Navigational aid system for fishermen

• US 20080103695A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Merrill Whiting
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Merrill Whiting
• Inventors: Whiting, Jonathan Merrill
• Granted Patent: US 9,880,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/203 Specially adapted for sailing ships
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management

Abstract

A navigational aid system for fishermen comprises a computer that is connected to the Internet. The computer accesses a high resolution map in the vicinity of a fishing boat. The map depicts the ocean temperature and depth profile in relation to marked latitude and longitudinal indicators. A specialized GPS system in communication with the computer depicts the latitudinal and longitudinal position of the fisherman'"'"'s boat. The computer executes a separate program that has a transparent window overlaying the map. A user selects two points, one point at a time, on the map and enters corresponding latitude and longitude bearings consistent with those shown on the map. The separate program receives the GPS data and plots the boat position in an orthogonal coordinate system based on the two points selected and their corresponding coordinates. The map is optionally provided with data concerning weather and buoy or wreck hazards in the vicinity of the boat, together with details concerning the coastline.

Claims

1. A navigational aid system for fishermen comprising:

a. a computer connected to the Internet for accessing a high resolution map of ocean surface temperatures and ocean depth profiles using an Internet browser software or other Internet site specific software;

b. said map having longitude and latitude reference lines marked thereon;

c. said computer being connected to a specialized GPS unit that receives the satellite signals computing longitudinal and latitude coordinates, a fisherman'"'"'s boat location, and communicates these two numbers to said computer;

d. executing a separate computer program having a transparent window showing the underlying said ocean surface temperature and ocean depth profile map and a menu bar having a menu item for quitting the application and a menu item for synchronizing a coordinate system with the latitude and longitude lines of said map;

e. said synchronize coordinate menu asking the user to select two points on said map, one point at a time, and enter latitude and longitude values of each point, thereby creating a synchronized orthogonal coordinate axes;

f. said separate computer program receiving GPS coordinates of the boat and plotting a pictogram of the boat position in the transparent window overlaying said map; and

g. said computer program, upon receipt of the next GPS coordinates of boat location, actuating said separate computer program, erasing said previously displayed pictogram of the boat position, drawing a pictogram of said boat'"'"'s new position at a screen location according to received GPS coordinates and orienting the pictogram along said direction of movement, matching said sailing direction;

whereby the fisherman is provided with substantially complete boat location information on said computer screen with respect to ocean depth and ocean surface temperature.

2. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 1, wherein said map of ocean surface temperature and ocean depth profiles is magnified and covers a rectangle having 400-700 mile linear dimensions.

3. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 1, wherein said map of ocean surface temperature and ocean depth profiles includes precise coastline information.

4. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 3, wherein said fisherman is provided with an exact match of coastline information for visual matching of said boat'"'"'s location.

5. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 1, wherein said map of ocean surface temperature and ocean depth profiles includes hazard information such as buoys or submerged wrecks.

6. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 5, wherein said fisherman is provided with hazards present near said boat'"'"'s location and along its sailing direction.

7. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 1, wherein said map of ocean surface temperature and ocean depth profiles includes an overlay of weather related image.

8. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 7, wherein said weather related image is a Doppler radar image.

9. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 7, wherein said weather related image is a satellite IR radar image.

10. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 7, wherein said fisherman is provided with weather related hazards present near said boat'"'"'s location and along its sailing direction.

11. A navigational aid system for fishermen as recited by claim 1, wherein said specialized GPS has a memory resident program for communicating latitude and longitude coordinates without said computer having to request said coordinates storing coordinates in a memory buffer.