US 5,898,680 A · System for providing location-specific data to a user

Abstract

An FDMA/TDM satellite-based digital broadcast system is used to provide digital maps and other types of data to users at remote locations. User selection of the desired data is achieved by monitoring the TDM downlink channels of the broadcast system in accordance with a predetermined schedule or until a specific identification code is detected. The user terminals are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers which allow the positions of the users to be determined. Based on the user positions, the user terminals are able to convert general data to location-specific data tailored to the needs of the user. The general data may comprise a digital map covering a wide geographic area, and the location-specific data may comprise a map covering a portion of the geographic region where the user is located.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for providing location-specific data to a user, comprising:

a broadcast station for transmitting general data potentially usable by a plurality of users located at different geographic positions;
a relay satellite for relaying said general data from said broadcast station to said plurality of users;
and
a receiver terminal provided for each of said users, said receiver terminal comprising a broadcast receiver for receiving said general data from said relay satellite, a position determination unit for determining the geographic position of the user, and a processor for converting said general data to location-specific data based on the geographic position of said user as determined by said position determination unit.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for providing location-specific data to a user

Life of this patent

System for providing location-specific data to a user

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20