Method and apparatus for determining route from a present location to a desired destination in a city

• US 4,546,439 A
• Filed: 02/28/1983
• Issued: 10/08/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Natividad Gene Esparza
• Original Assignee: Natividad Gene Esparza
• Inventors: Gene Esparza, Natividad
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US06/470,132
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/436, 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 364/521, 353/11, 353/12, 340/988, 340/990, 340/995, 343/450-452, 73/178 R, 358/103
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/06 of belt form, e.g. endless belt
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for enabling a traveler to determine the correct route from his present location to a desired destination in a city. To this end, the traveler enters information identifying his desired destination into an information station located at his present location. The information station compares the entered information with information identifying all the streets in the city and dividing the city into adjacent zones. As a result of the comparison, the information station determines the zone in which the desired destination is located. A map corresponding to the identified zone is then provided to the traveler. The map contains both the map of the streets in that zone and information on how to reach the zone from the present location. The traveler then proceeds to the desired destination, using boards arranged at street intersections. The boards contain information identifying each street corner and information concerning surrounding corners and may also include other data such as advertising.

Claims

1. A method for determining a proper route from a present location to a desired destination, said method comprising the steps of:

storing information in a memory, said information identifying all the addresses of a city and zone number to each said address, each zone number defining a zone including a plurality of adjacent addresses;

entering the address of a desired location into a processor by a human input device;

comparing in said processor the entered adress with said stored information and providing a map of the zone in which said entered address is located; and

proceeding to said desired location in accordance with information contained on said map and information contained on signboards located at each corner of the city and each of said signboards indicating the direction of adjacent signboards.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said signboards is assigned a signboard number unique thereto, and wherein each of said signboards contains information concerning the number of adjacent signboards in both ascending and descending directions.

3. A method for determining a proper route from a present location to a desired destination, said method comprising the steps of:

storing information in a memory, said information identifying all of the addresses of a city and assigning a zone number to each said address, each zone number being assigned to a plurality of adjacent addresses;

entering the address of a desired location into a processor by a human actuable input device;

comparing in said processor, the entered address with said stored information and providing a visual indication of the zone number in which said entered address is located;

providing a map of an area of said city which corresponds to said zone number in response to the entry of said zone number by a human actuable device;

proceeding to said desired location in accordance with the information contained on said map and information contained on signboards located at each corner of the city, each of said signboards indicating the direction of adjacent signboards.

4. An information station, comprising:

first means for enabling an individual to identify the address of a desired destination, said first means including a keyboard for entering said address, a verification screen for verifying the entered address and erase means for erasing improperly entered addresses;

a read-only memory storing information which identifies all of the addresses of a city and assigns a zone number, to each said address, each zone number defining a zone including a plurality of adjacent addresses;

second means for comparing said entered address with said stored information and for displaying a number of corresponding to the zone in which said entered address is located as a function of said comparison;

human actuable means enabling a traveler to enter the zone number of the zone identified by said second means; and

third means for providing a map of the zone corresponding to the zone number entered.

5. The information station of claim 4, further including a city map of the entire city divided into adjacent zones, and wherein said second means displays a number of corresponding to the zone in which said entered address is located by highlighting the corresponding zone on said city map.

6. The information station of claim 4, wherein said human actuable means is a second keyboard.

7. The information station of claim 4, wherein said third means comprises a plurality of bins, each bin containing at least one map of a given zone and means for advancing the bin of a map of the zone entered by said human actuable means to an area where said traveler may remove said map.

8. The information station of claim 7, wherein said area includes a window which is unlocked when a bin containing a map of the zone entered by said human actuable means has been moved adjacent said window.

9. The information of claim 4, wherein said third means comprises:

a plurality of trapdoors;

a plurality of map holders equal in number to the number of trapdoors, each map holder including a plurality of bins and being capable of moving said bins, one at a time, to a position adjacent its associated trapdoor, and means for causing the bin containing a map of the zone entered by said human actuable means to a position adjacent its associated trapdoor in reponse to the entry of said zone number by said human actuable means.

10. The information station of claim 9, further including means for unlocking said trapdoor when a bin containing a map corresponding to said zone number entered by said human actuable means has reached its associated said trapdoor.

11. An information station according to claim 4, wherein said map includes a street map of said zone corresponding to the zone number entered by said human actuable means as well as information concerning possible routes from the location of said information station to said zone.

12. The combination of the information station of claim 11 plus a plurality of signboards, each signboard being located at a different corner of said city, each signboard including information identifying the zone in which said signboard is located and a signboard number unique to said signboard.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein each of said signboards are consecutively numbered in accordance with the street on which they are located and wherein said signboards further include information concerning the ascending and descending directions of adjacent signboards.

14. The combination of claim 12, wherein said signboards are provided with transverse guides which permit the sliding of cards or advertising into and out of the guides.