INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA TOUR GUIDE
First Claim
1. An interactive multimedia tour guide comprising:
- a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of packaged tours from which a user may select a tour, each tour being comprised of principle points of interest and ancillary points of interest; and
a portable self-contained system including a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and means for storing at least a selected tour and related information from the GIS database, the portable self-contained system further including a speech synthesis function to provide audible directions and information about points of interest as a tour progresses and audible prompts to the user, the GPS receiver generating location information used to access information in the selected tour, the interactive multimedia tour guide allowing the user to modify the selected tour while in progress.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive multimedia tour guide provides a user with packaged tours in a multimedia format that includes directions and useful information about a selected tour. The packaged tours are composed of principle and ancillary points of interest. The user may preview and select a packaged tour or generate a custom tour by selecting points of interest from two or more packaged tours. On initial installation, a user profile is developed which is used to generate a preference mask. A preference mask also may be generated for one or more travel companions. The user'"'"'s preference mask or a composite preference mask generated by a combining function of the user'"'"'s preference mask and one or more travel companions'"'"' preference masks is used to customize a selected tour by selecting only those ancillary points of interest that would be of most interest to the user and his or her travel companion(s). The selected tour is stored on a portable self-contained electronic system which includes a GPS navigation system and cell phone. The system includes voice recognition software and speech synthesis software to provide the user with a verbal interface that provides directions and information on various points of interest during the tour. The interactive multimedia tour guide allows the user to modify the tour while in progress and, in addition, serves the function of a concierge to identify dining and lodging options and to make reservations for the user. The flexibility of the interactive multimedia tour guide allows the user to begin a tour at any point and to change the tour as the spirit dictates, allowing the user an unprecedented degree of freedom in their sightseeing. Combined with optional still or video camera, the interactive multimedia tour guide allows for rapid identification and editing of pictures or videos made on a tour.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An interactive multimedia tour guide comprising:
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a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of packaged tours from which a user may select a tour, each tour being comprised of principle points of interest and ancillary points of interest; and
a portable self-contained system including a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver and means for storing at least a selected tour and related information from the GIS database, the portable self-contained system further including a speech synthesis function to provide audible directions and information about points of interest as a tour progresses and audible prompts to the user, the GPS receiver generating location information used to access information in the selected tour, the interactive multimedia tour guide allowing the user to modify the selected tour while in progress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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18. A portable self-contained interactive multimedia tour guide comprising:
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means for storing at least a selected tour from a Geographic Information System (GIS) database of packaged tours;
a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver generating location information;
a central processing unit (CPU) receiving said location information and accessing said GIS database;
a display controlled by the CPU to display a map showing a current location relative to the selected tour; and
a speech synthesis function controlled by the CPU to provide audible directions and information about points of interest as the selected tour progresses and audible prompts to a user, wherein the CPU is programmed to allow the user to modify the selected tour while in progress.
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29. A method of providing tours for use in an interactive multimedia tour guide comprising the steps of:
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generating a Geographical Information System (GIS) database containing packaged tours from which a user may select a tour, each tour being comprised of principle points of interest and ancillary points of interest;
prompting a user to preview one or more packaged tours in the GIS database, a preview of a packaged tour including an audio/visual presentation of at least the principle points of interest in a packaged tour; and
allowing a user to select principle points of interest from two or more packaged tours to generate a custom tour.
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40. A camera comprising:
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means for generating location information;
means for generating orientation information; and
means for accessing a Geographic Information System (GIS) database using said location and orientation information to identify a probable subject of an image. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification