execute a POS transaction on one or more of the presented services while enroute.
- 2. A system as defined in claim 1 said: geo-location device being a global positing system (GPS) sensor and said vehicle including a plurality of sensors coupled to the local controller for providing information on a plurality of parameters related to the vehicle operation.
- 3. A system as defined in claim 2, said sensors including a plurality of impact sensors for monitoring body damage.
- 4. A system as defined in claim 2, including a mapping function for providing directions to a desired destination by said information, based on the vehicle's current location.
- 5. A system as defined in claim 2, said local controller including a display, a voice I/O interface and a card reader interface.
- 6. A system as defined in claim 1, said central controller monitoring said geo-location of said vehicle, by querying said local controller to obtain said current geo-location information and using said current geo-location information for selecting from a database of said information and merchant services within a predetermined geographic region of said current geo-location.
- 7. A system as defined in claim 1, said POS transaction being a debit card transaction.
- 8. A system as defined in claim 1, said POS transaction being a credit card transaction.
- 9. A system as defined in claim 1, said POS transaction being a cash card transaction.
- 10. A system as defined in claim 1, said local controller for transmitting prestored geo-specific information in addition to said geo-location information to said central controller, and the central controller using said geo-specific information in said selection.
- 11. A system as defined in claim 10, said additional information including one of toll road information, rental location, and vehicle service stations.
- 12. A system as defined in claim 1, said merchant service information including advertising information.
- 13. A system as defined in claim 1, said presentation of said information and merchant services being triggered by said local controller upon detecting that said vehicle is within or approaching one of a plurality of pre-stored geo-locations.
- 14. A system as defined in claim 13, said pre-stored geo-location is a hotel location.
- 15. A system as defined in claim 1, including a user input interface for said user requesting specific information from said central control while enroute.
- 16. A system as defined in claim 1, said local controller being reprogrammable via the wireless communication from the central controller.
- 17. An integrated in-vehicle information and fleet management system comprising:(a) a central controller; (b) a local controller including a wireless communication interface for communication with said central controller; (c) a geo-location device located in said vehicle for providing current geo-location information of said vehicle to said local controller; (d) an output device associated with said local controller for presenting said user with a geo-location specific information received from said central controller, said information being based on said current geo-location obtained from said local controller; (e) an interface associated with said central controller for input by a fleet operator of fleet management request for information from said central controller; and (f) an output device associated with said central controller for presenting said fleet operator with a geo-location specific information received from said local controller.
- 18. A system as defined in claim 17, including vehicle sensor inputs coupled to said local controller for providing vehicle operation parameters to said local controller.
- 19. A system as defined in claim 17, including sensor outputs coupled to said local controller for controlling one or more vehicle functions.
- 20. A system as defined in claim 17, said transmission being triggered by detecting that said vehicle is within or approaching one of a plurality of pre-stored geo-locations.
- 21. A system as defined in claim 17, said information including one of toll road information, rental location, and vehicle service solutions.
- 22. A system as defined in claim 17, said central controller including an interface for allowing the fleet operator to update the local controller.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2227664 |
Jan 1998 |
CA |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/786,184 filed Jan. 21, 1997 abn.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/786184 |
Jan 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/163184 |
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US |