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Life for old maps

  • US 5,581,259 A
  • Filed: 11/03/1994
  • Issued: 12/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the location coordinates of a user on a two-dimensional surface, with reference to a map that may be substantially inaccurate, the method comprising the steps of:

  • (1) providing a user with a location determination (LD) unit having an LD antenna and an LD receiver/processor that can determine the location coordinates of the user in an LD coordinate system and can determine or provide the location coordinates, relative to the user, of a chosen location that is spaced apart from the user'"'"'s location;

    (2) providing a selected map of a region that includes the user'"'"'s location and that has at least first and second landmark representatives with first and second map location coordinate pairs (xr1'"'"',yr1'"'"') and (xr2'"'"',yr2'"'"'), respectively;

    (3) using the LD unit to determine user LD location coordinates (xu,yu) of the user'"'"'s location;

    (4) providing first and second LD location coordinate pairs (xr1,yr1) and (xr2,yr2) for the first and second landmark representatives, respectively, in the LD coordinate system;

    (5) using a computer to determine a coordinate transformation T of the LD location coordinate pairs (xr1,yr1) and (xr2,yr2) onto the respective map location coordinate pairs (xr1'"'"',yr1'"'"') and (xr2'"'"',yr2'"'"');

    (6) using the computer to express a user map location coordinate pair (xu'"'"',yu'"'"') on the selected map as the image under the transformation T of the user LD location coordinate pair (xu,yu); and

    (7) displaying the user map location coordinate pair (xu'"'"',yu'"'"') in at least one of a visually perceptible form and an audibly perceptible form.

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