Method and system for visual addressing

• US 6,351,710 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael F. Mays
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Mays
• Inventors: Mays, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US09/671,271
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/206, 701/202, 701/211, 340/995, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams

Abstract

A method and system for visual addressing provides highly intuitive means for guiding travelers between predetermined starting points and destinations using largely photographic techniques. In a baseline point-to-point embodiment, photographs are produced of way points determined to provide preferred and alternate routes to guide a traveler, and are provided in pictograph form. In an advanced regional embodiment, a large number of photographs are produced of way points sufficient in number and location to enable the determining of routes within a bounded region between any one of a plurality of starting points and any one of a plurality of destinations. A traveler or end user needing travel guidance may access either hard copy photographs in pictograph form or a city booklet form, or alternately access fully equivalent information in digital form which may be delivered via digital networks for reconstitution into pictographs or city booklets.

Claims

1. A method of guiding a traveler between a predetermined starting point and a predetermined destination using a plurality of photographic images, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a route between said starting point and said destination and selecting a set of way points along said route, said way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

(b) capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into driving order so as to be simultaneously viewable thereby forming a static pictograph; and

(c) providing said pictograph in hard copy form for use in guiding said traveler.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of providing said static pictograph in digital form for transmission to and reconstitution into said hard copy static pictograph to guide said traveler.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said digital form is a CD-ROM for delivery to and reconstitution into said static hard copy static pictograph to guide said traveler.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining a route includes determining at least one preferred route and one or more alternate routes, whereby a distinct static pictograph is provided for at least one of said preferred and alternate routes.

5. A method of providing an end user with information for guiding travel between any one of a plurality of starting points within a region having boundaries and any one of a plurality of destinations within said region using photographic images, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a set of way points within said region, said way points defining routes to be followed between any one of said starting points and any one of said destinations;

(b) capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into an addressable array of photographs that are simultaneously viewable; and

(c) providing said addressable array of photographs in static hard copy form for use in guiding said travel.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising the further steps of:

(a) specifying one of said plurality of starting points and one of said plurality of destinations;

(b) determining a route between said one specified starting point and said one specified destination based on said selected way points, and producing a listing of way point addresses derived from said addressable array of all photographs; and

(c) providing said listing of way point addresses for use in combination with said addressable array of photographs for guiding said travel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining a route includes determining at least one preferred route and one or more alternate routes, whereby a distinct addressable array of photographs and a corresponding listing of way point addresses is provided for said preferred route and for each of said one or more alternate routes.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the further step of providing said listing in digital form for transmission via a network for reconstitution into static hard copy form and for use in guiding said travel.

9. The method of claim 5 comprising the further step of providing said addressable array of all photographs alternately in digital form for transmission to and reconstitution by said end user into said addressable array static hard copy.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said digital form is a CD-ROM for delivery to and reconstitution by said end user into said static hard copy.

11. A system for guiding a traveler between a predetermined starting point and a predetermined destination using a plurality of photographic images, comprising:

(a) means for determining a route between said starting point and said destination and for selecting a set of way points along said route, said way points chosen to assist a traveler in following said route;

(b) means for capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into driving order so as to be viewable altogether in a single document thereby forming a static pictograph; and

(c) means for providing said pictograph in hard copy form for use in guiding said traveler.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for providing said pictograph in digital form for transmission to and reconstitution into said static hard copy pictograph to guide said travel.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for capturing a visual image is an input device chosen from the group of photographic cameras, video cameras, and digital cameras.

14. A system for providing an end user with information for guiding travel between any one of a plurality of starting points within a region having boundaries and any one of a plurality of destinations within said region using photographic images, comprising:

(a) means for selecting a set of way points within said region, said way points defining routes to be followed between any one of said starting points and any one of said destinations;

(b) means for capturing a visual image of each way point in photographic form and arranging the resulting set of all photographs into an addressable array of photographs that are viewable altogether in a single document; and

(c) means for providing said addressable array of all photographs in static hard copy form for use in guiding said travel.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

(a) means for specifying one of said plurality of starting points and one of said plurality of destinations;

(b) means for determining a route between said one specified starting and said one specified destination point based on said selected way points, and for producing a listing of way point addresses derived from said addressable array of photographs; and

(c) means for providing said listing of way point addresses for use in combination with said addressable array of all photographs for guiding said travel.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said means for capturing a visual image is an input device chosen from the group of photographic cameras, video cameras, and digital cameras.