| System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing deviceRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, And Relative Location, Navigation, Employing Position Determining EquipmentThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080065320. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/774,301, filed Feb. 6, 2004, pending, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,032, issued Feb. 10, 2004, the priority dates of which are claimed and the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as appearing in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD [0003] The present invention relates in general to user-customizable cartridges and, in particular, to a system for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device. BACKGROUND [0004] The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite navigation system consisting of 24 satellites that orbit the Earth every 12 hours. GPS signals received from the satellites are processed by GPS receivers to determine location in latitude and longitude. Non-military GPS receivers are capable of determining a location with a six-meter range of accuracy. [0005] GPS receivers are passive devices that provide relative locational data only. The locational data must be combined with maps, charts and other navigational aids to bring meaning to the latitude and longitude coordinates. Thus, GPS navigation information is most useful when used in combination with preferably automated and wireless technologies. [0006] Accordingly, many portable and wireless computational devices, such as cellular telephones, personal data assistants, pagers and wireless electronic mail (email) clients incorporate GPS receivers, to enhance and complement the locational information provided. For instance, personal data assistants having integrated GPS receivers can provide navigational information through a portable database storing points of interest. Moreover, the processing capabilities of many of these portable devices support downloadable cartridges for utilizing the GPS receiver-provided information for customized applications. [0007] One popular use of GPS information is a modified version of a treasure hunting game, known as geocaching. During a geocaching game, users equipped with a GPS receiver navigate from point to point using latitude and longitude values obtained by correctly solving clues received throughout the hunt. Players proceed from a starting point until the cache, that is, treasure, is found. Variations of geocaching include incorporating wireless computing technology to enable interactions directly between competing players and managed gameplay, where each player is tracked and the clues are customized based on individual progress. Other uses of GPS information are known in the art. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,495 discloses a treasure hunting game utilizing GPS-equipped wireless computing devices. Players are given clues or directions to proceed along one of several predetermined treasure hunting routes based on their location, as determined by a GPS receiver. Each player's position, along with the treasure hunt route, is calculated by the GPS receiver and transmitted to a software program by a wireless computing device. The first player to arrive at the treasure wins the game. However, the clues or messages provided to each player must be first determined by a centralized software program and are not dynamically triggered based on user-definable conditions. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,100 discloses an automobile navigation system utilizing GPS geolocational data. The vehicle location and travel time are transmitted to a central database via a wireless computing device and used to plan travel times and determine optimal travel routes. As necessary, the route is revised to adjust for deviations in travel direction and time. However, user-definable events cannot be programmed into the route planning process. [0010] Prior art non-GPS based informational systems include infrared portable narrators. These devices store a recorded script associated with points of interest within an attraction, such as an art museum or zoo. The narrators receive infrared input signals from static display positions along the route, which trigger the playback of the narration associated with the display. However, these devices are passive and user-definable events cannot be programmed into the recorded script. [0011] Prior art nor-GPS based informational systems also include wireless messaging systems, such as the Cooltown technology disclosed in http://www.internex.org/hp_world_news/hpw203/03newshtml, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. Mid-air messages are provided by combining GPS technology with infrared or Bluetooth-capable wireless devices. All information broadcast is triggered whenever a user enters a geographically described location. However, the Cooltown technology operates only within discrete areas and user-definable events cannot be programmed into the mid-air messaging system. [0012] Therefore, there is a need for an approach to generating user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence, as well as temporal and independent conditions. [0013] There is a further need for a framework for building user-definable events triggerable through geolocational data describing zones of influence as well as temporal and independent conditions. [0014] There is a further need for an approach to defining locational, temporal and independent event triggers used in a combination of GPS and wireless computational technologies. SUMMARY [0015] The present invention provides a system and method for producing and processing zones of influence described through locational, temporal and independent conditions. Preferably, the user is equipped with a wireless computing device having a GPS receiver and timer. A plurality of zones of influence is defined through geolocational data, preferably expressed in latitude and longitude. User-definable events are associated with the zones of influence. The events are triggered as a user transitions between, within and around the zones of influence. Timed events relative to an initial starting time and independent events can also be defined. The timed and independent events are triggered as the time limits expire and independent conditions are met. [0016] An embodiment provides a system for building a user-customizable cartridge script. A storage medium is configured to hold a template of a cartridge script. A toolkit is configured to build a scenario based on user instructions using the template of the cartridge script. A zone interface is configured to describe geolocational data for defining one or more zones of influence, which each form a logically enclosed physical space. An event interface is configured to describe at least one of temporal, locational and independent trigger conditions for defining a series of events, which are each associated with at least one zone of influence. The zones of influence and series of events are stored into the template. A compiler is configured to compile the template into a cartridge script that is configured to be downloaded and autonomously executed on a wireless computing device. [0017] A further embodiment provides a system for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device. An access module is configured to retrieve a template for a cartridge script. A toolkit is configured to build a scenario based on user instructions. A zone interface is configured to describe geolocational data for defining one or more zones of influence, which each form an enclosed physical space. An event interface is configured to describe trigger conditions for defining a series of events, which are each associated with at least one zone of influence. A trigger interface is configured to define each trigger condition including at least one of a temporal, locational, and independent trigger condition. The zones of influence, series of events, and trigger conditions are stored into the template. A compiler is configured to compile the template into a cartridge script, which is stored into a database. A server is configured to download the cartridge script from the database onto a wireless computing device. [0018] A further embodiment provides stored data for building a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device. Geolocationial data is configured to represent one or more zones of influence that each form an enclosed physical space. Event data is configured to specify a series of events triggered by at least one of temporal, locational and independent trigger conditions, wherein each event is associated with one such zone of influence. The geolocational data and event data are compiled into a cartridge script configured to be downloaded and autonomously executed oil a wireless computing device. [0019] Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein are described embodiments of the invention by way of illustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Continue reading... Full patent description for System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Travel time determination Next Patent Application: Wireless device, program products and methods of using a wireless device to deliver services Industry Class: Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the System for providing a user-customizable cartridge for use with a wireless computing device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11893 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
||
