Technique for effective communications with, and provision of global positioning system (gps) based advertising information to, automobiles

Abstract

Communications with an automobile are in the form of messages. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. Messages may contain a recall notice to the automobile, map information or advertising information concerning selected entities depending on the current location of the automobile. Messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain location of the automobile or dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile.

1 .- 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . A method, comprising:
 a server receiving data via a wireless communication system from a processor within a vehicle, the data relating to the location and speed of the vehicle, the vehicle being associated with a first party identity;   the server saving the location and speed data associated with the first party identity;   the server providing map data via the wireless communication system to the processor within the vehicle so that the map data is shown on a display within the vehicle, the server selecting the map data based on the received location data so that a location of the vehicle can be depicted on the map shown on the display, the map data also including an indicator of a warning related to traffic, the indicator also configured to be shown on the display; and   the server providing location and speed data and the associated first party identity to a plurality of third parties.   
     
     
         62 . A method as in  claim 61  additionally comprising the server receiving additional data through the wireless communication system, saving the additional data associated with the first party identity, and providing at least a portion of the additional data to a plurality of third parties. 
     
     
         63 . A method as in  claim 62 , wherein the additional data comprises at least one of text, graphics, pictures, audio clips and video clips. 
     
     
         64 . A method as in  claim 62  additionally comprising one or more sensors of the vehicle communicating vehicle system information to the processor, and wherein the additional data comprises vehicle system information. 
     
     
         65 . A method as in  claim 62  additionally comprising the server receiving an outside party input from an outside party, the outside party input being information about the vehicle associated with the first party identity, and the server includes the outside party input with the additional data and saves the outside party input associated with the first party identity. 
     
     
         66 . A method as in  claim 65 , wherein the outside party input comprises information about vehicle maintenance. 
     
     
         67 . A method as in  claim 61  additionally comprising the server receiving and storing an image and associated image data, the image data including the location and time the image was obtained. 
     
     
         68 . A method as in  claim 67  additionally comprising the server sending, over the wireless communication network, the image and image data to the processor so that the image and image data can be shown on the display in the vehicle. 
     
     
         69 . A method as in  claim 68 , wherein the server sends the image and image data to the processor in response to a request received from the processor. 
     
     
         70 . A method as in  claim 69 , wherein a touch screen user interface in the vehicle receives an input from a user and communicates the input to the processor, the input being a request for the image and image data. 
     
     
         71 . A method as in  claim 68 , wherein the image is obtained by a camera located at a business establishment and the image is configured to show conditions at the business establishment, and wherein the server receives a plurality of images obtained by the camera at spaced apart time intervals. 
     
     
         72 . A method, comprising:
 a server receiving data via a wireless communication system from a processor within a vehicle, the data relating to the location and speed of the vehicle;   the server saving the location and speed data;   the server receiving and storing an image and associated image data, the image data including a location and time at which the image was obtained;   the server providing map data via the wireless communication system to the processor within the vehicle, the map data processed to be shown on a display within the vehicle, the server selecting the map data based on the received location data so that a location of the vehicle and an icon representing the location at which the image was obtained can be depicted on the map shown on the display; and   the server sending, over the wireless communication network, the image and image data to the processor so that the image and image data can be shown on the display in the vehicle.   
     
     
         73 . A method as in  claim 72 , wherein the server sends the image to the processor in response to a request received from the processor. 
     
     
         74 . A method as in  claim 73 , wherein a touch screen user interface in the vehicle receives an input from a user and communicates the input to the processor, the input being a request for the image and image data. 
     
     
         75 . A method as in  claim 74 , wherein the map is displayed on the touch screen user interface, and wherein the input from the user comprises the user touching the icon that is shown on the touch screen user interface. 
     
     
         76 . A method as in  claim 75 , wherein the image is obtained by a camera located at a business establishment and the image is configured to show conditions at the business establishment, and wherein the server receives a plurality of images obtained by the camera at spaced apart time intervals. 
     
     
         77 . A method as in  claim 73 , wherein the vehicle is associated with a first party identity and the server saves the location and speed data so that it is associated with the first party identity, and additionally comprising the server providing location and speed data and the associated first party identity to a plurality of third parties. 
     
     
         78 . A method as in  claim 77  additionally comprising the server receiving additional data through the wireless communication system, saving the additional data associated with the first party identity, and providing at least a portion of the additional data to a plurality of third parties. 
     
     
         79 . A method as in  claim 78 , wherein the additional data comprises at least one of text, graphics, pictures, audio clips and video clips.