Information processing apparatus and pedestrian navigation system using the same

• US 6,259,990 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shojima, Hiroshi, Yashiki, Tomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/463,782
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/201, 701/208, 701/214, 701/211, 342/24, 367/910, 367/99, 367/124, 434/112, 340/944, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/91 Portable sonar devices

Abstract

A route computation apparatus having pedestrian-oriented map information for pedestrian route guidance, a portable route guidance apparatus, and markers located in an installation. A medium translation function is also included for translating input information of a given medium to information of another medium for output depending on current status of a pedestrian, whereby the information of interest is translated into information in a format suitable for the state in which the pedestrian is utilizing the portable apparatus.

Claims

1. A pedestrian navigation system for transmitting information to a portable pedestrian guidance apparatus carried by a pedestrian so that the portable pedestrian guidance apparatus outputs the transmitted information to navigate said pedestrian, said pedestrian navigation system comprising:

a plurality of markers mounted at various locations in an installation,

wherein each marker outputs a beam which carries installation identification information for identifying a location at which said marker is installed and direction information indicating a direction at which said beam is being emitted by said marker; and

a route computation information providing apparatus having a database for a pedestrian-oriented map including the locations of said markers, a computation function for computing routes based on said installation identification information and said direction information, and a communication function for communicating with said portable pedestrian guidance apparatus,

wherein said portable pedestrian guidance apparatus comprises;

a communication function for communicating with said route computation information providing apparatus and said markers, and

a position and direction measuring function for measuring a position and direction based on said installation identification information and said direction information.

2. A pedestrian navigation system according to claim 1, wherein said portable pedestrian guidance apparatus further comprises:

an information translation function for translating information sent either from said route computation information providing apparatus or from said markers into information in a format applicable to a use state of a user making use of said portable pedestrian guidance apparatus.

3. A pedestrian navigation system according to claim 2, wherein said information translation function comprises:

a detecting part for detecting said use state of said user making use of said portable pedestrian guidance apparatus;

a translation table defining beforehand relations of correspondence between a detected result from said detecting part and said use state of said user;

a judging part for judging said use state of said user based on said detected result from said detecting part and on said translation table; and

an information translating part for translating information received by said receiving part in accordance with a judged result from said judging part.