Abstract: A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates. For example, a geographical web browser is implemented in a mobile unit such as a dashboard computer. The mobile unit includes one or more transducers such as antennas and is operative to receive locally broadcast signals or to operate a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As the mobile unit navigates into different physical localities, different web pages are displayed by the geographical web browser. For example, a user desiring to buy a house can set the web browser to a real estate web page. Instead of clicking on a hyperlink to access web pages of properties in an area, the user drives into a first area and automatically receives web pages relating to homes in that area. When the mobile unit crosses town and enters a second area, a new set of web pages is downloaded relating to properties in the second area.

Abstract: A geographical web browser allows a user to navigate a network application such as the Word Wide Web by physically navigating in geographical coordinates and roaming through coverage areas of wireless LANs, microcells, and other such local broadcast domains. A mobile unit communicates with a network server via an air interface that supports wireless packet data. The mobile unit receives a broadcast transmission from a local broadcast domain entity that uses a low power local wireless protocol. The transmission includes a data packet that includes an indication related to information content. A content-selective information filter then compares a content-based filter parameter with the indication in the packet and selectively passes information related to the packet when a match is identified. In response to the identified match, a user is notified and given the option to request the content to be coupled from the mobile unit to the network server.