Technique for effective organization and communication of information

Abstract

In a communication arrangement in accordance with the invention, a server is employed to collect and organize information for mobile device users according to the user profiles, e.g., personal profile, business profile, vacation profile, etc., which reflect different user personae. By using this arrangement, the user advantageously maintains only the necessary information in the mobile device and downloads any additional information from the server on an as needed basis. In addition, the server is capable of serving mobile devices which may be incompatible to one another, thereby facilitating an exchange of information between such devices. Moreover, with the server, incoming messages for the user are organized and stored according to the source of the messages and the user criteria established in the user profiles. Further, information in a mobile device may be organized using electronic information cards, referred to as “E-cards,” which facilitate, among others, transfer of information from the mobile device to the server, or other mobile devices to conduct various commercial and data transactions.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method for use in a system for navigation, comprising: 
 receiving a query concerning a type of product or service provider;    in response to the query, providing information concerning one or more product or service providers of the type;    allowing a selection of one of the product or service providers;    planning a route to the selected product or service provider;    estimating time of arrival at the selected product or service provider based at least on the planned route; and    advising a user of a status of the selected product or service provider based on the estimated time of arrival.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the status concerns an operation of the selected product or service provider.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the time of arrival is estimated also based on a speed of a vehicle in which the user travels.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the time of arrival is estimated also based on a current location of the user.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a restaurant.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a financial service provider.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a health service provider.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the type of product or service provider includes an entertainment provider.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the information includes distances of the respective product or service providers from a current location of the user.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the information includes directions to the respective product or service providers from a current location of the user.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the information includes addresses of the respective product of service providers.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the information includes information for contacting the one or more product or service providers.  
   
   
       39 . A method for use in a system for navigation, comprising 
 receiving, from a user, data concerning a product or service provider to which the user is to travel;    determining a current status of the product or service provider;    planning a route to the product or service provider;    predicting a status of the product or service provider based at least on the planned route;    determining whether the predicted status is different from the current status; and    providing an alert if the predicted status is different from the current status.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the current status and the predicted status concern an operation of the product or service provider.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the status is predicted also based on a speed of a vehicle in which the user travels.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the status is predicted also based on a current location of the user.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the product or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the product or service provider includes a restaurant.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the product or service provider includes a financial service provider.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the product or service provider includes a health service provider.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the product or service provider includes an entertainment provider.  
   
   
       48 . A system for navigation, comprising: 
 an interface for receiving a query concerning a type of product or service provider, information concerning one or more product or service providers of the type being made available in response to the query;    a mechanism for planning a route to a selected one of the product or service providers;    a processor configured to estimate time of arrival at the selected product or service provider based at least on the planned route; and    an output device for advising a user of a status of the selected product or service provider based on the estimated time of arrival.    
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the status concerns an operation of the selected product or service provider.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the time of arrival is estimated also based on a speed of a vehicle in which the user travels.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the time of arrival is estimated also based on a current location of the user.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a restaurant.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a financial service provider.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the type of product or service provider includes a health service provider.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the type of product or service provider includes an entertainment provider.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the information includes distances of the respective product or service providers from a current location of the user.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the information includes directions to the respective product or service providers from a current location of the user.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the information includes addresses of the respective product of service providers.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 48  wherein the information includes information for contacting the one or more product or service providers.  
   
   
       61 . A system for use in a system for navigation, comprising 
 an interface for receiving, from a user, data concerning a product or service provider to which the user is to travel, a current status of the product or service provider being determined;    a mechanism for planning a route to the product or service provider;    a processor configured to predict a status of the product or service provider based at least on the planned route; and    an output device for providing an alert if the predicted status is different from the current status.    
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the current status and the predicted status concern an operation of the product or service provider.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the status is predicted also based on a speed of a vehicle in which the user travels.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the status is predicted also based on a current location of the user.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the product or service provider includes a vehicle service provider.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the product or service provider includes a restaurant.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the product or service provider includes a financial service provider.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the product or service provider includes a health service provider.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the product or service provider includes an entertainment provider.