Multiple node navigation and routing system for a domain to be user navigated

• US 6,477,463 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The University Of New Castle Upon Tyne
• Original Assignee: University of Newcastle Upon TYNE
• Inventors: Hamilton, Neil Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/780,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 701/211, 701/25, 701/23, 701/209
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation

Abstract

A navigation and routing system for a domain to be navigated and including a plurality of nodes comprising, at each node, a passive element the identity of which is unique to the address of the associated node, and an active navigation device programmed with an electronic map of the domain and capable of receiving information from the passive elements, the arrangement being such that, for any given destination within the domain, and on reading of the passive element at a first node by the navigation device, routing information is displayed by the navigation device to direct the user to the next node in the route leading to his destination.

Claims

1. A navigation and routing system for a domain to be navigated and including a plurality of nodes, the system comprising at each node, a passive element the identity of which is unique to the address of the associated node, and an active navigation device programmed with an electronic map of the domain and capable of receiving information from the passive elements, the arrangement being such that, for any given destination within the domain, and on reading of the passive element at a first node by the navigation device, routing information is displayed by the navigation device to direct the user to the next node in the route leading to his destination.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which each passive element comprises a contactless smart card containing electronic circuitry powered by inductive coupling energy from the active navigation device.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the coupling between the passive elements and the navigation device is any one of optical, electromagnetic and magnetic.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 in which the smart cards are embedded within associated notice boards.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 together with a plurality of destination cards for programming the navigation device with any one of a number of intended destinations for a user.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the routing information displayed by the navigation device comprises distance and direction to the next node.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the navigation device comprises a destination/node reader, a reader interface, a map processor, a stored map of the domain, and a navigation display.