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 chum  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 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 a vehicle's current location, sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information, and identify information with associated position information related to a location ahead of 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 digital 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 associated position information.  
     
     
       17. The system of claim 9 wherein said information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location including information about driving conditions.  
     
     
       18. The system of claim 9 wherein said information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location including information about sites.  
     
     
       19. The system of claim 9 wherein said position information includes global positioning system coordinates.  
     
     
       20. The system of claim 19, said processor to sort information about road conditions or information about en-route sites.  
     
     
       21. The system of claim 20, said system including a device to determine the direction of vehicle travel, said processor to sort information to find information related to sites ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel.  
     
     
       22. The system of claim 21 including a display on said processor to depict the vehicle's location and associate position information on a map depiction.  
     
     
       23. The system of claim 9 adapted to transmit video.  
     
     
       24. The system of claim 9 adapted to receive video.  
     
     
       25. The system of claim 9 including a display, said processor to indicate the position of said vehicle and said location ahead of the vehicle's current location on said display.  
     
     
       26. The system of claim 9 wherein said system is mountable in a vehicle.  
     
     
       27. A method comprising:
 using a computer to determine a vehicle's current position;   using said computer to sort information received in response to a request for information with associated position information based on associated position information; and   identifying, using said computer, information with associated position information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location.    
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27 including using said computer to determine the vehicle's direction of travel.  
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28 including using the computer to sort information received in response to said request based on said direction of travel.  
     
     
       30. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed enable a computer to:
 transmit a request for information with associated position information;   determine a vehicle's current location;   sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information; and   identify information with associated position information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location.    
     
     
       31. The medium of claim 30 storing instructions to determine the vehicle's direction of travel.  
     
     
       32. The medium of claim 31 storing instructions to sort information received in response to said request based on said direction of travel.  
     
     
       33. A server comprising:
 a processor to receive a request for information with associated position information and provide information in response to said request based on said associated position information including providing information with associated position information related to a location ahead of the associated position in the vehicle's direction of travel; and   a storage coupled to said processor.    
     
     
       34. A processor based 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 and direction of travel, sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information and said direction of travel, and identify information with associated position information.    
     
     
       35. The system of claim 34 wherein said transmitter is a radio frequency transceiver.  
     
     
       36. The system of claim 34 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append digital compass information.  
     
     
       37. The system of claim 34 wherein said system is adapted to receive information previously transmitted and stored and then relayed to the vehicle, based on the vehicle's position.  
     
     
       38. The system of claim 34 wherein said transmitter is adapted to append information that identifies the transmitter.  
     
     
       39. The system of claim 34 adapted to transmit audio files.  
     
     
       40. The system of claim 34 adapted to receive audio files.  
     
     
       41. The system of claim 34 wherein said system only displays said information when the vehicle becomes proximate to a location corresponding to said associated position information.  
     
     
       42. The system of claim 34 wherein said information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location including information about driving conditions.  
     
     
       43. The system of claim 34 wherein said information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location including information about sites.  
     
     
       44. The system of claim 34 wherein said position information includes global positioning system coordinates.  
     
     
       45. The system of claim 44, said processor to sort information about road conditions or information about en-route sites.  
     
     
       46. The system of claim 45, said system including a device to determine the direction of vehicle travel, said processor to sort information to find information related to sites ahead of the vehicle in the direction of travel.  
     
     
       47. The system of claim 46 including a display on said processor to depict the vehicle's location and associate position information on a map depiction.  
     
     
       48. The system of claim 34 adapted to transmit video.  
     
     
       49. The system of claim 34 adapted to receive video.  
     
     
       50. The system of claim 34 including a display, said processor to indicate the position of said vehicle and said location ahead of the vehicle's current location on said display.  
     
     
       51. The system of claim 34 wherein said system is mountable in a vehicle.  
     
     
       52. A processor based system comprising:
 a processor;   a position locating device coupled to said processor;   a transmitter to transmit a request for information with associated position information together with user 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 appended position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.    
     
     
       53. The system of claim 52, said processor to determine the vehicle's direction of travel.  
     
     
       54. The system of claim 53, said processor to identify information with appended position information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location.  
     
     
       55. The system of claim 52 wherein said user information includes information about a driving condition at a location.  
     
     
       56. The system of claim 52 wherein said user information includes information about a site and its location.  
     
     
       57. The system of claim 52 wherein said system is mountable in a vehicle.  
     
     
       58. A method comprising:
 using a computer to transmit a request for information with associated position information together with user information;   using a computer to determine a vehicle's current location;   using a computer to sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information; and   using a computer to identify information with appended position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.    
     
     
       59. The method of claim 58 including determining the vehicle's direction of travel.  
     
     
       60. The method of claim 59 including identifying information with appended position information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location.  
     
     
       61. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that when executed enable a computer to:
 transmit a request for information with associated position information together with user information;   determine a vehicle's current location;   sort information received in response to said request based on associated position information; and   identify information with appended position information corresponding to the vehicle's current location.    
     
     
       62. The medium of claim 61 further storing instructions to determine the vehicle's direction of travel.  
     
     
       63. The medium of claim 61 further storing instructions to identify information with appended position information related to a location ahead of the vehicle's current location.