Location-based vehicle messaging system

Abstract

A system may enable vehicle operators to request information automatically along the route of travel by transmitting information requests, tied to the vehicle's current position, to a server. The server may store a plurality of informational files associated with particular global positioning system coordinates. Upon receipt of a request, the files associated with a particular position may be located and transmitted to the vehicle. The files may be stored as audio files so the user may listen to the files without being distracted while driving the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A processor based system mountable in a vehicle, said system comprising:
 a processor;   a position locating device coupled to said processor;   a transmitter to transmit requests for information with appended position information; and   wherein said processor to determine the vehicle's current location, sort information received in response to said request based on appended position information, and identify information with appended position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.   
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transceiver. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein said transmitter is adapted to append compass information. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein said system is adapted to receive information previously transmitted and stored and then relayed to the vehicle, based on the vehicle's position. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein said transmitter is adapted to append information that identifies the transmitter. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  adapted to transmit audio files. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1  adapted to receive audio files. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein said system only displays said information when the vehicle becomes proximate to a location corresponding to said appended position information. 
     
     
       9. A processor based system mountable in a vehicle, said system comprising:
 a processor;   a position locating device coupled to said processor;   a transmitter to transmit a request for information with appended position information; and   wherein said processor to determine the vehicle's current location, sort information received in response to said request based on appended position information, and identify information with appended position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.   
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transceiver. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append compass information. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 9 wherein said system is adapted to receive information previously transmitted and stored and then relayed to the vehicle, based on the vehicle's position. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append information that identifies the transmitter. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim 9 adapted to transmit audio files. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim 9 adapted to receive audio files. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim 9 wherein said system only displays said information when the vehicle becomes proximate to a location corresponding to said appended position information. 
     
     
       17. A processor based system mountable in a vehicle, said system comprising:
 a processor;   a position locating device coupled to said processor;   a transmitter to transmit a request for information with associated position information; and   wherein said processor to determine the vehicle's current location, sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information, and identify information with associated position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.   
     
     
       18. The system of claim 17 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transceiver. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim 17 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append compass information. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim 17 wherein said system is adapted to receive information previously transmitted and stored and then relayed to the vehicle, based on the vehicle's position. 
     
     
       21. The system of claim 17 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append information that identifies the transmitter. 
     
     
       22. The system of claim 17 adapted to transmit audio files. 
     
     
       23. The system of claim 17 adapted to receive audio files. 
     
     
       24. The system of claim 17 wherein said system only displays said information when the vehicle becomes proximate to a location corresponding to said appended position information. 
     
     
       25. A method of obtaining information comprising:
 developing a signal indicative of a vehicle's position;   transmitting said signal to a base station;   receiving information stored at said base station associated with the vehicle's position;   sorting information received from said base station based on vehicle position; and   identifying information received from said base station associated with the vehicle's current position.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25 wherein receiving information includes receiving an audio file. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, further including developing a signal indicative of the direction of travel of the vehicle and transmitting said signal to a base station. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26, further including transmitting a message to said base station and automatically appending position information on said message. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28, further including automatically appending a vehicle identifier on said message. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26 including automatically playing said audio file over the vehicle's sound system. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 25 including causing a vehicle based processor to identify information received from the base station associated with the vehicle's position. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 25 including displaying information about locations that have associated information.