Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system

• US 20040078813A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagasawa, Hiroshi, Masano, Toru, Itako, Motoya, Kobuya, Naoshi, Noda, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,130,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• 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: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/008 Touring maps or guides to public transport networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Tour guide contents utilized by a user at a travel destination consist of guide information including POI information, map data and the like, and user information including memoranda written by the user. The user can access a contents server from a user terminal, and is able to customize at the contents server the tour guide contents to be utilized at a travel destination. Customized tour guide contents are stored into a memory medium at a business terminal, and the memory medium is installed in an electronic guide apparatus, such as at an airport counter. The user receives the electronic guide apparatus and a GPS on a rental basis at the airport counter, and takes them to the travel destination. Then, the user is able to utilize the tour guide contents customized for the user at the travel destination.

Claims

1. A guide system, comprising:

a terminal;

a contents server connectable to said terminal by a network; and

a portable device carried by a user;

said terminal comprising;

guide information receiving means for receiving guide information from said contents server;

user information generating means for generating user information of a user; and

user information transmitting means for transmitting the generated user information to said contents server;

said contents server comprising;

guide information transmitting means for transmitting the guide information to said terminal;

user information receiving means for receiving the user information transmitted from said terminal;

guide contents generating means for generating guide contents based on the guide information and the received user information; and

guide contents output means for outputting the generated guide contents; and

said portable device comprising;

guide contents acquisition means for acquiring the output guide contents; and

guide contents utilizing means for utilizing the acquired guide contents.

2. A contents server, comprising:

guide information transmitting means for transmitting guide information to a terminal;

user information receiving means for receiving user information generated by a user and corresponding to the transmitted guide information;

guide contents generating means for generating guide contents based on the guide information and the received user information; and

guide contents output means for outputting the guide contents.

3. The contents server according to claim 2, wherein:

said guide contents output means transmits the guide contents to a predetermined terminal through a network.

4. The contents server according to claim 2, wherein:

the guide contents include;

the guide information;

the user information; and

a utility program for making a portable device function to utilize the guide contents by relating the guide information with the user information.

5. The contents server according to claim 4, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

said utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the site information on the map.

6. The contents server according to claim 4, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

said utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the positional information on the map.

7. The contents server according to claim 4, further comprising:

driving means for executing said utility program to utilize the guide contents;

utilizing information receiving means for receiving utilizing information for said utility program from the terminal; and

driving result transmitting means for driving said driving means in accordance with the received utilizing information to obtain a driving result and for transmitting the driving result to the terminal.

8. A portable device, comprising:

measured position acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

measured time acquisition means for acquiring a measured time at which each of said measured positions is acquired by said measured position acquisition means; and

position and time storing means for storing each of the measured positions with reference to a corresponding one of the measured times.

9. The portable device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a storage medium for storing guide contents including user information and guide information, the guide information including map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

drive means for retrieving the stored guide contents in which the guide information is associated with the user information; and

display means for displaying a traveling route on the map utilizing the measured positions and the measured times stored in said position and time storing means and the positional information stored in said storage medium.

10. The portable device according to claim 8, further comprising:

image taking means for obtaining image data of an object;

taking time acquisition means for acquiring a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained by the image taking means;

image data storing means for storing the image data of the object in association with the taking time; and

image taking position specifying means for specifying a taking position of the stored image data by matching the taking time associated with the image data with the measured positions and the measured times stored in said position and time storing means.

11. A contents server, comprising:

position and time acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of measured positions and a measured time associated with each of the measured positions;

image data acquisition means for acquiring image data of an object and a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained; and

image taking position specifying means for specifying a taking position of the acquired image data by matching the taking time of the acquired image data with the measured times and the measured positions acquired by said position and time acquisition means.

12. The contents server according to claim 11, further comprising:

map data acquisition means for acquiring map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

plotting means for plotting the acquired image data at the taking position on the map by coinciding the acquired positional information with the taking position on the map; and

output means for outputting the map on which the acquired image data is plotted.

13. An information processing method, comprising:

transmitting guide information to a terminal;

receiving user information generated by a user and corresponding to the transmitted guide information;

generating guide contents based on the transmitted guide information and the received user information; and

outputting the guide contents.

14. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein:

the guide contents include;

the guide information;

the user information; and

a utility program for making a portable device function to utilize the guide contents by relating the guide information with the user information.

15. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the site information on the map.

16. The information processing method according to claim 14, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the positional information on the map.

17. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the step of outputting the guide contents includes transmitting the guide contents to a predetermined terminal through a network.

18. The information processing method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving utilizing information for the utility program from the terminal;

executing the utility program in accordance with the received utilizing information to obtain an execution result; and

transmitting the execution result to the terminal.

19. An information processing method, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

acquiring a measured time at which each of the measured positions is acquired; and

storing each of the measured positions with reference to a corresponding one of the measured times.

20. The information processing method according to claim 19, further comprising:

storing guide contents including user information and guide information, the guide information including map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

retrieving the stored guide contents in which the guide information is associated with the user information; and

displaying a traveling route on the map utilizing the stored measured positions and the stored measured times and the stored positional information.

21. The information processing method according to claim 19, further comprising:

obtaining image data of an object;

acquiring a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained;

storing the image data of the object in association with the taking time; and

specifying a taking position of the stored image data by matching the taking time associated with the image data with the stored measured positions and the stored measured times.

22. An information processing method, comprising:

acquiring a plurality of measured positions and a measured time associated with each of the measured positions;

acquiring image data of an object and a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained; and

specifying a taking position of the acquired image data by matching the taking time of the acquired image data with the acquired measured times and the acquired measured positions.

23. The information processing method according to claim 22, further comprising:

acquiring map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

plotting the acquired image data at the taking position on the map by coinciding the acquired positional information with the taking position on the map; and

outputting the map on which the acquired image data is plotted.

24. An information processing system, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

transmit guide information to a terminal;

receive user information generated by a user and corresponding to the transmitted guide information;

generate guide contents based on the transmitted guide information and the received user information; and

output the guide contents.

25. The information processing system according to claim 24, wherein:

the guide contents include;

the guide information;

the user information; and

a utility program for making a portable device function to utilize the guide contents by relating the guide information with the user information.

26. The information processing system according to claim 25, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the site information on the map.

27. The information processing system according to claim 25, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the positional information on the map.

28. The information processing system according to claim 24, wherein the instruction to output the guide contents includes an instruction to transmit the guide contents to a predetermined terminal through a network.

29. The information processing system according to claim 25, wherein the instructions further include:

receive utilizing information for the utility program from the terminal;

execute the utility program in accordance with the received utilizing information to obtain an execution result; and

transmit the execution result to the terminal.

30. An information processing system, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

acquire a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

acquire a measured time at which each of the measured positions is acquired; and

store each of the measured positions with reference to a correspondence one of the measured times.

31. The information processing system according to claim 30, wherein the instructions further include:

store guide contents including user information and guide information, the guide information including map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

retrieve the stored guide contents in which the guide information is associated with the user information; and

display a traveling route on the map utilizing the stored measured positions and the stored measured times and the stored positional information.

32. The information processing system according to claim 30, wherein the instructions further include:

obtain image data of an object;

acquire a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained;

store the image data of the object in association with the taking time; and

specify a taking position of the stored image data by matching the taking time associated with the image data with the stored measured positions and the stored measured times.

33. An information processing system, comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions; and

instructions, the instructions including;

acquire a plurality of measured positions and a measured time associated with each of the measured positions;

acquire image data of an object and a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained; and

specify a taking position of the acquired image data by matching the taking time of the acquired image data with the acquired measured times and the acquired measured positions.

34. The information processing system according to claim 33, wherein the instructions further include:

acquire map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

plot the acquired image data at the taking position on the map by coinciding the acquired positional information with the taking position on the map; and

output the map on which the acquired image data is plotted.

35. A computer-readable storage medium recorded with an information processing program, said information processing program comprising:

transmitting guide information to a terminal;

receiving user information generated by a user and corresponding to the transmitted guide information;

generating guide contents based on the transmitted guide information and the received user information; and

outputting the guide contents.

36. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein:

the guide contents include;

the guide information;

the user information; and

a utility program for making a portable device function to utilize the guide contents by relating the guide information with the user information.

37. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 36, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the site information on the map.

38. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 36, wherein:

the guide information includes site information including site positional information for specifying a position of a site and map data including positional information on a map for each site, and

the utility program causes the portable device to display the site information on the map by matching the site positional information to the positional information on the map.

39. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein the step of outputting the guide contents includes transmitting the guide contents to a predetermined terminal through a network.

40. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein said information processing program further comprises:

receiving utilizing information for the utility program from the terminal;

executing the utility program in accordance with the received utilizing information to obtain an execution result; and

transmitting the execution result to the terminal.

41. A computer-readable storage medium recorded with an information processing program, said information processing program comprising:

acquiring a plurality of measured positions by measuring a current position continuously at a predetermined time interval;

acquiring a measured time at which each of the measured positions is acquired; and

storing each of the measured positions with reference to a corresponding one of the measured times.

42. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said information processing program further comprises:

storing guide contents including user information and guide information, the guide information including map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

retrieving the stored guide contents in which the guide information is associated with the user information; and

displaying a traveling route on the map utilizing the stored measured positions and the stored measured times and the stored positional information.

43. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 41, wherein said information processing program further comprises:

obtaining image data of an object;

acquiring a taking time at which the image date of the object is obtained;

storing the image data of the object in association with the taking time; and

specifying a taking position of the stored image data by matching the taking time associated with the image data with the stored measured positions and the stored measured times.

44. A computer-readable storage medium recorded with an information processing program, said information processing program comprising:

acquiring a plurality of measured positions and a measured time associated with each of the measured positions;

acquiring image data of an object and a taking time at which the image data of the object is obtained; and

specifying a taking position of the acquired image data by matching the taking time of the acquired image data with the acquired measured times and the acquired measured positions.

45. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 44, wherein said information processing program further comprises:

acquiring map data including positional information for specifying a position of a site on a map;

plotting the acquired image data at the taking position on the map by coinciding the acquired positional information with the taking position on the map; and

outputting the map on which the acquired image data is plotted.