Electronic directory for identifying a selected group of subscribers

• US 4,974,170 A
• Filed: 01/25/1990
• Issued: 11/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Civix-Ddi LLC
• Original Assignee: Directional Data, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmes, Edward, Bouve, W. Lincoln
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Herndon, H. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/470,221
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 364/522, 364/443-445, 340/286, 340/286 M, 340/990-995, 434/153, 346/139 R
• US Class Current: 715/855
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A kiosk is placed on a sidewalk and has stored in an electronic memory the locations of businesses, historical sites, or the like within a predetermined distance of the kiosk. In addition, a map of the area surrounding the kiosk is stored. The kiosk has an input panel having a plurality of input keys, each key corresponding to a characteristic of the subscribers stored in the electronic memory. A user activates the apparatus by pressing one of the input keys. This causes an electronic element to search the subscribers to determine the group of subscribers having that characteristic. Then, a map is generated, and the location of the selected group of subscribers are overlaid onto the map. The map with the group of subscribers thereon is then printed and dispensed to the user.

Claims

1. Apparatus for identifying locations within a predetermined region of a selected group of a set of a plurality of subscribers relative to the location of a user station comprising,

a user station within said predetermined region for interrogating said apparatus,

means for generating a map of said predetermined region,

data base means having data regarding each subscriber of said set of subscribers, said data including coordinates of said map identifying the location for each subscriber in said predetermined region of said set of subscribers and a characteristic for each subscriber, wherein said characteristic is common to a group of said subscribers,

input means at said user station for identifying at least one characteristic of said group,

means responsive to the identification at said user station of said at least one characteristic for searching said data base means with reference to said at least one characteristic to determine the members of said selected group as at least those subscribers having locations in said predetermined region and said at least one characteristic,

and means for displaying said map at said user station with the locations thereon of said members of said selected group relative to the location of said user station.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating said map comprises an electronic memory element.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said set of subscribers comprises subscribers having locations within a predetermined distance of a base station and further comprising primary data base means having data representing the locations of said subscribers and means for selecting said set of subscribers.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising transfer means for receiving electronic information representing said set of subscribers from said primary data base means and for transferring said electronic information to said data base means.

5. A method for identifying the locations within a predetermined region of a selected group of a set of a plurality of subscribers relative to the location of a user station comprising,

providing to said user station map electronic information representing a map of said predetermined region around said user station,

providing to said user station subscriber electronic information representing the location and at least one characteristic for each subscriber of said set of subscribers,

said at least one characteristic being common to the members of a group,

selecting at said user station at least one of said characteristics as a group characterization identifying a group of said subscribers,

searching said subscriber electronic information with respect to said group characterization

and providing said map at said user location displaying the locations of members of said selected group identified by said group characterization relative to the location of said user station.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising storing electronic information representing said subscribers in a primary data base, storing electronic information representing a plurality of said maps in said primary data base, and electronically transferring a selected one of said plurality of maps and information representing said set of subscribers to said user station.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said step of providing said map comprises recalling said map electronic information and combining said map electronic information with information regarding the location of said base station and the locations of the members of said selected group.