Methods and systems for visual addressing

• US 20030208315A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael F. Mays
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Mays
• Inventors: Mays, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of guiding a traveler, comprising the activities of: obtaining a route from a first approach to a destination; selecting a sequential set of way points along said route, said sequential set of way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route; capturing a visual image of each way point from said sequential set of way points to form a set of visual images; arranging said set of visual images into a static viewable sequential order; and in response to a user'"'"'s selection of said first approach from a predetermined set of approaches to said destination, providing said set of visual images to said user. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method of guiding a traveler between a predetermined starting point and a predetermined destination using a plurality of photographic images, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a route between said starting point and said destination and selecting a set of way points along said route, said way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

(b) capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into driving order so as to be simultaneously viewable thereby forming a static pictograph; and

(c) providing said pictograph, printable in hard copy form, for use in guiding said traveler.

2. A method of providing an end user with information for guiding travel between any one of a plurality of starting points within a region having boundaries and any one of a plurality of destinations within said region using photographic images, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set of way points within said region, said way points defining routes to be followed between any one of said starting points and any one of said destinations;

(b) capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into an addressable array of photographs that are simultaneously viewable; and

(c) providing said addressable array of photographs, printable in static hard copy form, for use in guiding said travel.

3. A system for guiding a traveler between a predetermined starting point and a predetermined destination using a plurality of photographic images, comprising:

(a) means for determining a route between said starting point and said destination and for selecting a set of way points along said route, said way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

(b) means for capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into driving order so as to be viewable altogether in a single document thereby forming a static pictograph; and

(c) means for providing said pictograph, printable in hard copy form, for use in guiding said traveler.

4. A system for providing an end user with information for guiding travel between any one of a plurality of starting points within a region having boundaries and any one of a plurality of destinations within said region using photographic images, comprising:

(a) means for selecting a set of way points within said region, said way points defining routes to be followed between any one of said starting points and any one of said destinations;

(b) means for capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into an addressable array of photographs that are viewable altogether in a single document; and

(c) means for providing said addressable array of all photographs, printable in static hard copy form, for use in guiding said travel.

5. A method of guiding a traveler, comprising the activities of:

obtaining a route from a first starting point to a destination;

selecting a sequential set of way points along said route, said sequential set of way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

capturing a visual image of each way point from said sequential set of way points to form a set of visual images;

arranging said set of visual images into a static simultaneously viewable sequential order; and

in response to a user'"'"'s selection of said first starting point from a predetermined set of starting points to said destination, providing said arranged set of visual images to said user.

6. A method of guiding a traveler, comprising the activities of:

obtaining a route from a first starting point to a destination;

selecting a sequential set of way points along said route, said sequential set of way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

capturing a visual image of each way point from said sequential set of way points to form a set of visual images;

arranging said set of visual images into a static viewable sequential order; and

in response to a user'"'"'s selection of said first starting point from a predetermined set of starting points to said destination, providing said arranged set of visual images to said user.

7. A method of guiding a traveler, comprising the activities of:

obtaining a predetermined route from a first starting point to a first destination; and

in response to a traveler'"'"'s selection of said first starting point from a predetermined set of predetermined starting points, providing to said traveler a predetermined sequential set of visual images arranged into a static viewable sequential order, each visual image from said set of visual images representing a photograph of a predetermined way point along said predetermined route.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising proving said route.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing said traveler a selectable plurality of destinations.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving said traveler'"'"'s selection of said first destination.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response to said traveler'"'"'s selection of said first destination from a predetermined set of destinations, providing said traveler said predetermined set of predetermined starting points.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing said traveler said predetermined set of predetermined starting points.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving said traveler'"'"'s selection of said first starting point.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said first starting point comprises a location.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein said first starting point comprises an approach.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein said first starting point comprises a highway.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein said first starting point comprises a direction of travel.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein said first starting point comprises an approach and a direction of travel.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is provided to said traveler in a digital format.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is provided to said traveler in a printable format.

21. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is provided to said traveler via a network.

22. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is provided to said traveler via Internet.

23. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler a textual description associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route.

24. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler a video description associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route.

25. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler a video description associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route, a playback of said video description controllable by said traveler.

26. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler an audio description associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route.

27. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler an audio description associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route, a playback of said audio description controllable by said traveler.

28. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing to said traveler a computer-generated object associated with at least a portion of said predetermined route.

29. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is presentable holographically.

30. The method of claim 7, wherein said predetermined sequential set of visual images is presentable in front of the traveler.

31. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a promotional item associated with at least one visual image from said predetermined sequential set of visual images.

32. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a promotional item associated with at least one route corresponding to said predetermined sequential set of visual images.

33. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a promotional item associated with at least one destination corresponding to said predetermined sequential set of visual images.