Digital multimedia navigation player/recorder

• US 6,023,241 A
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/191,318
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 342/190, 342/191, 342/357.06, 342/357.13, 701/208, 340/990, 340/995, 340/996
• US Class Current: 342/357.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position

Abstract

A recorder with a global positioning system receiver may record video frames and/or audio data in association with global positioning system coordinates. In this way, the user may readily determine the location of associated photographs taken digitally and may recreate excursions using a multimedia approach. Using mapping software, the digital images may be associated with map locations as well, so that the user may select given map locations to view associated video. By making the device of a portable size, the user may take the device on excursions and may receive information about various points which are associated on a digital map including both audio and video. At the same time, the user can create multimedia presentations about a variety of locations as the user goes from point to point.

Claims

1. A method for storing and retrieving information comprising:

obtaining global positioning system coordinates;

linking the global positioning system coordinates with a digital image captured at the location of said coordinates;

displaying the corresponding digital image when a location is selected;

downloading information about a plurality of locations including video information and global positioning system coordinates for each of said locations; and

displaying the video information associated with a particular location upon selection of the location by the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further including providing a digital map.

3. The method of claim 1 further including obtaining audio information and linking the digital image, the coordinates and the audio information.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein providing a digital map includes providing a digital map with at least two points indicated on said map, a different digital image linked with each of said points.

5. The method of claim 2 further including selectively displaying a digital map and a digital image associated with a location on the map.

6. The method of claim 4 including providing a vector from a present position to a desired location.

7. The method of claim 1 including downloading said information about said location from the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1 including linking to a computer, downloading said information from the Internet, receiving said information over a wireless link to a handheld unit, and displaying said information on said handheld unit.

9. The method of claim 7 including maintaining information about a plurality of landmarks in a particular sequence.

10. The method of claim 1 further including prompting a user to capture said digital image.

11. An article comprising a medium for storing instructions that cause a computer to:

obtain global positioning system coordinates;

link the global positioning system coordinates captured at the location of said coordinates;

display a corresponding digital image when a location is selected;

download information about a plurality of locations including video information and global positioning system coordinates for each of said locations; and

display the video information associated with a particular location upon selection of the location by the user.

12. The article of claim 11 further including instructions that cause a computer to provide a digital map.

13. The article of claim 11 further including instructions that cause a computer to obtain audio information and link the digital image, the coordinates and the audio information.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the instructions that cause a computer to provide a digital map include instructions that provide a digital map with at least two points indicated on the map, a different digital image linked with each of said points.

15. The article of claim 12 further including instructions that cause a computer to selectively display a digital map and a digital image associated with a location on the map.

16. The article of claim 11 further including instructions that cause a computer to play audio information associated with a particular location.

17. The article of claim 11 including instructions that cause a computer to download said information about said locations from the Internet.

18. The article of claim 17 including instructions that cause a computer to link to another computer, download said information from the Internet, receive said information over a wireless link to a handheld unit, and display said information on said handheld unit.

19. The article of claim 11 including instructions that cause a computer to store information about said locations for display in a programmable sequence.

20. The article of claim 11 including instructions that cause a computer to upload to a network information about a plurality of locations including video information and global positioning system coordinates for each of said locations.