METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING TOURIST PATHS ADAPTED TO BE USED BY PORTABLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• US 20100153009A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Teletron Euroricerche S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Euporicerche SRL
• Inventors: PELOSIO, GIORGIO
• Application Number:
  US12/599,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20100153009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for creating tourist paths adapted to be used by a portable navigation device, said method comprising the steps of: a) entering characteristic parameters of a structure capable of offering tourist services into a database, said characteristic parameters being entered under the control of a certification body; b) generating tourist paths based on said characteristic parameters; c) transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device.

Claims

1. Method for creating tourist paths adapted to be used by a portable navigation device (1), said method comprising the steps of:

a) entering characteristic parameters of at least one structure (42) capable of offering tourist services into a database (33), said characteristic parameters being entered under the control of a certification body (37);

b) generating tourist paths based on said characteristic parameters;

c) transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device (1).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step a) is preceded by a step wherein said characteristic parameters are sent by said at least one structure (42), through an authenticated login procedure, to a computer (39) associated with said database (33).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said step a) is preceded by a step wherein said characteristic parameters are sent by a certifier (44).

4. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a further step of entering cartographic maps into a second database (31) and multimedia contents relating to said at least one structure (42) into a third database (35), said second (31) and third (35) databases being accessible to said computer (39).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said step b) comprises a step of generating said tourist paths based on predefined themes by retrieving and processing data from said first (33) and/or second (31) and/or third (35) databases.

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said step b) comprises a step of generating said tourist paths based on predefined time constraints by retrieving and processing data from said first (33) and/or second (31) and/or third (35) databases.

7. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step c) comprises the step of transferring said tourist paths to a memory medium (30) adapted to cooperate with said portable navigation device.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said step c) comprises the step of transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device (1) through a communication networks, in particular the Internet.

9. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a further step of selecting at least one of said tourist paths through selection means (5) of said portable navigation device (1).

10. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by comprising a further step of displaying said selected tourist path on visualization means (3) of said portable navigation device (1).

11. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized by comprising a further step of playing multimedia contents associated with said selected tourist path on said portable navigation device.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by comprising a further step of finding the spatial position of said portable navigation device (1) and displaying points of interest associated with said position on said portable navigation device.

13. Method according to one or more of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that said tourist path is selected on said portable navigation device (1) through a multiple-key questionnaire.

14. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said certified structures may include:

hotels, pensions, campings, farm holidays, hostels, bed &

breakfasts, restaurants, trattorias, wine shops, shops, parks, museums, archeological sites.

27. Memory medium (30) adapted to be used in a portable navigation device (1), characterized in that tourist paths are stored in said medium (30) in accordance with any of claims 1 to 14.

15. System for creating tourist paths, comprising:

a computer (39) associated with at least one database (33) in which characteristic parameters of at least one structure (42) capable of offering tourist services can be entered, said characteristic parameters being entered under the control of a certification body (37);

means (41) for generating tourist paths based on said characteristic parameters;

a portable navigation device (1), and

means (30) for transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device (1).

16. System according to claim 15, characterized in that said computer (39) is also associated with a second (31) and a third (35) databases, said databases (31,35) containing cartographic maps and multimedia contents relating to said at least one structure (42), respectively.

17. System according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that said computer (39) is associated with a path preparation module (41), said module retrieving and processing data from said first (33) and/or second (31) and/or third (35) databases.

18. System according to one or more of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said means (30) for transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device (1) consist of a memory medium, in particular ‘

mini-SD’

type, adapted to cooperate with said portable navigation device (1).

19. System according to claim 18, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises a port (11) suitable for housing said memory medium (30).

20. System according to any of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said means (30) for transferring said tourist paths to said portable navigation device (1) consist of a communication network, in particular the Internet.

21. System according to one or more of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises selection means (5) for selecting at least one of said tourist paths.

22. System according to claim 21, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises video reproduction means (3) and audio reproduction means (9) for playing multimedia contents relating to said at least one tourist path.

23. System according to one or more of claims 15 to 22, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises one or more communication ports (7) chosen among a group including at least the following ports:

an infrared port, a wireless port, a USB port, a network port and a serial port.

24. System according to one or more of claims 15 to 23, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises a satellite positioning module (25), in particular GPS type, for finding the spatial position of said device (1).

25. System according to claims 22 and 24, characterized in that said portable navigation device (1) comprises an integrator module (27) for integrating the data supplied by said satellite positioning module (25) with the data of said tourist path stored in a memory (23) of said device (1), the outcome of said integration being supplied to said video reproduction means (3) and audio reproduction means (9) of said device (1) for audio/video reproduction.

26. System according to claim 25, characterized in that said at least one selected tourist path is extracted from said memory (23) in accordance with the answers provided by the user to a multiple-key questionnaire generated by said device (1).

28. Method, system, portable navigation device (1) and memory medium (30) adapted to cooperate with said portable navigation device (I) according to the innovative teachings of the present description and of the annexed drawings, which represent preferred and advantageous examples of embodiment of said system.