A user can access a common database from a remote communications port, at any qualified location, to generate a map or other positional information which locates selected items of interest, e.g., businesses, stores, architectural sites, and the like. The database contains information representing the items of interest, including, for each of the items of interest, positional coordinates, a geographic vicinity, and a selected category. The positional coordinates discretely locate the vicinity, while the vicinity specifies the exact locations of the items of interest in the selected category. For example, a user in New York can select the display of sporting shops in the area surrounding Chicago O'Hara International Airport selectively. A user can also access a port and display locations of items of interest within the same vicinity as the user and relative to the user's position. The database can be modified from qualified remote locations to change, or add to, the information therein. An advertisement can be tagged to the display or print out as an association with the selected items of interest.

System and methods for remotely accessing a selected group of items of interest from a database

A one number, multi-application, intelligent call processing system provides service benefits to a caller, a servicing location and/or a vanity number advertiser during a call, parallel to the call and/or post call in an integrated common architecture. The system utilizes VRU technology in conjunction with the national telecommunications network connected via Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) to a virtual telephone number database containing a nationwide master list of telephone numbers with attribute data items associated by Spatial Key linkage to each telephone number. The process of the invention is initiated by a caller dialing a selected telephone number to request information and/or services. Based on the number dialed, a caller or network provided ten-digit telephone number and VRU prompted for and received caller input, the system retrieves the application requested data from the virtual telephone number database and provides it to the network.

One number, intelligent call processing system

A system and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communications networks includes a site specific model of the physical environment, and performs a wide variety of different calculations for predicting network performance using a combination of prediction modes and measurement data based on the components used in the communications networks, the physical environment, and radio propagation characteristics.

System and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communication networks

Systems are arranged to provide a user (521) information (533) which relates to objects of interest (525). A user may point a hand held device (522) toward an object to address it. The device determines which objects are being addressed by making position and attitude measurements and further a reference and search of a database (12) containing preprogrammed information relating to objects. Information relating to objects determined as objects presently being addressed in thereafter presented at a user interface (532). Devices of these systems include a point reference (545), a direction reference (546), a position determining (26) support, attitude (29) determining support, a computer processor (23) and database, and a user interface (532). Methods of systems include the steps of addressing an object (161), determining position and attitude (161) searching a database (221), and presenting information to a user (237).

Pointing systems for addressing objects

Techniques for location tracking, location utilization, and dissemination and management of location information are disclosed. As a location monitoring system, one embodiment includes at least a plurality of mobile computing devices supported by a wireless network, and a web server coupled to a wired network (e.g., the Internet) that couples to the wireless network. Each of the mobile computing devices are associated with and proximate to an object whose location is being monitored. The web server stores the locations of each of the mobile computing devices or the objects proximate thereto, and enables only authorized users to obtain access the locations via the wired network.

Method and system for location tracking

A portable data acquisition device, including a position-determining device and data collector, determines and stores positional data associated with objects positioned in a geographical area within sight of the device. Data representative of attributes associated with the objects are also stored in the device. The data stored in the device can be transferred to processing circuitry of a computer and absolute positional coordinates of the objects are determined. The absolute positional coordinates and the data representative of the attributes associated with the objects are placed in files accessible by geographic information system (GIS) software which utilizes the data to form a geographic information system (GIS) database from which GIS maps may be formed.

Arnold B. Clarke

Papers

System and method for collecting data used to form a geographic information system database