Claims
- 1. A condition reporting device comprising:
a processor; a computer memory storing information, the computer memory being accessible by the processor and containing at least location identification information; at least one weather condition sensor providing external information to the processor, the processor storing the external information in the computer memory; a vehicular traffic condition sensor providing vehicular traffic information to the processor, the processor storing the vehicular traffic information in the computer memory; and output means for transmitting information in the computer memory.
- 2. The condition reporting device of claim 1 further comprising video input means for inputting video information representing a video image into the computer memory.
- 3. The condition reporting device of claim 1 or 2 further comprising data input means for inputting data in digital form into the computer memory.
- 4. The condition reporting device of claim 3 wherein the at least one weather condition sensor includes an anemometer, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a rain gauge, and a barometer.
- 5. The condition reporting device of claim 3 wherein the vehicular traffic sensor is a radar device.
- 6. The condition reporting device of claim 3 wherein the vehicular traffic sensor is a sonar device.
- 7. The condition reporting device of claim 3 wherein the vehicular traffic sensor is an infrared device.
- 8. The condition reporting device of claim 3 wherein the data input means for inputting data in digital form into the computer memory receives data from other condition reporting devices.
- 9. The condition reporting device of claim 8 further comprising a clock providing timing information to the processor, and wherein the output means for transmitting information in the computer memory transmits the information at a preset interval.
- 10. The condition reporting device of claim 9 wherein the output means for transmitting information in the computer memory transmits the information when the data input means for inputting data in digital form into the computer memory receives data indicative of a request for information.
- 11. The condition reporting device of claim 10 wherein the output means for transmitting information in the computer memory transmits information received from other condition reporting devices upon receipt of such information.
- 12. A locating and map downloading system comprising:
a personal digital communicator comprising:
a display; a receiver for receiving GPS signals; a first transceiver; a first modem coupled to the transceiver and to a first digital processor; communicator input means for formatting a request for map information; the first digital processor providing a means for processing the GPS signals and determining therefrom the location of the communicator, for transmitting via the first modem and the first transceiver the request for map information, for displaying on the display map information responsive to the request, and for displaying on the display the communicator location with reference to the map information; and a map storage and transmitting device comprising a second transceiver, a second modem coupled to the second transceiver and a second digital processor, memory for storing map information in digital form, the second digital processor providing a means for determining which map information stored in the memory is responsive to the request and transmitting via the second modem and the second transceiver the map information responsive to the request. The map storage and transmittal device memory stores additionally stored data associated with discrete data points within the map information and such additionally stored data is transmitted with the responsive map information. a condition reporting device comprising:
a processor; a computer memory storing information, the computer memory being accessible by the processor and containing at least location identification information; at least one weather condition sensor providing external information to the processor, the processor storing the external information in the computer memory; a vehicular traffic condition sensor providing vehicular traffic information to the processor, the processor storing the vehicular traffic information in the computer memory; and output means for transmitting information in the computer memory to the map storage and transmitting device.
- 13. The locating and map downloading system of claim 12 wherein the map storage and transmittal device receives the information transmitted by the condition reporting device via the second transceiver and the second modem and the second digital processor stores the information transmitted by the condition reporting device in the map storage and transmittal device memory.
- 14. The locating and map downloading system of claim 13 wherein the map storage and transmittal device stores the information transmitted by the condition reporting device as additionally stored data associated with discrete data points.
- 15. The locating and map downloading system of claim 14 wherein the first processor determines a route to a selected marker.
- 16. The locating and map downloading system of claim 15 wherein the first processor transmits via the first modem and the first transceiver the location of the selected marker and a request for locations of condition reporting devices within a predefined distance of the selected marker.
- 17. The locating and map downloading system of claim 16 wherein the first processor transmits via the first modem and the first transceiver data indicative of the route to the selected marker and a request for locations of condition reporting devices within a predefined distance of the route to the selected marker.
- 18. The locating and map downloading system of claim 15 wherein the first processor transmits via the first modem and the first transceiver the communicator location and a request for information transmitted to the map storage and transmitting device from a condition reporting device closest to the personal digital communicator within a predefined distance of the route to the selected marker.
- 19. The locating and map downloading system of claim 16 wherein the second processor determines locations of condition reporting devices within a predefined distance of the location of the selected marker and transmits via the second modem and the second transceiver the locations of such condition reporting devices.
- 20. The locating and map downloading system of claim 17 wherein the second processor determines locations of condition reporting devices within a predefined distance of the route to the selected marker and transmits via the second modem and the second transceiver the locations of such condition reporting devices.
- 21. The locating and map downloading system of claim 18 wherein the second processor determines the condition reporting device closest to the personal digital communicator within a predefined distance of the route to the selected marker and transmits via the second modem and the second transceiver the information transmitted by that condition reporting device.
- 22. A data distribution system comprising:
a cable television signal distribution system having a plurality of signal transmission lines and a signal transceiver, the signal transceiver operably connected to a signal transmission line and transmitting signals over the signal transmission line; a sensing device operably connected to at least one of the signal transmission line, the sensing device transmitting sensing device signals over the signal transmission line to the signal transceiver; the cable television signal distribution system further having a receiver receiving the sensing device signals and providing the sensing device signals to the signal transmitter for transmission over the signal transmission line; a signal selector operably connected to the signal transmission line, the signal selector selecting a selected signal transmitted over the signal transmission line and providing the selected signal to a display device.
- 23. The data distribution system of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of sensing devices operably connected to the signal transmission line, each of the plurality of sensing devices transmitting sensing device signals over the signal transmission line to the signal transceiver.
- 24. The data distribution system of claim 23 wherein the signal transceiver assigns each of the sensing device signals to a different defined bandwidth of frequencies for transmission over the signal transmission line.
- 25. The data distribution system of claim 23 wherein each of the sensing device signals includes an identifier identifying the source of the sensing device signal.
- 26. The data distribution system of claim 25 wherein the transceiver assigns multiple sensing device signals to the same defined bandwidth of frequencies for transmission over the signal transmission line.
- 27. The data distribution system of claim 26 wherein the multiple sensing device signals assigned to the same defined bandwidth of frequencies are transmitted by the transceiver over separate time periods.
- 28. The data distribution system of claim 26 wherein the multiple sensing device signals assigned to the same defined bandwidth of frequencies are transmitted by the transceiver over separate frequencies within the bandwidth of frequencies.
- 29. The data distribution system of claim 26 wherein the multiple sensing device signals assigned to the same defined bandwidth of frequencies are transmitted by the transceiver in a manner such that the signal selector is able to distinguish between sensing device signals originating from different sensing devices.
- 30. The data distribution system of claim 26 wherein the identifier identifies the sensing device by latitude and longitude.
- 31. The data distribution system of claim 30 signals based on latitude and longitude.
- 32. The data distribution system of claim 31 wherein the selector comprises input means for inputting information relating to the selection of sensing device signals and a processor for selecting a particular sensing device signal based on the information relating to the selection of sensing device signals.
- 33. The data distribution system of claim 32 wherein the information relating to the selection of sensing device signals is a requested latitude and a requested longitude and the processor determines which sensing device signal for the selector to select by determining which sensing device location as indicated by the identifier is closest to the requested latitude and the requested longitude.
- 34. A position monitoring and reporting device comprising:
a GPS receiver for receiving GPS signals; a processor to determine the device location based on the GPS signals and to command transmission of a signal indicative of the device location; communication means responsive to the processor to transmit the signal indicative of the device location when commanded by the processor; and data entry means to provide transmission criteria to the processor, the transmission criteria defining at least one event, the processor commanding transmission of the signal indicative of the device location upon occurrence of the event.
- 35. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 34 wherein the communication means further comprises means to receive digital communication signals.
- 36. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 35 wherein the transmission criteria comprises a transmission received by the communication means requesting transmission of a signal indicative of the device location.
- 37. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 36 wherein the transmission criteria comprises a transmission received by the communication means requesting transmission of a signal indicative of the device location and a security code.
- 38. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 34 further including a clock providing a clock signal to the processor, with the processor determines lapse of time using the clock signal, and the transmission criteria comprises completion of a time period.
- 39. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 34 wherein the transmission criteria comprises a distance.
- 40. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 37, 38, or 39 wherein the signal indicative of the device location comprises a digital data indicating the device latitude and longitude.
- 41. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 40 wherein the signal indicative of the device location is transmitted by the communication means to an e-mail address.
- 42. The position monitoring and reporting device of claim 39 wherein the signal indicative of the device location is a digitized voice message indicating the device latitude and longitude, and the communication means transmits the signal indicative of the device location to a predefined telephone number.
- 43. A method using a computer to determine credit authorization comprising:
receiving a request for credit authorization, the request for credit authorization being indicative of a request for credit from a location by a party, the party being identified with an interrogable position reporting device; transmitting an interrogatory to the position reporting device; waiting a predefined time period for a response to the interrogatory; determining a position-based credit authorization factor, the position-based credit authorization factor being based on the response, or the lack thereof, to the interrogatory; and using the position-based credit authorization factor to determine whether to authorize credit.
- 44. The method using a computer to determine credit authorization of claim 43 wherein the position-based credit authorization factor indicates credit should be authorized if the response to the interrogatory indicates the position reporting device is at the location and the position-based credit authorization factor indicates credit should be denied if the response to the interrogatory indicates that the position reporting device is not at the location.
- 45. The method using a computer to determine credit authorization of claim 43 further comprising maintaining a record of responses to interrogatories.
- 46. The method using a computer to determine credit authorization of claim 44 further comprising examining the record of responses to interrogatories when no response to the interrogatory is received.
- 47. The method of using a computer to determine credit authorization of claim 44 further comprising ascertaining if the location is inconsistent with the record of responses.
- 48. The method of using a computer to determine credit authorization of claim 45 wherein the position-based credit authorization factor indicates credit should be authorized if no response to the interrogatory is received and the location is not inconsistent with the record of responses and the position-based credit authorization factor indicates credit should be denied if no response to the interrogatory is receive and the location is inconsistent with the record of responses.
- 49. An electronic communication system comprising:
a home site computer system including a processor, memory operatively coupled to the processor, and an external data communication device operatively coupled to the processor; the memory storing electronic contact information for an individual and geographic location information for the individual, the electronic contact information comprising a list of communication devices with identifiers, the communication devices being assigned a geographic location; the external data communication device receiving geographic location information for the individual and providing the geographic location information to the processor for storage in the memory; and the processor including means to determine an active communication device based on the electronic contact information and the geographic location information.
- 50. An electronic communication routing system comprising:
a home site computer system including a processor, memory operatively coupled to the processor, and an external data communication device operatively coupled to the processor, the home site computer system being assigned a telephone number for voice communications, a facsimile telephone number for receiving facsimile transmissions, and en e-mail address; the memory storing electronic contact information for an individual and geographic location information for the individual, the electronic contact information comprising a list of communication devices with identifiers, the communication devices being assigned a geographic location; the external data communication device receiving geographic location information for the individual and providing the geographic location information to the processor for storage in the memory; the processor including means to determine an active communication device based on the electronic contact information and the geographic location information and means to transfer incoming communications to the active communication device.
- 51. The electronic communication routing system of claim 50 wherein the processor includes means to transfer communications to a storage facility if there is no active communication device.
- 52. The electronic communication routing system of claim 50 wherein the memory further stores a list of possible callers, a security level for each of the possible callers, and a password for each of the possible callers, and a security level for each communication device.
- 53. The electronic communication routing system of claim 52 wherein the processor transfers incoming communications to the active communication device if the security level for a caller, the caller being one of the possible callers, is equal to or exceeds the security level of the active communication device.
- 54. The electronic communication routing system of claim 51 wherein the processor transfers incoming communications to the storage facility if the security level for the caller is exceeded by the security level of the active device.
- 55. A data information provider comprising:
transceiver means for receiving digital data from a first external computer device and transmitting digital data to a second external computer device; a computer processor operatively coupled to the transceiver means; computer memory for storing map data for geographic areas; a sorting application module executed by the processor responsive to a request received by the transceiver means, the request including a value indicating an allowable memory size, from the first external computer device for determining map data responsive to the request; and a packet application module executed by the processor for forming data packets, each data packet comprising map data responsive to the request and each data packet smaller than the allowable memory size.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/879,955 filed on Jun. 20, 1997, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09670002 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10315661 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09126936 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
09670002 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Parent |
08879955 |
Jun 1997 |
US |
Child |
09126936 |
Jul 1998 |
US |