Motorola Corporation

Garmin Switzerland Gmbh

Merlin J Smith

Mark Clayton

Kungwel Liu

Bernhard P Weisshaar

Parvathy Bhaskaran

William S Hede

David Knappenberger

Susan S Chen

Jeffrey S Lee

Richard L Blanco

Patrick A Stadler

Axel Fuchs

Mathew Cucuzella

Rafael A Saavedra

Jason B Yonker

Steven S Gubka

Haitao Huang

Chetan V Kale

Ryan J Kummet

Scott Geranen

Mei-Lin Hsieh

Brian S Gratch

Minan Miin-Nan Lee

Subhash Uppalapati

Techniques are described for virtual traffic sensors (VTS). In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to ascertain locations of one or more virtual traffic sensors. In at least some embodiments, locations of virtual traffic sensors are determined by the electronic device using a variety of VTS criteria. Using a determined position, the electronic device may detect proximity to the virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may collect traffic related data when in proximity to the one or more virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may then communicate the collected traffic data over a suitable network connection to a service provider.

Virtual traffic sensors

A method and apparatus for collecting and analyzing cellular identification (ID) numbers at various geographic locations to estimate cellular tower locations. The method may include collecting cellular ID numbers obtained by collection mobile devices at a plurality of geographic locations then calculating minimum bounding circles encompassing a set of geographic location points with the same cellular identification numbers. If the cellular ID number of a set of location points indicates that the cellular tower is omni-directional, a center of the minimum bounding circle is an estimated cellular tower location. If the cellular ID number indicates that the cellular tower is multi-sector, the apparatus may calculate the estimated cellular tower location as the location at which lines that extend from the centers of a plurality of related minimum bounding circles intersect with each other to form equal angles.

Method and apparatus for estimating cellular tower location

Techniques are described for position source selection. In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to select between a plurality of position sources to determine position based upon a variety of selection criteria. In an implementation, a last known position may be stored when position is being determined through the plurality of position sources. The last known position may be used as an alternative to determining position via the position sources when one or more of the position sources are unavailable. In another implementation, the last known position may be employed to automatically select one of the plurality of position sources to be used by the electronic device for determining position.

Position source selection

In an information appliance system, a user devicecomprises a client platform (, FIG.) that includes a service framework (, FIG.) to discover and connect with a variety of services, both remote and local, transient and persistent, and to disconnect from them when they are no longer of interest or become unavailable. The service frameworkprovides a standard, consistent, simplified way for services to make themselves available and for service-using entities to locate and connect with the services of interest to them. From the perspective of the client platform, all services, whether local or remote, are presented as local services to the application. Each remote service is represented as a local service through the use of a local proxy that insulates the service user from the complexities of communicating with a remote server. Various methods of operating a service framework are also described.

Service framework with local proxy for representing remote services

An embodiment of the invention includes an information appliance system () having an information appliance device () with a focus manager (). Among other things, the focus manager is disposed to manage a plurality of asynchronous entities (). Focus manager () receives an asynchronous request (), stores it in a queue () and assigns it a priority level (). Based on the priority level (), an asynchronous entity () takes over control of user interface device resources from an entity (), utilizes the resources, and returns them to the entity ().

Managing asynchronous requests for user interface resources in an information system

An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile. The internet radio allows access to a host of audio, visual and other information. Normal radio channel function is provided along with programmable content and channel selection, as well as automatic content and channel updating by location and style. Internet access is also provided. Direct or targeted advertising, as well as electronic commerce is supported. Connection to the internet is through wireless communications. Programmability is achieved off-line via a web page and remote computer. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.

Remotely configurable multimedia entertainment and information system for vehicles

In an information appliance system , a user device comprises a client platform ( , FIG. ) that includes a service framework ( , FIG. ) to discover and connect with a variety of services, both remote and local, transient and persistent, and to disconnect from them when they are no longer of interest or become unavailable. The service framework provides a standard, consistent, simplified way for services to make themselves available and for service-using entities to locate and connect with the services of interest to them. When a service is requested from a remote server, a service frontend ( , FIG. ) on the client platform attempts to find its corresponding service backend ( , FIG. ) on a server providing the requested service and, if it finds it, the frontend and backend coalesce in a fully formed service that is made available to a requesting service-using entity. As a result, platform resources and security are maintained. Various methods of operating a service framework are also described.

Service framework supporting remote service discovery and connection

An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables remotely configuring a wireless communication device comprising the steps of remotely configuring a format for providing content on said wireless communication device for a first user; remotely configuring a second format for providing content on said wireless communication device for a second user; receiving configuration data representing said format for said first user and said format for said second user from a remote network; and providing selected content from content downloaded from said network. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.

Method and apparatus for remotely configuring a wireless communication device

An internet radio for portable applications and uses such as in an automobile enables the selection of content on a wireless communication device comprising the steps of providing a format for displaying content on said wireless communication device; detecting the loss of a signal for a channel providing a predetermined genre; and providing a new format for displaying content having a new channel providing the predetermined genre to replace the lost channel. Customized information is also communicated to the radio such as stock quotes, travel information, advertising, and e-mail. Onboard global positioning allows for channel updating by location, traffic information, geographic advertising and available similar content.

Method and apparatus for enabling the selection of content on a wireless communication device

In an information appliance system , a user device comprises a client platform ( , FIG. 5) that includes a service framework ( , FIG. 5) to discover and connect with a variety of services, both remote and local, transient and persistent, and to disconnect from them when they are no longer of interest or become unavailable. The service framework provides a standard, consistent, simplified way for services to make themselves available and for service-using entities to locate and connect with the services of interest to them. The service framework comprises service event notification registries ( , FIG. 7) in which service-requesting entities register templates defining the types of services they want to locate and connect with. However, the service framework , rather than connecting with any service that matches a desired service type, can further control a remote service lookup operation in accordance with various transport characteristics in the template, such as signal strength, quantity of data to be transferred, range, available bandwidth, communications cost, service location, time of day, vehicular velocity, and so forth. This conserves the platform's memory and bandwidth resources by not connecting with services that would not satisfy a user's request or that would be unduly transitory. Various methods of operating a service framework are also described.

Service framework for evaluating remote services based upon transport characteristics

An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of navigational position sources ( ) disposed to provide position data, a position service module ( ) to aggregate position data and to form a composite of position data ( ) and a position session module ( ) to transmit composite of position data ( ) to applications ( ). An embodiment of a method includes providing a plurality of navigational position sources ( ) disposed to provide position data, providing a position service module ( ) disposed to receive position data, and aggregating position data to form composite of position data ( ). Composite of position data ( ) is then transmitted to applications ( ) via a position session module ( ).

Information appliance system having a navigational position generator and method

An embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of navigational position sources ( ) disposed to provide position data, a position service module ( ) to form a composite of position data ( ) and a position session module ( ) to transmit composite of position data ( ) to applications ( ). An embodiment of a method includes providing a plurality of navigational position sources ( ) disposed to provide position data, providing a position service module ( ) disposed to receive position data, and form composite of position data ( ). Composite of position data ( ) is then transmitted to one or more applications ( ) via a position session module ( ).

Growing community of inventors

Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Merlin J Smith