WO2001043482A1

WO2001043482A1 - System and method for communicating information

Info

Publication number: WO2001043482A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/002286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Garza
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 1999-12-10
Filing date: 2000-11-21
Publication date: 2001-06-14
Also published as: AU2032901A

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for communicating information about a provider of goods or services between a telecommunications network (60) and a mobile station (20) at an approximate physical location comprises a mobile switching center (250) including a database memory (70), and a distance determination module (300) in electronic communication with the database memory (70), the module (300) being adapted to compare the mobile station location with locations represented by physical location addresses (71, 75) stored in the database memory (70). The method comprises the steps of receiving an information segment query (30), determining the approximate location (40) of the mobile station (20), scanning the database memory (70) to provide a set of preselected information segments (72, 76) matching the query, along with a set of associated physical address locations, comparing the mobile station location (40) with the locations represented by the set of physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of physical address locations, and transmitting a response (33), including at least one of the physical addresses in the proximate subset, to the mobile stations (20). The invention also comprises a network (60) which includes a communications interface (290), a database memory (70) communicating with the communications interface (290), and a distance determination module (300) which communicates with the database memory (70).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING INFORMATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems, apparatus, and methods to enhance mobile subscriber services. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, apparatus and methods for communicating information from a telecommunications network to a mobile station subscriber based on queries received from the mobile station.

History of Related Art The amount of world-wide business and personal travel increases on a daily basis. Therefore, the likelihood of a mobile subscriber encountering unfamiliar locales also increases. In these circumstances it is often difficult to determine which bank, hospital, gas station, etc. may be the most convenient (i.e., the closest) for use by a traveling subscriber. Even if the subscriber is fortunate enough to encounter a local resident knowledgeable with regard to destinations and directions, it is not always safe to make such inquiries in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Thus, a lot of time and energy may be unnecessarily wasted searching for local providers of goods or services.

One approach to solving this problem is to find a public telephone or business establishment which maintains a local telephone directory. However, many public phones no longer have directories attached. Further, the subscriber may need the information at a time when all of the proximate businesses are closed. Some telecom systems provide for determining the position of a mobile subscriber, but fail to relate this position to providers of goods or services. Conversely, as noted above, there are directories and lists of service providers, but no automated system or method exists to relate the location of the mobile station subscriber to a specific local provider of needed goods or services. Some Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systems provide directions to a specified address or location, given the geographic coordinates of the user (which requires the user to carry a GPS receiver) , but such systems do not automatically relate the location of the user to the location of desired goods/service providers.

Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for communicating information to a local subscriber operating a mobile station, from a telecommunications network, based on queries posed to the network. The system and method should make use of a database memory in which is stored addresses of various providers or goods or services, along with other information, including, possibly, the directions for traveling from the location of the subscriber to the location of the desired provider. Such a system and method should not necessarily require the use of a GPS receiver, and should ideally utilize standard cellular telephone technology, including unmodified mobile stations, along with other standard components currently available within a telecommunications network . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of communicating information between a telecommunications network and a mobile station comprises the steps of receiving a query related to a provider of goods or services from the mobile station, determining the approximate location of the mobile station, scanning a database memory to provide entries which match information contained m the query, comparing locations represented by the addresses of the matching entries with the approximate location of the mobile station, and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes some portion of the database memory information associated with the most proximate addresses. The database memory is used to store a plurality of physical location addresses related to various providers of goods or services, and each address is associated with a corresponding plurality of information segments, or query matching information.

During database memory scanning, an attempt is made to find providers of goods or services located proximate to the mobile station which have characteristics defined by the query, as listed m the associated information segments. For example, the physical location address may be associated with several information segments, such as the name of the business and its hours of operation. The method includes the step of comparing the determined, approximate physical location of the mobile station with the locations represented by the physical location addresses of one or more providers of goods or services stored within the database memory that correspond to the query, and selecting one or more providers which are the shortest distance from the mobile station. It is this relationship (i.e., the physical distance between the mobile station and query-matched goods/service providers) that determines the information transmitted to the mobile station.

The physical location addresses may be stored in the database memory in a number of ways, such as street addresses, cell coordinates, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates, global positioning system coordinates, and latitude-longitude coordinates. The information segments which are associated with each physical location address may be stored as generic business names, actual business names, physical addresses, descriptions of services, descriptions of goods, certifications, fees, days of operation, employees, and/or hours of operation, among others. The location of the mobile station may be determined according to the cell in which it is located, or according to geophysical coordinates, for example. The method may include the steps of setting up a call between the mobile station and the network, and transmitting the query, which includes an information segment to be matched, or an information selection, to the network. The information segment query may include a request to provide a physical address location corresponding to a generic business name, a description of services, or a description of goods, for example. The invention also includes an apparatus for communicating information about a provider of goods or services between a telecommunications network and a mobile station located at an approximate physical location. The apparatus comprises a mobile switching center operating within the network, which includes a database memory wherein a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, each associated with a corresponding plurality of associated preselected information segments, are stored, and a distance determination module m electronic communication with the database memory, the module being adapted to determine the approximate distance between the approximate physical location of the mobile station and the plurality of physical location addresses. The apparatus may also comprise a query-response module m electronic communication with the database memory to assist m the generation of a query. The invention may also be embodied m a telecommunications network comprising a communications interface; a database memory m electronic communication with the communications interface, the database memory being used to store a plurality of preselected physical location addresses and corresponding pluralities of preselected information segments; and a distance determination module m electronic communication with the database memory, the module being adapted to determine the approximate distance between an approximate physical location of a mobile station communicating with the network and the plurality of physical location addresses. The communications interface may comprise a mobile switching center, and the network may include a query-response module m electronic communication with the database memory, as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the structure and operation of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the telecommunications network of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the apparatus of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The scenario which best illustrates the need for and use of the present invention as a network and method can be seen in Figure 1. Here, a mobile station 20 subscriber is located at an approximate physical location 40 as defined by an absolute geophysical coordinate location (e.g., longitude - latitude) , a street address, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates, global positioning system coordinates, or a cell currently serving the mobile station location 50. In any event, the mobile station 20 is surrounded by various providers of goods or services, such as restaurants 80, 90, 100, hospitals 150, 160, and 170, and a library 210. Each of these facilities is located at some distance from the mobile station 20. For example, the restaurants 80, 90 and 100 are located at a first, second, and third distance of 120, 130, and 140, respectively. Similarly, the hospitals 150, 160, and

170 are located at a first, second and third distance of 180, 190 and 200. Finally, the library is located at a distance of 220. If the mobile station 20 subscriber wishes to determine where the most proximate library 210 is located, there is no simple way to accomplish this task without looking at a telephone directory and a map. It may also be possible to dial a local information number, but the telephone directory information provider often will typically have no idea where the mobile station 20 subscriber is located 40, nor where the service provider, such as the library 210, is located in relation to the physical location 40 of the mobile station 20.

In the network and method of the instant invention, the mobile station 20 subscriber may dial the directory number of an information service provider operating within the telecommunications network 60 and, upon transmitting a query 30 (e.g., including the term ^Xλ library" as the selected information segment) , information within the database memory 70 can be retrieved and returned to the mobile station 20 subscriber which relates the address location of the most proximate library 210. Further, directions on how to travel from the location 40 of the mobile station 20 to the library 210 may also be generated and provided to the mobile station 20, via the network query-response module 310. Other information about the library 210, such as operating hours, can also be transmitted to the mobile station 20 by the network and method of the present invention.

To use another example, the mobile station 20 subscriber may transmit a query 30 to the network 60 as a specific verbal question, such as "Where is the nearest hospital? My location is 1600 Main Street." In this case, the selected information segment "hospital" contained m the query 30 is extracted using voice recognition principles well known m the art. The query 30 may also be generated with the assistance of an automated menu provided by a query- response module 310 m electronic communication with the database memory 70. For example, the mobile station 20 may be assisted m generating a query 30 based upon choices provided by the query-response module 310 for selection by the mobile station 20 subscriber. The choices may be contained m a series of data messages 37 such as, "Are you looking for entertainment? Enter 1 for theater, 2 for restaurant, and 3 for amusement park." Then, if the subscriber presses the numeral *2" at the mobile station 20 (i.e., the response ^w2" contained within the query being the selected information segment, i.e., the numerical equivalent to "restaurant"), the follow-up question/message 37 provided by the query- response module 310 might be, "Enter 1 for Mexican food, 2 for Chinese food, 3 for Indian food, and 4 for Fine Dining." If the answer is "Chinese" (i.e., the information segment contained m the query is '3") and the distance determination module 300 of the network 60 determines that food location #2, 90, corresponds to the closest Chinese restaurant to the mobile station approximate location 40, the address of this restaurant may be transmitted to the mobile station 20. In this example, the query 30 may include multiple information segments, such as * entertainment = restaurant or 2" and "type = Chinese or 3" . Similarly, if the mobile station 20 subscriber requests the address of the nearest hospital, the locations of hospitals #2, 160, and #3 170, may be transmitted to the mobile station 20 subscriber for selection based upon the particular services required, or road traffic conditions.

As can be seen by the examples given above, the choices presented by the query-response module 310 to the subscriber may be in the form of data messages (e.g., using a message center), or verbal messages (e.g. using a announcement machine) . In each case, the choice of information transmitted to the mobile station 20 subscriber depends upon the information stored m the database memory 70, the location 40 of the mobile station 20 subscriber, and the distance between the approximate location 40 of the mobile station 20 and the providers of goods or services, such as the distances to the various hospitals 180, 190, and 200, respectively.

Turning now to Figure 2, the apparatus 10 of the present invention can be seen. The apparatus 10 for communicating information between a telecommunications network 60 and a mobile station 20 at an approximate location 40 comprises a database memory 70 and a distance determination module 300 m electronic communication with the database memory 70.

The telecommunications network 65 comprises elements which are commonly needed to enable communications with mobile station 20 subscribers, such as additional mobile stations 25, a mobile switching center 250, a base station controller 240, and a base station transceiver 230. A home location register 260 and other mobile switching centers 250 constitute additional elements which may also form a part of the telecommunications network 65.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, a query response module 310 may be present as an element of the apparatus 10. The database memory 70 may also form an integral part of a mobile switching center 250, shown as database memory 70' shown in Figure 2, or may operate independently, as database memory 70. In either case, the components elements of the database memories 70, 70' are the same.

The database memory 70 is used to store at least one physical location address 71 related to a provider of goods/services, which is in turn associated with a first plurality of preselected information segments, namely, information segment 72, information segment 73, and information segment 74

(also stored in the memory 70) . As shown in Figure

2, the database memory 70 typically stores a plurality of physical location addresses, such as the first physical location address 71 and the second physical location address 75, which is in turn associated with a second plurality of preselected information segments, namely, information segment 76, and information segment 77. As noted above, the database memory 70' may be incorporated entirely within the mobile switching center 250, or the database memory 70 may exist as an entity outside the mobile switching center 250, as a separate intelligent network element.

The physical location addresses 71, 75 may be conventional street addresses, cell coordinates, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates (e.g. county, city, or state names) , Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, and/or latitude-longitude coordinates. The preselected information segments 72, 73, and 74; and 76, and 77 associated with the addresses 71 and 75, respectively, may include generic business names (e.g. hospital, library, police, factory, printer, employment agency, etc.), actual business names (e.g. Dan's Donuts, Minus Transmission, The Grocery Store Lounge, etc.), physical addresses (e.g., 123 Main Street, 56 West 42nd, etc.), descriptions of services (e.g. laundry, auto broker, banking, patent attorney, etc.), descriptions of goods (e.g. toys, staple foods, feed, hardware, etc.), certifications (e.g., American Bar Association, Texas Society of Professional Engineers, American Medical Association, etc.), fees (e.g. $100.00 an hour, five for $1.00, under $100,000, etc.), days of operation (e.g. Monday-Friday, etc.), employees (e.g. Charlie Brown, Linus Van Pelt, etc.), hours of operation (e.g. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., etc.), or numerical equivalents to any of these. Such numerical equivalents may represent actual number values, or merely addresses or classifications stored m a look-up table memory. In use, the apparatus 10 operates by receiving some query information 30 from a mobile station 20 located at an approximate physical location 40. The query information 30, including a query information segment 31, is received m turn by the base transceiver station 230, base station controller 240, and passed on to the mobile switching center 250. The query information segment 31 is used during database memory 70 scanning operations to provide a set of matching information segments selected from all of the segments 72-74 and 76-77 stored within the database memory 70.

Assuming that segments 72 and 76 match segment 31, the distance determination module 300 will operate to compare the approximate physical location of the mobile station 40 with the locations represented by the physical addresses 71, 75 related to providers of goods or services stored m the database memory 70 to determine the proximity of the mobile station 20 to the providers located at the address 71, 75. The mobile station 20 subscriber may ask for a selected number of addresses (e.g. 1, 2, etc.), or, as an alternative, a preselected number of information segments to be returned. In any event, the query information 30, including the information segment 31, combined with the approximate location 40 of the mobile station 20 are used to select one or more of the corresponding addresses and/or information segments stored within the database memory 70 to be returned to the mobile station 20 by the mobile switching center 250.

In this embodiment of the invention, the query- response module 310 may act through a message center 280 to provide a response 33 to the mobile station 20 in the form of a character-limited message displayed on the mobile station 20 display (i.e., using the Short Message System (SMS) ) . Typically, however, the message center 280 will not be used, and a voice recording or announcement machine 270 under control of the query-response module 310 will provide audio feedback to the user of the mobile station 20 for responses to the query information 30 posed by the mobile station 20 subscriber.

The method of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 3. The method begins at step 320 and continues with optional step 330, which includes dialing the telephone directory number of a subscriber service provider operating within the network 60. The method continues with optional step 340, which includes setting up the call between the mobile station and the network 60. If a query- response module 310 is included m the invention, the method of the invention may include the step 350 of building a query 30 based upon the contents of the database memory 70 containing a plurality of preselected physical location addresses 71, 75 and associated pluralities of preselected information segments 72-74 and 76-77, respectively. As noted above, the preselected information segments 72-74 and 76-77 may represent actual terms, such as "police" or "hospital", as well as alphanumeric and purely numeric values which equate to significant physical quantities (such as an address, phone number, time, or price) , or may be used to represent values stored m a lookup table memory (not shown) . After the query 30 is formulated, the query 30 is sent to the network 60 (see Fig. 1) or the apparatus 10 (see Fig. 2) m optional step 360. Of course, if the first query 30 is fully-developed at the mobile station 20, then step 350 is unnecessary to the method of the invention.

The method typically begins with step 370, wherein an information segment query, which typically includes an information segment, is received from a mobile station 20. The query many include many different types of information, or numerical values which can be related to information (using a look-up table memory) , such as that contained within the information segments 72-74 and 76-77 stored m the database memory 70, to include: generic business names, actual business names, physical addresses, descriptions of services, descriptions of goods, certifications, fees, days of operation, employees, hours of operation, or numerical equivalents to any of these, among others. Thus, for example, a common query might include the generic name of a business, a description of the goods or services provided by a business, or a number which is equivalent to either of these.

The method continues with determining the approximate physical location 40 of the mobile station 20 m step 380. Step 380 may include the step 385 of determining the location of the cell 50 currently serving the mobile station 20, or the longitude-latitude coordinates of the mobile station 20. Other alternatives for determining the approximate location 40 of the mobile station 20 include determining the location of the mobile station m relation to a street address, map coordinates, geographic coordinates, and/or GPS coordinates . The method of the present invention continues with step 390, wherein the database memory 70 is scanned to provide a set of preselected information segments (e.g., 72 and 76) matching the information segment within the query 30. The method continues with step 400, wherein a set of preselected physical location addresses (i.e., 71 and 75) associated with the set of preselected information segments found m step 390 are retrieved from the database memory 70. The determined approximate physical location 40 of the mobile station 20 (provided by steps 380, 385) is then compared with locations represented by the physical location addresses 71, 75 to determine the physical distance of the mobile station 20 from the addresses, and provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses. For example, it may be that the business located at physical location address 71 is found to be within five miles of the mobile station 20, whereas the business located at physical location address 75 is more than ten miles from mobile station 20. The comparison of locations to determine a physical distance may include the step of determining a linear surface (of the earth) distance, which is equal to the physical distance between the approximate physical location 40 of the mobile station and the locations represented by the physical addresses 71 and 75 stored within the database memory 70. Normally, the query information 30 will be such that the address 71 (or addresses) requiring the least amount of travel from the location of the mobile station 20 will be transmitted to the mobile station (see step 420) . However, the method may also include searching within the database memory 70 for information segments 72-74 and 76-77 associated with physical location addresses representing locations that are within a predetermined distance from the approximate physical location 40 of the mobile station 20, as shown in step 415. That is, a

"window" around the mobile station may be drawn

(e.g., the cell 50), and addresses within that imaginary window 50 can be supplied to the mobile station.

Finally, the corresponding information stored within the database memory 70, such as the most proximate address 71 corresponding to the selected information segment 31 sent as part of the query 30 (e.g. segment 72), is transmitted to the mobile station 20 in step 420. Of course, multiple queries 30, shown in step 370, may be posed to the telecommunications network 60, and multiple corresponding information segments may be transmitted to the mobile station in step 420. The method ends at step 430.

Turning now to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a concrete example of the network 60, apparatus 10, and method of operation for the present invention will be given. One possible scenario involves the arrival of a mobile station 20 subscriber in an unfamiliar city. After renting a car at the airport, the subscriber travels to a business meeting. On the way, an automobile accident occurs and the subscriber, who is a medical doctor, encounters the accident scene. The subscriber realizes that medical care must be supplied immediately to one of the accident victims, or she will die. There is no time to wait for police or ambulance escort to arrive.

The subscriber sets up a call between the mobile station 20 and the telecommunications network 60 by accessing the communications interface 290. Once the call is answered by the serving mobile switching center 250, the process of generating the query 30 begins .

As noted previously, building the query 30 may be accomplished using a series of voice menu questions or data messages 37 to the mobile station 20. For example, the system 10 may announce, using an announcement machine 270, "Enter 1 for emergency services, enter 2 for entertainment, enter 3 for retail, enter 4 for transportation, and enter 5 for other." After entering "1", the machine 270 may announce "Enter 1 for police, enter 2 for hospital, enter 3 for ambulance, and enter 4 for other." After "2" is entered, the query 30, including desired information segments, can be transmitted by the mobile station 20. Thus, the query may contain more than one information segment (in this case, the query 30 includes multiple segments "1" and "2"), and may be transmitted from the mobile station after enough selected information segments are provided to provide useful information from the database, or the mobile station may submit information as a query 30 containing a single information segment (i.e., a first query 30 including a selected information segment "1", and a second query 30 including a selected information segment "2") separately. After the information segment query 30 is received, determining the physical location 40 of the mobile station 20 is accomplished. In the simplest situation, the approximate physical location 40 of the mobile station 20 will be determined by noting the physical location of the cell 50 which is currently serving the mobile station 20. More sophisticated examples of such determination may include triangulation within the cell, arcuation, signal strength measurements, signal timing measurements or, possibly, initiating a query 37 from the query-response module 310 to the mobile station 20, requesting a specific verbal description of the closest street name and/or address. Given this example, it is readily understood that the process of sending query information 30 from the mobile station may also be accomplished by voice recognition of the audio signal provided by the mobile station 20 subscriber m answer to queries 37 from an announcement machine 270. Further, instead of an announcement machine 270, the query process may be handled using a message center 280. In this instance, the query process may be conducted using a menu displayed on the display of the mobile station 20, which prompts for keypad 22 entries by the mobile station 20 subscriber. Using the SMS, directions can also be displayed on the mobile station 20 to direct the subscriber to the nearest hospital location 160. All of the announcements noted above may be displayed in visual form using the SMS residing m the message center 280. In any event, after the query 30 is generated and received, the approximate location 40 of the mobile station 20 will be determined by the distance determination module 300.

The approximate location 40 of the mobile station 20 and the information indicating that the location of the nearest hospital 150, 160, 170 has now been acquired. The database memory 70 is then searched to locate matching preselected information segments associated with the query information. In this case, the information segments 72, and 76 may contain the term "hospital" . The database memory 70 is also searched to provide a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the matching information segments for hospitals, such as for hospital #2, 160, which may be stored in the database memory 70 as physical location address 71, and hospital #3, 170, which may be stored as physical location address 75 in the database memory 70. The associated information segments 73 and 77 may contain the telephone numbers of the hospitals 160 and 170.

Using the distance determination module 300, which may be a hardware circuit or a software program module, the set of preselected physical location addresses are equated to some type of absolute coordinates, such as a map grid, or latitude/longitude coordinates, and the physical distance 190, 200 between the mobile station 20 and the hospitals 160, 170, is determined. In this case, it will be found that the physical distance 190 to the hospital 160 from the approximate location 40 is less than the physical distance 200 to the hospital 170. Thus, proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses in this case comprises only address 71.

At this point, the address 71 corresponding to the corresponding matching information segment 37, i.e., information segment 72 can be transmitted to the mobile station 20, along with the address for the hospital, contained in information segment 73. Further, a series of directions from the nearest major thoroughfare can also be transmitted to the mobile station 20, generated by the query-response module 310. Such information will be most useful if the approximate location 40 of the mobile station is known to within a distance of several blocks, so that the directions can be fairly specific.

A specific example of the method for communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station, using the concept of an information segment "class" to more precisely define a subset of providers of goods or services, may comprise the steps of receiving an information segment query related to a provider of restaurant services, including a selected information segment for the class of "restaurant"; determining the approximate location of the mobile station; scanning the database memory where a plurality of preselected physical location addresses and corresponding pluralities of preselected information segments are stored (including the information segment for the class of "restaurant"), to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory which matching the class of "restaurant". The method continues with retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments for the class of "restaurant" from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for restaurants which are proximate to the mobile station; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least the most proximate of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for restaurants which are proximate to the mobile station. Instead of restaurants, the example may of course include classes for safety or health service providers, such that the preselected information segment would be for the class of "hospital", "ambulance", "police", "fire", etc.

Another specific example might include the steps of receiving an information segment query related to a provider of grocery store goods, including a selected information segment for the class of 'grocery"; determining the approximate location of the mobile station; scanning the database memory where a plurality of preselected physical location addresses and corresponding pluralities of preselected information segments are stored (including the information segment for the class of 'grocery"). to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory which matching the class of 'grocery". The method continues with retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments for the class of "grocery" from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for grocery store goods providers which are proximate to the mobile station; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least the most proximate of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for grocery stores which are proximate to the mobile station. The example may of course include other providers of goods, such that the preselected information segment would be for the class of "hardware", "gasoline", "oil", etc. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. The various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention, or their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A method of communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving an information segment query related to the provider of goods or services, the information segment query including a selected information segment; determining an approximate location of the mobile station; scanning a database memory in which is stored a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, wherein at least one of the plurality of preselected physical location addresses is related to the provider of goods or services and wherein each one of said preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments, to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory and matching the selected information segment; retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least one of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plurality of physical location addresses may be selected from a group consisting of: street addresses, cell coordinates, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates, global positioning system coordinates, and latitude-longitude coordinates.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plurality of preselected information segments may be selected from a group consisting of: generic business names, actual business names, physical addresses, descriptions of services, descriptions of goods, certifications, fees, days of operation, employees, and hours of operation.

. The method of Claim 1 comprising the steps of: setting up a call between the mobile station and the telecommunications network; and transmitting the information segment query from the mobile station to the telecommunications network.

5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the information segment query includes a request to provide a physical address location corresponding to a generic business name.

6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the information segment query includes a request to provide a physical address location corresponding to a description of services.

7. The method of Claim 1 wherein the information segment query includes a request to provide a physical address location corresponding to a description of goods.

8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of determining an approximate location of the mobile station includes the step of determining a location of a cell currently serving the mobile station.

9. The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of determining an approximate location of the mobile station includes the step of determining a set of approximate latitude-longitude coordinates of the mobile station.

10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the step of comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses includes the step of determining a linear surface physical distance between the approximate physical location of the mobile station and each one of the preselected physical location addresses contained within the set of preselected physical location addresses.

11. The method of Claim 1 wherein the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses includes a selected number of preselected physical location addresses which are within a predetermined distance from the approximate physical location of the mobile station.

12. An apparatus for communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station located at an approximate physical location, comprising: a mobile switching center operating within a telecommunications network, the mobile switching center including a database memory m which is stored a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, wherein at least one of the plurality of preselected physical location addresses is related to the provider of goods or services and wherein each one of the preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments; and a distance determination module m electronic communication with the database memory, the module being adapted to determine the approximate distance between the approximate physical location of the mobile station and the plurality of physical location addresses.

13. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the plurality of preselected physical location addresses may be selected from a group consisting of: street addresses, cell coordinates, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates, global positioning system coordinates, and latitude-longitude coordinates.

14. The apparatus of Claim 12 wherein the plurality of preselected information segments may be selected from a group consisting of: generic business names, actual business names, physical addresses, descriptions of services, descriptions of goods, certifications, fees, days of operation, employees, and hours of operation.

15. A telecommunications network for communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station comprising: a communications interface adapted to communicate with the mobile station; a database memory m electronic communication with the communications interface, the database memory including a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, wherein each one of the preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments, and wherein at least one of the preselected physical location addresses is related to the provider of goods or services; and a distance determination module m electronic communication with the database memory, the module being adapted to determine the approximate distance between an approximate physical location of a mobile station communicating with the network and the plurality of physical location addresses.

16. The network of Claim 15 wherein the communications interface comprises a mobile switching center.

17. The network of Claim 15 comprising a distance determination module m electronic communication with the database memory.

18. The network of Claim 15 comprising a query- response module m electronic communication with the database memory.

19. The network of Claim 15 wherein the plurality of preselected physical location addresses may be selected from a group consisting of: street addresses, cell coordinates, map grid coordinates, geographic coordinates, global positioning system coordinates, and latitude-longitude coordinates.

20. The network of Claim 15, wherein the plurality of preselected information segments may be selected from a group consisting of: generic business names, actual business names, physical addresses, descriptions of services, descriptions of goods, certifications, fees, days of operation, employees, and hours of operation.

21. A method of communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving an information segment query related to a provider of restaurant services, the information segment query including a selected information segment for a class of restaurant; determining an approximate location of the mobile station; scanning a database memory in which is stored a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, and wherein each one of said preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments including the information segment for the class of restaurant, to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory and matching the selected information segment for the class of restaurant; retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for restaurants which are proximate to the mobile station; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least the most proximate of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for restaurants which are proximate to the mobile station.

22. A method of communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving an information segment query related to a provider of hospital services, the information segment query including a selected information segment for a class of hospital; determining an approximate location of the mobile station; scanning a database memory in which is stored a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, and wherein each one of said preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments including the information segment for the class of hospital, to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory and matching the selected information segment for the class of hospital; retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for hospitals which are proximate to the mobile station; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least the most proximate of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for hospitals which are proximate to the mobile station.

23. A method of communicating information about a provider of goods or services to a mobile station, comprising the steps of: receiving an information segment query related to a provider of grocery goods, the information segment query including a selected information segment for a class of grocery; determining an approximate location of the mobile station; scanning a database memory in which is stored a plurality of preselected physical location addresses, and wherein each one of said preselected physical location addresses is associated with a corresponding plurality of preselected information segments including the information segment for the class of grocery, to provide a set of preselected information segments selected from the pluralities of information segments stored in the database memory and matching the selected information segment for the class of grocery; retrieving a set of preselected physical location addresses associated with the set of preselected information segments from the database memory; comparing the approximate physical location of the mobile station with the set of preselected physical location addresses to provide a proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for grocery stores which are proximate to the mobile station; and transmitting a response to the mobile station which includes at least the most proximate of the preselected physical location addresses within the proximate subset of preselected physical location addresses for grocery stores which are proximate to the mobile station.