APPARATUS FOR AND METHODS OF PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT A ROUTE TO BE FOLLOWED BY A PERSON

• US 20100062401A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Software Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trapeze Software ULC (Constellation Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Stuart, Kerr, Andy, MacAlpine, Colin, Williamson, Howard
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/62
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops

Abstract

A route followed by a person is managed. A data store is configured to store data streams corresponding to different kinds of information of a route followed by a person. Data output means is operable to output the data streams to a user such that they are co-related to the route followed by the person. Data handling means is operable to provide the stored data streams to the data output means. The data streams correspond to different route information and can be cross referenced. The data handling means is operable to provide a first data stream and further data stream in a predetermined manner to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data such that the first and further data streams are output by the data output means in a substantially co-related manner.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. An apparatus for providing assistance in management of a route followed by a person, the apparatus comprising:

a data store configured to store a plurality of data streams corresponding to different kinds of information of a route followed by a person,

data output means operable to output the plurality of data streams to a user such that they are co-related to the route followed by the person, and

data handling means operable to provide the stored plurality of data streams to the data output means, in which

the plurality of data streams comprises a first data stream and a further data stream, the first and further data streams corresponding to different route information to each other,

the data store being configured such that the plurality of data streams are not combined in the data store and such that the plurality of data streams comprise cross-referable data, and

the data handling means is operable to provide the first data stream and the further data stream in a predetermined manner to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data such that the first and further data streams are output by the data output means in a substantially co-related manner.

58. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the first data stream and the further data stream corresponds to information of different parts of the route to each other.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the first data stream corresponds to the whole of the route and the further data stream corresponds to only part of the route.

60. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein the first data stream corresponds to a first half of the route and the further data stream corresponds to a second half of the route.

61. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the data handling means is operable to provide at least a part of the first data stream and at least a part of the further data stream at different times to the data output means.

62. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the first data stream and the further data stream corresponds to the same kind of information.

63. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the first data stream and the further data stream corresponds respectively to different kinds of information.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein the first data stream corresponds to video data and the further data stream corresponds to comment data.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the comment data represents a fresh comment recorded on account of a change to the route.

66. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the plurality of data streams comprises at least two data streams corresponding respectively to information of a different kind.

67. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein one of the plurality of data streams and the further data stream corresponds to the same kind of information.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the one of the plurality of data streams and the further data stream corresponds to information of the same part of the route.

69. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the data handling means is configured for user operable selection between the one of the plurality of data streams and the further data stream.

70. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein, upon presentation of information of a route followed by a person to a user of the apparatus, the data handling means operates to provide the further video data stream and the existing video data stream at different times to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 wherein the first data stream is a video data stream and the further data stream is a video data stream of only a changed part of the route.

72. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the data handling means is operable to provide only a part of the first data stream to the data output means.

73. The apparatus of claim 72 wherein the data handling means is then operable to provide the further data stream to the data output means.

74. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein the data handling means is then operative to provide another part of the first data stream to the data output means.

75. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the data handling means is operable to provide at least two parts of the first data stream to the data output means, the two parts being spaced apart from each other on the route.

76. The apparatus of claim 57 wherein the cross-referable data comprises location data corresponding substantially to a location on the route followed by the person.

77. The apparatus of claim 76 in which the location data is acquired when route information is being recorded.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein the location data is derived from a global navigation satellite system comprising at least one of Global Positioning System (UPS), GLONASS and Europe'"'"'s GALILEO system.

79. A method of providing assistance in management of a route followed by a person, the method comprising:

operating a data handling means of an apparatus to provide a plurality of data streams stored in a data store of the apparatus to a data output means, the plurality of data streams corresponding to different kinds of information of a route followed by a person, and

operating a data output means of the apparatus to output the plurality of data streams to a user such that the plurality of data streams are co-related to the route followed by the person, in which

the plurality of data streams comprises a first data stream and a further data stream, the first and further data streams corresponding to different route information to each other,

the plurality of data streams are stored such that they are not combined in the data store and such that the plurality of data streams comprise cross-referable data, and

the step of operating the data handling means comprises providing the first and further data streams in a predetermined manner to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data such that the first and further data streams are output by the data output means in a substantially co-related manner.

80. A computer program product for configuring a computer to provide assistance in management of a route followed by a person by causing the computer to carry out the steps of:

storing a plurality of data streams in a data store of the computer, the plurality of data streams corresponding to different kinds of information of a route followed by a person,

operating a data output means of the computer to output the plurality of data streams to a user such that they are co-related to the route followed by the person,

operating a data handling means of the computer to provide the stored plurality of data streams to the data output means, in which

the plurality of data streams comprises a first data stream and a further data stream, the first and further data streams corresponding to different route information to each other,

the step of storing comprises storing the plurality of data streams such that they are not combined in the data store and such that the plurality of data streams comprise cross-referable data, and

the step of operating the data handling means comprises providing the first and further data streams in a predetermined manner to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data such that the first and further data streams are output by the data output means in a substantially co-related manner.

81. An apparatus for providing assistance in management of a route followed by a person, the apparatus comprising a data store configured to store a first data stream and a further data stream corresponding to information of a route followed by a person, data output means operable to output the first and further data streams to a user such that they are co-related to the route followed by the person, and data handling means operable to provide the first and further data streams to the data output means, in which the data store is configured such that the first and further data streams are not combined in the data store and such that the first and further data streams comprise cross-referable data, and the data handling means is operable to provide first and further data streams in a predetermined manner to the data output means and in dependence upon the cross-referable data such that the first and further data streams are output by the data output means in a substantially co-related manner.