Database minimizing by wireless input of location related information

• US 6,353,797 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Webraska, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Airflash
• Inventors: Heideman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/587,578
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/208, 701/214, 340/825.06, 340/5.2, 340/825.49, 340/992, 340/996, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.08, 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 342/457, 455/456
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

A method, system and article of manufacture is provided to efficiently identify the location of an individual. A first area surrounding the location is obtained by triangulation or other position location methods. A set of street names in the first area is obtained from a database and presented to a user. The user then aids in identifying the present location by selecting the street name or intersection of street names which is closest to his present location.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a location of an individual, comprising the steps of:

(a) estimating a first area surrounding the location;

(b) obtaining a set of street names of a respective set of streets in the area;

(c) requesting a street name from the individual; and

,

(d) determining the location responsive to a match between the street name from the individual and the set of street names.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

estimating a second area surrounding the location, wherein the second area is larger than the first area; and

,

repeating steps (b)-(d).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of street names is one street.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step includes loading the set of street names into a voice recognition software.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step includes loading the set of street names into text recognition software.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

(e) obtaining a second set of street names of a respective set of streets within the area crossing the determined location street;

(f) requesting a second street name from the individual;

(g) receiving a response from the individual; and

,

(h) determining a cross street responsive to a match between the second street name received from the individual and the second set of street names.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

estimating a second area surrounding the street name determined in step (d), wherein the second area is larger than the first area; and

,

repeating steps (e)-(h).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining a second set of street names includes loading the second set of street names into a voice recognition software program.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining a second set of street names includes loading the second set of street names into a text recognition software program.

6. A computer for identifying a location of an individual, comprising:

a storage device for storing a plurality of street names;

a processor coupled to the storage device;

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

(a) obtain a first area surrounding the location;

(b) obtain a set of street names of a respective set of streets in the area from the plurality of street names;

(c) request a street name from the individual;

(d) receive a street name from the individual; and

(e) determine the location responsive to a match between the street name received from the individual and the set of street names.

13. The computer of claim 6,

wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

estimate a second area surrounding the location, wherein the second area is larger than the first area; and

,

repeat steps (b)-(e).

14. The computer of claim 6,

wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

(f) obtain a second set of street names of a respective set of streets within the area crossing the street named received from the individual;

(g) request a second street name from the individual;

(h) receive a second street name from the individual; and

,

(i) determine a cross street responsive to a match between the second street name received from the individual and the second set of street names.

15. The computer of claim 14,

wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

estimate a second area surrounding the street name received in step (d), wherein the second area is larger than the first area; and

,

repeat steps (f)-(i).

7. A system for identifying a location of an individual, comprising:

a first processing device for obtaining a first area surrounding the location;

a storage device, coupled to the first processing device, for storing a set of street names of a respective set of streets in the area;

a second processing device for requesting a street name from the individual and receiving a street name response;

wherein the first processing device determines the location responsive to a match between the street name from the individual and the set of street names.

8. An article of manufacture, including computer readable medium, comprising:

(a) a first software program for obtaining a first area surrounding an individual at a location;

(b) a second software program for obtaining a set of street names from a respective set of streets in the area;

(c) a third software program for requesting a street name from the individual and receiving a street name response; and

,

(d) a fourth software program for determining the location responsive to a match between the street name from the individual and the set of street names.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 8, further comprising:

a fifth software program for estimating a second area surrounding the location, wherein the second area is larger than the first area.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 8, further comprising:

(f) a sixth software program for obtaining a second set of street names of a respective set of streets within the area crossing the street name received from the individual;

(g) a seventh software program for requesting a second street name from the individual;

(h) an eighth software program for receiving a response from the individual; and

,

(i) a ninth software program for determining a cross street responsive to a match between the second street name received from the individual and the second set of street names.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising:

a tenth software program for estimating a second area surrounding the street name received by the third software program, wherein the second area is larger than the first area; and

,

an eleventh software program for re-executing software programs eight through eleven.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising:

a twelfth software program for loading the second set of street names into a voice recognition software program.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising:

a thirteenth software program for loading the second set of street names into a text recognition software program.