SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ITEM IDENTIFICATION, LOCATION AND NAVIGATION INSTRUCTION THERETO

• US 20100057345A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: CELESTINI, MARIA RITA, FARINELLI, GIULIA, BENEFAZIO, GIOVANNA, SANTORO, GABRIELLA, CARLESIMO, PAOLA, BALDI, SUSANNA, BONANNI, CRISTINA, IENTILE, LOUISA
• Application Number:
  US12/199,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for identifying, locating and providing navigational instructions among distributed items is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designating a plurality of items, identifying each of the items, accessing a data base to obtain at least location information associated with each identified item, providing a map of the location of each item, determining a distance to each item, determining a first item based on a user'"'"'s position and sorting the list by distance with respect to the first item and providing navigational instructions to each item on the list.

Claims

1. A method for identifying, locating and providing navigation to at least one desired item comprising:

completing a preprinted form, at least a portion of which includes a plurality of items grouped in at least one category of items,

scanning the form to identify each of the plurality of items indicated on the completed form, said scanning being performed at a current position;

accessing a data base containing information associated with each of the plurality of items identified on said form, said information including at least one of;

a location, a price, and a quantity;

preparing a list of each item indicated to have a quantity of at least one;

preparing a map identifying a location of each of the plurality of items indicated on said list;

determining a difference between each of said item locations and said current position, said difference considering deviations from a straight line path between said locations to overcome obstacles between each of said item locations;

determining a first item on said list as that item having a smallest difference between said current position and each of said items;

determining a difference between each item on said list and said selected first item;

determining a difference between each of said items on said list;

resorting said list of said plurality of items based on said first item and a shortest difference between each of said subsequent plurality of items on said list;

selecting said first item on said list;

providing navigation instruction from said current position to a location associated with said first item on said list;

determining when said location of said first item is reached;

selecting a next item on said list; and

providing navigation instruction to a location of each of said subsequent items on said list from a location of an immediately preceding item on said list.