Tourist information pager

• US 5,889,473 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Jean B.
• Application Number:
  US08/819,385
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.52, 340/825.47, 340/825.07, 340/825.05, 340/825.39, 340/988, 340/995, 455/70, 455/54.2, 455/88, 455/186.1, 364/705.05, 364/946.2, 364/948.21, 364/963.3, 364/513.5, 364/419, 364/900
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

A pager and two-way paging system may be provided which allow the pager user to send a request for tourist information. The system identifies the general location of the pager user and compiles tourist information such as historical data or trivia about the area which is transmitted to the pager user. The transmissions may take the pager user on a walking tour of the area. The pager may also include a language cartridge for translating the tourist information into another language. The pager may also include a map cartridge with which the pager can display a map of the immediate vicinity for the pager user.

Claims

1. A method of using a pager and paging system comprising the steps of:

receiving with said paging system a request from said pager for tourist information;

determining an approximate location of said pager by identifying a base station of said paging system which most strongly receives a signal from said pager;

preparing tourist information specific to said location; and

transmitting only said specific information to said pager.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of translating said tourist information into another language.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tourist information comprises an indication of a map of said location and said method further comprises the step of transmitting said indication to said pager.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specific information comprises a list of tourist attractions at said location.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from said pager a selection from among said list of tourist attractions; and

transmitting information about said selected attraction to said pager.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from said pager a selection from among said list of tourist attractions; and

transmitting directions from said selected attraction to another of said listed attractions.

7. A method of conducting a tour comprising transmitting a predetermined sequence of information about and directions between tourist attractions to a pager in response to signals transmitted by said pager;

wherein, prior to said transmitting, said method comprises determining a location of said pager by identifying a base station which most strongly receives a signal from said pager; and

wherein, after said determining, said method comprises

transmitting to said pager a listing of tourists attractions within a predetermined distance of said location;

receiving from said pager a selection from among said listing; and

beginning said transmitting a predetermined sequence of information about and directions between tourist attractions with said selected tourist attraction.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising translating said information and directions into a particular language using a language cartridge which is inserted in a cartridge port of said pager.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said translating is accomplished by storing in said cartridge said sequence of information and directions translated into said particular language.

10. A method of directing tourists comprising:

determining a general location of a pager by identifying a base station which most strongly receives a signal from said pager;

transmitting to said pager a locator signal indicative of said location of said pager;

retrieving map data based on said locator signal;

displaying on said pager a map from said map data, wherein said map includes said location of said pager.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retrieving comprises:

inserting a map cartridge in which map data is stored into a cartridge port of said pager; and

retrieving said map data from said map cartridge with a processor of said pager.