Method and system for map and globe navigation

• US 6,847,883 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Walmsley, Simon Robert, Lapstun, Paul, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/201, 701/208, 701/209, 335/51, 335/50, 335/48, 335/59, 335/002, 335/03, 345/302, 345/333, 345/334, 345/179
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0439 using geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/186 Guessing games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of enabling a user to designate, in a computer system, at least one geographic location, the method including the steps of printing a map of a geographic area, the geographic area including the at least one geographic location, the map including coded data indicative of an identity of the map and of a plurality of reference points of the map; receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from a sensing device operated by the user, the indicating data regarding the identity of the map and a position of the sensing device relative to the map, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the map, sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data; and identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, the at least one geographic location.

Claims

1. A system for enabling a user to designate, in a computer system, at least one geographic location, the system including:

a surface on which is printed visible graphic data of a map of a geographic area, the geographic area including the at least one geographic location, the surface having coded data disposed thereon, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the map and of a plurality of reference points of the map;

a printer for printing the map and the coded data onto the surface, the printer being adapted to print the graphic data and the coded data substantially simultaneously;

a sensing device comprising;

(a) an image sensor adapted to capture images of at least some of the coded data when the sensing device is placed in an operative position relative to the surface; and

(b) a processor adapted to;

(i) identify at least some of the coded data from one or more of the captured images;

(ii) determine an orientation within the captured images, of at least some of the coded data;

(iii) decode at least some of the coded data; and

(iv) sense, using at least some of the decoded coded data, interaction data indicative of the identity of the map and a position of the sensing device relative to the map; and

a computer system configured to receive the interaction data from the sensing device and to identify, from the interaction data, the at least one geographic location.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the map contains at least one of the following categories of map information:

(a) geographic features of the geographic area;

(b) cities in the geographic area;

(c) countries related to the geographic area;

(d) different views of the geographic area;

(e) topography of the geographic area;

(f) vegetation of the geographic ar;

(g) average rainfall for the geographic area;

(h) seasonal temperatures for the geographic area; and

(i) population for the geographical area.

3. A system according to claim 1 further including a map control page including at least one printed map control;

wherein the computer system is configured to perform an action associated with the map control when the map control is designated by the user using the sensing device.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the action is one of:

(a) printing information about a designated country, region, city or other geographic location or geographic area;

(b) printing a map of a designated geographic area;

(c) printing a distance between designated geographic locations;

(d) printing a map of a geographic area adjoining a particular geographic area; and

(f) printing a scaled-up or scaled-down map of a particular geographic area.