Interactive map production

• US 20050086585A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Robert, Walmsley Simon, Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/246
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0439 using geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A method of producing an interactive map using a computer system. The method includes determining graphic data indicative of a visible representation of a map of a geographic area and determining an identity. The computer system then generates coded data indicative of the identity and of a plurality of reference points of the map, and records an association between the identity and a page description, the page description being indicative of a layout of the coded data and the graphic data. The computer system then causes the map to be printed by printing of the graphic data and the coded data onto a surface using the layout.

Claims

1. A method of producing an interactive map, wherein the method includes, in a computer system:

determining graphic data indicative of a visible representation of a map of a geographic area;

determining an identity;

generating coded data, the coded data being indicative of the identity and of a plurality of reference points of the map;

determining a page description, the page description being indicative of a layout of the coded data and the graphic data;

recording an association between the identity and the page description; and

,

causing the map to be printed by printing of the graphic data and the coded data onto a surface using the layout.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining a geogrpahic indication indicative of the geographic area; and

, determining the graphic data using the determined geographic indication.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method includes, in the computer system providing the geographic indication to a map provider, the map provider being responsive to the geographic indication to:

determine the graphic data; and

,

provide the graphic data to the computer system.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

receiving indicating data generated by a sensing device in response to sensing of second coded data provided on or in an interface surface, the indicating data being indicative of;

an identity of interface surface; and

at least one of;

a position of the sensing device with respect to interface surface; and

an interactive element provided on the interface surface; and

,

determining, using the indicating data, the geographic indication.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the interface surface defines at least one of:

a map control page;

an information page;

a distance information page;

a search results page; and

,

a map.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

determining, using the identity of interface surface, an interface surface description; and

,

determining the geographic indication using the interface surface description and at least one of;

the position of the sensing device with respect to interface surface; and

the interactive element.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, determining the page description by:

selecting a pre-determined page description stored in a data store; and

,

generating a page description by defining the layout, the layout representing the relative positioning of the coded data and the graphic data on the surface.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of coded data portions, each coded data portion being at least partially indicative of the identity and at least one of:

a position of the coded data portion; and

,

an interactive element; and

,

wherein the method includes printing the coded data portions in accordance with the layout.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the map allows a user to designate at least one geographic area using a sensing device, and wherein the method includes, in the computer system:

receiving indicating data generated by the sensing device in response to sensing of the coded data, the indicating data being indicative of;

the identity; and

at least one of;

a position of the sensing device with respect to the map; and

an interactive element; and

,

determining, using the indicating data, a geographic indication indicative of the geographic area.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method includes, in the computer system, performing an action associated with a designated geographic area using the map.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the action is one of:

(a) printing information about a designated country, region, city or other geographic area or geographic area;

(b) printing a map of a designated geographic area;

(c) printing a distance between designated geographic areas;

(d) printing a map of a geographic area adjoining a particular geographic area; and

(f) printing a scaled-up or scaled-down map of a particular geographic area.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the map contains map information including at least one of:

(a) geographic features of the geographic area;

(b) cities in the geographic area;

(c) countries related to the geographic area;

(d) different views of the geographic area;

(e) topography of the geographic area;

(f) vegetation of the geographic area;

(g) average rainfall for the geographic area;

(h) seasonal temperatures for the geographic area; and

(i) population for the geographic area.

13. A method of producing an interactive map, wherein the method includes, in a sensing device:

sensing second coded data provided on or in an interface surface;

generating, using the sensed second coded data, indicating data indicative of;

an identity of the interface surface; and

at least one of;

a position of the sensing device with respect to interface surface; and

an interactive element provided on the interface surface; and

,

transferring the indicating data to a computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to;

determine, using the indicating data, a geographic area;

determine, using the geographic area, graphic data indicative of a visible representation of a map of the geographic area;

determine an identity;

generate coded data, the coded data being indicative of the identity and of a plurality of reference points of the map;

determine a page description, the page description being indicative of a layout of the coded data and the graphic data;

record an association between the identity and the page description; and

, cause the map to be printed by printing of the graphic data and the coded data onto a surface using the layout.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the interface surface defines at least one of:

a map control page;

an information page;

a distance information page;

a search results page; and

,

a map page.

15. A system for printing an interactive map, wherein the system includes a computer system which, in use:

determines graphic data indicative of a visible representation of a map of a geographic area;

determines an identity;

generates coded data, the coded data being indicative of the identity and of a plurality of reference points of the map;

determines a page description, the page description being indicative of a layout of the coded data and the graphic data;

records an association between the identity and the page description; and

,

causes the map to be printed by printing of the graphic data and the coded data onto a surface using the layout.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the system includes a printer for printing the map by printing the graphic data and the coded data onto the surface.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the system includes a sensing device, and wherein, in use, the sensing device:

senses second coded data provided on or in an interface surface;

generates, using the sensed second coded data, indicating data indicative of;

an identity of the interface surface; and

at least one of;

a position of the sensing device with respect to interface surface; and

an interactive element provided on the surface; and

,

transfers the indicating data to the computer system, the computer system being responsive to the indicating data to determine the geographic area.