Locality information retrieval system

• US 20050088322A1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/995.100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map

Abstract

An information retrieval system for retrieving information relating to a locality includes a data collecting module for collecting data relating to a location of the device and the locality in which the device is located. A processor, which is in communication with the data collecting module, processes the collected data to provide formatted data suitable for printing. A printing unit is associated with the device for printing the formatted data to provide information relating to the locality.

Claims

1. An information retrieval system for retrieving information relating to a locality, the system being associated with a device and including:

a data collecting means for collecting data relating to a location of the device and the locality in which the device is located;

a processing means, in communication with said data collecting means, for processing said collected data to provide formatted data suitable for printing; and

a printing unit, associated with said conveyance, for printing said formatted data to provide information relating to said locality.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the device is a conveyance and the printing unit is installed in said conveyance.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the data collecting means includes a location determining unit for determining the location of the device.

4. The system of claim 3 in which the location determining unit provides the location of the device as a set of co-ordinates.

5. The system of claim 4 in which the location determining unit comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

6. The system of claim 3 in which the data collecting means further includes a locality data retrieval unit which retrieves data relating to the location in response to the receipt of data from the location determining unit.

7. The system of claim 6 in which the locality data retrieval unit comprises a locality depicting sub-system which provides data relating to a representation of the locality.

8. The system of claim 7 in which the location data retrieval unit further comprises a locality information sub-system which provides data relating to at least one feature of the locality.

9. The system of claim 8 in which the locality information sub-system is addressable by a user to filter the data to be made available relating to features of the locality.

10. The system of claim 7 in which the processing means includes a layout engine in communication with the locality data retrieval unit.

11. The system of claim 10 in which the layout engine lays out data elements to be communicated to the printer so that, when printed on a suitable print media, the data are presented in a visually discernible form

12. The system of claim 10 in which the processing means comprises a data manipulating means in communication with the layout engine for manipulating the data to provide the formatted data.

13. The system of claim 12 in which the printing unit includes a printer controller, for receiving the formatted data to be printed, and a printer.

14. The system of claim 13 in which the printer is a full color printer.

15. The system of claim 14 in which said printer is a photo quality color printer.

16. The system of claim 14 in which the printer is an ink jet printer.

17. The system of claim 16 in which the printer comprises a pagewidth ink jet printhead.

18. The system of claim 17 in which the printhead comprises an array of nozzles, said array being fabricated by microelectromechanical techniques.

19. A method of retrieving information relating to a locality in which a device is located, the method including the steps of

collecting data relating to a location of the device and the locality in which the device is located;

processing said collected data to provide formatted data suitable for printing; and

printing said formatted data when required by a user to provide the user with information relating to said locality.

20. The method of claim 19 which includes mounting a printer in a conveyance and printing the information via said printer.

21. The method of claim 19 which includes determining the location of the device.

22. The method of claim 21 which includes providing the location of the device as a set of co-ordinates.

23. The method of claim 19 which includes retrieving data relating to the locality.

24. The method of claim 23 which includes providing data relating to a representation of the locality.

25. The method of claim 24 which also includes providing data relating to at least one feature of the locality.

26. The method of claim 25 which includes filtering the data relating to said at least one feature of the locality.

27. The method of claim 26 which includes laying out data elements to be printed so that said data are printed in a visually discernible form.

28. The method of claim 27 which includes manipulating said data elements prior to printing the data to provide said formatted data.

29. An information retrieval system for retrieving information relating to a locality, the system being installed in a vehicle and the system including:

an onboard data collecting means for collecting data relating to the location of the vehicle in the locality and data relating to the locality;

a processing means, in communication with the data collecting means, for processing said collected data to provide formatted data which is in a suitable format for printing; and

an onboard printing unit for printing said formatted data, on demand, to provide information relating to the locality.

30. The system of claim 29 in which the information is presented in the form of a map of the locality.

31. The system of claim 30 in which the map includes information relating to features of the locality.

32. The system of claim 29 in which the information includes coupons for use at establishments situated in the locality.

33. A method of retrieving information relating to a locality from a vehicle located in the locality, the method including the steps of:

from on board the vehicle, collecting data relating to the location of the vehicle in the locality and data relating to the locality,

processing said collected data to provide formatted data which is in a suitable format for printing; and

printing said formatted data on an onboard printer to provide information relating to the locality.

34. The method of claim 33 which includes presenting the information in the form of a map of the locality.

35. The method of claim 34 which includes presenting information on the map relating to features of the locality.

36. The method of claim 33 which includes printing coupons for use at establishments situated in the locality.

37. An information retrieval system for retrieving information relating to a locality, the system being installed in a vehicle and the system including:

a position sensing means carried by the vehicle for sensing the position of the vehicle in the locality and to provide location data;

an onboard accessing means, in communication with the position sensing means, for accessing a database containing locality data relating to a map of the locality and features of the locality;

a layout engine responsive to the accessing means for processing the locality data into data elements;

a pre-printing processing means which is connected to the layout engine and which processes the data elements to provide formatted data which is in a format which is suitable for printing; and

an onboard printer for printing the formatted data, on demand, to provide a hard copy of the information relating to the locality.

38. A method of retrieving information relating to a locality, from a vehicle located in the locality, the method including the steps of:

sensing the position of the vehicle in the locality and providing location data;

from on board the vehicle, accessing a database containing locality data relating to a map of the locality and features of the locality;

processing the locality data into data elements;

further processing the data to provide formatted data which is in a format which is suitable for printing; and

printing, on an onboard printer, the formatted data, on demand, to provide a hard copy of the information relating to the locality.