Mobile device and geographic information system background and summary of the related art
First Claim
1. A system for providing geographic information comprising:
- a database containing geographic information, the database accessible via a network connection; and
a mobile device connectable to the database from a remote location, the mobile device having a controller, a position sensor for determining a location of the mobile device and a pointing device adapted to orient the mobile device pointing in a direction to intersect a particular one of an object, geographical feature or location of interest to a user, the controller being adapted to receive a thematic query from a user, the controller being further adapted retrieve a portion of the geographic information from the database selected by a combination of the location of the mobile device, a pointing direction of the device and the thematic query, and the geographical information is about the particular object, geographical feature or location.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a system and mobile device for providing geographic information to a user. The system includes a mobile device that is wirelessly connected to a geographic database. The mobile device includes a plurality of sensors for determining a first location and a first direction. A controller is adapted to provide information requested based on local queries and distal queries. In addition, the controller can respond to thematic queries of each variety, wherein the database search is limited to objects, entities or features that fit within a selected theme. Finally, the controller is adapted to select and order query results based upon two- and three-dimensional query windows.
115 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for providing geographic information comprising:
- a database containing geographic information, the database accessible via a network connection; and
a mobile device connectable to the database from a remote location, the mobile device having a controller, a position sensor for determining a location of the mobile device and a pointing device adapted to orient the mobile device pointing in a direction to intersect a particular one of an object, geographical feature or location of interest to a user, the controller being adapted to receive a thematic query from a user, the controller being further adapted retrieve a portion of the geographic information from the database selected by a combination of the location of the mobile device, a pointing direction of the device and the thematic query, and the geographical information is about the particular object, geographical feature or location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
- a database containing geographic information, the database accessible via a network connection; and
- 11. A mobile device for providing geographic information, the mobile device having a controller, a position sensor for determining a location of the mobile device and a pointing device adapted to orient the mobile device pointing in a direction to intersect a particular one of an object, geographical feature or location of interest to a user, the controller being adapted receive a thematic query input from a user and further being adapted to receive the geographic information from a database, the geographic information pertaining to the particular one of the object, geographical feature or location of interest and being selected by a combination of the location of the mobile device, a pointing direction of the device and the thematic query input.
-
20. A method for obtaining geographic information using a mobile device to obtain the geographic information from a geographic database, which comprises:
-
(a) determining a location of the mobile device;
(b) pointing the mobile device in a direction of a particular one of an object, geographical feature or location of interest;
(c) inputting a thematic query into the mobile device;
(d) using a combination of the location, the pointing direction and the thematic query to select the geographic information about the particular one of the object, geographical feature or location of interest from the geographic database; and
(e) delivering the geographic information to the mobile device.
-
Specification