Speech recognizing GIS/GPS/AVL system

• US 6,732,077 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Charles, Nichols, Mark E., Branch, Charles N., Janky, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knepper, David D.
• Application Number:
  US08/654,401
• Time in Patent Office: 2,898 Days
• Field of Search: 395/2.79, 364/443-444, 364/449--44, 704/231, 704/270, 704/275, 361/680, 705/28, 708/111, 708/138
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A speech recognition equipped geographic information recording apparatus and method. In one embodiment, a mobile data terminal has a communication node therein. A geographic mapping system is integral with the mobile data terminal, and is coupled to the communication node. A speech recognition system adapted to receive verbal information is also coupled to the mobile data terminal. The speech recognition system is adapted to receive attribute data verbalized by an operator of the mobile data terminal. Additionally, the speech recognition system is adapted to receive operating commands verbalized by an operator of the mobile data terminal. The communication node of the mobile data terminal includes a transmitter for sending information from the mobile data terminal to a desired location, and a receiver for receiving information from a desired location. In the present embodiment, a real-time communication link exists between the mobile data terminal and the desired location.

Claims

1. A speech recognition equipped recording apparatus for recording attribute data in a geographic information system environment comprising:

a mobile data terminal having a communication node therein, said mobile data terminal for collecting attribute data in a geographic information system environment;

a geographic mapping system integral with said mobile data terminal, said geographic mapping system coupled to said communication node;

a speech recognition system coupled to said mobile data terminal, said speech recognition system adapted to receive said attribute data when verbalized by an operator of said mobile data terminal, said speech recognition system further adapted to receive operating commands verbalized by an operator of said mobile data terminal; and

a position locating system coupled to said mobile data terminal for determining the location of an attribute when verbalized attribute data for said attribute are received via said speech recognition system, wherein said mobile data terminal uses verbalized attribute data for said attribute and said location of said attribute to update information stored by said geographic mapping system.

2. The speech recognition equipped geographic information apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication node further includes:

a transmitter for sending information from said speech recognition equipped geographic information apparatus to a desired location, and

a receiver for receiving at said speech recognition equipped geographic information apparatus information from said desired location.

3. The speech recognition equipped geographic information apparatus of claim 1 wherein said communication node further includes a real-time communication link between said speech recognition equipped geographic information apparatus and at least one desired location.

4. The speech recognition equipped recording apparatus for recording attribute data in a geographic information system environment of claim 1 wherein said attribute data further comprises non-geographic attribute data.

5. A portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system for recording attribute data in a geographic information system environment, said portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system comprising:

communication means for providing a two-way communication link between a vehicle and at least one base station, said communication means further including;

a transmitter for sending information from said integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system to said at least one base station; and

a receiver for receiving at said integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system information from said at least one base station;

a vehicle position tracking system coupled to a vehicle to be monitored, said vehicle position tracking system coupled to said communication means, said vehicle position tracking system further including;

a GPS signal receiver;

a signal processor coupled to said signal receiver for generating position information from signals received by said GPS signal receiver; and

a geographic mapping system adapted to be disposed within said vehicle to be monitored, said geographic mapping system coupled to said communication means, said geographic mapping system further including;

memory means for storing previously recorded first geographic information;

verbally responsive input means for entering second geographic information;

display means for displaying visual representations of said previously recorded first geographic information and said newly entered second geographic information; and

a speech recognition system adapted to receive attribute data verbalized by an operator of said vehicle position tracking system, said speech recognition system further adapted to receive operating commands verbalized by an operator of said mobile data terminal, wherein said portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system uses said attribute data verbalized by said operator with the location of said vehicle position tracking system at the time said attribute data are verbalized to update said previously recorded first geographic information.

6. The portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system of claim 5 wherein said two way communication link is a real-time communication link between said vehicle to be monitored and said at least one base station.

7. The portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system of claim 6 wherein real-time two-way communication between said integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system and said at least one base station is maintained when said integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system is removed from said vehicle to be monitored.

8. The portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system of claim 5 wherein said system is removable from said vehicle to be monitored.

9. The portable integrated geographic information and automatic vehicle location system for recording attribute data in a geographic information system environment of claim 5 wherein said attribute data further comprises non-geographic attribute data.

10. In a computer system including a processor coupled to a bus, a Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver coupled to said processor, and a memory unit coupled to said bus for storing information, a computer-implemented method for capturing attribute data for use in geographic information systems, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

recording the location of an attribute using a mobile data terminal, said location of said attribute determined using said mobile data terminal;

receiving verbalized identifying information for said attribute at said mobile data terminal;

associating said verbalized identifying information with said location of said attribute; and

modifying a geographic information system data base to include identifying information for said attribute based on said verbalized identifying information.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10 wherein said step of recording the location of an attribute to be collected further comprises the steps of:

placing said mobile data terminal proximate to said attribute to be collected; and

activating a position locating system coupled to said mobile data terminal such that said location of said mobile data terminal proximate to said attribute is recorded.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of activating a position locating system coupled to said mobile data terminal further comprises the step of:

activating a GPS based position locating system coupled to said mobile data terminal.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the step of:

verbalizing mobile data terminal commands to operate said mobile data terminal.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

sending information from said mobile data terminal to a desired location using a transmitter integral with said mobile data terminal, and

receiving at said mobile data terminal information from said desired location using a receiver integral with said mobile data terminal.

15. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

sending said information from said transmitter of said mobile data terminal to aid desired location over a real time communication link.

16. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

receiving said information from said desired location at said receiver of said mobile data terminal over a real time communication link.

17. The computer-implemented method for capturing attribute data for use in geographic information systems as recited in claim 10 wherein said attribute data further comprises non-geographic attribute data.