Portable navigation and communication systems

• US 20030139150A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrogreen LLC
• Original Assignee: Dash Smart Investment, LLC
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Robert Michael, Rexrode, William B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable navigation and communication system. In one embodiment, the system combines within a single enclosure a GPS satellite-positioning unit, a means of mobile telephony using cell phone technology and a means of personal computing capable of wired or wireless internet/intranet access using a standard operating system. In one aspect of this embodiment, multiple displays can maintain functional independence of simultaneous operations and allow for fail-over to enhance reliability. Further, a speech recognition subsystem can also be included to provide a voice-activated, speech-controlled user interface for hands-free operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for at least one of communicating, navigating and personal computing, the apparatus comprising:

a single enclosure;

a wireless communication system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the wireless communication system including at least a Global Positioning Satellite (“

GPS”

) system signal receiver and a wireless telephone signal receiver/transmitter; and

a navigation/Personal Digital Assistant (“

PDA”

) system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the navigation/PDA system including a PDA display, a first memory device for storing one or more application software programs, a second memory device for storing data, and a processor coupled to the PDA display for performing operations with the data utilizing the one or more application software programs, the navigation/PDA system being configured to receive information from at least one of the GPS receiver and the wireless telephone receiver/transmitter for visual presentation on the PDA display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass and a compass display operably connected to the electronic compass, the compass display being configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass operably connected to the navigation/PDA system, wherein the PDA display is configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 10 inches, a height dimension of less than about 5 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 3 inches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 9 inches, a height dimension of less than about 4 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 2 inches.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 8.6 inches, a height dimension of less than about 3.8 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a telephone display and a keypad for entering instructions displayable on the telephone display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless modem to enable data transmission.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless modem to enable facsimile data transmission.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless modem to enable transmission of data conforming to the Short Messaging Service (“

SMS”

) protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a wireless modem to enable transmission of data conforming to the Multimedia Messaging Service (“

MMS”

) protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a telephone display configured to visually present information associated with wireless telephone signals, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass and a compass display operably connected to the electronic compass, the compass display being configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication system includes a telephone display and a keypad for entering instructions and data displayable on the telephone display, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass and a compass display operably connected to the electronic compass, the compass display being configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the PDA display is further configured to visually present output resulting from execution of the one or more application software programs.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the PDA display further includes a touch screen for entering data useable by the processor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system for controlling the exchange of information between the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system, the controller including a third memory device for storing a set of control software programs for controlling the exchange of information between the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass and a compass display operably connected to the electronic compass, the compass display being configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass; and

a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the wireless communication system and the compass system for controlling the exchange of information between the wireless communication system and the compass system.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a compass system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the compass system including an electronic compass and a compass display operably connected to the electronic compass, the compass display being configured to visually present directional information received from the electronic compass; and

a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the wireless communication system and the compass system for controlling the exchange of information between the wireless communication system and the compass system for determining a heading based at least partially on GPS information received via the wireless communication system.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the single enclosure includes an attachment portion configured to be releasably attached to an interior portion of a vehicle.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the single enclosure includes an attachment portion configured to be releasably attached at least proximate to a dashboard of an automobile.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source for providing power to at least one of the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system, wherein the power source includes at least one solar cell.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad configured to receive input from a user for use by at least one of the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system; and

a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the keypad, the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system for controlling the exchange of information between the keypad, the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system for controlling the exchange of information between the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system;

an audio receiver positioned at least proximate to an exterior surface of the single enclosure; and

a speech recognition processor housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the audio receiver, wherein the speech recognition processor is configured to convert speech received via the audio receiver into digital data, and wherein into the controller is configured to accept the digital data from the speech recognition processor and transmit the digital data to at least one of the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad configured to receive input from a user for use by at least one of the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system;

a controller housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the keypad, the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system for controlling the exchange of information between the keypad, the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system;

an audio receiver positioned at least proximate to an exterior surface of the single enclosure; and

a speech recognition processor housed at least partially within the single enclosure and operably connected to the audio receiver, wherein the speech recognition processor is configured to convert speech received via the audio receiver into digital data, and wherein into the controller is configured to accept the digital data from the speech recognition processor and transmit the digital data to at least one of the wireless communication system and the navigation/PDA system in at least generally the same manner as if the digital data had been received from the Keypad.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a removable data storage device housed at least partially within the single enclosure, wherein information may be retrieved from and stored to the data storage device in transfers to or from at least one of the first memory device and the second memory device.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the navigation/PDA system includes an open source operating system.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the navigation/PDA system includes an industry standard operating system.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the navigation/PDA system includes a connection port for connection to a computer network.

30. A portable apparatus for wireless communicating, navigating and personal computing, the apparatus comprising:

a single enclosure;

a GPS receiver housed at least partially within the single enclosure;

a key pad positioned at least proximate to an exterior surface of the single enclosure, the key pad configured to receive dialing instructions from a user for a wireless telephone housed at least partially within the single enclosure;

a wireless telephone display positioned at least proximate to the exterior surface of the single enclosure and at least proximate to the key pad, the wireless telephone display configured to display at least a portion of the dialing instructions received via the key pad;

a PDA display positioned least proximate to the exterior surface of the single enclosure and separate from the wireless telephone display, the PDA display configured to display information related to application software programs and information received from at least one of the GPS receiver and the wireless telephone.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a compass display positioned at least proximate to the exterior surface of the single enclosure, the compass display configured to display directional information received from an electronic compass housed at least partially within the single enclosure.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 10 inches, a height dimension of less than about 5 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 3 inches.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 9 inches, a height dimension of less than about 4 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 2 inches.

34. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the single enclosure has a width dimension of less than about 8.6 inches, a height dimension of less than about 3.8 inches, and a thickness dimension of less than about 1.5 inches.

35. A portable navigation and communication system comprising:

navigational means for determining at least one of a position and a heading;

telephony means for transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals containing at least one of audio and digital information;

personal computing means for receiving data from a user and performing operations with the received data utilizing at least one application software program; and

single enclosure means for unitarily housing the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means.

36. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the telephony means includes a display and a keypad for entering instructions and data displayable on said display

37. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the personal computing means includes a first memory device for storing the at least one application software program, a second memory device for storing at least a portion of the data received from the user, and a processor for performing operations with the portion of the data utilizing the at least one application software program.

38. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the personal computing means includes a display for displaying results from the operations performed with the data received from the user, the display having a touch screen.

39. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 further comprising controller means operably connected to the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means for controlling the exchange of information between at least two of the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means.

40. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the navigational means include a display and an electronic compass for sensing directional heading data that is displayable on the display.

41. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the telephony means include a cell phone transmitter.

42. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the navigational means include means for receiving information from a satellite.

43. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35, further comprising power means for providing power to at least one of the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means, wherein the power means include at least one solar cell.

44. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35, further comprising:

controller means operably connected to the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means for controlling the exchange of information between at least two of the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means; and

a speech recognition means, wherein the controller means are configured to accept data from the speech recognition means and transmit the data to at least one of the navigational means, the telephony means, and the personal computing means.

45. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35, wherein the personal computing means includes a touch screen for receiving the input from the user.

46. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the personal computing means include means for connection to a computer network.

47. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the enclosing means include means for releasably attaching the portable navigation and communication system to an interior portion of a vehicle.

48. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the enclosing means include means for releasably attaching the portable navigation and communication system at least proximate to a dashboard of an automobile.

49. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 35 wherein the telephony means include means for hands-off use by the user.

50. A portable navigation and communication system within a single enclosure, comprising:

(a) means of position and heading determination including;

a Satellite Positioning System;

a first Display; and

an Electronic Compass for sensing directional heading data that are displayed on said first Display;

(b) mobile telephone means including;

a second Display;

a Keypad for entering instructions and data that are displayed on said second Display; and

a means of transmitting and receiving wireless telephone signals containing audio and data;

(c) means for personal computing including;

a Personal Digital Assistant means electronically connected to said mobile telephone means, said Personal Digital Assistant means comprising;

a first memory device for storing a set of application software programs;

a second memory device for storing a set of data; and

a Processor for performing operations with said set of data utilizing

said set of application software programs; and

a third Display, separate and unique from said second Display, in electrical connection with said Personal Digital Assistant means for display of output produced as a result of said set of application software programs operating on said set of data, said third Display having a Touch Screen;

(d) a Controller means being electrically connected to said means of position and heading determination, to said mobile telephone means, and to said means for personal computing;

and having a third memory device for storing a set of control software programs; and

(e) a Power Supply for providing electrical power to said means of position and heading determination, to said mobile telephone means, to said personal computing means, and to said Controller means.

51. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 50 wherein said mobile telephone means utilizes cell phone technology.

52. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 50 wherein said Satellite Positioning System utilizes GPS technology and is assisted by said Electronic Compass through operation of said Controller and of said Personal Digital Assistant means.

53. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 50 wherein said Power Supply is assisted by an array of solar cells.

54. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 50 further comprising a Speech Generator, said Controller means capable of causing said Speech Generator to output the voice equivalent of text prepared for display on any of said first Display, said second Display, or said third Display.

55. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 54 further comprising a Speech Recognition Unit, said Controller means capable of accepting data from said Speech Recognition Unit and treating said data from said Speech Recognition Unit as if it had been received from said Keypad or from said Touch Screen.

56. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 55 further comprising a removable Data Storage Device having an industry standard interface wherein information may be retrieved from and stored to said Data Storage Device in transfers, respectively, to or from said first memory device, said second memory device, and said third memory device.

57. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 56 wherein said means for personal computing is capable of operation with an Open Source operating system.

58. The portable navigation and communication system as described in claim 56 wherein said means for personal computing is capable of operation with an industry standard operating system.

59. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 58 wherein said industry standard operating system is a version of Microsoft Windows CE.

60. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 59 wherein said set of application software programs includes programs that run on all personal computers.

61. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 60 wherein information intended for presentation on said second Display may instead be presented on said third Display if said second Display is in a Not Ready state.

62. The portable navigation and communication system of claim 61 wherein said Personal Digital Assistant means has a connection port to a network.

63. A portable apparatus for wireless data communications, the apparatus comprising:

a single enclosure;

a wireless communication system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the wireless communication system including at least a wireless telephone signal receiver/transmitter/modem;

a navigation/Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) system housed at least partially within the single enclosure, the navigation/PDA system including a PDA display, a first memory device for storing one or more application software programs, a second memory device for storing data, and a processor coupled to the PDA display for performing operations with the data utilizing the one or more application software programs; and

a connection port for connecting the navigation/PDA system to one or more of a computer, a network bridge, and a network hub.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the connection port is configured to support industry standard wireless connection protocols.

65. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the connection port is configured to support an industry standard wireless connection protocol including the “

Bluetooth”

802.11b protocol.

66. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the connection port is configured to support an industry standard wireless connection protocol including Ultra Wideband (“

UWB”

).

67. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the connection port is configured to support an industry standard connection protocol including the “

Ethernet”

protocol.

68. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the connection port is configured to support an industry standard connection protocol including Universal Serial Bus (“

USB”

).