Automated touring information systems and methods

• US 6,085,148 A
• Filed: 10/22/1997
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Derek R. Devries, Richard L. Jamison, Scott R. Jamison
• Original Assignee: Derek R. Devries, Richard L. Jamison, Scott R. Jamison
• Inventors: Jamison, Scott R., DeVries, Derek R., Jamison, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/956,144
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/213, 701/214, 701/215, 701/300, 701/200, 701/207, 342/457, 342/458, 342/463, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.13, 340/980, 235/384
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically disseminating information corresponding to a location includes a location identification device for providing a current location, a presentation device for presenting the information to a user, a controller operably connected to control the presentation device, and a storage device operably connected to the controller for storing the information and predefined location data linking the location to the information. In one embodiment, the controller may includes a processor programmed to receive the current location from the location identification device and compare the current location with the predefined location data. The apparatus may further include a memory device containing data structures including the current location data corresponding to a current location, the predefined location data, a comparison module for reading the current location data and comparing the current location data with the predefined location data, and a presentation module for controlling the output of the information to the presentation device from the storage device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically selecting and presenting, proximate a location, information corresponding to the location, the apparatus comprising:

a location identification device for providing current location data identifying to the apparatus a current location of the apparatus, wherein the location identification device is disposed to be movable by a user;

a presentation device connected to be movable with the location identification device to present the information to a user;

a controller operably connected to control the presentation device in accordance with the current location data; and

a storage device connected to be movable with the location identification device to store the information and predefined location data linking the location to the information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a processor programmed to receive the current location data and compare the current location data with the predefined location data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a processor programmed to control output of the information from the storage device to the presentation device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device storing a tolerance corresponding to a triggering distance within which the controller will activate the presentation device; and

a processor operably connected to the memory device for calculating a difference between the current location data and the predefined location data and comparing the difference to the tolerance to determine when the apparatus is within the triggering distance of the location.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is programmed to iterate, wherein iterating comprises receiving the current location data, calculating the difference, and comparing the difference to the tolerance.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further programmed to control output of the information from the storage device to the presentation device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device is selected from a linear electromagnetic medium, rotating electromagnetic medium, rotating laser readable medium, and a solid-state memory device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information is structured in a format selected from an analog audio signal, a digital audio signal, an analog video signal, a digital video signal, a multimedia signal, and a character code signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the presentation device is selected from an audio speaker, a visual display, and a multimedia output device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location identification device comprises a receiver for receiving a signal from which the current location data is calculated.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the receiver comprises a global positioning system receiver, and the signal reflects a plurality of global positioning signals broadcast from a plurality of global positioning stations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiver further comprises a local broadcast signal receiver for receiving a locally broadcast signal corresponding to the location, and a selector for selectively activating the global positioning system receiver and the local broadcast signal receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location identification device is selected from an image recognition device, a motion sensor, and a bar code reader.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user input device operably connected to the controller for receiving user inputs to control selection of portions of the information for presentation on the presentation device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a processor programmed to process the user inputs to control the presentation device.

16. A memory device containing data structures used by a controller to control presentation of information by a presentation device receiving the information from a storage device, the data structures comprising:

current location data corresponding to a current location of the presentation device;

predefined location data bound to the information from the storage device to match each packet of information from the storage device to a corresponding predefined location;

a comparison module for reading the current location data and comparing the current location data with the predefined location data; and

a presentation module for controlling output of the information to the presentation device from the storage device.

17. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the data structures further comprise a driver for driving the presentation device.

18. The memory device of claim 16, wherein the data structures further comprise a tolerance corresponding to a triggering distance within which the controller will activate the presentation device.

19. A method of disseminating information, corresponding to a location, to a user positioned proximate the location, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a controller operably connected to a storage device and a presentation device, the controller comprising a processor programmed to receive inputs from a location identification device, and to control output of the information from the storage device to the presentation device, wherein the location identification device is disposed to be movable by a user, and wherein the storage and presentation devices are connected to be movable with the location identification device;

storing, in the storage device, the information and predefined location data corresponding thereto;

providing to the processor, from the location identification device, current location data corresponding to a current location;

comparing, by the processor, the current location data with the predefined location data to provide a proximity comparison reflecting whether the apparatus located at the current location is proximate the location; and

controlling output of the information from the storage device to the presentation device in accordance with the proximity comparison.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing, before the comparing step, a tolerance corresponding to a maximum distance from the location, within which maximum distance the proximity comparison is determined to satisfy the tolerance.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising selecting a storage volume containing a plurality of information segments corresponding to a plurality of locations, and wherein the location and information are selected from the plurality of locations and information segments, respectively.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising automatically selecting the information from the storage volume in accordance with a user moving toward an arbitrarily selected location of the plurality of locations.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein selecting a storage volume is selectable between manual and automatic execution thereof.