Data services via receivers independent of navigation systems

Abstract

A system and method for providing a suite of data services in non-navigation based electronic devices such as head units, that can provide similar levels of functionality to navigation-based systems are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a non-navigation data system for providing data services in a mobile environment can include a data decoder for decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source, a location determining means for determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream, a display for displaying data corresponding to the current location, and a plurality of static maps wherein the data corresponding to the current location is overlaid at least over a portion of the static maps. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method of providing a data service in a mobile environment without the need for a navigation system can include decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source, determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream, displaying data corresponding to the current location, and overlaying the data corresponding to the current location over at least a portion of a plurality of static maps.

1 . A system for providing data service in a mobile environment, comprising:
 a data decoder for decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source;   location determining means for determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream;   a display for displaying data corresponding to the current location; and   a plurality of static maps wherein data corresponding to the current location is overlaid at least over a portion of the static maps.   wherein the data corresponding to the current location is at least one of fuel service data, weather service data, sports score data or movie data.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the location determining means is a global positioning service receiver or a cellular receiver using one or more among time of arrival, phase of arrival, strength of arrival, frequency of arrival, time difference of arrival, and multiangulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel service data provides data for a number of fueling stations within a predetermined vicinity of the current location and further provides heading information for the number of fueling stations within the predetermined vicinity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the weather service data is superimposed onto a predetermined number of static map tiles. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a user can traverse locations or zoom-in or zoom-out using a number of tiles of static maps and wherein the weather service data is correspondingly overlaid over the tiles as they are traversed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a user can select alternate weather markets from a drop down menu, speech recognition, or other user friendly input method. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is integrated with a radio head unit in a vehicle wherein the radio head unit is for use with a satellite digital audio radio or a landbased digital audio radio. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing data services in a mobile environment, comprising:
 decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source;   determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream;   displaying data corresponding to the current location; and   overlaying the data corresponding to the current location over at least a portion of a plurality of static maps,   wherein the data corresponding to the current location is at least one of fuel service data, weather service data, sports score data, and movie data.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the current location is determined using a global positioning service receiver or a cellular receiver using one or more among time of arrival, phase of arrival, strength of arrival, frequency of arrival, time difference of arrival, and multiangulation or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fuel service data provides data for a number of fueling stations within a predetermined vicinity of the current location and further provides heading information for the number of fueling stations within the predetermined vicinity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the weather service data is superimposed onto a predetermined number of static map tiles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a user can traverse locations or zoom-in or zoom-out using a number of tiles of static maps and wherein the weather service data is correspondingly overlaid over the tiles as they are traversed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a user can select alternate weather markets from a drop down menu, speech recognition, or other user friendly input method. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method is performed in a radio head unit. 
     
     
         17 . A system for providing data services in a mobile environment, comprising:
 a data decoder for decoding a digital data stream from a digital audio radio transmission source;   location determining means for determining a current location of a mobile receiver receiving the digital data stream;   a presentation device for presenting data corresponding to the current location; and   a plurality of static maps wherein the data corresponding to the current location is overlaid at least over a portion of the static maps.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the presentation device comprises an audio speaker or a screen display.