System and method for providing routing, mapping, and relative position information to users of a communication network
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing real-time position information of one party to another party by utilizing a conventional telecommunication network system such as the convention telephone network, a mobile telecommunications network, a computer network, or the Internet. More specifically, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow a caller and a receiver of a telephone call to provide to and receive from each other position information related to the caller and/or receiver's physical location, including address information, GPS coordinates, nearby fixed locations such as a parking structure, etc. Additionally, the preferred embodiments of the present invention allow a caller and receiver to retrieve routing instructions or maps for traveling to or from each other. In another embodiment of the present invention, a party may locate the position of another party via the entry of the other party's unique identifier such as a phone number of the other party's mobile phone. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the position information of a party may be concurrently delivered to another party's computer terminal whereby the other party can process the information in further detail.
1 . A method for presenting navigational information using a mobile communication device having an input interface and a GPS receiver and a complementary device having a display device, said method comprising the steps of:
receiving location information of the mobile communication device using the GPS receiver of the mobile communication device, said location information indicating a location of the mobile communication device;
receiving destination information, said destination information indicating a location of a destination;
using the mobile communication device, sending a request for navigational information, said navigational information including route information for traveling between the location of the mobile communication device and the location of the destination, wherein said request is sent to a server over a telecommunication network;
receiving, from the server over a telecommunication network, navigational information;
storing, at the mobile communication device, navigational information received from the server;
establishing communication between the mobile communication device and the complementary device;
sending, from the mobile communication device to the complementary device, said navigational information;
displaying, at the display device of the complementary device, driving directions for traveling between the location of the mobile communication device and the location of the destination.
2 - 79 . (canceled)