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, 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 system'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 system'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 system, 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 method of obtaining information comprising:
 developing a signal indicative of a position of a processor based system;   transmitting said signal to a base station;   receiving information stored at said base station associated with the system's position;   sorting information received from said base station based on position; and   identifying information received from said base station associated with the system's current position.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein receiving information includes receiving an audio file. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, further including developing a signal indicative of the direction of travel of the system and transmitting said signal to a base station. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19 further including transmitting a message to said base station and automatically appending position information on said message. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 18 further including automatically appending a system identifier on said message. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 17 including automatically playing said audio file. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 17 including causing the system to identify information received from the base station associated with the system's position. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 17 including displaying information about locations that have associated information. 
     
     
       25. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to:
 develop a signal indicative of the system's position;   transmit said signal to a base station;   receive information stored at said base station associated with the system's position;   sort information received from said base station based on system position; and   identify information received from said base station associated with the system's current position.   
     
     
       26. The medium of claim 25 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to receive an audio file. 
     
     
       27. The medium of claim 25 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to develop a signal indicative of the direction of travel of the system. 
     
     
       28. The medium of claim 25 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to transmit a message to said base station and automatically append position information on said message. 
     
     
       29. The medium of claim 28 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to automatically append a vehicle identifier on said message. 
     
     
       30. The medium of claim 26 further storing instructions that cause a processor-based system to automatically play said audio file over a vehicle sound system.