Wifi Revolution

California-based Networks In Motion (News - Alert) (NIM) announced that it has been successful in obtaining a U.S. Patent, No. 7,321,826 for “Point of Interest Spatial Rating Search Method and System”.

NIM, a wireless navigation and location-based services (LBS) company, explained that this patent is for a new method which allows users to procure ratings or any other information while looking for a point of interest (POI) using a mobile GPS-enabled device.

The device could be one which can retrieve information stored on a server and not the device itself. This kind of data is referred to as ‘off-board’ data.

As per the patent a GPS device can be used to search for points of interest by different search methods. A clause in the patent clarifies that a user can search for convenience stores offering low gas prices, good restaurants, places issuing coupons, bookstores or any such place.

Further the search can also be taken deeper to make sub categorical searches like locating places which serve different regional food, within the restaurant search.

NIM has already released some of the patented features to the market on major wireless carriers’ search applications and NIM’s mobile phone navigation. NIM has acquired many more patents regarding location-based technology and social networking using GPS-enabled devices.

Doug Antone, president and CEO of Networks In Motion said, “We had a vision that GPS would streamline finding points of interest and other useful off-board information for local search by mobile users.”

“There are endless opportunities for creating unique applications using GPS-enabled devices and we look forward to continuing to bring innovative products to our customers, using the patents we have in place, to help them navigate their lives,” added Antone.

 

 

 

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