Method and apparatus for providing information about a real-world space
First Claim
1. A method of providing information about a real-world space, comprising the steps of:
- (a) as the or each of at least one user moves through said space, virtual markers are deposited and stored to indicate associated locations visited by the user in the space, the virtual markers each having an initial strength value;
(b) the strength values associated with the stored markers, either taken in location-dependent aggregations or individually, are caused to decay with time;
(c) data about the current strength of the stored markers, either in aggregation or individually, is used to provide information relevant to use of the space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information about a real-world space such as an exhibition space. In a preferred embodiment, users visiting a space are equipped with mobile devices in communication with a service system. The mobile devices are arranged to deposit virtual markers with the service system as the users progress around the space. These markers are stored and decayed with time, either individually or in location-dependent marker aggregations, and data on the current strength values of the markers or marker aggregations is used to provide information concerning use of the space.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of providing information about a real-world space, comprising the steps of:
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(a) as the or each of at least one user moves through said space, virtual markers are deposited and stored to indicate associated locations visited by the user in the space, the virtual markers each having an initial strength value;
(b) the strength values associated with the stored markers, either taken in location-dependent aggregations or individually, are caused to decay with time;
(c) data about the current strength of the stored markers, either in aggregation or individually, is used to provide information relevant to use of the space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for providing information about a real-world space, the apparatus comprising:
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a first arrangement arranged to deposit and store virtual markers to indicate associated locations visited by each of multiple users in the space;
a second arrangement arranged to decay with time the strength values associated with the stored markers, either taken in location-dependent aggregations or individually; and
a third arrangement arranged to use data about the current strength of the stored markers, either in aggregation or individually, to provide information relevant to use of the space. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification